NEC PCs join the home entertainment invasion
SINGAPORE--Hybrid PCs seem to be all the rage recently. One of the most famous examples is the iMac, which uses a notebook platform in a desktop system. Though performance and upgradeability are sacrificed in the process, in return hybrid PCs offer lower power consumption, reduced heat signature and lower noise levels. Another advantage is that laptop chipsets permit designs which are slimmer and smaller than even SFF (small form factor) desktops. The latest Powermate P5000 desktop is the first hybrid PC to be launched by the Japanese manufacturer.
Powermate P5000At first glance, one can be forgiven for mistaking the Powermate P5000 as a Sony VAIO VGC-LA38G. Like the VAIO, it integrates the LCD panel with the CPU unit to create a seamless system with a small footprint. Based on the dual-core AMD Turion 64 X2 processor and ATI Radeon X1200 graphics card, the P5000 is not really a master at games but more than competent for audio and video playback. Though we like the slim design and the fact that it comes bundled with a wireless keyboard, we can't help but notice the omission of a built-in Webcam which is becoming popular even in standalone LCD displays, though there is an optional external Web cam by NEC. Moreover, if sound quality means anything to you, we suggest forgoing the weak built-in speakers and hooking up to a good set of external horns instead.Other interesting features include a powered USB port which allows you to charge your accesssories even when the P5000 is turned off. There are gadget pockets just behind the display for your MP3 player, PDA, etc., so as to reduce the clutter on your desktop. The memory card reader is also SDHC-compatible, which is a rarely seen feature. Powermate XThe Powermate X has a more conventional tower design and is meant to be used as a home media server. With a huge 2TB storage space, Core 2 Duo processor and a discrete Nvidia graphics card, it has enough power to also render high-definition content. The built-in hybrid TV tuner can accept digital and analog broadcasts, which can be watched live or recorded for future viewing. It comes bundled with a wireless keyboard and mouse as well as a remote control. The preinstalled Cyberlink Media Server software underlines the Powermate X's role as the center of NEC's new home IT (HIT) strategy.NEC Home IT StrategyThe Powermate P5000 and Powermate X were launched in conjunction with NEC's home IT (HIT) strategy initiative. According to Makoto Iwasaki, marketing director of NEC Computers Asia: "NEC's vision of developing an integrated HIT communication platform is to boost excitement, convenience and media management with the latest IT technologies."NEC demonstrated its home media network concept using the newly announced desktop systems. With the high-capacity Powermate X as the base, multimedia files were streamed wirelessly to the Powermate P5000. These files can even be accessed over the World Wide Web using the included Cyberlink Media Server software and the Cyberlink Live Website. What we found interesting was when the demonstrator used a Wi-Fi-equipped device to schedule and view TV recordings on the Powermate X. By adding a Webcam, this desktop acts as a remote surveillance system, perfect for the paranoid at heart. The Powermate X is already available in Asia-Pacific stores, with the Powermate P5000 rolling out from tomorrow throughout the region. New products
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