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PC that acts like a TV
An anonymous reader writes "CNN is reporting on the newest HP Media Center PC, a PC that "acts like a TV". Seems to me it is a TIVO with some additional features, like storing and displaying pictures and music files. Runs on some sort of Windows XP." The real killer with this whole genre of device is cost and confusion. Users don't know what they do, so its not worth the cost. Anyone who has used a tivo for a week knows what it means. Business just needs to get the costs down. I think including functionality like pictures and music is a good step towards increasing value, as long as it doesn't
add to the confusion.
And Slate thinks TiVo is doomed? When their competitors are trying to sell virtually the same thing for $1,400? Hah, I say! Hah!
New $5,000 Multimedia Computer System Downloads Real-Time TV Programs, Displays Them On Monitor
This concept has been out for a while, but has never appealed to me. I have no desire to fight with other family members over TV time vs computer time. It goes like this:
Mom and Dad are watching their fav show, a commercial comes on and Dad says 'I need to check my mail' - click - 'Oh look, someone sent me a new joke' click-click - The screen goes black, the system reboots. Mom whacks Dad with the newspaper for opening a virus and making her miss the end of the show.