Dell has become one of the first vendors in the region to employ Intel’s new Viiv digital home platform with the launch of its Dimension 5150c and 9150 desktop PCs.
Viiv – first launched by Intel in September 2005 – is a reference design for a PC that predominantly plays audio and video content downloaded via the internet. The new platform is basically a suite of technologies and is similar to Intel’s Centrino mobile technology used in notebooks.
Dell’s new Viiv (pronounced ‘five’) PCs feature Intel’s dual-core processors, Microsoft’s Media Centre 2005 (yet to be launched in the region) and Native Command Queuing (NCQ) hard drives. The 5150c and 9150 also feature a high definition 7.1 channel audio and Intel’s Quick Resume technology, which allows users to turn their system on and off more quickly. In addition, Dell is also offering users a gigabit network card, however this is only available on the high-end 9150 model.
Meanwhile, Fujitsu Siemens has unveiled its Viiv-based Scaleo H and E PC series at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, USA. The firm’s Scaleo H series is currently available in the region, however its E series will be out this summer.
Based on the results of a recent itp.net poll, it seems Intel and other vendors still have lots of marketing to be done in order for the new platform to take-off in the region. The poll revealed that 66.67% of users are not currently even aware of the Viiv platform, while 26.67% claimed to be uninterested in using the technology.
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