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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."

3 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.
  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).