Sharp invited us this afternoon for the launch of their new TV/PC combos, the Internet AQUOS. Despite a very tempting name, let’s get our feet back on the ground, the Internet AQUOS are not the ideal solution for geeks. Nevertheless, with some minor modifications, these could become real killer products. Sharp offers 3 PCs and 3 HD Ready TVs (in 20, 32 and 56”). Unfortunately, the PCs are not that great, and come with either a 1.46GHz Celeron M410 or a 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo T5500, a 250 or 400GB hard disk, an Intel graphic card, 512MB or 1GB of RAM (you read it correctly… only 512MB for a PC with Vista), a Multi DVD burner, a digital TV tuner, HDCP DVI (no HDMI), and that WOW OS named Vista Home Basic. So on these computers, there’s neither Aero Glass nor the Media Center… quite smart for a TV/PC combo… Of course, Sharp offers their 2ct proprietary solution instead of the Media Center, but…
Sharp is not targeting geeks for these products, but rather families with absolutely NO computer knowledge and elderly people.
However, there are two interesting points. First, it’s possible to record TV programs while the computer is off, and second, this new series of Internet AQUOS are equipped with a nice remote with a touchpad so you don’t have to use the mouse.
Now if Sharp could release the same models with better computers that would be nice! You know, with 2GB of RAM, a decent graphic card with an HDMI output, a Core 2 Duo CPU above 2GHz and Vista Home Premium, at least!