RIP, DEC: HP drops Digital Entertainment Center line

HP's Digital Entertainment Center line of Media PCs has attracted its share of fans over the past few years, but it looks like they'll now have to look elsewhere if they want another set-adjacent box, with HP announcing that it's abandoning the DEC form factor in favor of its other media-centric options. In particular, HP says it'll now focus on its MediaSmart line of TVs with integrated Media Center extenders, as well as its standard desktop PCs with Media Center functionality. Of course, for the time being, the DEC units are still readily available, and could potentially wind up being quite the bargain if past product cut-offs are any indication.

[Mark @ Mar 28th 2007 2:24PM]

Oh well.

[George @ Mar 28th 2007 3:14PM]

That's a shame -- these are actually really nice systems. I picked up a refurbed one for $699 a few years ago and it's great. Perhaps I'll need to stock up.

[joelfinkle @ Mar 28th 2007 3:19PM]

Doubly funny -- HP bought Compaq, which years earlier bought Digital Equipment Corporation, known to its customers as DEC and at one point HPs biggest competitor in the Unix minicomputer market in the 80s and 90s. I didn't think there was anything DEC left in HP's line after several generations of mergers, but this apparently is the last straw, eh?

[infinitespecter @ Mar 28th 2007 5:21PM]

That really, really sucks. I love that form factor and was really hoping to see it updated with CableCARD support.

[mukelarvin @ Mar 28th 2007 5:37PM]

I really liked those keyboards with the trackball.

Can you get those on clearance now?
Are there OS X drivers?

Won't be long till we can browse the web on Apple TVs now.

[jetfxr @ Mar 28th 2007 10:05PM]

As I type from my Hp DEC Z558....
That sux azz.
Well honestly I wouldnt have bought mine if it werent discounted , but deem man. I love this thing. Got mine at 6ave.com for $799. I was gonna do the build your own route , but for the money , this thing is awesome. Rip all my home videos , record all my shows including HD. It all displays beautifully on my 37" Vizio. hate too see them discontinue it. I will buy one of the 565's when they drop too around a grand. the extender in the TV is the way things are gong though. am I rambling....
Let me stop with , get'em while they are cheap , because i hesitated for months and now kcking myself for taking so long.

jet

[Jack @ Mar 29th 2007 2:08PM]

Hey, did you have any issues buying stuff at 6ave ? I have never used them before but i plan on picking up a z558 in the next few days.
walmart has em at $998, electronica direct has tem at $898....

[glucoseboy @ Mar 28th 2007 10:51PM]

Too bad. They were nice units, just overpriced. Definitely worth taking a look for some clearance prices.

[jetfxr @ Mar 29th 2007 10:12PM]

Yes I did. They made it better though. Kinda.
WDBWA!
send me a message to [e-mail] BTW , I can't respond from there so include an email addy for you.
and I will tell yoiu the rest of the story.