Jason Eaton
10-16-2006, 06:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=3553' target='_blank'>http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=3553</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The name of this Acer Media Center system, the Idea 500, is actually very apt. Despite having been around for some years now, the Media Center platform is still a niche product and are yet to register on the radar of the average consumer. Recently I discovered that PC World is offering a home cinema installation service based on Media Center systems so with that kind of exposure things might change. Right now though, Media Center is still much more likely to be bought by the PC savvy consumer. That said, if you had the Acer Idea 500 under your TV, most people would probably have no idea that it was a PC. The Idea is one of the sleekest Media Center systems I've seen. It's about the size of an average DVD player though it does have a hint of 80’s VCR about it."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/acer_media_center.jpg" /> <br /><br />One of the hurdles PC makers are having with Media PC systems is that their current form factors make it look out of place when placed next to standard components in the living room. The Idea 500 from Acer makes an attempt at component looks but judging from the review seems to fall short in other areas such as functionality. Be sure to visit TrustedReviews for more details.