It is the season for marriages and this month sees a long-awaited wedding in the technology world; after years of courtship, the first Mass-Market marriage between a PC and a television has taken place.

The Philips Easylife LX2000 living room PC & HDTV package is exclusively available at PC World, the leading UK computing superstore, priced at less than £850!

This complete home entertainment package includes a 26” Philips HD-ready LCD TV plus a compact glossy black and silver Philips PC.

Watch, pause or record live digital television, download movies straight from the Internet, check your emails wirelessly, enjoy all of your digital photographs and listen to your music collection - all this on your 26” TV.

In addition your PC also functions as a personal video recorder (PVR) allowing you to access all of the Freeview channels and store your favourite programmes.

The good news for the bride’s parents is that the solution is provided for less than £1,000!

The Philips PC & TV package is priced at a groundbreaking price of £849.00 (inc. VAT).

Web: http://www.pcworld.co.uk
Tel: 08702 420444

Hong Kong manufacturer Quataris has introduced the QuaNext, a new networked LCD TV running a modified version of SUSE Linux, which is the next generation of ‘all in one PCs’ with TV function.

The QuaNext has a 19-inch TFT-LCD display with a max resolution of 1440×990 and runs on a P4 processor with speeds up to 3.2GHz.

The device can be switched between a PC and a TV using the remote control and could be ideal for the living room, bedroom or kitchen where a PC may not be suitable.

The DVD drive functions as a standard DVD player while in TV mode and a fully functional optical drive in PC mode.

Quataris has developed multimedia center software under Linux for the machine that provides for music, videos, movies and photos.

The QuaNext can run Windows or Linux, as the company has developed a SUSE-based multimedia OS that can be used for normal PC operations, or launched into a multimedia player environment via a front panel button.

Once in multimedia mode, the PC can be controlled by a remote, or using buttons located on the left side of the front panel.

Specifications include:
Pentium 4 processor clocked at 2.8, 3.0, or 3.2GHz.
Up to 2GB DDR400 (PC3200) RAM.
220GB, 7200rpm hard drive.
CD/DVD slim combo drive, slot-in.
Built-in 19-inch TFT-LCD display.
Intel GMA 900 graphics chipset.
Dimensions: 18.5 x 15.7 x 3 inches

Visit the website for more information:

Web:  http://quataris.com/main

British people love gadgets and Christmas is a happy time for both technophiles - and technophobes - alike.

For those looking for last-minute buys, the full range of technology products and gadgets are available in the recently launched, stand-alone technology departments in selected stores at Marks & Spencer.

Marks & Spencer’s carefully selected range of new technology products includes:

The 40” Sony HD-ready television – ideal for watching classic Christmas movies.

Bush retro radios for tuning into festive Christmas carols.

Weather clocks to predict a potential white Christmas.

The Pure Chronus radio/ CD alarm clocks.

Stylish and cordless white twin phones and much more….

A recent consumer survey carried out by Marks & Spencer revealed that a majority of Britons do not enjoy shopping for electronic products, due to confusing instruction manuals and lists of functions and services.

So Marks & Spencer now provide technology-trained staff and after sales advisors to help customers understand their technology purchases.

Currently 13 stores have dedicated technology departments and also online at:

Web: www.marksandspencer.com
Tel: (0845) 603 1603
 

The superb new BeoVision 7-40 from Bang & Olufsen is a complete home entertainment system, designed to offer you the ultimate in sound and picture experience.
 
The system can virtually take you wherever you want by surrounding you with sound and delivering video images with spectacular sharpness and sense of depth.
 
With its 40″ LCD screen, built-in DVD player and the powerful active loudspeaker system, BeoVision 7-40 provides all the benefits of flat-screen viewing plus exceptional sound performance and negates the notion that a flat screen means a flat sound.

BeoVision 7-40 is supplied with a digital surround sound module, the BeoLab 7-4 dedicated centre loudspeaker, which sets new standards for the reproduction of speech in a film and also channels sufficient power to perform with four BeoLab 5 loudspeakers, to provide one of the finest surround sound set ups imaginable.
 
The pricing for the BeoVision 7 HD is:

With BeoLab 7.2 or 7.4   £7459
Motorised Floor Stand     £750
Motorised table Stand     £655
Table Stand                   £285

Web:  http://www.bang-olufsen.com 
Tel: (0800) 138 0525

Sharp has launched a complete range of LCD TVs for Full High Definition viewing, which introduces a new HD standard delivering outstanding detail, colour and contrast, plus enhanced sound.

Sharp’s Aquos ‘Full HD’ or ‘1080p’ LCD TVs present clearer and sharper pictures than ever before, with dynamic, realistic colours.

Four models are included in the Aquos Full HD line-up, with sizes ranging from 37″ to an astonishing 52″.

Sharp’s Full HD models provide a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 and since HD signals do not need to be digitally reduced - or scaled - to fit the screen, twice the number of pixels (6.2 million versus 3.1 million) is made available to provide a picture of superb quality.
 
The on-screen resolution matches the broadcast signal exactly as it is transmitted, without any loss of detail. This is the key to the cutting edge picture clarity that viewers will enjoy with any of the Aquos XD1E sets. 

The Aquos XD1E models are finished in an elegant, high gloss black that will add style to any lounge or home cinema environment and come with an integrated digital tuner for receiving Freeview channels.

Finally, an advanced OPC (optical picture control) function adjusts screen luminance according to room lighting conditions, thus reducing the power consumption of the TV.

Retail Prices range from £1,700 to £3,300.

Web: http://www.sharp.co.uk
Tel: (0800) 262 958

The new BeoCenter from Bang & Olufsen is truly an immaculate and beautifully equipped 23” Flat Screen LCD TV.

The BeoCenter 6-23 highlights the Bang & Olufsen innovation and design and provides a brilliant entertainment system for the modern digital home.

Flexible television, DVD and satellite viewing are available across the home through just one connection and the DVI input allows you to use the BeoCenter 6/23 as a PC monitor.

Other features include:

The world’s first flat screen TV with DAB radio integrated as standard.

The radio delivers crisp, clear digital audio through its optimal compact loudspeaker system and provides the quality performance expected from Bang & Olufsen.

The TV sports a wide 180-degree viewing angle and sharp vivid picture quality, a motorised stand, a BeoLink system for connecting to your main TV, all of which make it an extremely adaptable entertainment system.

A number of colour options are available to compliment its elegant handcrafted aluminium loudspeaker grill and frame; choose from discreet aluminium, black and dark grey to yellow, blue or red.

Priced as seen in the London Knightsbridge store:
BeoCentre 6 -23 LCD TV (with FM and DAB radio as standard) £2,740
Motorised Floor Stand      £365

Web: http://www.bang-olufsen.com
Tel: (0800) 138 0525