Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft's iPod-Killer: Portable Media Center?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-inconceivable dept.

securitas writes "The Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Todd Bishop reports on what's billed as an iPod-killer: the Microsoft Portable Media Center line of digital media players that 'will store and play back video, music and photos.' The devices are expected to be demonstrated at CES this week. Hardware manufacturers Samsung, ViewSonic, iRiver, and Creative are apparently developing versions of the devices that 'will run a specialized version of Windows CE.' Analysts say that the PMCs will come with 40 GB hard drives and retail for $400 to $700. I got a look at an early version of the RCA Lyra Audio/Video Jukebox mentioned unfavorably in the article due to its size. The size is a function of needing a reasonably-sized screen to watch video. The article has an image of a Portable Media Center prototype. The devices are slated to ship in the second half of 2004."

5 of 407 comments (clear)

  1. But by pheared · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It costs 300 dollars more. And it runs Windows CEment.

  2. I don't see this working... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What people want is something small, stylish and cheap. For this kind of price I think most people would buy a palm PC instead, which although with a lot smaller storage they are cheaper and can do more.

    Just because it does everything does not make it valuable to consumers... look at the N-Gage.

    1. Re:I don't see this working... by kerrbear · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Just because it does everything does not make it valuable to consumers

      Agreed,

      I don't think people want a small video playing device. Listening to music is different than watching video. You can do things while you listen to music. You can shop, or do chores, or workout, etc. But to watch video, you have to stop everything you are doing and concentrate on the video.

      It might be ok to once in a while show some video to somebody, but if the device has to be large, then nobody will want to carry it. This seems to be another case of gee-whiz over what people really want.

  3. Two words: by torpor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    porn.

    pocket.

    {Goodbye productivity!}

    --
    ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
  4. let me guess... by Hamlet+D'Arcy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    40 Gigs, video, audio...

    and 1 hour of battery life.

    I've actaully reverted to my old Palm because CE's battery life is so poor.

    --

    If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets