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Hewlett-Packard To Offer Linux-based Media Hub

Posted by timothy on from the it-should-have-an-iPod-dock dept.

Sammy at Palm Addict writes "According to the New York Times, Hewlett-Packard is to offer a new digital media hub based on Linux," excerpting "Hewlett-Packard will introduce a new device this fall meant to record and play back television as well as organize digital media, including photos, music and video, the company said yesterday. Hewlett already offers similar devices based on Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition. The device, called the HP Media Hub, will be based on the Linux operating system." Since HP also sells self-branded iPods, it would be great if they'd make such a box iPod friendly.

7 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Microsoft's probably thrilled by Jason+Earl · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Microsoft is counting on Windows Media Center being the "next big thing" to give it the growth that it needs to justify its price/earnings ratio. A Linux-based contender in the same market developed by one of Microsoft's biggest allies is almost certainly going to be a major setback for Microsoft's plans.

    1. Re:Microsoft's probably thrilled by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It may be just a ploy:
      Dell announces AMD based systems to get a better deal from Intel
      HP announces Linux based Media Center PC to get a better deal from Microsoft.

      Happens every so often...

  2. Linux doesn't matter by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As was mentioned in the Linux-based portable media player thread, it makes no difference to the user whether these devices run Linux or not. You can't install any applications, you probably can't get a shell, and you can bet that HP will release the minimal amount of source that is legally required, so hacking will be frustrating.

    And it looks like this device might break a record for the number of different kinds of DRM in one system...

    1. Re:Linux doesn't matter by jomas1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You are right that this media player may not be very hackable (although that remains to be seen) but you can't discount the effect of linux becoming commonplace in appliances. Linux as a desktop/server operating system may never mean anything to the average consumer.

      Linux as the operating system that powers their media devices, remote controls, cars, video game consoles etc, etc will mean a lot more. This may be one of the key ways that linux gains mainstream consumer acceptance.

      --
      http://nyamenation.org/
  3. Hope its not restricted by t_allardyce · · Score: 3, Insightful

    All I can say is they better not bother trying any DRM bullshit, if it can't share all media, skip adverts etc etc its a useless pile of crap (actually i think shit even has more uses than a PVR/media center with DRM)

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  4. How long by ifwm · · Score: 3, Insightful

    before the fact that something runs a version of Linux is no longer newsworthy. I like this product, and it's worthy of being posted. But I also think there's something a little sad about making a fuss over that fact. That mentality seems a little backward anymore.

  5. Re:Pretty sparse article by prozac79 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Many slashdotters who have a grudge agaisnt HP were probably former HP customers and loyalists

    Or they were once employed by HP or Compaq before the dark times... before Carly.

    --
    "Oh dear, she's stuck in an infinite loop and he's an idiot" -Prof. Farnsworth (Futurama)