If you use a multimedia PC as the center of your home-entertainment system, waiting minutes for your computer to start can be frustrating, since traditional electronics come on instantly at the push of a button. But a company called InterVideo has released the InstantOn PC, which allows things like TV tuners, DVD players and Internet radio services to run from the PC's memory.
The system works on a pared-down version of the Linux operating system called LinDVD.
LinDVD loads from RAM chips, rather than a hard drive. The PC can also have a Windows operating system for running other programs.
InterVideo is best known for a piece of software called WinDVD that lets Windows PCs play DVD movie discs.
InterVideo says it developed the InstantOn technology in collaboration with Intel, IBM and Sony. Its system lets LinDVD and Windows coexist in the same computer, running on a Pentium 4 processor and a minimum of 128 megabytes of RAM.
When the "on" button is pressed, the software loads in less than 10 seconds, giving all but instant access to TV, CDs or DVD movies. MP3s, photos and videos filed by Windows will also be accessible.
For it's part, Microsoft says that load times on products like Windows XP Media Center operating system aren't a problem.
"We find that most people never turn their Media Center PCs off," said product manager Paul Randle.
Intervideo website:
intervideo.com.
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