Viva la Viiv

Intel’s vice president and general manger of the digital home group Don McDonald, said the chip maker's new Viiv platform provides enough growth for both the high-end and retail channels.

“In today’s marketplace there’s a wide variety of price points - consumers in the digital age can spend anywhere between $5000 to $70,000 on a home entertainment unit," he said.

"In the channel should see it as an additional device with whatever else needs to be bought for the home.”

According to McDonald, Intel’s Viiv platform will be available from a range of companies including Acer, Alloys, Australia, Altech Computers, Claritas Technology, Computer Alliance, Dell, HP, MiTAC, NEC, Optima and Pioneer Computers.

“We are in retail stores like Harvey Norman to cater to users who want something simple for the home. We are also available to customers who need specialists to come out to the home and hook complicated wires up,” said McDonald.

Viiv technology allows a user to use a PC they way they would use a TV - with a single remote control.

The platform includes Microsoft’s Window’s XP Media Centre Edition 2005 operating system and media software to allow consumers watch movies, play games and download music through one system.

Viiv will come in a choice of PC designs including an ‘all-in-one’ hybrid PC that look like televisions, notebooks and the traditional tower desktop.

The technology platforms include dual core processors with the Intel Pentium D, Pentium Processor Extreme Edition and Intel Core Duo processor.

Users will be able to choose from a range of chipsets including Intel 945, 955 and 975 express chipset. They will also be able to choose form the Intel Pro/1000 PM or Intel Pro/100VE/VM network connection.

With Viiv users will be able to take advantage of broadband through a range of online entertainment services who have established relationships with Intel.

In Australia the initial content providers will include Adobe, Destra Music, Muvee, Telstra Bigpond, Quickflix and Ubisoft.

While Intel was against illegal downloading it was realistic enough not to traffic what users did on the platform, McDonald said.

“There will be no policing and imposing on what users did on Viiv. We are like the post office we deliver sealed letters and we deliver unsealed letters,” said McDonald.