Product Review
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad Core (2.4 GHz), 2 GB, 400 GB Standard, NVidia GeForce 8800GTS, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
The Good:
Clean-lined design; takes advantage of all the new Vista media-oriented features, such as HD video and CableCard support; strong application and 3D performance; more bang for the buck than the home theater PC competition; outstanding Blu-ray video quality.
The Bad:
Big chassis; no built-in audio receiver; beta graphics card drivers can't handle component video output; game-friendly configuration, but PC gaming in the living room is problematic.
The Bottom Line:
Velocity Micro's first full-fledged home theater PC pulls very few punches in providing a complete digital media experience. It's big, it lacks a built-in audio receiver, and it invites PC gaming into the living room, which has never been the best fit. It's also the victim of a few Vista-related growing pains. On balance, though, Velocity Micro has as complete a home theater PC as we've seen.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.