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The struggle for control of the living room has traditionally focused on who gets the television remote control. But technology vendors are increasingly focused on making their products the center of next-generation home entertainment, and new products are reflecting PC vendors' different approaches to entering the digital living room.

Gateway, Lindows.com, and Apple have all recently released new models tailored for multimedia applications and catering to a wide variety of audiences.

Gateway's three new desktops and new notebook feature Microsoft Windows XP and Intel processors in high-end Digital Film Maker PCs. Lindows.com is partnering with Medialand Systems to bring the Linux-based Lindows operating system to consumers in a media PC priced under $350. And Apple's loyal customer base will have three new Power Mac G4s to choose from, including two dual-processor models.

Embracing Multimedia

The recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas crystallized a trend that has been growing for some time: PCs with sharp displays and multimedia CD and DVD drives are emerging as viable competitors to digital entertainment devices. At the same time, consumer electronics devices are adding computing power to better compete in the entertainment market.

Consumer electronics companies generally operate on thinner margins than PC vendors, but don't understand the emerging technologies as well, said Rob Enderle, research fellow at Giga Information Group. The PC vendors are able to identify and incorporate those emerging technologies faster than their consumer electronics counterparts, but at a higher price, he said.

Early adopters are usually willing to pay a premium for new technologies, but the current economic situation colors that strategy, Enderle said.

"It's a tough year to bring out a product like this, but you only have the time you're allotted. If you wait, the technology will have moved," he said.

Beleaguered PC companies claim they are satisfied with the sales of PCs that use Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system, said Roger Kay, director of client computing at market research firm IDC. However, not enough data is available yet to say whether the idea has been a success, he said.

Several companies, including Gateway and Hewlett-Packard, launched Media Center PCs to coincide with the launch of Media Center Edition in late October.

Gateway Does Video

However, none of the new Gateway Digital Film Maker PCs run Windows XP Media Center Edition. The company essentially took three of its 700 series desktops and its 600XL notebook and added media features such as DVD editing software from Pinnacle Systems. The 700XL is the top-of-the-line system, with two 18-inch flat panel displays for separate editing and playback functions, a DVD-RAM/DVD-R/CD-RW drive, and a hefty price tag of $4199.

Intel's fastest desktop processor, the 3.06-GHz Pentium 4, and its fastest notebook processor, the 2.4-GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor-M, are featured in the Gateway XL desktop and notebook PCs. The 700S runs a 2.4-GHz Pentium 4, and the 700X runs a 2.66-GHz Pentium 4.

"If you're really going to do [video editing], even as an enthusiast, not a professional, you want the top performance to reduce the amount of time you're going to spend doing this work," said Jeff Schindler, director of video solutions for Gateway.

To complete the digital video package, consumers who buy a new Gateway Digital Film Maker PC will get $100 off a digital video camcorder from Gateway.

Lindows Lengthens

The new Lindows Media Computer isn't designed to create digital media, but allows users to play DVDs, CDs, and MP3 files on a PC. It's available priced under $350 through Medialand Systems' Idot.com Web site.

The Lindows system uses Via Technologies' C3 processor and bundles software that lets users access their America Online e-mail and instant messenger accounts.

LindowsOS is based on the open-source Linux operating system, but contains proprietary code that is not released to the general Linux community. The company has bundled LindowsOS with PCs from Microtel Computer Systems and processors from Via for sale on Walmart.com. The operating system is also available for download from the Lindows.com Web site.

"Consumers are indifferent to what's under the hood, as long as it works, and they definitely care about price," Kay said.

Apple's Entries

The new Power Mac G4s cater to the middle of the PC market. Users looking for added performance can purchase a Power Mac with dual PowerPC processors, developed jointly by IBM, Motorola, and Apple.

The top Power Mac with dual 1.42-GHz processors, priced at $2699, is Apple's fastest desktop PC yet released, said Greg Joswiak, vice president of hardware product marketing for Apple.

A dual 1.25-GHz processor system is available for $1999, as well as a single 1.0-GHz PowerPC model for $1499. These are new prices for Apple's G4s, which previously ranged from $1699 for the low-end model, and $2499 at the midrange, to $3299 for the high-end base models, Joswiak said. Users can build Apple PCs to order through the Apple Store at the company's Web site.

Apple's historical role in advancing multimedia technologies, such as the DVD burner, is continued with the new FireWire 800 standard, a faster port for downloading digital video content. The top configuration comes with Apple's SuperDrive (a DVD-R/CD-RW drive) and IDVD software, which can be added to the other configurations for $200.

Apple has also released a 20-inch flat-panel Apple Cinema Display to replace its previous top-end 22-inch display, said Scott Brodrick, line manager for displays. As part of an effort to bring Apple's displays more in line with mainstream pricing, the company is significantly reducing the prices of its displays, he said. The 22-inch display was priced at $2499, but the new 20-inch display is available for $1299.

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