Comments on: Is that a Media Center PC--or an end table?

Design specialists dream up the unexpected to help Microsoft get a foothold in the living room.
Photo gallery: Redesigning Microsoft's look and feel

[jwoji]

Heading in the right direction

Warmth, approachability, and even passion; these are words not associated with PC equipment. But, words frequently associated with better furniture or works of art. PC equipment that can be comfortable in our living rooms and bedrooms will not be so because of the technology inside. It will be because we feel good about it, a result of great design. The last comment by Jonah Becker was far too cautious, and the designs a little naive, but certainly head in the right direction. What more would all of you like to see?

[lewissalem]

agreed..

..the only thing holding me back right now is high-resolution TV costs. I think maybe Micro-ATX will get more popular. We're going to see cases become more attractive, and a more important selling point in a PC. We still need larger LCD's at cheaper costs so we can display a higher resolution than 1024x768. I say LCD because of burn-in issues with other formats. Happauge will sell more PVR-250's (tv tuner cards) than ever in the coming years.

[lewissalem]

oh yeah..

oh yeah, and more high-def TV tuner cards.

[Ipod Apple]

Micro-ATX will get more popular

http://www.analogstereo.com/mazda_mpv_owners_manual.htm

My solution to the 2ft - 10 ft problem

I first heard about the 10 ft v. 2 ft interface more than ten years ago when samsung had a protitype of a tablet pc for reading web pages and emails but which controlled a large screen TV for playing games and watching movies.

My solution now is two PCs. My HTPC with 80211g has my 7, 000 mp3s as well as Snapstream PVR. It has a silent black component style case connected to my 5.1 stereo and large screen TV.

On a stylish laptop table next to my recliner I have a laptop, also with wireless. This laptop has the Remote anything software which allows me to control and manage the HTPC from 10 ft away without squinting. For videos and DVDs I use a gyration air mouse and the ATI RF remote for fast pausing, forwarding, etc both the PVR and Music player.

My preferred player for video and DVD's is Zoom player. The media center interface is X-Lobby2.

How innovative.

The PC world is finally realizing what Steve Jobs realized 20
years ago when he brought us the first information appliance.
Aside from some of the more utilitarian designs that typified the
years when Jobs was absent from Apple, Macs have always been
equally at home in the living room and the study. That's why
they've consistently broken the mold with designs like the G4
Cube, the iMacs, and now the new G5s. They may not look like
furniture, but they do look like art, and they have firmly
established their place in the living room and the home theater.

[Ipod Apple]

first information appliance

http://www.analogstereo.com/mercedes_slk_class_owners_manual.htm