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06/20/2001 Archived Entry: "HP Mixes Linux With Home Entertainment"

HP Mixes Linux With Home Entertainment
Long considered a premium brand in the home office, Hewlett-Packard is hoping to extend its reach into the living room with the introduction of the HP Digital Entertainment Center -- a hybrid, digital audio device that bridges the PC and consumer electronics realms.

HP's Entertainment Center, which will be due out this fall in time for the 2001 holiday shopping season, is a standalone device that operates on an Intel 566 Celeron processor with the Linux-based OS. Designed to resemble a component in a regular stereo rack, it comes equipped with a 40GB hard-drive, CD-RW, 3 USB ports as well as the standard S-video connection and RCA video jacks. For the home networking enthusiasts, the device connects to the Internet (or personal area networks) by way of a V90 dial-up modem, Ethernet port or HPNA (phone line) connection. The device is expected to sell for under $1,000.