Okoro Media Systems has been offering up well-spec'd HTPCs for quite some time, but it has finally seen fit to jump on the flash-based storage bandwagon. The firm's new ZX series of Extreme Digital Entertainment Systems gets going with the OMS-ZX100, which comes standard with a 32GB SSD (for the OS and such)
and a 1TB HDD for media storage. Moreover, you'll find a 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme
QX6850 processor, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, NVIDIA's 256MB GeForce 8600 GT graphics card, Blu-ray / HD DVD playback and your choice of "any automotive color" on the chassis. 'Tis a shame it costs $5,995 to even join the ZX100 club, but look to spend even more if you're hankering for a built-in CableCARD tuner and WiFi adapter.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
George @ Mar 31st 2008 10:49AM
SEEN fit.
rock99rock @ Mar 31st 2008 4:13PM
More like SEEN it. I have that case. Aphanix MCE300. Except, it isnt ass-ugly red. And I have more or less the same specs for about $5000 less after building mine.
This monstrosity should be put next to the $15000 16gb flash drive.
Rob @ Mar 31st 2008 10:53AM
Yeah, the price is just ridiculous. I was getting excited with the features until I saw how much they want to sell it for. No thank you. For almost $6000, they better include a couple of their units, 2 52" 1080p lcd monitors with it too.
Boscorooty @ Mar 31st 2008 11:12AM
Sorry, but no. I built my HTPC, with a 3GB Core 2 Duo, 2TB of HD space, 4GB of Ram, and a silent, heat-piped HDCP ready MSI Radeon card for about $950. Slapped in the LG super multi Blu/HD drive, and put the whole thing in an art deco 1934 Delco Tombstone radio. Looks gorgeous and plays everything I throw at it, including games. To spend 6K on this you'd have to be an idiot.
R
Mike @ Mar 31st 2008 11:40AM
To Boscorooty,
The only thing your missing in your setup is Cable Cards. Which is the one thing you can't put into your home built Media Center. The PC Companies know that and that's why they jack up the price. Obviously this PC in particular is completely outrageous in price but for most other Cable Card PCs you just aren't going to find any sweet deals. If you want the power of Cable Card TV your'e gonna have to pay for it.
Joe Dombrowski @ Mar 31st 2008 7:52PM
Read the description again "look to spend even more if you're hankering for a built-in CableCARD tuner". It's $6000 without the tuner. For that price, you could build your dream HTPC, buy a barebones cablecard system to steal the tuner from, and buy the HDTV to play it back on!
coffee @ Mar 31st 2008 12:33PM
I'm with bosco, I just built mine for under $600 with a blu-ray drive, not as much storage, but that's configurable and expandable.
As for the cablecard, DirecTV should have their external system out later this year, and that's all I'll need to add, if and when I want to ditch the DVR they provided.
Sounds like they tried to game-out a media center for no other reason than just to do it. Media Centers don't need massive fans, they need to be quiet and capable.
Peter @ Mar 31st 2008 10:53AM
Why is the GPU an 8600GT? If you're laying down $6000 for a system with SSD and C2E, why not put in an 8800GT as well? It only seems to make sense to me.
Peter F @ Mar 31st 2008 12:37PM
The higher models are not good for home theater. It doesn't include the video chip (whatever its name is)
Peter F @ Mar 31st 2008 12:45PM
This was what i was looking for! It shows product support for PureVideo
http://www.nvidia.com/docs/CP/11036/PureVideo_Product_Comparison.pdf
Byzil Mystwing @ Mar 31st 2008 11:05AM
Maybe I'm missing the point of HTPCs, but why would one ever need a Q2E processor or SSD for the OS? drop a 9800GX2 in there, and it's a highly overpriced gaming rig but.. I guess I didn't realise people did that sort of thing with HTPCs? oO
John Bailey @ Mar 31st 2008 5:42PM
Pre built HTPCs always seem to be grossly overpriced. A prettified slimline desktop case, a couple of tuners and double the price seems to be normal. No wonder they are not catching on with the general public. Pop a TV tuner into an ordianary desktop and it qualifies as a HTPC, but even that attracts a disproportionate price premium.
Boscorooty @ Mar 31st 2008 11:13AM
Obciously, that should read 3Ghz Core Duo, not 3GB.....
Peter F @ Mar 31st 2008 12:39PM
It's possible to build a Dell XPS420 media center with 2 cable card tuners on sale for 1500. Includes quad core, 4 gb ram, 500 gb hdd. When you compare the price diff, it doesn't add up.
Nirmal @ Mar 31st 2008 2:44PM
Okoro's OMS-ZX100 = $5995
PS3 running linux = Priceless
Functionality = Same
Zach @ Mar 31st 2008 7:27PM
Can you run mkv files using linux on teh PS3?
Nirmal @ Mar 31st 2008 9:00PM
Zach,
You do not need linux on PS3 to run mkv files. On Linux you may still use VLC.
Non-linux PS3: http://www.ps3hax.net/video-conversion-encoding-tutorials/3294-quick-fix-mkvs-without-mp4-conversion.html
sodapop @ Mar 31st 2008 5:05PM
$5,995... What do you need flash storage on an immobile device for?
Apple TV is $229.
dosguy @ Apr 1st 2008 10:17AM
Wait about 6 months and they'll be about $299.95 at Best Buy.