Ace Computers to release $999 CableCard-equipped home theater PCs

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HTPC must turn into iSTB: The concept of an HTPC makes perfect sense from the engineer's perspective... but it does not reflect the reality in terms of what the market demands.

That does not mean that the market would not demand Media Center technology in their living rooms. It's just that the market wants this technology in a set-top-box experience... not a "PC" experience.

So, Acer might have something here, but there are two fundamental issues:

1. It's likely not housed in a STB-style case. If it were, it would at least be designed to fit within an A/V rack. However, if it's in a standard mini-tower, then it's more destined to be in the home office. Sure, that means the customer can buy extenders and use those as STBs... but, they don't come with the base unit (so many might not be aware they even exist!), and it also means keeping the office PC on as a server 24/7, which is not something a lot of people are comfortable with.

2. It's too expensive as compared to the leased STBs from cable providers. Why can't Media Centers come financed like STBs are? They could be, but that model does not exist in the PC sales world, and as a result, a media center's up-front cost will make it prohibitive to the majority of consumers who do not want to lay out $1000 when an STB is "free" (although, we all know that it's $15/month ongoing).

Sure, Media Center is far superior to any STB out there. But Betamax was supposedly superior to VHS, and SACD is superior in audio quality to the MP3 file.

The technology is there, but the marketing ain't (yet). Media Center needs to be re-thunk-through, and re-imagined as an iSTB... a connected set-top-box experience. Once it feels like an iSTB and not an HTPC, then we can start talking real penetration. But good luck getting the "PC" out of Microsoft and its OEMs!

Jon Deutsch
jon[at]midiservices.com; Posted by: emailme@... Posted on: 01/01/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use