Home-Grown Entertainment PCs

By Siti Syameen Md Khalili

INTEL Malaysia and four local PC manufacturers have announced the release of a home entertainment PC. According to Intel Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd’s country manager Chris Tan, the innovative solution will help Malaysians prepare for the next digital wave.

Intel, along with FTec, Bluedot, Techdos and Nation-Tech, are currently offering a total of 10 home entertainment PC specifications to consumers at prices ranging from RM2,000 to RM5,000. Three types of system specifications, powered by a dual- core Intel Pentium D processor or a Pentium 4 processor with Hyper- Threading technology, will be made available to suit the different functionality and affordability needs of various users.

Users can access the Internet, listen to music, sing karaoke, watch movies, play games, make voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) calls with the PCs. There are also options to add home surveillance, TV tuner and recording, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Multi-tasking is also a key feature on all of the home entertainment PC models, so everyone at home can enjoy different activities at the same time. On top of that, the systems are scalable and upgradable.

Bluedot has the M89 Digital Lifestyle Home Theatre PC System and GE1 Mobile Digital Lifestyle Entertainment System while Nation-Tech has the M- Life Spectra ready for the market.

Techdos has three home entertainment PC models, the DMC 520, DMC 550 and DMC 600-BTX, under its banner while FTec’s offerings are the Proteus P6300E, Proteus P8280D, Proteus P8300D and Pandora 700E.

Though the concept of home entertainment PC is not new, Intel believes now is the best time for the release of the solution.

“With the availability of rich digital content growing drastically, broadband Internet connections and wireless home networks are on the rise in Malaysia. We believe the home entertainment PC will help spur the widespread adoption of the digital home platform in Malaysia,” says Tan.