Hats off...RIP old computer

[MrLabGuy]

Bummer...My computer died today so I needed to make a tough decision. For starters I did not want to learn Vista so I considered buying an Apple Mac Pro Quad-Core Minitower. Mainly because I'm so tired of windows issues and seeing I needed to learn everything all over again I might as well jump ship to Apple.

Well first of all I spent about 1/2 hour on hold with Apple just to ask a question about Blue-Ray or HD-DVD because I have a HD video cam corder and I could not find any information about a HD player or recorder for the Mac. Let me tell you...I got no help from Apple.

I was finally told that they think it will be available later in the year but they could not tell me when or which format Apple was looking into. I then asked about an after market burner/player and if the Apple software was compatable. I was transfered around to no less than 8 people and still did not get an answer.

That is when I went down to CompUSA and purchased this ->

It is not a Mac...But boy does this thing scream...I'm on the computer Autobon.
Play Blu-ray and HD DVD Movies, Quad Core Processing, Dual Hard Drives

The HP Pavilion Elite m9060n PC delivers an amazing high-end home entertainment experience, DX10 3D Mainstream gaming, and power for the most demanding PC tasks. This premium PC's enhanced features and technology puts everything you need where you want it.

• Go wireless and clutter-free with a wireless keyboard, mouse, and remote control. The Pavilion Elite PC also features a built-in wireless antenna for 802.11 b/g networking.
• Press the HP Easy Backup button and instantly back-up your files.
• The built-in TV tuner and personal video recorder (PVR) let you watch, pause, rewind, and record live television - with no monthly fee. The free online Electronic Program Guide (EPG) lets you review the TV schedule and choose a single episode or an entire series.
• Two built-in drive bays fit an optional HP Personal Media Drive, for up to 500GB of additional storage and/or an optional HP Pocket Media Drive for up to 160GB of additional storage or up to a maximum of 660GB of additional storage space.
• The Blu-ray/HD DVD player & SuperMulti DVD burner with LightScribe Technology lets you enjoy brilliant Blu-ray & HD DVD content on your PC monitor. You can create custom, silkscreen-quality labels and artwork directly onto LightScribe-enabled CD and DVD discs.
• Place USB/Firewire® devices on the recessed landing pad for easy access.
• The front-panel 15-in-1 memory card reader makes it easy to transfer photos, music, and other files to and from your digital camera and other peripheral devices.

Latest processor technology

The Intel® Core™2 Quad processor is the latest in cutting edge processor technology for the desktop PC. Based on the latest Intel® Core™ microarchitecture, the Intel Core 2 Quad processor delivers four complete execution cores within a single processor, delivering unprecedented performance and responsiveness in multi-threaded and multi-tasking business and home use environments.

Capability meets possibility

The Windows Vista Home Premium operating system is the preferred edition for home desktop PCs. With extensive digital entertainment features, expanded search capabilities. and the fluid, three-dimensional Windows Aero™ user interface, it provides a truly extraordinary user experience.

Protection right out of the box

You get the enhanced protection you need from aggressive worms, hackers, and other on-line threats with preinstalled Norton Internet Security 2007 Edition. Includes a 60 day subscription of live updates.

Service and support

HP stands behind their products and protects your investment with award-winning service and support available around the clock by phone, e-mail, and online:

• HP Total Care offers expert assistance 24 x 7:
  • Toll-free telephone support at 1-800-HP-INVENT (1-800-474-6836) in English and Spanish in the United States or English and French in Canada.
  • Real-time online chat.
  • E-mail, usually answered within one hour
• A desktop icon offers one-click access to online technical support, troubleshooting, and downloads at www.hp.com/support.

Notes:

• This model includes a NTSC TV tuner and over-the-air ATSC high-definition television tuner.
• This model has two built-in drive bays that fit an optional HP Personal Media Drive (up to 500GB of additional storage) and/or an optional HP Pocket Media Drive (up to 160GB of additional storage). The maximum additional storage space is 660GB
• This model includes a Blu-ray / HD DVD drive that will play Blu-ray and HD DVD movies. This drive will not burn Blu-ray media. It can burn and play DVDs and CDs.

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Tech Specs
(Based on manufacturer's information)Processor Brand:Intel Processor Class:Core 2 Quad Processor Number:Q6600 with Viiv Technology Processor Speed:2.4 GHz Front Side Bus:1066 MHz L2 Cache Size:2 x 4 MB System Chipset:Intel G33 Express Memory Speed:PC2-5300 (667MHz) Memory TypeDR2-SDRAM Installed Memory:3 GB Maximum Memory:8 GB Memory Slots Total:4 Memory Slots Available:0 Hard Drives Installed:2 Total Hard Drive Capacity:640 GB Drive Controllers:SATA-150 Rotational Speed:7200 RPM Optical Drives:Blu-ray/HD DVD Player and LightScribe Double Layer DVD SuperMulti Drive:

• Play a BD-Rom at a maximum 6X Read speed
• Play a HD DVD-Rom at a maximum 3X Read speed
• Create a DVD+R DL at a maximum 4X Write speed
• Create a DVD-R DL at a maximum 4X Write speed
• Create a DVD+R at a maximum 16X Write speed or a maximum 8X Rewrite speed
• Create a DVD-R at a maximum 16X Write speed or a maximum 6X Rewrite speed
• Create a DVD-RAM at a maximum 5X Write speed
• Play a DVD-Rom at a maximum 16X Read speed
• Create a CD-Rom at a maximum 40X Write speed
• Create a CD-RW at a maximum 24X Rewrite speed
• Play a CD-Rom at a maximum 40X Read speed

Card Slots:1 x CompactFlash
1 x MicroDrive
1 x Memory Stick
1 x Memory Stick Duo
1 x Memory Stick PRO
1 x Memory Stick PRO Duo
1 x MiniSD
1 x MMCmobile
1 x MMCplus
1 x RS-MMC
1 x SmartMedia Card
1 x Secure Digital(SD)/MMC
1 x xD-Picture CardAudio Channels:High Definition Audio, 8 speaker configurable Video Chipset Brand:NVIDIA Video Chipset:GeForce 8500GT Video Bus:PCI Express x16 Video Integration:Card Installed Video Memory:512 MB Total Available Graphics Memory (Vista):1791 MB Port Connectors:On Computer:

• 6 x USB 2.0 (2 on front, 4 on back)
• 2 x FireWire (IEEE-1394) (1 on front, 1 on back)
• 1 x Video - VGA 15-pin D-Sub (on back)
• 1 x Audio - Microphone (on front)
• 1 x Audio - Headphone (on front)
• 1 x Video - S-Video out (on front)
• 1 x Video - Composite Video (on front)
• Audio - Audio Inputs (on front)
• 1 x Audio - Microphone, Line-in, Line-out (on back)
• 2 x PS/2 (on back)
• 1 x Digital Audio-in/out (on back)
• 1 x Rear speaker-out, Side speaker-out, Center (sub-woofer) (on back)
• 1 x RJ-11 Modem
• 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet LAN

On Graphics Card:

• 1 x Video - TV-Out (on back)
• 1 x Video - DVI (on back)
• 1 x Video - HDMI (on back)

PCI Slots:1 PCI Express x1 Slots:2 PCI Express x16 Slots:1 Slots Notes:

• 1 x PCI open

External 3.5 Bays:1 External 5.25 Bays:2 External Bays Notes:

• 1 x 5.25-inch open

Internal 3.5 Bays:2 Internal Bays Notes:Internal Bays (Notes):

• None open

Expansion Bays:Expansion Bay (Notes):

• HP Personal Media Drive available
• HP Pocket Media Drive available

Note:

• The maximum additional storage space is 660GB.

Network Support:Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) Wireless Protocol:802.11b
802.11gModem Speed:56 Kbps Input Devices:Keyboard
Remote Control
Wheel MouseInstalled Operating System:Windows Vista Home Premium Special Feature:MS Windows Vista Home Premium Included Software:Photo and Video:

• Photosmart Essential to manage your digital photos
• Roxio Creator - featuring LightScribe Technology: Edit, burn and archive data to DVDs and CDs
• muvee autoProducer: Automatically create professional looking home videos with your remote control and burn to DVD
• DVD Play Blu-ray/HD-DVD: Watch Blu-ray and HD-DVD movies

Entertainment:

• Roxio MyDVD Basic: Make movies and slideshows and burn to DVD or CD

Productivity:

• Microsoft® Works 8: Includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database and calendar
• Adobe® Reader 8.0: Read and print PDF files
• HP Total Care Advisor: Customizable desktop tool provides support, system health and shopping information

PC Security:

• HP Easy Backup software backs up your personal files,including photos, music, video, emails, bookmarks and documents
• Norton Internet Security 2007 Edition: Protect your PC out of the box (60 days of complimentary live updates)

In the Box:

• HP Pavilion Elite TV m9060n Minitower PC
• Personal Video Recorder: NTSC TV tuner, over-the-air ATSC high-definition television tuner, and FM tuner and antenna
• HP wireless keyboard with extended range (up to 30 feet)
• HP wireless optical mouse
• HP Media Center remote control and IR (infrared) receiver

Chassis Style:Tower (Mini) Height:15.5 in Width:7.0 in Depth:16,6 in Weight:24.3 lbs Limited Warranty:1 Year (12 Months)

[iop9000]

no (clear) QAM tuner?

[zerochief]

Let me tell you...I got no help from Apple...I was transfered around to no less than 8 people and still did not get an answer.

No kiddin'! Every time I hit an Apple retail store, the sales clerks are clueless. (I'm talkin about the 2 stores in the same city where Jobs lives)

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by iop9000

no (clear) QAM tuner?

It must not be listed. It connects directly to the cable with no tuner needed. It also has a built in DVR.

Pretty cool...I may never leave my home office again

[Ishniknork]

WOW! looks like a really hot system, congratulations

Let us know what you think of Vista.

[xnsf]

compusa...

costco!

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by xnsf

compusa...

costco!

Checked Costco first...That particular package does not have the BlueRay/HD-DVD player. That item alone is worth the price of admission.

I have a Samsung 24" HD monitor so I only needed the PC.

Price was $1,349.00 Not bad considering all the bells and whistles.

[iop9000]

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

It must not be listed. It connects directly to the cable with no tuner needed. It also has a built in DVR.

Pretty cool...I may never leave my home office again

So are you getting HD channels then? with no OTA antenna, right?

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by iop9000

So are you getting HD channels then? with no OTA antenna, right?

I'm not finished configuring everything yet as I just picked it up tonight. I'll say that the new systems make startup very easy. That and I was smart enough to use a 800Gig external hard drive with BounceBack to save all of my photos, files and programs.

Simple plug, play and copy.

[Quicksilver]

Congrats on the new puter. Looks like you got a screemer. Let us know how it works out.

I can understand your frustration regarding Apple products and what seems like a lack of info. I believe all Apple employees are bound by an agreement that states that they cannot talk about development of Apple technologies but they will never tell you that.. Having said that there has been a lot of information online regarding both formats and what's been happining. The link below should at least give you some background if your interested in keeping up with it. Have fun with you new system.

http://www.macnn.com/blogs/?p=285