Hewlett-Packard To Offer Linux-based Media Hub

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.

Comments

Linux doesn't matter

[Wesley Felter]

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...

Re:Linux doesn't matter

[jomas1]

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.

Re:Microsoft's probably thrilled

[Anonymous Coward]

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...