Comfort computing doesn't hit the spot yet

By PETER GRIFFIN

A few years back, before the advent of the tablet PC, software maker Microsoft dreamed up plans for a device dubbed Mira, a stripped-down PC built within a lightweight LCD screen panel that would give you all the functionality of your PC away from the PC.

It was to be a kind of "thin client" for the home user.

A Wi-fi 802.11b chip built into the device would talk back to a wireless base station connected to the PC, giving you a remote view of your computer desktop and allowing you to stream multimedia files at up to 11Mbps (megabits per second).

It sounded like a good idea at the time and it still is. But the first wave of Mira-type devices are facing tough competition from laptops and the tablet PC.

The DesXcape from Philips represents that Mira vision: a 15in, lightweight, silvery flat-panel LCD screen with built-in Wi-Fi, a touch-sensitive screen that can be scribbled on with a stylus or your fingernail if you want. The DesXcape comes with a wireless keyboard for easy typing.

The idea is that you replace your bulky, cathode-ray computer monitor with this sleek device, using it as your main screen and lifting it off its cradle should you want to cruise the web in bed or anywhere else within about 35-50m of the wireless base station.

The flexibility it provides is great. Instead of firing up the PC to obtain some information or stream audio files from the MP3 collection, you just tap the DesXcape's screen.

Obviously there is some delay as you navigate your way through the computer's file system; that's part and parcel of Wi-Fi. But the delay is sufferable for the comfort of breaking that rigid physical relationship with the PC.

Regular applications such as Word and Outlook Express run smoothly. I skipped through a hundred pages of the freely available Jules Verne e-book 20,000 Leagues under the Sea in Microsoft Reader with ease. The DesXcape presents clear type and is the perfect vehicle for e-books.

Audio streaming is by and large flawless; the wi-fi connection manages to transfer the songs with minimum stuttering.

Video is another story. The real value I see in DesXcape-esque devices is the ability to stream video from a central location. Pop a DVD in the drive of your computer, wander into the lounge with the DesXcape and enjoy 15in of DVD-quality video in comfort.

In reality, video proves too much for DesXcape's wireless capability. The result is a series of slow-motion freeze frames overlaid with a stop-start soundtrack. Those investing in this first-generation equipment can't expect a full multimedia experience.

Beautifully designed - a trait of Philips' success in consumer electronics - DesXcape makes the process of setting up the wireless network surprisingly simple.

Its cradle is a weighty little device that will tie up two USB ports on your computer, a situation that may prove troublesome for those with limited USB ports. on their machines. The device feeds off the internet access link sitting behind your computer.

I tried surfing the web with DesXcape sitting in my garden using dial-up and DSL internet links. The latter's speed obviously gave a much better surfing experience.

It's a useful tool for those into comfort computing, but you get the feeling that DesXcape isn't quite there yet. With the falling price of laptops and tablet PCs, many of which are lightweight and have built-in wi-fi and DVD drives, the DesXcape looks like a seriously under-powered offering.

Then there's the fact that no one can use the computer while DesXcape is in use. It's a one-user, one-client environment. Nevertheless, devices such as DesXcape point to the way to how we will access digital content in the future.

Philips DesXcape

$3500

Pros: Impressive design, easy set-up.

Cons: Expensive relative to laptops, ties up main computer, unable to stream video.

Rating: 6/10