iBox, why 'O why won't they make this?

[What I want-

I'm of the firm belief that the "Digital hub" should be targeted to reside with the rest of the consumer media devices, namely the TV/Stereo equipment.

[What it would take-[

With just back of the napkin calculations here using off the shelf products for rough comparisons (not even deducting the added costs of retail)...

$200 GameCube (PowerPC based, no less)
$100 Airport ready
$200 PVR Card
$ 50 Wireless keyboard
$ 50 Hard drive
Pfhh 128 Ram
Pfhh Firewire ports
Pfhh Remote control
-------
~600 going up with options for CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R

Add a simple "launcher-style" interface that starts out with iTunes, iDVD, iMovie, a TIVO-style channel guide (all tuned to be easily usable with remote only), and then email and web for keyboard use (although this will never be a strong selling point unless used with a large HDTV).

[What it's good for[

Obviously (depending on configuratoin) it could...

1. Play DVDs and mp3s
2. Record TV
3. Convert an analog VCR feed into digital and burn as DVD or VCD.
4. Serve files for a home network.
5. Function as an airport base station.
6. Play internet radio and TV broadcasts.
7. Being a software upgradeable receiver (no longer having to buy a new one because they come out with Dolby 6.2)

and Maybe...

6. Play GameCube games if Apple worked out a deal with nintendo.
7. Do HDTV
8. Function as a cheap terminal for library kiosks and the like when attached to a monitor.
9. Work as a rack-mount server for business.

Hell, the thing could even be the LCD iMac if you hook a monitor up to it and forget about it having to be all in one.

[ 12-04-2001: Message edited by: Nordstrodamus ]</p>

[quote]Originally posted by cdhostage:
<strong>You can do all of these things with an iMac. Consumer Macs all the way, baby! If you don't mind the small screen, you're fine. The top-of-the-line iMac is pretty peppy.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't know about your home entertainment center, but I can't fit an iMac into mine (unless I used it instead of a TV, I suppose). It has to be component sized.

Also, Apple is way behind on the PVR stuff. There's about 4 different cards available for wintels, but none for mac. I've always had the hope that this was because Apple was sending out vibes that they were going to standardize the technology into macs and make a consistant - easy as iTunes - interface for it, but so far nothing.

[quote]Originally posted by Mediaman:
<strong>
The dificulty with GC compatibility (aside from the gme rendering etc) are the disks. Not only are thay a weard format & size they even spin the oposite dirction than normal CD's</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't think this is a big issue. As nonhuman pointed out Panasonic is already producing a version of GC that will play DVDs also.

[quote]Originally posted by Matsu:
<strong>Apple needs to get its ass in gear over PPC development. It won't do to have a processor in very expensive machines that fails miserably to even keep up with the competition. You can have all the techno-geek doodads you want, it won't amount to a hill of beans if Apples computer business gets flushed down the toilet.

[ 12-06-2001: Message edited by: Matsu ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

I'd argue almost exactly the opposite. Computers (Macs & PCs) are, for the most part, in an overkill phase right now where the power exceeds the demands of most applications (except games). The best security against the megahertz war is to diversify into devices that aren't valued on the basis of chip speed.

All the features I described above are doable now.