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Streaming Media: The Athens PC | |
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| Time: 06:30 EST/11:30 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin.com | Posted By: Jonathan Tigner | ||
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Microsoft is working with industry partners to research compelling innovations for new PC categories that substantially change computing experiences and improve productivity for knowledge workers. The first prototype that embodies these innovations, a PC design code-named “Athens,” represents a future business desktop PC in which all communication media, including voice, video, and text messaging, converge to give users rich experiences with everyday communication and collaboration tasks. Gates offers tour of 'Athens' prototype PC (Courtesy CNET News.com)
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| #1 By 15705 (69.22.78.22) at 5/7/2003 12:36:26 PM |
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Nope. Click properties while playing the video. It's Windows Media 7. 9 series could've had the same/higher quality in less bandwidth.
It is being served via Windows Media Services on Windows Server 2003. This is why you get features like fast stream. Some of the server technology benefits are independent from the codec, but they both compliment each other well, and the best experience is attained when both Windows Server 2003 and Windows Media 9 Series are used. |
| #2 By 1868 (141.133.155.28) at 5/7/2003 2:17:04 PM |
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Wow, Microsoft spent a lot of time and money making that video. It's a pitty too, because its only a prototype and I just don't see this being adopted in the coroporate world.
Who here would want to work on workstation like this? I personally would rather just have my 17 in flat panel monitor, my phone(which has a voicemall roll over feature), and my tablet PC. Does MS really think people will use the light feature on the base of their systems to indicated thier status?(I loath this feature because first of all its lame, and second because its another component that could burn out and thus be more expsensive to repair) This post was edited by Zeo01 on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 14:18. |
| #3 By 1868 (141.133.155.28) at 5/7/2003 2:23:26 PM |
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Who works in an office like this guy?? Really, does anyone work with papers spewing out of printers, and papers all over the floor, and jammed in a cubicle with atleast 8 phone lines(I paused and counted)??
If this is how Microsoft works then I can say that I for one don't want to work at their office(although their campus is beautiful) This post was edited by Zeo01 on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 16:48. |
| #4 By 3339 (65.198.47.10) at 5/7/2003 2:54:28 PM |
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Zeo, the whole thing is a joke.
Fewer cables, but they're still afraid to support FireWire? What's up with that? If peripherals still have power bricks--well, I know that's the biggest source of cable bloat on my systems, and I have FireWire and a few FW-powered devices. And PT has this: "one cable running from the CPU to the screen" Can we say "ADC"? Or rather, the fact is ADC is simply a standard connector which supports power that Apple applied its own name too (like AirPort and FireWire) but has gone unused in the PC world? Did you check the demo video at news.com? They talk up the monitor as much as anything else. It turns out people are more productive with bigger, widescreen, high-density pixel screens. Who knew? This post was edited by sodajerk on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 14:59. |
| #5 By 2459 (69.22.78.22) at 5/7/2003 4:42:34 PM |
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Afraid to support Firewire? Windows has had Firewire support since Windows Me/2000. I believe there was even support in 98SE, but I'm not totally sure of that.
And PT has this: "one cable running from the CPU to the screen" Can we say "ADC"? Or rather, the fact is ADC is simply a standard connector which supports power that Apple applied its own name too (like AirPort and FireWire) but has gone unused in the PC world? Can we say proprietary? Apple uses ADC to force people to buy a converter for multi-monitor setups or any computer supporting standard DVI connectors. The primary reason there was one cable from CPU to screen was number of wireless and integrated devices in use. Also notice that Athens did was not a disposable computer like the iMac. The CPU box was separate from the display allowing for easy upgrades of the separate components without purchasing a whole new system. |
| #6 By 1868 (141.133.155.28) at 5/7/2003 4:51:05 PM |
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Sodajerk,
You're wrong on the FireWire issue, just search MSDN and you'll find support articles dating from 1999. http://search.microsoft.com/default.asp?qu=FireWire&boolean=ALL |
| #7 By 3339 (66.219.95.6) at 5/7/2003 4:59:20 PM |
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uh, no, I'm not wrong. I understand that the system supports FireWire--I'm referring to the hardware spec that notes USB2.0 all over the place with no mention of FireWire. Watch the videos, read the docs. This advanced PC's main peripheral bus is usb. Will some manufacturers include FireWire? Yes, but it is NOT in the spec at all.
enforcer, you miss the point entirely: ADC is not proprietary. It is just an unutilized connector from the same organizations that have determined all video connector specs. It is simply DVI with power capabilities. Apple just uses its own name (same as Airport and FireWire). I presume this single connector is exactly the same. In fact, I should note that Formac now produces most of their monitors with the "ADC" connector. I don't get why you explain why you would use this--it's the same reason Apple uses it. Your reasoning is ridiculous since PMs have two video connectors and the laptops only have DVI or VGA and/or come with the adaptors. And who said dick about an iMac? What it introduces is the same issue--old PCs with either VGA or DVI will need an adaptor. And when PCs finally do get this connector--standard monitors will plug into ADC Macs (which are only the PMs), and Apple monitors will work with these new "ADC" PCs. Of course, this is contigent upon this PC spec actually being adopted. This post was edited by sodajerk on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 17:14. |
| #8 By 1868 (141.133.155.28) at 5/7/2003 5:14:13 PM |
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It's an obvious point, but here's some helpful advice for the masses reading this site daily.
Do not contradict yourself; it only makes you look silly in front of people. |
| #9 By 1169 (212.38.182.251) at 5/7/2003 5:23:16 PM |
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I only have one point to make:
It is ugly!!! can they just design soething atractive enough? we would have to stare at this all day! that squared keyboard, those corners! can apple be the only hardware designer with taste? it is always the same with MS, except the new keyboard/mouse combo, they just lack style and elegance in hardware design, lets face it. |
| #10 By 3339 (66.219.95.6) at 5/7/2003 5:23:33 PM |
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Where's the contradiction? Another bit of advice is: don't presume your own interpretation of someone's comments is what they meant.
I meant the hardware spec. (This should be obvious to anyone who knows me in the slightest since all of my major peripherals are FW, and I use PCs--I use FW devices with PCs routinely.) The point is the spec, the hardware. If manufacturers are still not made to include FW but are encouraged to use usb, you are still going to have peripherals with power bricks. You are still going to have to add FW to a PC with a card. That doesn't sound like it reduces clutter nor does it sound like the "future" of computing. |
| #11 By 2459 (69.22.78.22) at 5/7/2003 8:59:28 PM |
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I understand that the system supports FireWire--I'm referring to the hardware spec that notes USB2.0 all over the place with no mention of FireWire. Watch the videos, read the docs. This advanced PC's main peripheral bus is usb. Will some manufacturers include FireWire? Yes, but it is NOT in the spec at all.
All of the major OEMs ship systems that include firewire. While many of the budget systems do not include firewire, the major application for this is A/V, which requires a mid to high-end PC for best performance. As performance goes up and price comes down, it will be available on even low-end PCs. With this said, Firewire is included in the documentation for Windows Logo requirements for Hardware. In the current guide, it is listed under Best Practices in Consumer Desktop PC Design for Windows XP. --------------- Implement Best Practices in Consumer Desktop PC Design Checklist for Windows XP “Consumer Desktop PC Design Checklist for Windows XP” is provided on the web at http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/pcdesign/ . This checklist provides manufacturers with a list of capabilities and components that deliver the best performance and reliability and that deliver the exciting new end-to-end personal computing experiences that characterize a consumer desktop PC optimized for Windows XP. Best practices in from the PC Design Checklist include the following: ... Device Connectivity Guidelines System includes at least four USB 1.1 compliant ports System includes at least two IEEE 1394 ports System implements legacy-free design ----------------- ADC is not proprietary. It is just an unutilized connector from the same organizations that have determined all video connector specs. I've searched the Digital Display Working Group, VESA, IEEE, Apple, and a few other places, and the only references to ADC are "Apple Display Connector" and "Analog Digital Converter" :-) The pin-outs are available on Apples site, but that doesn't guarantee that the connector is free for other commercial vendors to implement, especially PC vendors, without royalties or consent. As for fear of supporting busses/interconnects/etc., Apple seems to fear later versions of AGP than 4x, and USB2. And who said dick about an iMac? Several people have claimed Athens to be an iMac copy/wannabe/etc., when it is clear that there are major differences. This post was edited by n4cer on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 21:00. |
| #12 By 3339 (66.219.95.6) at 5/7/2003 9:12:16 PM |
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Strange, my midrange 2Ghz Dell computer (about 5 months old) doesn't have a single FW port.
I don't care about best practices and the ability to have a "you're super" sticker on your box if you include FW. THe point is: it's not a requirement. Why not? They say this is going to reduce clutter but they are promoting usb2.0 OVER FW. The preference is the problem. By the way, has anyone EVER seen a legacy-free PC? EVER? So, in other words, not a single PC has implemented this best-practices "guidelines." And by the way, FireWire is not expensive to implement anymore. Yeah, maybe it could be made even more dirt cheap if Intel would build it into its chipsets--but that's my point: MS and Intel are afraid of it. enforcer, as I've said twice already, ADC is Apple's name for it. It is a standard of the Digital Display Working Group. This is why you don't find reference to ADC as a standard--do you find reference to AirPort as a standard? "The pin-outs are available on Apples site, but that doesn't guarantee that the connector is free for other commercial vendors to implement, especially PC vendors, without royalties or consent." And just because you don't know what you are talking about doesn't mean there are royalty implications. Formac is building monitors without paying royalties to Apple. They'd be happy to have others support it. Apple doesn't control the standard; therefore, if there are any royalty implications, they are not Apple's in the first place. "As for fear of supporting busses/interconnects/etc., Apple seems to fear later versions of AGP than 4x, and USB2." That's a stupid joke: Apple makes its own mobos--in a few months you'll see boxes with AGP 8x, USB2, FW800--you can count on it. (Again, Apple doesn't pre-announce.) However, MS is saying this is the "FUTURE"! This is three or more years out and they still can't admit that if device parity and clutter are issues than FireWire is the winner. This post was edited by sodajerk on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 21:17. |
| #13 By 15705 (69.22.78.22) at 5/7/2003 9:50:33 PM |
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Strange, my midrange 2Ghz Dell computer (about 5 months old) doesn't have a single FW port.
Maybe you should have configured it differently, or bought from another vendor. :-) I don't care about best practices and the ability to have a "you're super" sticker on your box if you include FW. THe point is: it's not a requirement. Why not? They say this is going to reduce clutter but they are promoting usb2.0 OVER FW. The preference is the problem. By the way, has anyone EVER seen a legacy-free PC? EVER? So, in other words, not a single PC has implemented this best-practices "guidelines." Compaq, among others, have created and sold legacy-free PCs. You just haven't bothered to look. And by the way, FireWire is not expensive to implement anymore. Yeah, maybe it could be made even more dirt cheap if Intel would build it into its chipsets--but that's my point: MS and Intel are afraid of it. The fact remains that Windows has supported Firewire since 98SE, and you can currently get motherboards with onboard Firewire. You can't get anything from Apple with USB2 support besides the iPod, and AGP 8x is nonexistent. You may not care about Windows Logo requirements, but the OEMs do. Many businesses and people buy systems and hardware that carry the logo. That's a stupid joke: Apple makes its own mobos... You'd think they'd do a better job of keeping up then. |
| #14 By 5444 (64.185.17.7) at 5/8/2003 5:01:31 AM |
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It is interesting to read this. And for once I will agree with Sodajerk from the stand point that Firewire is still almost non existant in the PC realm. The reason why isn't a MS issue though.
USB is the Intel driven Bus and that is why it is primarily available on the MOBO almost immediately. While I don't agree with Soda on some aspects of his views though. USB has a low power interface. so unless the device needs additional power than provided in the USB line there isn't an additional power pack. While Firewire has a Higher power rateing it still gets its power from the PS. So unless the PC is designed with that in mind (IOW you won't find low end systems with 300 watt plus power supplys) Granted I would like to see a Device bay concept reintroduced and implemented. that uses USB2, firewire 800/1600, and PCI express(16 lanes) Apple is already introducing systems with firewire 800, and there are no roadmaps showing firewire 800 on the MOBO for PC's yet. Although there are about 3000 more devices that are usb ready than there are firewire devices;) El |
| #15 By 3339 (66.219.95.6) at 5/8/2003 1:36:16 PM |
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Thanks, el. I agree that Intel is largely the barrier, but I don't see how MS is entirely not responsible. If they added FW to the spec and demanded it of Intel, Intel would simply have to comply. The two are cooperating in this game of pretending that usb2 is just as good as FW--which it simply isn't.
JT, as I said, I know that within months Apple will have AGP 8x, usb2, FW800, plus other goodies. They don't project what they think the future of computer hardware is. MS is saying this machine (with zero mention of FW) is the FUTURE three or four years from now! That's pathetic. The mere existence of legacy-free computers (I seriously haven't seen a single one--for sale or in use) and the availability of mobo with FW doesn't change the fact that the PC is mired in legacy devices and tech. Their projected roadmaps still ignore what has been available for quite some time. |
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