| Device Profile: HP z545 Digital Entertainment Center with x5400 Media Center Extender |
(Nov. 4, 2004)
The HP z545 Digital Entertainment Center is one of the first devices to use Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) 2005. Looking more like a DVD player than a PC, the z545 is meant to fit into the decor of a living room or home theater, and to serve as a central repository for all of a household's digital media -- including music, movies, TV, and photos.
z545 Digital Entertainment Center
The z545 is powered by a 3 GHz Pentium 4 processor and boasts a 200 GB internal hard drive supplemented by a 160 GB removable "Personal Media Drive." A writable DVD drive lets users create their own video collection. An optional Media Center Extender, also available from HP (and described below), extends the reach of the z545 throughout the home.
HP's z545 Digital Entertainment Center looks like a DVD player
From a computer-like digital connectivity and expansion perspective, HP seems to have gone wild, including one or more of just about everything imaginable. The z545 includes: a gigabit Ethernet LAN port capable of 10/100/1000 Mbps transfer rates; six USB 2.0 ports; an IEEE-1394 (Firewire) port; 802.11 b/g wireless; a "9-in-1 Flash media card reader." Plus, there's a seemingly endless list of audio and video connections (see specs listing, below).
 z545 rear panel, showing plethora of interface connectors
(click for larger image)
 Dual RF TV tuners allow recording one program while viewing another, or recording two shows simultaneously. The included Electronic Program Guide enables automatic recording of single episodes or entire series. The usual assortment of PVR (personal video recorder) functionality -- pause, replay, and record live TV -- is also supported.
All features of the z545 are accessible from the remote shown at left. The package also includes a lap-sized wireless keyboard with integrated optical trackball.
z545 specs
Key features and specifications of the z545 Digital Entertainment Center include: - Processor -- 3 GHz Pentium 4 530 with Hyper-Threading Technology
- Memory -- 512 MB DDR SDRAM, expandable to 2GB
- Video Processor -- ATI Radeon X300 SE graphics Card with 128 MB DDR memory, 16X PCI-Express
- Audio -- Intel High Definition Audio with 7.1 surround sound (pre-amp); Supports Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound
- Storage:
- 200 GB internal hard drive, 7200 RPM serial ATA
- HP Personal Media Drive bay supports removable 160 GB Personal Media Drive
- 16x double-layer DVD±R/RW Drive; Progressive Scan DVD movie playback
- Interface connections:
- Video
- Two NTSC TV tuners, each with RF coax in;
- S-video in and out
- Composite video in and out
- DVI-D (Digital Video Interface) out
- VGA for connection to plasma, LCD and DLP displays and projectors
- Audio
- FM tuner; nine user-defined FM preset stations; range 87.5 - 108.0 MHz; 75ohm RF coax antenna included
- Stereo RCA in
- Microphone in
- .25-inch headphone out
- Eight RCA audio jacks for 7.1 surround sound analog output
- Toslink optical for 5.1 digital output (S/PDIF)
- Coax for 5.1 digital output (S/PDIF)
- Ethernet -- 10/100/1000 Base-T, RJ45
- USB 2.0 -- 2 ports on front panel, 4 ports on rear
- IEEE 1394 Firewire -- 4-pin on front panel, 6-pin on rear
- Media Card Reader -- Front-accessible 9-in-1 Flash Media Card Reader; Supports Secure Digital, xD, Smart Media, MultiMedia Card, CompactFlash Types I/II, Microdrive, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro
- Wireless -- 802.11 b/g receiver (removable antenna included)
- Operating System -- Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
x5400 Media Center Extender
The x5400 Media Center Extender, based on Microsoft's previously announced Windows CE based Media Center Extender extender, uses wired or wireless Ethernet to stream audio and video from the z545 to additional TV and audio devices throughout the home. Up to five x5400 Media Center Extenders -- one wireless, the other four wired -- can run at the same time from one z545 Digital Entertainment Center.
HP's x5400 Media Center Extender
(click for larger image)
Pricing and availability
The z545 Digital Entertainment Center and x5400 Media Center Extender are available now from HP's website. The z545 is currently priced at just under $2000, while the x5400 is goes for just under $300.
Related stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.
Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.
Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.
Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.
Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.
Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.
Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.
Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed