Chicago (IL) - Intel's Viiv does not necessarily need to come in the shape of a traditional PC or in the shape of a set-top box. Multiple TV manufacturers have begun to incorporate the platform components of Viiv directly into consumer electronics such as LCD TVs, TG Daily has learned.
Intel's first shot at the home entertainment market has not yet resulted in the kind of revolution the company had promised earlier this year yet. And there may be little change as long as Viiv PCs look and function like common Media Center PCs. Sources told TG Daily that Intel is working on this issue with several manufacturers and at least the look of some Viiv devices may be different in the near future.
UK-based PC maker Elonex apparently will be one of the first companies to offer a LCD TV that will carry the Viiv logo and integrate a dual-core processor as well as other Viiv platform requirements such as 7.1 surround sound and a NCQ-capable hard drive. Details are not available at this time, but given the limited space available in an LCD TV, we would guess the TV will be one of the first Viiv v1.5 and v1.6 devices, which will include the new generation Conroe E4000/E6000 processors and ICH7DH or ICH8CH chipsets. Viiv 1.5 models will run under Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition, while version 1.6 will require Windows Vista Premium.
Besides TVs, Viiv is likely to show up in other form factors as well. On of the possible homes of a Viiv PC could be a device such as Intel's modular and portable "Florence" concept PC, which houses a 19" screen and looks very much like a common LCD TV. So far, a production of Florence for commercial availability has not been confirmed.
