UPDATE: Dell to offer AMD-based entertainment PCs

Sunnyvale (CA) - AMD today said that Dell will be introducing entertainment PCs that are based on Live platform. That brings up AMD on one level with Intel, which has been providing a Viiv-compatible platform to Dell for some, even if Dell is very quiet about the technology in its computers.

See AMD Live and Intel Viiv in detail ...

Entertainment PCs aren’t quite the success that was envisioned by many companies in the PC industry, at least not yet. But devices that interact with home entertainment center, whether they come in sleek set top box design or in the form factor of more traditional PCs are gaining traction as homes become more networked, more content is available and prices of these PCs are reaching deep into the levels of mainstream and entry-level systems.

Dell is one of the more quiet contenders in this field. While the company has been offering multimedia-capable Windows MCE-based computers under its Dimension and XPS brands for some time, there is only a very subtle presence of Intel’s Viiv logo on the firm’s website. Completely left out of the configuration process of currently available Dimension and XPS computers, we heard from Dell that Viiv is supported by some systems, which includes the XPS 410, according to a sales associate we spoke to. It was unclear whether the complete software suite of Viiv is installed on those systems, or whether Dell limits Viiv support to Intel’s hardware platform and support for Intel’s quick-resume (QRT) technology. However, Intel does offer a download option of Viiv software from its website.

Dell is more exact when it comes to AMD Live. At least according to a press release, proprietary Live software will be part of Dell Live PCs.

Live has not made it to Dell’s website yet, but Alienware today announced the "DHS high-definition" media center, which integrates a dual-core Athlon 64 X2 CPU, a home theater amplifier from D2Audio Corporation, and Nvidia Nforce430/Geforce 6150 graphics. Alienware previously used Intel Pentium 4 600-series processors in its $1000 DHS 2 set-top box.

AMD also announced that it has expanded the Live suite with new applications, including voice and video communications over the Internet, games from Wild Tangent, and a web browser that is designed to appeal to children.

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AMD launches Live ! entertainment PC platform