We’ve talked about a few home theatre PCs so far around here, and they’ve all been pretty bargain priced. Some pretty good stuff has emerged from places like Dell and Lenovo, but it might interest you to know that a relative unknown is looking to seize the high ground–specifically, Okoro, with its OMS-BX300.
A mouthful of a name, I know, but it’s for a mouthful of a product. The “Blu-Ray Digital Entertainment System”, as it’s called, carries an Intel Core i7 processor. It also comes with a whopping six gigs of DDR3 ram, the ATI Radeon HD with 512 meg ram graphics card, options for a slew of HD tuner cards, a PAIR of two terabyte drives, a sixty-four gig solid state drive, and a PAIR of Blu-ray drives. And ports–you’re not going to believe the ports. This place has more ports than Madagascar (and they don’t close as easily!), including HDMI, S-video, component video, and optical audio among others.
Down side? The PRICE. It’ll cost you just over three grand for this beastie in base configuration, and options are available to jack the price up even higher. Want to have a PC with EIGHT TERABYTES of storage? Yours for an extra five hundred bucks!
Anyone else remember when one whole gig of hard drive space seemed like a typo?
Epson’s latest desktop, the Endeavor AY300-V is not an all-in-one computer but it’s compact enough to fit with the rest of your home theater equipment. The AY300-V will be available in two versions. One will sport a Celeron 430 CPU and 1GB of RAM while the other one will come with a much faster Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 processor and 2GB of RAM. Other features include a 160GB hard drive, an optional DVD drive or DVD Super Multi Drive and Windows XP Pro or Vista Business. How much will you have to pay for one? Depending on what you choose you can end up paying anywhere from $443 to $601. What do you think?
Lenovo’s taking its first steps into the still somewhat burgeoning home theatre PC market by offering up its IdeaCentre Q700 and its complementary model the IdeaCentre D400, both of which is set to cost about five hundred bucks.
The IdeaCentre Q700 is designed, by the look of it, to take advantage of virtually every possible kind of media that’s been produced in the last ten years. It comes with one of three Intel Core 2 Duo processors, a maximum of two terabytes (as in, one thousand gigabytes) and the capacity for plenty more storage. Get this–this monster comes with eight USB ports and an eSATA port for an external hard drive. This is a clear step up over the earlier version we’ve discussed, so they must’ve taken that bit about “lackluster specs” seriously.
It can support 1080p video and graphics, not to mention 7.1 channel surround sound, and also offers ethernet and wi-fi capability for streaming video. And just in case there’s any TV you actually want to watch, a TV tuner is also available.
That, folks, is a LOT. A lot of options, a lot of storage, a lot of everything. Considering that a blank DVD holds roughly four gigs of material, that means the two terabyte hard drive by itself can hold about five hundred DVDs worth of material. With EIGHT USB ports and an eSATA, you could conceivably bump that up another eighteen terabytes, bringing the whole system up to somewhere in the neighborhood of–brace yourself–FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DVDs.
Assume ninety minutes average per DVD, and that means you’re staring at almost seven thousand hours of video. If you did absolutely nothing but watch movies, eschewing even sleep, you’d spend two hundred and ninety one days, plus sixteen hours, watching movies and never repeat the same one.
Of course, you’d probably have a hard time finding a way to put all those videos on your hard drive, especially since trafficking in the software to transfer them is still illegal….
Rumors have recently been circulating the web that suggest the next version of Apple’s iTunes will in fact be getting Blu-ray support. If these rumors prove themselves to be true it could potentially mean that once Apple updates their current line of laptop and desktop offerings there will be an option for a Blu-ray drive.
As with any rumor, you’re going to have to take this with a grain of salt until iTunes 9 is officially released later this year.
Cyberlink unveils its latest video editing software, the PowerDirector 8, with a new list of features that should aid video editing fanatics in creating new and creative movie productions right from their very own desktop PC.
Among the new highlights of the Cyberlink PowerDirector 8:
Effortless Pro-Like Results
Video Upscaling Technology:
Unique Editing Effects
Up to 5X Faster Video Production
New Ways to Share and Learn
For the editors, here are some of the new features you can do:
Video Enhancement Tools
CPU/GPU Optimization
Particle Effects Designer
Power Tools
Improved Timeline Interface
Sharable Effects, Disc Menus, and Timeline Views
Multiple Publishing Options
Customizable Photo Slideshows
The Cyberlink PowerDirector 8 is now available online and in various languages (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. For pricing reference:
CyberLink PowerDirector 8 Ultra $99.95
CyberLink PowerDirector 8 Deluxe $69.95
CyberLink PowerDirector 8 (upgrades) starting at $49.95
For the people who want to bring out the best audio quality right for uncompressed music files, a special amplifier should do the trick. The Neuhaus T-2 Amplifier is perfect for these audio files which need all the boost they need to deliver the same sound quality as MP3 music files.
The Neuhaus T-2 Amplifier costs $800 which is a bit pricey. But don’t tell that to the audiophiles who don’t seem to mind as long as they can enhance the listening experience on uncompressed music files. This amplifier is perfect for people who want to perk up low quality music files play their PC.
The amplifier takes the old files from your PC, converts it to analog and then amplifies it using vacuum tubes. Through this process, you get warmer and richer sound playback on low end song files which can be improved.
ViewSonic has new nettops for you which can be neatly hidden and remain out of sight while playing all the media files you want. The VOT120 and VOT121 will offer you WiFi support, four USB ports, gigabit Ethernet and DVI-out connectivity besides that regular netbook specs you’ve gotten used so far. Between the two models, you’d be better off with the 121 which will also bring you a 1.4GHz CULV chip and HDMI connectivity. Before choosing you should also be aware of the price tags. The VOT120 will be available for $304 while the VOT121 will cost $423.
In a recent announcement, Microsoft has said that their Windows 7 Media Center Edition will be getting built-in compatibility with Netflix Watch Instantly.
If you’re not familiar with this service it essentially allows you to stream Netflix movies with little to no wait time. Of course, this feature was included with Windows Vista all the way back in May but only now this announcement comes out about Windows 7.
Furthermore, Windows 7’s version of Netflix Watch Instantly will feature a full touchscreen interface for you luxurious folk out there.
MSI Korea has lifted the covers on a couple of new multi-touch enabled all-in-one PCs in the WindTop Series. Four models are under this new line which include:
20-inch ‘AE2010′
21.5-inch ‘AE2200′
AE2220
AE2400
The AE2010 comes equipped with an AMD Athlon(1.6GHz) processor while the AE2200 is boasts of an Intel Dual Core E5400(2.7GHz) CPU. The other two (AE2220 and AE2400), are based on an ION platform adopts 16:9 display which should be neat to experience better HD videos and 3D games.
No word though on the actual pricing and if they would be made available in other countries.
Western Digital has done it again! The company has released the first 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive so you can go right ahead and plan your next desktop upgrade. Besides the 1TB version, Western Digital has also launched a 750GB version.
The WD Scorpio Blue 750GB and 1TB drives will offer you transfer speeds of up to 3 gigabits per second and a bunch of features:
WhisperDrive™ - WD’s exclusive WhisperDrive technology combines state-of-the-art seeking algorithms to produce one of the quietest 2.5-inch drives available.
ShockGuard™ - Leading-edge ShockGuard technology combines firmware and hardware advancements to meet the highest combined shock tolerance specifications required for mobile and notebook applications.
SecurePark™ - Parks the recording heads off the disk surface during spin up, spin down and when the drive is off. This ensures the recording head never touches the disk surface, resulting in improved long-term reliability due to less head wear and improved shock tolerance.
The WD Scorpio 750GB drive is already available and it’s already configured in the My Passport Essential SE USB drives and it will cost you $189.99. The WD Scorpio Blue 1TB will cost $249.99 so now you have all the facts to make your decision. Which WD drive will you purchase?
The Averatec 22-inch D1005 all-in-one (AIO) computer is a true space-saver for office and home. It stands in the company’s lineup of powerful all-in-one PCs and comes integrated with full functionality and a slim space saving design.
The latest Averatec D1005 computer features a 2.5GHz Intel Pentium dual-core E5200 processor, 320GB hard drive, Microsoft Vista Home Premium, 3GB of memory and a full-size USB keyboard and mouse. Plus, the system comes incorporated with a built-in WLAN wireless 802.11n networking as well as wired 10/100/1000 Mb/s network connectivity.
With an MSRP of $799, the D1005 is a versatile computer ideal for everyday Web browsing, social networking, home and business software applications and games. In addition, users can enjoy viewing YouTube videos and other on-line or streaming video entertainment.
Nero has been the reliable software for burning and media solutions for the PC. With that in mind, the Acer Group acknowledges this distinction, bundling the Nero 9 Essentials software with the on all desktop system, providing an integrated digital media and home entertainment software suite familiar on most PCs today.
This only means that people making use of their PCs as their main source for enjoying home theater entertainment or in the burning of audio and HD videos can put to full use the Nero 9 Essentials software suite. Download and then transfer them on to a DVD or Blu-ray disc and then play them back on your home theater setup to enjoy audio and movies just like you would when you buy a standard DVD from the video store.
But if there is one aspect that makes this entirely appealing is that people can choose and get rare movies that may not be available yet on the store. This and perhaps some backup needs make this bundle a logical and useful one to have.
For all the techie readers out there, here is a latest all-in-one PC solution that will get your attention. The sleek and stylish setup is the eMachines EZ1601-01, an ideal digital media hub that should fit in nicely in the living room or your bedroom.
Likewise, it can transform itself into a useful entertainment center where the whole family (and friends) can keep their favorite movies, music, photos and videos in one spot, where everyone can enjoy them together. This whole bundle costs $399.99.
The eMachines EZ’s brilliant display delivers a premium viewing experience with its 16×9 aspect ratio and 1366×768 resolution, making it great for watching movies. Combined with the integrated speakers and embedded high-definition audio support, it’s an ideal PC for DVDs or online entertainment, such as YouTube videos.
It’s pretty obvious that we want our TV to act as a smart computer so why not combine the two? Why not pick a Bristol ViewSurfer TV that also doubles as a desktop?
You can choose between a 22-inch and a 32-inch version and each TV features a FreeView tuner and an integrated PC. The computer is based on Intel’s Atom processor and it offers you a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of memory, 4 USB ports and Ethernet connectivity. Ready to purchase your first Windows XP ViewSurfer TV from Bristol? Well the 22-inch version costs $814 while the price for the 32-inch TV is still unknown yet. We’ll probably have more details for you in October when these Bristol TVs will be available.
Eurotech has just announced three new Panel Computers which can be mounted immediately into a wall. These are the Vx-120F0N270, the Vx-150F-N270 and the Bx-400F-N270. They are all based on Intel’s Atom CPU and they offer features like an Atom N270 processor, a fanless design, two gigabit Ethernet jacks, a front USB port and touchscreen sizes from 12- to 15-inch. We have no idea about pricing details just yet but the new panels should be available sometime in September.
One of the first things marketed with the new Windows 7 is its ability to support touch input. Using two fingers, you will be able to scroll, zoom and rotate web pages and documents. This is unheard of on Macs and is not available through earlier versions of Windows.
Unfortunately, reports suggest that this may not be a technology that everyday pc users will be taking advantage of. One of the biggest obstacles is that this technology requires a touch screen monitor which will add at least $100 to the price, something many will not opt for. It is believed that this feature of Windows 7 will not be mainstream even though it is being touted as one of the best reasons for the upgrade.
Welcome to the future of delivering education via visuals as Promethean lifts the covers of tomorrow’s classroom learning solutions. The new solution is the ActivClassroom, delivering collaborative learning through the expansion of tools and resource integration capabilities.
Promethean’s new series starts with the feature-rich ActivBoard 300 Pro, complete with integrated sound and dual input/user capability. When combined with Promethean’s new motorized height-adjustable stand and 3D-enabled DLP projector, the new ActivBoard+2 solutions represent a gateway to an unending universe of learning.
Among the ActivClassroom product lines include:
ActivBoard 300 Pro Series
ActivBoard 300 Series
ActivBoard 100 Series
ActivView Document Camera
ActivSound
ActivRemote
ActivSlate
ActivArena Dual Input
“The ActivClassroom has always been much more than an Interactive Whiteboard or Learner Response solution,” said Iwan Streichenberger, Chief Marketing Officer for Promethean. “The ActivClassroom speaks to proven research about what works in the classroom, integrating the most proven and effective solutions, with superior lesson design and delivery software, into one seamless system.”
The EMTEC Movie Cube P800 is now available. The device is a multimedia recorder comes with a hard drive that can store up to 500GB. It can easily be detached from your PC which allows you to stream web radio via WiFi or the usual Ethernet connection.
The EMTEC Movie Cube P800 can also backup DVDs, record Freeview with twin tuners, and the EMTEC Movie Cube P800 even offers HDMI output. The device is carries a price of £280.
However, some features like the lack MP4 or AAC support and sorting of MP3 files by tags are absent. You can only sort via filenames.
iBuyPower newly launched the latest Paladin XLC Series gaming desktop PCs, designed specially for the hard core gamers. Powered by Core i7 processor, these PCs comes in three different flavors- XLC V1, XLC V2, and XLC V3.
All the three PCs use Asetek’s 240mm radiator liquid-cooling and Coolermaster’s HAF 932 cases. The entry level XLC V1, incorporate Intel Core i7-920 processor, 6GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275 896MB graphics and has a 1TB hard drive and a 22X DVD SuperMulti burner.
Paladin XLC Series V2, the mid-range model, is boosted by Core i7-950 processor, dual 1TB hard drive, 6GB RAM and dual ATI Radeon 4890 1GB graphics card.
To offer a spanking new look to PC computing, eMachines has come up with range of latest PCs, encased within a luminous white mini-tower with matching monitors. These monitors are ideal for a wide range of users and applications and will be a smart addition to any corner of your house.
The eMachines ET1300-02, ET1810-01 and ET1810-03 desktop PCs sports a shiny and bright white design accented with green LED lighting and delivers solid performance. All of them are bundled with a matching keyboard and widescreen display with built-in speakers.
Glenn Jystad, senior manager, eMachines commented, “Consumers on a budget looking for a solid performing PC will find some great choices in the new eMachines line-up. Our new mini-towers provide the horsepower and technology needed for today’s applications at a very reasonable price, and are stylish and compact as well.”
The price of the new eMachines PCs ranges from $299.99 to $449.99.
We’ve talked about a few home theatre PCs so far around here, and they’ve all been pretty bargain priced. Some pretty good stuff has emerged from places like Dell and Lenovo, but it might interest you to know that a relative unknown is looking to seize the high ground–specifically, Okoro, with its OMS-BX300.
Rumors have recently been circulating the web that suggest the next version of Apple’s 
In a recent announcement, 
iBuyPower newly launched the latest Paladin XLC Series gaming desktop PCs, designed specially for the hard core gamers. Powered by Core i7 processor, these 
To offer a spanking new look to PC computing,