Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

New Alienware Media Center

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the send-a-free-alienware-laptop-to-me dept.

Cyno01 writes "Alienware recently introduced a new product that seems to fill the gap between PVRs and PCs. The Navigator Media Center. It runs a new version of XP (Media Center Edition) and displays pictures, movies and plays DVDs. If I had the cash for it i would definitly ditch my 160Gb HD and Radeon AIW card."

4 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Xbox by Dexter77 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Xbox can do most of those features with little modifications and opensource applications:

    Control Live Television - can do with xbox
    Enjoy DVDs - can do with xbox
    Listen digital music - can do with xbox
    Burn music, photos and videos - not yet possible, but might be possible in future
    View your favorite photos - can do with xbox
    Edit digital videos - can do with xbox
    Incredible gaming performance - xbox games aren't that bad..

    Cost :
    Xbox+modifications = $400
    Navigator Mediacenter = $1699

    Which one would you choose?

  2. So do I by The+Tyro · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Already own one of these, but I did it my way.

    Used a 4u rackmount case and slid it right into my home entertainment center/stereo rack. Used an 8500 AIW card, soundblaster LIVE, integrated LAN, duron processor, and enough memory to make it work.

    Fleshed it out with a wireless keyboard/mouse, some front port adapters, and a front-mounted LCD that displays song title/etc.

    Plays audio streams, CDs, DVDs, MP3s, TV-out... runs them right into the receiver unit for the home stereo. Best of all, it looks like it belongs right in the stereo rack with all the other components.

    I honestly don't know where I'd put one of those Shuttle cubes, but it certainly wouldn't fit in a rack. The alienware/shuttle cube looks pretty hip, but where's the joy of tinkering? the satisfaction of building it yourself?

    --
    Even if a man chops off your hand with a sword, you still have two nice, sharp bones to stick in his eyes.
    1. Re:So do I by The+Tyro · · Score: 3, Interesting

      my bad... should have included more details.

      I'm using latest version of the ATI MMC software. I really haven't had many problems with ATI, except the occasional game bug. Their drivers are improving.

      The comp I mentioned is primarily a home entertainment appliance, though it's beefy enough to do lots of other things. For instance, aside from the lag in the wireless mouse/keyboard, it's a pretty fair Counterstrike machine (though I am definitely NOT 31337, more like cannon fodder). This box will also eventually drive a home theatre projector.

      Here's the hardware and prices:

      4U Rackmount case (100 bucks)
      Enermax PS (60 bucks)
      1.3gig duron (50 bucks)
      256M pc2700 ram (80 bucks)
      80gig Seagate drive (100 bucks)
      ECS motherboard (60 bucks)
      Soundblaster LIVE 5.1 (40 bucks)
      AIW 8500DV (200 bucks)
      DVD drive (40 bucks)
      USB 2.0 card (20 bucks)
      Koutech USB/Firewire 3.5" hub (50 bucks)
      CrystalFontz LCD (70 bucks)
      Wireless keyboard/mouse (100 bucks)

      Total, if you had to build it from scratch, just under 1000 bucks. I didn't pay that... some of this stuff I had laying around, or cannibalized from other boxen. You could certainly get away with much cheaper if you deleted some of the bells and whistles (less fancy video card, no LCD, etc). Also, in fairness to Alienware, my system is NOT portable... it's approx 30lbs.

      Honestly, I most enjoy the way it looks. Black, locking front door (keeps little hands away from important buttons) with a lexan window so the LCD is visible. Looks just like an amp, or some other home stereo component.

      My wife would say this is the first useful thing my computer tinkering has ever produced.

      --
      Even if a man chops off your hand with a sword, you still have two nice, sharp bones to stick in his eyes.
  3. Just build it yourself by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have an old 500Mhz Celeron box, running Slackware, and Mythtv. I can watch DivX movies, look at my pictures, rip CDs, record TV, listen to mp3s and lots more.. and it didn't cost me a cent (a local business was throwing out their old boxen). Sure, the 500Mhz box is a little low for dvd, but most of my videos are video CD anyway (they are incredibly cheap here in asia).