WinInfo Short Takes: Week of November 24: COMDEX 2003 Special Edition

Compaq X Gaming System Rocks
   One of the most incredible new PCs I saw at COMDEX this week was HP's new limited-edition Compaq X Gaming System, an aluminum-clad monster that competes directly with Dell's equally impressive Dimension XPS system. The Compaq X features a 3.2GHz or 3.0GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512MB to 1GB of RAM, serial ATA hard disks, and multiple optical drives. The gaming crowd should be sure to check out the system's neat internal lighting effects. HP uses the aluminum case for practical purposes, too: The case aides in heat dissipation, along with four strategically placed fans. The Compaq X will be available in limited quantities at certain Best Buy and CompUSA locations.

HP Moves from Athens to Troy
   HP's Athens PC prototype, which the company first unveiled at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2003 trade show, was a big hit and an intriguing glimpse into the future of computing. At COMDEX, however, HP delivered a working version of the Athens concept, code-named Troy, which uses actual PC components that are shipping today and a temporary breakout box to implement the various buttons and displays that future systems will somehow implement. The Troy prototype includes HP's new wide-screen display mounted on the front of the company's current small-form-factor PC, a wireless keyboard and mouse, a WebCam and cell phone, and various other Athens-like features. I was heartened to see the Athens concept taken out of the lab and put in near-usable form because so often these far-reaching concepts seem more dream than reality. Have no doubt: By the time Longhorn rolls out in a few years, the PCs we'll be using will be incredible.

Voice Command Makes Pocket PC Interaction Easier
   A few weeks ago, I inadvertently and foolishly ignored the release of Voice Command for Windows Mobile 2003-based Pocket PC and Pocket PC Phone Edition, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover at COMDEX what a valuable piece of software Voice Command is. Voice Command lets you use your voice (naturally) to interact with your Inbox, calendar, and contacts and with Windows Media Player (WMP); it speaks back to you by using a natural form of communication. For example, you can ask the device, "What's my next appointment?" and it will tell you. The software costs $39.99 at Handango and is worth the cost if you're one of those idiotic, er ah, busy people who feels the need to access your PDA and drive a car at the same time. Just don't try to use it on the plane next to me.