Okoro Media Systems's OMS-AX100 amps up your boring HTPC
[Via eCoustics]
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2009 isn't even here yet (at least on the right coast of Planet Earth), but Okoro's being exceptionally proactive by announcing that its '09 OMS-LX100 is already shipping. The system, which is a revamp of the original that popped out in 2006, is situated in the outfit's "low profile" range of HTPCs, and it brings to the table a 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo E2200 processor, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a front-panel display, optional 7-inch touchscreen, dual-layer DVD writer, up to 2TB of HDD space, NVIDIA's GeForce 9300 with 512MB of RAM, an ATI Digital CableCARD tuner, 7.1-channel audio output and an OTA HDTV tuner. Power users can certainly push the $1,725 base configuration well north of two large should they choose, but good luck explaining that to the SO.
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.
We'd heard the Okoro was planning shipping entry-level CableCARD HTPCs, and the firm's made good on that promise, unveiling the $1795 OMS-CX100 today. Apart from that all-important ATI TV Wonder DCT breakout box, the CX100 features a 2.3GHz Intel E6550 Core 2 Duo, NVIDIA 8500GT graphics, 2GB of memory and 320GB of storage, and Vista Ultimate. HD DVD and Blu-ray are separate options depending on your format allegiance, but for someone looking to make the HTPC leap in a Cable Labs-approved way, it's not a bad deal at all.
Hot on the heels of Dell and HP launching (or in the case of the latter, relaunching) CableCARD-equipped machines of their own, along comes Okoro Media Systems to give you yet another option to consider. Truth be told, you've now got five more alternatives to ponder, as the firm's OMS-TH540, OMS-TH550, OMS-BX300, OMS-GX100, and OMS-GX300 all come with CableCARD availability. Christopher Curry, VP of Sales and Operations, even stated that CableCARDs should "soon be available in [the outfit's] entry-level systems," too. Price wise, the ATI TV Wonder Digital CableCARD Tuner (or two, if you so choose) will run you $250 (apiece) above the price of the standard "OTA HDTV and Analog SDTV Recording" option.
Okoro Media Systems has been Blu-ray savvy for some time now, but apparently it's looking to bring the peace with a dual-format combo drive in its BX series of HTPCs. The BX100 resides in a fairly slim 4.13-inch tall enclosure and includes an Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 processor, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 350-watt power supply, optional seven-inch touchscreen, your choice of operating system and media center software, 500GB of hard drive space, NVIDIA's 256MB 8500 GT graphics card, a total of three TV tuners, and a smorgasbord of ports including PS/2, FireWire, serial, optical / coaxial digital audio outputs, two DVI ports, VGA, component, S-Video, composite, Ethernet, and four USB 2.0 connectors. The beefier BX300 steps up to a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 CPU, 1TB of storage spanning two 500GB drives, NVIDIA's 256MB GeForce 8600 GTS graphics card, and a 7.1-channel sound card. Both systems look to be available as we speak with a built-in HD DVD / Blu-ray combo drive, and while the BX100 can be yours for $2,995, the base BX300 will run you an extra $600.
It looks like Okoro Media Systems' flagship HTPC is getting yet another upgrade, as this time the well-spec'd beast picks up a quad-core 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 processor and an HDCP-compliant NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX graphics card to compliment the rest of the luxuries you'll find here. Aside from the sleek, black chassis with built-in seven-inch touchscreen display, you'll also be graced with up to 4GB of Crucial Ballistix DDR2 RAM, twin dual-layer DVD burners (c'mon, where's the high definition?), DTS Connect / Dolby Digital Live, 1TB of SATA hard drive space, 9-in-1 flash card reader, dual TV tuners, and a range of OS choices including Vista Ultimate. As for the port assortment, you'll find FireWire, optical / digital audio, four USB 2.0 connectors, Ethernet, two DVI outputs, VGA / component / S-Video / composite outs, microphone in, and the obligatory OTA cable inputs. So while the OMS-GX300 probably includes everything you need for the quickest, most feature-packed media PC experience, all these niceties will run you somewhere between $4,595 and infinity, depending on your credit limit.
While Sony and AMEX Digital have already busted out Blu-ray-equipped media PCs, it looks like Okoro Media Systems is finally making the leap, too. Just a few months after stuffing Core 2 Duo chips in its machines, the company has now unveiled the OMS-BX100 and OMS-BX300 HTPCs, which both sport Blu-ray drives and HDPC-compliant 1080p outputs. The thinner, sleeker BX100 packs an Intel T7200 Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, front panel LCD, optional 7-inch touchscreen, 500GB SATA hard drive, ATI X1600 PRO 256MB PCI-e graphics card, built-in TV tuner, and the usual complement of ports including 4-pin FireWire, audio in / out, USB 2.0, and just about every video output imaginable. The larger, more feature-packed BX300 houses an Intel 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 processor, 2GB of memory, a terabyte of internal storage, NVIDIA GeForce 7600 256MB PCI-e graphics set, dual OTA tuners, and touts the same port selection as its smaller sibling. Both units come with your choice of operating system and HTPC software, and while both boxes are available now, the low-profile BX100 starts at $2,995, and the beefed-up BX300 will set you back $3,495 (or much, much more).
Hot on the heels of Okoro Media Systems' LX100, the company is offering yet another low(er)-end option with slightly less powerful innards, but housed in a very sexy, slim case. The OMS-SX100 is the latest addition to the company's wide array of HTPC offerings, and sports a sleek, black enclosure that should fit in nicely with your other AV devices (except maybe that impending Nintendo Wii). It comes packed with a 1.67GHz Intel Core Due T2300 Yonah CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, integrated Intel 950 graphics, 250GB SATA drive, 16x dual-layer DVD burner, 8-channel audio, gigabit Ethernet, USB OTA HDTV tuner, and a vanilla (read: unspecified) internal TV tuner -- you'll also find a plethora of ports, including VGA, HDCP-friendly HDMI, S-Video, composite, FireWire, optical audio, and USB 2.0. Okoro also gives you the option of Windows Media Center 2005 or a customized SageTV setup with Windows XP Home / Professional, as well as tossing in a wireless "mini-keyboard" and an IR / RF remote. Touting specs like that, you knew this bad boy would get that (still) mysterious Intel VIIV seal of approval, and with a pricetag showing just $1,350, this media PC shouldn't put too much strain on the bank account.
Trailing only slightly behind the onslaught of Core 2 Duo machines we've seen recently, Okoro Media Systems is following suit by offering Intel's latest processors in their home theater computers. Okoro has shown it likes to keep pace in the HTPC race, and by tossing the Core 2 Duo in three of their PCs, it hopes to take advantage of the extra speed and efficiency the chips offer. The OMS-TH540 will sport the Intel 1.8GHz E6300, while the OMS-TH550 gets the 2.13GHz E6400, and still holding tight to its "fastest HTPC available" claim, the OMS-GX300 rocks the Intel Core 2 Extreme 2.93GHz X6800. While it doesn't look like they've removed any fans, the company states that the Core 2 Duo was chosen because of its efficient nature, allowing the creation of "high performance, ultra-quiet, and low power" entertainment systems. This new trio runs "up to 40 percent faster and quieter" than the previous generation of Okoros, and these fresh releases also rock "DTS Connect" technology, which provides 7.1 "HD audio," HDCP compliant video playback, and ATSC recording capabilities. The revamped lineup -- Core 2 Duo and all -- is available immediately, but with prices starting at $2,095 and reaching way past our credit limit, the bleeding-edge technology comes at a painful premium.
Although home theater PCs are great for watching and listening to your digital content from the comfort of your couch, most lack the graphics horsepower for playing your favorite games on your 60-inch plasma and eight speaker setup. Not so with Okoro's new OMS-GX300, which besides sporting a dual-core Athlon64 FX-60 processor from AMD, also packs in that tasty SLI goodness in the form of nVidia's GeForce 7950 GX2 card featuring a full gig of video RAM. As if that weren't enough to get you excited, the GX300 also comes with 1TB of storage standard -- upgradable to a whopping 3TB thanks to four open SATA bays -- three TV tuners (2 analog and one OTA digital), an HDA Digital X-Mystique 7.1 sound card, and just about every input and output that you could ask for -- except, curiously, HDMI. Best of all, this model features a 7-inch front panel touchscreen for displaying tons of infoswag, at a price that's at least four hundred bucks less than the $5,000-and-up screen-less Denali series from Niveus.






