Lumenlab's Q42 finally loose for under $4000

Not even a month after Lumenlab loosed its luxurious Qmax on the world, the firm's Q42 has finally escaped beta and is ready to tackle your living room. This PC-in-a-TV features an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 processor, an optional NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 1TB of hard drive space, gigabit Ethernet, 7.1-channel surround sound, optional Hotwire networking technology, a silent cooling system, all aluminum frame and an optional (but totally necessary) Blu-ray drive to boot. As expected, everything's housed behind a 42-inch 1080p LCD panel, and for those still in shock over the Qmax's $10,000 sticker, the $3,850 starting price on this bugger should be a sight for sore eyes.

[Jerk Face @ Feb 4th 2008 2:15PM]

$3850!? Color me intrigued.

[Darkroom @ Feb 4th 2008 2:28PM]

hopefully the next iMac revisions will include larger displays.

[Raghu @ Feb 4th 2008 7:23PM]

Some anti-Apple folks reading these comments :) This ranking system is becoming an indicator of whose fan-boys will read certain articles more. It was good initially when people really ranked idiotic comments down, and something with a valid thought process higher.

[ScooterDe @ Feb 4th 2008 2:30PM]

not too shabby. Have they designed an interace that can be operated from an armchair with a remote? Or are you expected to pull up close when browsing, doing email, etc? That's always been the challenge for me, to work PC functions on a TV.

[midknightcommander @ Feb 4th 2008 9:02PM]

Try this:

http://computers.pricegrabber.com/keyboards/m/7412402/

Wireless keyboard and trackpad combo (2.4 gHz RF)

Works with PCs and Macs. I have mine connected to my mac mini that displays on my Aquos. Works great.

[Raghu @ Feb 4th 2008 2:36PM]

Gets me thinking. I can get a $1000 Vizio or similar panel and put a Macbook Air behind it, and I will get all the power I need for TV based computing power without adding bulk. Oh darn... no drive and definitely no Blu-Ray or HD-DVD.

[Kurian @ Feb 4th 2008 4:11PM]

Crapbook Air's onboard graphics will lag on the bloody desktop. Like my celeron 500 lags at 1024x768 on the desktop.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Feb 4th 2008 8:23PM]

Kurian, what in hell does your shitty CPU have to do w/ any GPU? If you're running a 500mhz Celeron w/ 64mb or RAM in your Compaq, I'm surprised it doesn't lag at 640x480 :/

Oh and MBA's CPU is probably a good 10x faster then yours - not to mention that is has 20x the RAM and a much better GPU - even if it is integrated.

I'm not trying to defend the MBA - I'm a Mac user and I of all people find the Air to be pretty useless.... but your ignorance is just plain annoying.

[Randy @ Feb 4th 2008 2:46PM]

Wow just...wow!

[shawn @ Feb 4th 2008 3:10PM]

Um... the shelf life of the TV is over a decade but the useful life of the PC component is less than half that.

You are better off buying a normal TV and plugging a PC into it.

Now if it was touch screen, under 20 inches, ran more as a network PC than a full-blown system, and cost under $1K, I'd be interested in one for my kitchen.

[Raghu @ Feb 4th 2008 4:16PM]

Exactly my point of sticking a separate computer behind a TV

[John @ Feb 4th 2008 3:14PM]

Tempting, but I think I'll stick with a larger TV and a PS3.

[JD @ Feb 4th 2008 3:15PM]

And the LumenLab staff are still crooks who will deliver sub-par products, blame suppliers, and run off with the money without ever providing the quality performing product that they promised. Yeah, 4 grand is easier to toss away, but whether its 10 grand or 4 grand, it's still money down the drain (or money in a lying arrogant prick's pocket, as the case may be).

[steve ballmer @ Feb 4th 2008 3:55PM]

... but is it running windows Vista?

[Raghu @ Feb 4th 2008 4:31PM]

So Kurian you want the best and fastest computer today so that 5 years from now you will effectively have the equivalent of your Celeron 500 stuck in it?

Also your Celeron 500 is not driving the graphics, it's your graphics card.

I am running an old ATI Radeon Mobility 9000 with a whopping 32MB memory that is driving a native 1400x1050 and external 1680x1050 for programming and documents just fine. It also works just fine for DVDs on a single screen. I am sure the Intel GMA X3100 in the Macbook Air can do an adequate job with a single 1920x1080 panel.

That is unless you are playing games, in which case you are better off getting a proper gaming rig or console.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Feb 4th 2008 4:57PM]

So basically it's a bigger iMac with 7.1 Surround Sound and Blu-ray. Sounds good to me.

[Nathan @ Feb 4th 2008 5:13PM]

Yes except you glanced over the best part; it really isn't an iMac and as such doesn't run a feline derived OS.

Plus if it were and Apple product, it would cost more, have fewer features and you could only get it in one color.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Feb 4th 2008 5:19PM]

Ouch, that smarts.

[Sumsa @ Feb 4th 2008 5:23PM]

Guys, you might really be interested in a very similar product launched in Germany: have a look at altera-media.de
They sell Mac minis beautifully hidden in NEC-Displays. Though their website is pretty unfinished at the moment, I´ve already seen finished 46"ers and they´re just plain beautiful.

[TIMMAH! @ Feb 4th 2008 5:28PM]

Yeah, kinda nichy I think. Probably great for the tradeshow crowd, but for the home user it still probably makes more sense to have a separate media PC.