For Mac lovers it seems as though there is always a new product to want, to covet and to save for. It is no secret that Mac makes a point of hiring incredibly talented, innovative designers so that each and every piece of their equipment is designed with the highest caliber of aesthetics in mind. For this reason, the technology they have developed has become tremendously iconic.
Regarding design, the PC competitor has always lagged somewhat behind, but all of this is beginning to change. It seems that the PC designers have taken some of Mac’s success in the design arena to heart and are beginning to turn out products that are as design-savvy as they are functional. They have developed a number of products in recent years that are memorable for their design and their sleek streamlined appearance.
The latest of these design triumphs is the HP DreamScreen 400. This innovation is truly remarkable and will utterly alter the way that you think about PCs. Looking slightly reminiscent of an iPod with a metal/silver frame, the DreamScreen offers an interface designed specifically for a touch screen. Currently available only in India, the desktop accessory can accommodate video cable attachments, and playback for DVDs. Because the screen has first been made available to the Indian market the desktop comes standard with an entertainment package that includes Music, Bollywood Movies, Bollywood TV, and Games. Other icons offer access to news, weather, educational tools and other planning-based programs with only the touch of a finger.
The screen is in many ways seems futuristic. It’s essentially a desktop portal where families can touch the screen and instantly gain information play games, explore astrology, make plans and be entertained. What once felt like something out of The Jetson’s has now become a reality for many families and is changing the way that PCs are viewed as a home and entertainment device.
PCs are generally considered to be the work computer with word processing, spreadsheets and email as the main uses. Macs have generally been considered the computer with more components — music, video, movies and other lighter fare. It is clear from the development of the DreamScreen 400 that PC is not going to settle for being the stodgy older sibling of the computer community.
Not only is this development a big step for the Hewlett-Packard company of electronics, it is also a big step for India itself. The DreamScreen 400 is an all-in-one unit that makes it very easy for users with even very limited computer expertise to access all of the features of the Internet. This is a tremendous advancement for HP and for PCs in general. Along with getting most of the design kudos, Mac also tends to be known for its user friendly formats and interface which is a trait that PCs have historically lacked. This seems, however, to be a problem of the past because virtually all of the new products that HP has been turning out in recent years seem to be far more elegantly designed than their previous generation of products and they, as a company, seem very interested in retaining high marks in the areas where they have already been successful: functionality, technical work, business documents, and expanding the areas such as design, user friendliness, entertainment and youth orientation where they have historically been defeated by Mac.
One can only wait with bated breath for the day when the DreamScreen 400 is introduced to the American market. Regardless of your current preference toward a Mac or a PC, it is clear that this Hewlett-Packard product is going to seriously alter the way that Americans and computer users everywhere see PCs.
Guest Post
Eric Rivers is a freelance writer for Hewlett-Packard. HP is a technology company that operates in more than 170 countries around the world. No other company offers as complete a technology product portfolio as HP. Some of their most successful products are their printer and desktop.
