Microsoft's iPod-Killer: Portable Media Center?

securitas writes "The Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Todd Bishop reports on what's billed as an iPod-killer: the Microsoft Portable Media Center line of digital media players that 'will store and play back video, music and photos.' The devices are expected to be demonstrated at CES this week. Hardware manufacturers Samsung, ViewSonic, iRiver, and Creative are apparently developing versions of the devices that 'will run a specialized version of Windows CE.' Analysts say that the PMCs will come with 40 GB hard drives and retail for $400 to $700. I got a look at an early version of the RCA Lyra Audio/Video Jukebox mentioned unfavorably in the article due to its size. The size is a function of needing a reasonably-sized screen to watch video. The article has an image of a Portable Media Center prototype. The devices are slated to ship in the second half of 2004."

New Feature

[Anonymous Coward]

The Blue Screen of Death has now been replaced by the Color Bar Test Pattern.

Storage

[Hogwash McFly]

A Portable Media Center with a 40-gigabyte hard drive is expected to hold up to 175 hours of video ... or 100,000 pictures, using Windows Media audio and video files.

Expects predict that an unofficial name of Portable Pr0n Center will be commonplace within 6 months of launch

YAiPK

[Anonymous Coward]

Yet Another iPod Killer.

Yawn.

Example...

[Hogwash McFly]

Artists conception [hamradio-badarc.co.uk]

The Future

[Capt_Troy]

This is the future. I've always carried around a book, paperback usually, in the winter I can fit it in my inside coat pocket. When I'm on a bus, or a plane, or i'm just bored, I whip it out and start reading.

Now, instead, we're going to whip out our portable media devices and watch "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" instead. Ahh, the future! Behold!

if I wanted to buy a media player

[xutopia]

it wouldn't be for video and certainly not something as ugly as that prototype pictures. Damn that's ugly!

Re:Wrong Competition

[Anonymous Coward]

>>the small, sheik, audio-only iPods

The word is chic. Unless you meant to say that iPods appeal only to rich middle-easterners =)

Re:Jobs better watch his tongue carefully

[BinxBolling]

I can think of a way: "Longhorn isn't done until iTunes won't run!"

Re:Exactly! And why do I need portable video?

[Unregistered]

embicile

That's really not a word you want to spell wrong.