Winbook’s $999 PowerSpec MCE 410 Media Center PC

[James Fee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.designtechnica.com/article6292.html' target='_blank'>http://news.designtechnica.com/article6292.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>“WinBook is committed to providing consumers with products that allow them to affordably realize the benefits of digital convergence in the home,” said Dan Burns, WinBook president. The PowerSpec MCE 410 provides the performance of the Intel Pentium 4 processor 530 with Hyper-Threading (HT) technology (3.0 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 1 MB Cache) and includes Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. ATI Radeon X300SE PCI-Express GPU with 128 MB DDR dedicated memory allows users to enjoy the newest game titles and benefit from the improved graphics playback inherent with PCI Express technology. The personal video recorder (PVR) gives customers complete control over their television viewing, allowing them to record, pause and rewind their favorite shows and sports even during live broadcasts. Users can also pause and rewind FM audio at the touch of the convenient, easy-to-master remote control. Customers can easily burn DVDs, archive personal photos on DVDs and burn music CDs. The 7-in-1 digital media reader accepts media cards used in devices such as digital cameras and camcorders."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/PowerSpec_MCE_200.jpg" /> <br /><br />Cost has just about become no issue with these latest MCE PCs. Winbook has just fired a huge salvo at Dell and HP. It will be interesting to see how either of those responds.

[Kent Pribbernow]

Holy cow! Check out the design; it looks nothing like a PC. More like a piece of A/V gear. 8O

[djh]

Winbook eh? They still around? I remember almst buying one of their laptops years ago.
Come to think of it, I've not heard of them for years. I'll have to visit their site and see what they make these days.

[msprague]

Anyone have a comparison of currently available A/V gear footprint MEdia Center PC's? A list of links? This is the first I've seen, but it sounds like there are others.

This may be my next PC!

[RoniXt]

It's by no means a complete list, but here's a page with a lot of Media Center manufacturers and samples of the products they have.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/products.mspx

[PPC_Ed]

Dang you, James Fee. You just cost me $999! :wink:

I ordered it a couple of days ago and it's slated to come in a week or two. I'll let you know what I think about it when it comes. The form factor was just exactly what I was looking for. I couldn't resist.

Ed

[James Fee]

Dang you, James Fee. You just cost me $999! :wink:

I ordered it a couple of days ago and it's slated to come in a week or two. I'll let you know what I think about it when it comes. The form factor was just exactly what I was looking for. I couldn't resist.
Yea, it's probably best just to stay off the darn internet. Its one big tug at the wallet. :D

Take some pictures when you get it. I'd love to see what the back of the unit looks like.

[PPC_Ed]

James, visit the Winbook.com website again. They posted some photos of the front, back, and remote as well as added a specs page.

I just got my unit in last night and played with it for a few hours. This is my first foray into MCE computers so I can't compare it to other devices, but for the price I'm pretty impressed with it. When I get the time, I'll post a review and some pics of the guts. With 2 low profile PCI slots, 1 regular PCI slot, and an easily removable HD, it's pretty upgradable (considering the low profile design). It uses a fanless cooling system, so all I hear is the whir of the HD.

Ed