Floppyhead – Digital Media and Streaming

Alienware, purchased by Dell in 2006, is known for its distinctive computer design for the gaming crowd. In October 2006, the company announced a unique intepretation of the media center PC, called the DHS A. This latest offering to Alienware’s media center line-up is stylish and is sure to attract lots of attention at this year’s CES. According to Smarthouse.com:

The sleek looking device is set to be a big hit as many consumers will be able to eliminate a separate Amplifier while taking advantage of a PC linked digital sound system. The supplier of the Amplifier technology is believed to be D2Audio a Company who already have a relationship with Dell. D2Audio is the developer of the world’s only Intelligent digital amplifiers who recently announced that Alienware will be launching a media centre PC with a built in D2Audio amplifier. The all-in-one system combines an AMD-based digital media platform with PC functionality and an AVR internal audio amplifier.

Dell has typically avoided media centers that look like high-end audio/video components. To get CableCARD support in Vista, Microsoft had to sell-out the DIY community of PC builders and potentially smaller OEMs. Microsoft is totally reliant on the big OEM’s, like Dell and HP, to move their product. To date, HP or Dell has not been too innovative with Windows MCE computers. When was the last time a Dell product generated a lot of buzz or excitement? With Microsoft’s reliance on 3rd-party vendors to release Vista media centers with CableCARD support, Alienware could position themselves as a must have product for home theater enthusiasts.

With Vista looming on the horizon, very few of the large computer manufacturers have unveiled plans for media centers that could reside in a living room both visually and functionally. Dell, through Alienware, could capitalize on that void with the proper price-point and feature-set.