Samsung 46 Commercial SyncMaster? LCD Monitor with MagicNet? Network Ca

Samsung 46 Commercial SyncMaster? LCD Monitor with MagicNet? Network Ca
Manufacturer: Samsung
Product Type: Home Improvement

Editorial Review:
Product Description

1366 x 768 pixel resolution

800:1 contrast ratio

16:9 aspect ratio

MagicNet? technology allows you to control the display over a network in a digital signage application

Schedule your content to be displayed on multiple units over a network

Xtrawide? 170?H/170?V viewing angle

0.249mm H/V pixel pitch

Dual inputs accommodate analog or digital signal

S-Video, BNC, CVBS video, analog RGB, DVI-D and component video inputs

43 1/2 W x 25 7/8 H x 5 D; weight: 61.7 lbs.

3 year warranty

Special handling fees apply

Average customer rating: 4.5

A really good bargain for a multi-use system
This is an awesome base system--add your own accessories

Similar Items:

HP F2105 21" LCD Flat Panel Monitor
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium UPGRADE [DVD]

Listmania:

Misc
Braintrove.com - Computers - Desktops

HP Pavilion Media Center TV M7640N Desktop PC (AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 5000+, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti Drive)

Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard Office
Product Group: Personal Computer
Binding: Personal Computers
ASIN: B000ITOKRM

Related Categories:

Desktops

All Hewlett-Packard

| Hewlett-Packard | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics

HP Pavilion Desktops

Hewlett-Packard

Amazon.com Product Description

The easy-to-use HP m7640n Media Center PC is the complete home PC system that delivers more entertainment choices, and brings them together in one place with easy access from anywhere in the room. You can watch, record, and pause live TV programming as well as schedule the PC to record upcoming episodes or entire series. The built-in TV tuner and personal video recorder (PVR) let you watch, pause, rewind, and record live television--up to 185 hours on this 320 GB hard drive. An online Electronic Program Guide (EPG) lets you review the TV schedule and select individual episodes or entire series, so you can watch your favorite shows on your own time, at your own convenience. And you can easily burn TV shows and home video to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format LightScribe DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc. LightScribe technology burns custom, silkscreen-quality labels and artwork directly onto LightScribe-enabled discs, right inside the drive.

A built-in drive bay fits an optional HP Personal Media Drive (PMD), for up to 300 GB of additional storage that you can carry away with you when you go (PMD not included). It also features a built-in camera bay, designed to accommodate the docking stations on select HP cameras--providing convenient access and optimal cable management.

This desktop is powered by the 2.6 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ dual-core processor, which increases the efficiency and speed of the PC while running multiple programs and the latest multi-threaded software. It also features 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), Nvidia GeForce 6150 LE video card (with up to 256 MB of shared video memory), 15-in-1 memory card reader, up to 8 channels of surround sound, and Windows Media Center edition operating system. This is a Windows Vista capable PC, and it's also Windows Vista Premium ready.

The Basics
<ul>

Hard Drive: The very roomy 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing up to 185 hours of television programming, a vast multimedia collection, or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

Processor: AMD's Athlon 64 X2 5000+ dual-core processor is built for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, which will require a processor with significant power. It outperforms the highest-performing AMD Athlon 64 4000+ single-core processor on multi-tasking benchmarks by up to 30 percent. Dual-core technology is like having two processors working together, each one taking care of different applications, so power-users actually experience greater performance when multiple applications are running. Digital media enthusiasts will appreciate the enhancements while simultaneously working in high-definition video and photo editing and audio mixing programs. It includes such AMD features as HyperTransport Technology (which increases the communication between integrated circuits) and Enhanced Virus Protection.

This 2.6 GHz processor offers a system bus with speeds up to a blazing 2000 MHz and each core offers a 512 KB L2 cache--for a 1 MB total. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

Memory: The 2 GB of built-in memory (2 x 1 GB, PC4200, DDR2 SDRAM) is a good start right out of the box, and it offers a very fast 533 MHz speed. This desktop has a 4 GB maximum RAM capacity (4 x 1 GB), excellent for your multimedia needs today and tomorrow.

CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, this multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 16x DVD-R, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, 40x CD-R, and 32x CD-RW write speeds. It also offers 16x DVD-ROM and 40x CD-ROM read speeds.

This LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.

Keyboard & Mouse: This desktop comes with an HP multimedia keyboard and optical mouse (both PS/2) and remote control. </ul> Screen, Graphics and Sound
This desktop features an integrated Nvidia GeForce 6150LE graphics/video card with up to 256 MB of shared video memory (allocated from the system RAM). Nvidia's exclusive TurboCache technology allows direct rendering from the GPU to system memory by leveraging the bi-directional PCI Express bandwidth. The TurboCache Manager dynamically allocates memory for maximum system performance while intelligent software algorithms maximize application performance. It also offers an integrated audio card that can produce high definition surround sound configurable to 8 speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
For expansion, this desktop features a built-in camera bay that designed to accommodate the docking stations on select HP cameras, as well as a drive bay that fits an optional HP Personal Media Drive--which enables you to add 300 GB of storage for your video and music libraries. It has three PCI expansion slots (one available), one PCI x16 Express slot (available), two external 5.25 drive bays (one available), one internal 3.5 drive bay (occupied), and the following external ports on the front: <ul>

2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players

1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 front and 1 back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals

Composite video, S-Video, and analog audio inputs

Headphone and microphone jacks

15-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Pro/Duo/Pro Duo, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, XD Picture Card, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, MMC+ </ul> The following I/O ports are found on the back: <ul>

4 USB 2.0 ports

1 FireWire

Video (VGA, composite, S-Video)

Audio output: digital audio out, surround sound speakers--rear, side, center (subwoofer)

2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice </ul> It includes an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. The HP Photosmart Premier photo and imaging software makes digital photography fast and easy by helping you organize, edit, protect, and share your digital pictures and video clips. Sonic's DigitalMedia Plus makes it easy and intuitive to back up your pictures, videos, and music onto DVD-R/+R media for safekeeping. It also comes with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Symantec Norton Internet Security 2006 (with 60 days of LiveUpdate), PC Recovery, MSN Encarta Plus, Microsoft Money, Muvee AutoProducer, and RealRhapsody.

Dimensions and Weight
This desktop measures 15.16 x 7.6 x 16.54 inches (HxWxD) and weighs approximately 27 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Media Center m7640n desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, remote control, and power cord. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 90 days from date of purchase.

Product Description

Unlock an amazing new world of digital entertainment with a dual-core AMD processor, wireless home networking, high-definition video and 7.1 surround sound. nVidia Pure Video delivers crisp pictures by eliminating double images, blurring and distortions. The HP Media Center Remote Control provides access to your digital music, photos and videos from across the room. The DVD SuperMulti Drive lets you create your own digital photo albums and music mixes on DVD or CD. LightScribe technology burns custom, silkscreen-quality labels and artwork directly onto LightScribe-enabled discs right inside the drive. The built-in TV tuner lets you watch, pause, rewind and record live television on your Media Center PC. 320 GB SATA 7200 rpm Hard drive DVD-RAM Up to 12x, DVD-R DL Write Once Up to 8x, DVD+R DL Write Once Up to 8x, DVD+R Write Once Up to 16x, DVD+RW Rewritable Up to 8x, DVD-R Write Once Up to 16x, DVD-RW Rewritable Up to 6x, DVD ROM Read Up to 16x, CD-R Write Once Up to 40x, CD-RW Rewritable Up to 32x, CD-ROM Read Up to 40x NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Graphics with TurboCache and with up to 256MB of shared memory Front Panel 15-in-1 Reader - Supports SmartMedia, xD, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, Mini Secure Digital, CompactFlash, Microdrive, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, & MMC+ Ports (front) - 1x FireWire, 2 USB, 1 Headphone, 1 Microphone, 1 Audio L-R, 1 S-video in & 1 Composite video in Ports (back) - 2 PS2, 1 Parallel, 4 USB, 1x Firewire, 1 LAN, 1 SPDIF out (coaxial) and 1 SPDIF in Expansion Bays - 2 External 5.25 (1 available) / 1 Internal 3.5 (occupied) / 1 HP Personal Media Drive Bay (available) Expansion Slots - 3 PCI (1 available) / 1 PCI Express x16 (available) Windows Media Center Edition 2005, Vista Capable Dimensions - Height 15.2 x Width 7.6 x Depth 16.5 inches / Weight - 27 pounds Monitor is not included

Customer Reviews:

A really good bargain for a multi-use system.......2007-02-23

I've had my HPm7640n for about 2 months. During that time, I have used the system mostly in Media Center mode. I have listened to my MP3s, watched DVDs, watched cable TV, recorded cable TV, listened to FM radio, and used the TV Guide that you are allowed free access to using Media Center. I have to say I am incredibly impressed with all of the features Microsoft actually thought to include here, and I'm NOT a Microsoft fan.

If you run the guide to help you set up all of your channels (it works using your zip code and cable carrier info), you can record by simply clicking on the show in the listings. So far I have gone 12 hours ahead and still had data for upcoming shows. I have also recorded manually before I had my Internet connection set up so it is possible to use the record without the guide; it just doesn't make a lot of sense to do so if you have Internet (I use a router and the LAN card for Internet, but I notice my modem port is always open so I have been unable to test the dial-up internet capabilities--I'm tempted to call HP about this since it's as if the modem is broken).

The box include an FM antenna, which you will probably need in most cases since reception inside the home tends to be bad without one. I get all of my local stations with my antenna tacked to the wall about 3 feet above the system. My folder full of MP3s can be listed in the My Music category using album, artist, or title of song and you can actually choose to play all songs from an album or artist this way. It's very convenient if, say, you want to listen to Marvin Gaye's entire collection non-stop. I use the music while running on my treadmill for constant listening commercial-free.

I have also used the DVD player. Since I knew I might want to record one DVD to another, I installed a second Lightscribe DVD (also by Samsung like the one the PC came with) that was only thirty-five bucks at my local PC shop (it was a non-branded version, but Samsung is on the packaging). This is great for playing DVDs back to back as well. There is a Media Center option, My DVD, to use for this.

The My TV section is how you watch and record live TV. If you have cable TV, all you have to do is connect your cable to the tuner card and it's smooth sailing. I actually use this PC in my living room as my TV. My monitor is too small at 19" (not an HP monitor), but I plan to move up to a 25" soon. The picture looks great, though. The Microsoft remote it comes with enables you to adjust volume, channel, and which mode you are in (My DVD, My TV, My Music, etc) as well as giving you access to the inserted DVD's menu, the Guide, and the ability to exit Media Center or shut down the PC completely.

I once left my machine up for 3 days because I was doing continuous recording of TV and discovered that Windows MCE does not seem to like this. It seems a good idea to reboot regularly so now I shut it down most evenings before I go to bed. Another negative is how long it takes to bring up your music list if you have a lot of MP3s. I have over 8000 and it takes quite a few seconds the first time I bring Media Center up for them to be recognized. A third negative I am not sure how to fix is that the recording starts a little too soon; my PC's clock shows it's 9:29pm for instance and the recording starts then and ends one minute early. I suspect the Guide time is a little off the show time. It meant I once missed the very end of a show. Kind of annoying, but not a showstopper.

Plain and simply, this type of PC is an idea whose time had come. They could make a few improvements like allowing the user to see stuff on her PC while in Media Center or integrating the remote control into the box (it talks to a separate USB device) and making it more ergonomic (buttons are placed poorly, in my opinion), but all in all I have not been disappointed. And, since I delete most TV recordings after I've watched them (look for that great feature that allows you to commit them to DVD!), I have yet to run out of space.

One last thing: The reason I think it's so cheap is you get no CDs to reinstall or install all features of the products included. This has become de facto, but I don't like it. The Sonic MyDVD was installed poorly on my system; it exits out with an error every time and I'm afraid to run the repair application module (HP included this) because I can not reinstall completely if the fix did not work. The program works; it's just buggy for some reason. You do get a 3-year warranty with this thing and phone support as well.

This is an awesome base system--add your own accessories.......2006-12-04

As the owner of seven computers in seven years (it's possible if you really try at it), I suppose I have more than a little experience with home use systems. Of course one can never objectively compare one computer he has bought with another he has bought a year ago; the ever-marching advance of technology makes this impossible. However, one CAN compare a computer to others in its price range and relative feature set. I must say that on that front the HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7640n PC stacks up quite well.

I must point out a few things about this particular package before I go on. The price basically includes the CPU box, the mouse and keyboard (both wired), the remote control and its RF receiver, and some assorted extras (a coaxial cable, an FM antenna, etc.). Most people by this point have already bought a computer from the circa-2003 period. If so, then you likely have a flat panel monitor already. Whether or not this is the case, HP is not known for their monitors (though the standard ratio 19" model has very good stats--much better, oddly enough, than the 17" version in the same product range). You would do better, therefore, to supplement this system with a quality monitor by another manufacturer.

Those minor points set aside, I will now comment on my general experience. I have had the computer for almost a month now, and I have found that it performs admirably. For starters, do not let the cheaper price (relative to Intel-based platforms) fool you: AMD technology is not only competitive with Intel, but in many respects it is superior. I will comment more on that in the specific section devoted to the processor.

In my general experience, the dual core processing provides marked improvement over single core systems (even those with clock speeds grossly exceeding this system's 2.6 GHz figure). The most apparent instance of this is when running multiple applications simultaneously. Of course this is the selling mark of all dual core technology, and I can testify that there truly is a difference. System lag that used to freeze up lesser systems is all but a non-issue on the m7640n. Notably, background operations no longer affect system performance. Anti-virus and anti-spyware software in particular benefits from this; I was in the past inclined to deactivate real time protection from these sources because of the system resources they drew.

This increase in performance is as much thanks to the 2 GB of rapid memory as it is to the dual core nature of the processor. Overall, this system is very well integrated. Things just work on the m7640n. No second thoughts.

Now for the specific points of review:

-PROCESSOR-

This computer comes equipped with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ dual core processor, which operates at 2.6 GHz. Contrary to my orignal (incorrect) information, *each* processing core has a peak speed of 2.6 GHz. But in the System Properties screen, don't be alarmed to see a figure of 989 MHz--Windows does not recognize the second core of dual core processors, so only a single figure is given. But why 989 MHz? The computer, by default, uses the Energy Star power scheme (you can change this in the Power Options window, found in the Control Panel). The Energy Star scheme modulates the power and clock speed of the processor. This is so that, when there is less to process, the chip can use less power. This generates less heat, which not only allows the fan to be quieter, but also prolongs the life of the chip. If you select, for example, the Always On power scheme, then the processor will be perpetually maxed-out and the figure displayed in the System Properties window will be 2.61 GHz.

In the real world, less than peak-level clock speed on a dual core processor is more than adequate because some applications--typically multimedia encoding software--are written with multiple threads. A dual core processor can divvy up the work across both its cores and thereby accomplish twice as much as a single core processor. Benchmark tests confirm this; in fact, the abstract on this page cites the results of a test between a single- and dual core AMD Athlon 64 processor. Note, however, that in testing I noticed a tremendous difference in performance between the throtted (Energy Star power profile) and unthrottled processor--almost 40% when encoding an AAC file in iTunes. Keep this in mind when handling heavy rendering tasks.

It is interesting to note that the 5000+ is a very rare processor in pre-configured systems; most computers come with any of the following: 3800+, 4200+, or 4600+.

-FUTURE-PROOF-

But you may be wondering how AMD can ever compete with Intel's new Core 2 Duo series. Well, that's complicated. Unlike Intel's original Pentium D (over which AMD's dual core solution led by a non-inclusive margin), Core 2 Duo represents a quantum leap for Intel. At the time I originally wrote this review, there was a lack of reliable comparisons between the two technologies. It is my painful duty, therefore, to retract some of my earlier statements: Intel has recaptured the performance crown for now. However, it's not all bad news. You see, the Core 2 Duo chips all inhabit the higher price range computers, while the lower range dual core setups are still using Pentium D. Therefore, at this price point, AMD is still unbeatable because its main competition comes from the outdated and outclassed Pentium D. Even the lower level Core 2 Duo chips cannot completely outperform the 5000+, which inhabits the same price range. Finally and most importantly, in the second quarter of 2007 AMD will be releasing the first major update to its K8 architecture in over three years, K8L--this version will be drop-in compatible with previous Socket AM2 processors, thus allowing for a solid upgrade path. This new revision will be AMD's answer to Core 2 Duo, and will allow all those who adopt current Athlon 64 X2 platforms to enjoy very good performance in the near-term, and potentially industry-leading performance in just half a year with a processor upgrade.

-MEMORY-

This computer comes stock with two 1 GB modules of DDR2 PC2-4200 SDRAM, which operate at 533 MHz. In my extensive testing, the performance gain achieved by 2 GB versus just 1 GB of this type of memory is astounding. A machine running 1 GB of this memory type was constantly displaying the low memory message; the m7640n has yet to have memory issues. The perceptual performance improvement is staggering--even with over 700 MB of system resources in use (as shown in the Windows Task Manager), there is no drag whatsoever. And, should this ever change in the future, the m7640n can be expanded up to 4 GB of memory (hindered only by the 32-bit nature of the Windows OS--a 64-bit system can support somewhere around 18 billion GB (!) of physical memory).

-HARD DRIVE-

This is the only place where this system is somewhat lacking. Maybe several years ago 320 GB seemed like a whole lot of hard drive space, but with systems routinely shipping with at least 500 GB these days, 320 GB seems a little pale in comparison. Of course I am evaluating this in the context of what this machine is intended for: recording and storing live video. Video takes up HUGE amounts of hard drive space, as does uncompressed audio. Audio recorded in 24-bit, 96 kHz (the professional standard) also takes up additional space as opposed to traditional CD quality uncompressed audio. All in all, I believe a media center PC should have at least 500 GB of hard drive space.

The simple and economical solution would be to add a second internal hard drive, except that this is next to impossible. Being that the m7640n is a mid tower--and given that it has the worst internal design I have ever seen--space is at a premium. And--get this--in their current configuration the power cords aren't long enough to reach the bottom of the case, where the second drive needs to be placed. They need to be reconfigured in order to free a segment that makes it to the bottom of the case; this is the most frustrating logic puzzle ever to come with a computer, and most users will likely just give up at this point. Plus, unlike some machines, there is no good place to just rest the drive--circuitry abounds, and the consequences of the metal portions of the drive case causing a short between two components are too gruesome even to contemplate.

HP did some thinking about this, and they decided to include a drive bay for what they call a Personal Media Drive (PMD). The concept is ingenious, in fact: The drive functions both as an internal drive (when inserted in a compatible HP Pavilion) and as an external hard drive (using the provided USB and power cables). Unfortunately, the PMD bay is right where the optional second internal hard drive would normally be placed. This is of course by design because there is ample room for this bay on the bottom of the case--after all, one is supposed to put his second internal hard drive down there. Despite the shady business ploy, the PMD is a great idea and I currently have the 500GB version. Read my review of the PMD for details.

-VIDEO-

This is an area where I am less qualified to be objective. I am not a gamer, nor do I use the computer for watching video (though of course the latter may change now that I have all the capabilities of this computer at my fingertips). Therefore, the video is not very important to me. This computer has up to 256 MB of shared video memory, which is fine for my purposes. Reports have it that this configuration is inadequate for gaming and serious multimedia applications. If this is the case with you, then these same reports advocate that the maximum one need spend on a video card with dedicated memory is around $150.00.

-SOUND-

I can give a better evaluation here. While of course integrated audio can never truly approach the quality of dedicated audio, sometimes IA can be surprisingly good. This is the case with the m7640n. The Realtek ALC 888 chipset is the second best Realtek makes at the moment. Its sound is very, very good. It's a little quiet compared to some dedicated audio (for example, the Creative Audigy 2 ZS Notebook has a sensitivity of 104 dB, whereas the Realtek ALC 888 has a sensitivity of 97 dB--the Creative is over twice as loud by those figures), but it still packs a pretty good punch. There are analog outputs for up to eight speakers (seven satellites and a subwoofer), and there is also a coaxial digital output for dedicated surround systems. In addition, while noisy, the line in is in stereo on this model. Also, the R/L channel output is duplicated on the front panel, with an integrated headphone amplifier. This means that the jack is in easy reach and is also optimized for headphone use.

In my usage, this audio chipset is more than adequate for everyday use. Integrated audio is usually pretty bad, especially on notebooks. I suppose the media center nature of the m7640n is the reason why HP sprung for high quality audio components in this instance.

-MISCELLANEOUS-

The wired mouse and keyboard included with this package are pretty standard. The mouse is optical, unlike the rollerball mice generally packaged with the cheaper Pavilions. The keyboard is of the quasi-multimedia type, and its added functionality is very well thought out. Specifically, the assignable buttons are useful (though of course the label on the button no longer matches its function). My only real qualm is that it retains the original Pavilion color scheme: gray with silver. This just looks horrible, and was a turnoff for me for many years regarding HP Pavilions. The remote control works surprisingly well from a distance and from different angles, and this is ideal for hiding the unit and its RF receiver in a living room somewhere. The only problem is that only the basic volume function works when a multimedia program is not the active window. In a sense, this negates the value of the remote for such programs, as one has to get up and bring the program to the active window, anyway.

The software bundle included with the machine is pretty basic--mostly, each application offers minimal functionality, with an option to upgrade for a fee to obtain more features. Even so, this software handles basic functions quite well. Of course the one full-featured piece of software that exists in Windows XP MCE 2005 is the Media Center application. This is undoubtedly the operating system's best asset--it's like TiVo, but without the monthly fee for the guide. Plus, you can organize your music, movies, and pictures and play them back with ease. You can even listen to and record FM radio, which is a nice little feature.

The LightScribe DVD burner performs very well in regards to the CD format. I haven't actually tried playing a DVD, nor have I used it to burn a DVD. Obviously, then, I haven't tried the LightScribe technology. Even so, I can tell you a few things about it. It requires special media (which, reports have it, is significantly more expensive than conventional recording media), the designs are silkscreen-quality, albeit monochromatic; and the process is somewhat time consuming. Reports I have read place the timeframe anywhere from ten to twenty minutes, depending on the complexity of the design. The nice thing is that, as technology advances, LightScribe drives can have their firmware and drivers updated so that they can take advantage of the new technology. This means that, should somebody discover a way to produce full-color LightScribe media, your drive will be capable of upgrading to this new functionality.

-OVERALL-

Overall, this is a great system. Those concerned with gaming performance will likely want to upgrade to dedicated audio and video cards, but other than that, there isn't much that needs to be done to this system to make it a first class multimedia and gaming powerhouse. It has a powerful processor (one of AMD's best at the moment), a promising upgrade path to K8L architecture, a huge amount of rapid RAM, enough hard drive space for everything but media archiving (sigh), and it even employs some promising proprietary technology with the PMD bay. Plus, it's under $1,000. So if you're looking for an affordable, high performance multimedia desktop, look no further than the m7640n.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics

Consumer Electronics

Cybertron X-Blade AMD Sempron 2500+ / 512MB DDR / 80GB HDD / DVD-ROM / 10/100Mbps LAN / No OS / Gree

Planar PT1700M - flat panel display - TFT - 17"

Philips AZT3202 Portable CD Player with FM Tuner

HP OmniBook 500 - PIII 600 MHz - RAM : 128 MB - HD : 10 GB - CD - Win2000 - 12.1" TFT 1024 x 768

M Pro 3.80G 2 2/80.0 Xpp

Acer AL1717ABM 17" LCD Monitor

Texas Instruments TI-85 Advanced Graphing Scientific Calculator

HP OmniBook 7150 - PII 300 MHz - RAM : 64 MB - HD : 8.1 GB - DVD - NT 4.0 - 14.1" TFT 1024 x 768