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Two primary types of convergence
PCs exist: WebTV- style Internet appliances and PC/TV systems.
Internet appliances (the WebTV and WebTV Plus receivers) integrate
into your already existing home entertainment system and hook
up to your TV. They're meant for users who only want to access
the Web and send e-mail. If you use WebTV with your only phone
line, you should have Call Waiting; that way, you'll be returned
to where you left off once the call is over. WebTV is too limited:
If you're considering an Internet appliance, choose WebTV Plus,
with a 1.1GB hard disk, a printer port, and an internal 56.6-Kbps
modem. With the optional wireless keyboard, the Mitsubishi, Philips,
and Sony receivers cost about $250-plus about $25 per month for
unlimited Internet access.
PC/TVs offer excellent DVD video quality, come with wireless keyboards and remote controls, and integrate into your stereo setup. You can either purchase all-included systems such as Gateway's Destination DMC (about $5,000) or opt for lower-cost systems such as Ino Technologies' TV/PC ($700 and up) or TigerDirect's PC Cinema ($999).
The Gateway comes with a 36-inch monitor, a Dolby Digital receiver, and five Boston Acoustics speakers and a subwoofer. It also has a Pentium II/400 CPU, a 14.4GB hard disk, 128MB of RAM, a 56K modem, and a 4MB 3-D graphics card.
A la carte solutions come with 200-MHz CPUs, 2GB hard disks, and 33.6-Kbps modems. They can connect to either a TV or a PC monitor. Speakers are separate. The Pentium MMX/233- based Philips DVX8000 Multimedia Home Theater comes with everything except the display (but including a Dolby Digital 5.1 stereo amplifier) yet sells for an eye-popping $5,000.
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Yes, they're powerful and man the cases are very different! Click here to read more about it! |
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