System that allows you to really be in control

By PETER GRIFFIN

Computer enthusiasts have been dragging their PCs into the lounge for some time to run an all-digital entertainment hub.

Now Microsoft has got in on the game, releasing Windows XP Media Centre Edition, in a bid to drive the convergence of computers and TV - a new growth area for the saturated PC market.

The concept combines a hybrid version of Microsoft's Windows XP operating system that allows access to digital media, with a hardware system that lets the hard drive serve as a digital video recorder.

That will enable TV viewers to "time-shift" - recording live TV to the PC's hard drive and pause playback as desired with a remote control.

"You can pause TV, take a phone call, come back and press play," said Microsoft's Windows platform manager, Jay Templeton. "Live TV has gone ahead of you. Sorry advertisers."

Windows XP Media Centre Edition will also provide an electronic programming guide - in much the same way as Sky Digital's electronic menu - but with the added benefit of being able to use it to record programmes.

But a system for updating the programme information will have to be put in place first with local TV networks. Templeton said negotiations were under way with both Sky and TVNZ, but getting use of the programme listings was at least six months away.

He said Media Centre would be likely to be selling locally by Christmas.

In addition to recording to hard drive from the TV, users could use a universal remote to play mp3 audio files, control their PC's CD or DVD drive, bring up a web browser on their TV screen - or any other function a conventional PC can carry out.

But Media Centre will not come as upgrade software for your existing PC. It will need a new hardware system with a gruntier computer processor, TV tuner card and infrared receiver. Hewlett Packard already has a version available. The extra processing power is needed to record programmes to the hard drive. The complete package will sell for $2000 to $3000, not including the screen or surround- sound speakers.

Tied in with Media Centre is Smart Display, a portable touchscreen LCD device that can be carried around the house and connect back to the PC via a wireless network.

It allows you to move away from your PC, so you can send emails or surf the web from the comfort of the couch or anywhere else in the house.

Electronics makers such as Philips and Viewsonic are making versions of Smart Display, which with a service pack upgrade can be used to wirelessly control PCs running Windows XP Professional. But the devices won't come cheap - expect a price of $2000 to $4000, the price of a high-powered PC set-up. The technology is not there yet, but soon you may also be able to wirelessly stream a DVD video, from your PC to the Smart Display .

While Media Centre would be most effective when viewed on high-resolution, large- screen TVs, a "10-foot user-interface" was a minimum for the average 15-inch TV screen.