Is it a computer or an entertainment system?

Internationally recognized IT columnist John C. Dvorak told a crowd in Jakarta recently that he did not think it was a good idea to use the computer as an entertainment system.

"My wife would not like it, either," he said, adding that putting a computer next to the TV set would not make much sense to either of them.

John is right. As PCs have become so capable in doing so many different things -- producing 3-D sound, rendering 3-D images in real time and displaying video image -- an increasing number of PC vendors have come up with products that serve as entertainment centers, as well as powerful work computers for number crunching.

As I said, I share John's opinion that these two functions should not be combined in a single system.

It does not mean that I do not like to have some entertainment functions added to my work PC. Honestly, it is nice to be able to watch Cheers or Bill Cosby's Kids Say occasionally with only a few clicks when it is time to take a break. And I do enjoy listening to Bizet's The Pearl Fishers' Duet with a headphone attached to my computer while writing articles.

However, a TV tuner and a decent sound card are all that I have chosen to add to my work PC.

If you have the money to buy one powerful PC for work and another to record TV programs onto your hard disk, then it should not be a sin to use the PC as an entertainment center for the entire family.

In fact, the trend of using PCs as a serious entertainment system was started more than seven years ago by Gateway, and soon picked up by others.

This PC-maker built and marketed a PC specially designed for watching TV and listening to music, called Destination. It came with a large TV monitor and a powerful speaker system. Compaq even came up with the name PC Theater for its PC-TV combination. Like the early version of Destination, the PC Theater's display monitor was also a 36-inch TV. A number of other PC vendors have come up with their own versions since.

Meanwhile, new terms keep emerging to represent this breed of PCs. Some people call them "PC-centric Entertainment Systems", others simply call them "PC Home Entertainment System".

In countries where broadband has largely left narrowband (dial-up) access in the dust, these PCs make even more sense for the family. Children can play networked games with opponents on the other side of the planet, while relatives living on another continent can share their latest family outing videos -- the list goes on.

A book by Brian Underdahl titled Build Your Own Home Entertainment System even appeared.

Actually, it is not difficult to build such a system. A little search on the Internet will equip you with enough knowledge of the best multimedia components that you can add to a fast and powerful PC, such as http://ruel.net/pc/tv.tuner.htm.

However, if you want to have a ready-to-use PC entertainment system, there are plenty available today that can play DVDs and other high-definition stuff. Gateway, which has announced its decision to expand into consumer electronics in bigger ways, may still be the leader in this sector.

If you happen to be in Tokyo and have a chance to go to Shinjuku, you will see a lot of beautifully carved CPUs and LCD monitors from NEC, Sony and others that will keep your month watering for a long time. They definitely represent the right style for PC-based entertainment systems.

Just remember, though, that if you use your PC for serious work, it is not a good idea to combine it with serious entertainment. Solitaire is already a powerful productivity killer, and you do not want to couple it with all those on-demand movies. -- Zatni Arbi