Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Intel to Market PCs as Home Entertainment Hubs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the questionable-choices dept.

wantobe writes "Yahoo! News is reporting that Intel is developing their own "new technology" to convert home computers into entertainment hubs. Does anyone even really want this?" From the article: "Analysts say the chip bundle and software will transform the PC into an all-purpose multimedia device designed to function as a CD and DVD player, digital video recorder, game console, as well as a machine for traditional data processing and Internet."

13 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. Use? by TekMonkey · · Score: 3, Insightful

    My computer can already do all of this, without some fancy package from Intel. I'll be interested to see how this goes...

    1. Re:Use? by zakezuke · · Score: 3, Informative

      My computer can already do all of this, without some fancy package from Intel.

      Is your computer as easy to operate as a TV or VCR/DVD? What is the bootup time of your media center? Keep in mind the average user gets confused setting up a VCR.

      Gateway circa 1997 or so released their own media center Destination series in the $5000 price bracket. It included a huge VGA TV 27 to 35 inch and Harmon Karmon sound system. The TV wasn't worth writing home about as its dotpitch was too low for 640*480, even models sold later didn't include and the system was too slow to record video in real time. But the major complaint was the fact that people had to wait for windows to bootup to watch TV (no one could figure out you could jack the cable directly into the TV). Channel surfing was slowed down made the whole experence of watching TV more complex requring a huge keyboard sized remote.

      --
      There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
  2. Wow! by bogie · · Score: 5, Funny

    " Analysts say the chip bundle and software will transform the PC into an all-purpose multimedia device designed to function as a CD and DVD player, digital video recorder, game console, as well as a machine for traditional data processing and Internet"

    Wish my computer could play cd/dvd's, record video, play games, do word processing and access the Internet! Man the future is gonna be cool!

    --
    If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
  3. I wonder.. by modifried · · Score: 4, Interesting

    .. if this could in any way be related with InterVideo's InstantON technology? It allows you to watch DVDs and listen to music without booting into the actual OS.

  4. eShmoo by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Everyone wants this: a consumer-easy, completely configurable single device for multimedia handling that integrates CDs, DVDs, local storage (HDs), and the Internet for playing (and even recording), sharing and moving around our multimedia, regardless of format or form factor. If that's what Intel is selling. Otherwise, they're just competing with Dell and others for that market with another inferior attempt, because those retailers are increasingly turning to AMD and others for chips.

    --

    --
    make install -not war

  5. The PSX does most of by antifoidulus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    being a CD and DVD player, digital video recorder, game console, as well as a machine for traditional data processing and Internet.except for the last part. And unless you are single, that is a good thing. Why? Because if you have a family, different members of the household want to be doing different things at the same time. If you have everything rolled up into 1 box, you are going to have some real fights over who gets to use said box...
    I'll just take everything seperate thank you very much

    --
    Monstar L
  6. We already have this by JPM+NICK · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As a fellow computer literate person who reads this site, I know many of us will post "I can already do this." For you, rolling your own TiVi like box is not only possible, but fun. For most people it is a burden, along with maintaining it. I am sure Intel will come up with a nice chipset to make a lot of this easier to integrate into an already exisiting home. This is the same cycle the car industry goes through. 5 years ago kids all over the country were putting small TV's into their car for a high cost. Just like a computer guy might build his own home entertainment computer. Now adays, a Honda Oddesy comes with a DVD player and a TV. We can not snap judge technology we already have avail. to us as a group of computer savvy people, because 90% of the people out there do not know about it or do not know how to use it.

  7. Xbox Media Centre by Space_Soldier · · Score: 3, Informative

    XBMC (Xbox Media Centre) already does this. Tom's Hardware reviewed it a while ago. The CVS version has a lot more functionality now. I use it. Whatever Intel will come up with, I guarantee you that it will be in the hundreds of dollars. XBMC is here now, and the XBOX is cheap. Also, if it does not have the functionality that you want, you can contribute. If the XBOX does not have the hardware that you want, you can add it.

  8. hd makes it possible. by mobiux · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I tried making my own entertainment system a while ago, the problem i had was the resolution of my 27" tv.

    I could barely read webpages at 800x600.
    With HD tv's coming more popular, i think the idea is going to catch on more.

  9. Is it me? by jav1231 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is me or are PC technology companies getting ever more divergent from media companies? The Entertainment media companies don't even have a handle on how they are going to deal with the "digital age" and computer related media software and hardware is hungering for this more and more.
    More on topic, I don't know how many people really want a PC for this, though. I know that I abandoned my PC-based router because I could go buy a Linksys for $59 and had no moving parts to deal with. I think people are more into buying a TiVo or DVD player than setting up a PC next to their TV. Couple that with all the DRM and software and licenses they may have to deal with to do it and it may become another headache for users and PC makers alike.

  10. Re:Old Marketing by bonch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Anything to appear relevant after all the IBM Cell buzz, I guess.

  11. Noise Factor by daniel23 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Computers can do all this for some time now, nothing new to expect here.

    But how much noise does that box make? When you go shopping for silent components, the price moves up rapidly. Or you have to compromise on performance like with Via C3.

    Still, nothing new here. Where is the news?

    Mini-mac, I say. Apple threatens to offer a viable solution to the above dilemma and intel blows some marketing dust in the public eyes to the tune of "me too!".

    --
    605413? Yes, it's a prime.
  12. Re:MythTV by NtroP · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I dunno where Intel is going with this, but I don't think that specialized technology is needed for it. MythTV or other offerings (for all sorts of platforms) are all that's really required.
    Yes, but if it's all "integrated" by Intel, DRM works a lot better.
    --
    "terrorism" and "pedophilia" are the root passwords to the Constitution