Bristol's ViewSurfer TVs let you use XP from 10 feet away

Face it, we're not normal. Most consumers don't want to convert their home PCs into media centers. That doesn't stop them from wanting a single device serving as both their TV and PC, however. That's where the 22- and 32-inch Bristol ViewSurfer PC/TVs carve out their niche. Each set features a FreeView tuner and an integrated, netbook-like, Atom-based Windows XP computer with 160GB of storage, 1GB of memory, 4x USB, and Ethernet. The PC lacks integrated WiFi, oddly enough, and the TV seems to function in complete isolation from the computer processing -- so no integrated DVR, for example. The £500 (about $814) 22-inch model does feature a 1680 x 1050 pixel resolution, well above the 1024 x 600 display found in most netbooks. Not that you'll be pushing Flash-based video from YouTube or BBC's iPlayer full-screen as these ViewSurfers are undoubtedly saddled with Intel's integrated 945GSE netbook graphics. Bristol remains mum about the specs on the 32 incher. Available in October if you're still game.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 4:05AM]

why they make netbook like this ?
useless

[Sheppard Posted Jul 6th 2009 4:13AM]

Bit of a missed opportunity if the TV is seperate from the actual PC but i like the idea.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 4:19AM]

A-Rod will be all over this

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 4:26AM]

Typo in the title? :)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 4:46AM]

Or you could pick up a second hand pc, a 32" TV, at least one dual tuner card and a 1TB drive for less than that.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 5:03AM]

agree

+1

[fourthletter Posted Jul 6th 2009 7:34AM]

"22-inch model does feature a 1680 x 1050 pixel resolution, well above the 1024 x 600 display found in most netbooks. Not that you'll be pushing Flash-based video from YouTube or BBC's iPlayer full-screen as these ViewSurfers are undoubtedly saddled with Intel's integrated 945GSE netbook graphics."

Except that YouTube and iPlayer use Flash which is not excellerated by a graphics card so Intel's intergrated graphics makes no difference at all.

[Poop Chef Posted Jul 6th 2009 8:41AM]

This is a 3 on the Bristol Stool Scale.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 9:05AM]

I'd like one!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 9:34AM]

Nevermind the half computer, half TV (but really neither) idea; I really want that keyboard for my HTPC! ;)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2009 2:28AM]

you can buy those exact keyboards (Shintaro brand) in Australia.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2009 12:45AM]

what is that black circle thing in front of the monitor?