Alienware Gets Further Into Home Theater
This week, at the Consumer Electronic Design & Installation Association, computer manufacturer Alienware, known for its high performance computers, announced two new models that will be another choice for home theater devotees to consider.
Named the HD Media Server, and Hanger 18, the HDMS is a compact design fitting in a standard 2U rack space. The hardware complement includes 4TB of hot swap RAID storage, cable card support internally, and a preamp with 7.1 Dolby Digital outputs. The server is 1080p capable, and has an HDMI port. The face plate of the unit is plain and elegant, but also looks as though it is destined to be shoved into a temperature controlled closet, and touched perhaps once per year thereafter.
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Plain but beautiful, as form follows function - Alienware HD Media Server price :TBD
The Hanger 18 is the living room module, the Alienware HTPC offering, which build upon the previous Hanger 18 by adding cableCARD support and a Blu-ray drive. The unit sports all the goodies you would expect, making it the most complete HTPC unit available in an audio receiver-sized package.
Hanger 18 from Alienware. price : TBD
The older Hanger 18 was priced at approximately $3800, so this model might be priced around $4500 - steep, but then it is very complete, and Alienware enjoys an excellent reputation for using the best quality components.
Not many will be able to, or want to, afford this, however it is a testament to what can be built, and the drool factor is high.
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