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Hardware Alienware Announces HD Media Center
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - September 6, 2007 1:06 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 17 comment(s) - last by ND40oz.. on Sep 8 at 2:01 AM

Alienware Hanger18:HD Media Server  (Source: Alienware)
Alienware announces its rack mount media center for system integrators

Alienware today announced its latest addition to the Hangar18 media center lineup – the HD Media Server. Alienware unveiled the HD Media Server at CEDIA and targets the rack mount capable media server towards system integrators.

"CEDIA attendees have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the newest entry to Alienware's digital home line: the HD Media Server, which fulfills the demand for an easy-to-use, high definition content storage and distribution device in next-generation digital homes," said Marc Diana, Product Marketing Manager for Alienware. "In addition, the event provides a chance to see how the addition of Blu-ray Disc further elevates our acclaimed Hangar18 system."

Alienware packs the HD Media Server with up to 4TB of hot-swappable storage for recording high-definition content off the internal CableCARD compatible AMD OCUR ATSC/ClearQAM TV tuner. Alienware also plans to offer an external CableCARD capable tuner for system integrators.

Additionally, Alienware has updated its Hangar18 with a new HD Entertainment Center that delivers Blu-ray video playback with an internal BD-Rom drive. Other notable features of the Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center include 8-channel analog audio outputs and HDMI output with support for 1080p.

Update 9/7/2007: Two individual products were announced, the HD Media Server and Hangar18: HD Entertainment Center.

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rack mount media center server in the living room!
By nerdye on 9/6/2007 4:14:05 PM , Rating: 3
Ya! Everyone needs a rack mount media center server in the living room cause "conventional" small sexy media center cases are just so last week!

Next product, the bathroom dishwasher, do the dishes while taking a dump!

Its so logical!




By MGSsancho on 9/6/2007 5:37:34 PM , Rating: 3
aside from it having a bluray player, who the fsck would put a server in a living room? I see no outputs for a monitor, no IR port for a remote, no sexy display to show what media is playing or temp gauges. oh and the sounds from 5tb of storage, yeah i sooo want that in my living room. THIS IS A MEDIA SERVER!!. it will record all your HD and SD stuff from your cable company and save it. where i assume they have media comps running something like MCE for the living room. however there is currently no support for MCE to play protected (as in cable card protected. not just regular drm) over a network. this is what i want to see how alienware will do this


By MGSsancho on 9/6/2007 5:41:38 PM , Rating: 2
i checked the site, and it has a HDMI output. looks like were going to have to use 50' HDMI cables for this beast if you dont want this server in your living room. lookes like a good extender for the alienware Hanger18.


By dennisg on 9/7/2007 12:28:28 PM , Rating: 2
You mean you don't have a server closet in your basement for your home theater?

http://www.diy-home-theater-design.com/media-close...

if only I had the time and money for it. I don't think I'd leave the house but for bread and water.


OS? Graphics card? Audio DSP?
By therealnickdanger on 9/6/2007 2:32:15 PM , Rating: 2
It would be nice to know what's inside...

Also, I visited the website and the Hangar18 seems to be different device than the one pictured. The Hangar18 has a built-in amplifier (I'm sure it's crap by comparison) for surround speakers whereas the Media Server does not.

Also, why not have both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray? Seems like a smarter move...




RE: OS? Graphics card? Audio DSP?
By CyborgTMT on 9/6/2007 3:09:22 PM , Rating: 1
Because Dell is in bed with the Blu-ray. You won't find HD-DVD anywhere on Dell's site, except where they say that Blu-Ray is better.


RE: OS? Graphics card? Audio DSP?
By darkangelism on 9/6/07, Rating: -1
By mdogs444 on 9/6/2007 9:12:01 PM , Rating: 2
Wrong. Toshiba offers PC based HD-DVD drives and LG offers a BD/HD combo PC drive. Go ahead and check newegg for starters.


RE: OS? Graphics card? Audio DSP?
By Kougar on 9/6/2007 9:22:34 PM , Rating: 2
Actually there are several HD-DVD drives for the PC. Quick trip to Newegg, here's one Blu-Ray burner that doubles as a HD-DVD drive. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...


RE: OS? Graphics card? Audio DSP?
By tjr508 on 9/7/2007 6:37:01 PM , Rating: 1
I think that is funny. I would think a computer supplier would want the inferior to succeed. That way it will need replaced sooner and DELL can count on big revenue from another change in technology.


By herrdoktor330 on 9/6/2007 10:51:45 PM , Rating: 2
If it's using the AMD/ATI Cable Card tuner, it's running Vista. As of right now (until the hacker folk get their hands into it) driver support is only available on Vista via a Microsoft Driver.

You actually can't purchase these CableCard PC Tuners for now unless you're an OEM... and they're only made to work with those OEM motherboards, so there's no buying these systems just to rip the card out.

Supposedly they'll be selling these CableCard PC Tuners to retail markets soon... but in order to run these on anything other than Vista, someone will have to hack and reverse engineer the MS driver.


Hanger?
By piotrr on 9/6/2007 4:05:39 PM , Rating: 1
As in coat-hanger?




RE: Hanger?
By Quiksel on 9/6/2007 4:15:45 PM , Rating: 2
ya, because you "hanger" in your stereo rack... get it?

/har har ;)

~q


RE: Hanger?
By rbuszka on 9/6/2007 5:59:25 PM , Rating: 2
Right above your Crown MacroTech MA5000VZ power amps, I suppose.

Right there, I think this limits the appeal of this product to anyone who doesn't actually use rack components in their home theater (installations under $15k). If the rack flanges are removable, then I might consider such a beast.

Also, I wonder if they managed to fit a quiet cooling solution in there, or whether it's just 60mm jet engines like the rest of the enterprise server world uses in their 2U cases.


Rackmount
By shamgar03 on 9/7/2007 7:54:02 AM , Rating: 2
Umm I don't understand this. Everyone who has a server rack in their living room please raise your hand.... Do home media centers have racks?




RE: Rackmount
By ND40oz on 9/8/2007 2:01:39 AM , Rating: 2
Anybody with highend amps and other components will have a rack setup. I imagine Dell/Alienware is marketing this to those who drop tens of thousands on their media room setups, obviously this won't be a cheap piece of equipment.


By killerroach on 9/6/2007 11:53:09 PM , Rating: 2
...considering it's from Alienware, after all.

"Welcome to our fortress tall
Take some time to show you around
Impossible to break these walls
For you see the steel is much too strong
Computer banks to rule the world
Instruments to sight the stars

Possibly I've seen too much
Hangar 18 I know too much"
- first verse and chorus of "Hangar 18" by Megadeth

Fortress tall (rackmount)? Check.
Computer banks to rule the world? Check.
Do we know too much? Hardly.




"Nowadays you can buy a CPU cheaper than the CPU fan." -- Unnamed AMD executive











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