Introducing the Intel Viiv!

Intel continues to expand horizons and it’s latest venture is something that you could very much expect from Intel in this day and age as they seek to move beyond the PC - home entertainment. Intel is coming out with Viiv, a platform that is optimized for use as a Media Center.

The Viiv PC’s will have special features such as Dual-Core processors, Gigabit LAN, Wireless networking, and support for a remote control. Moreover, Intel’s Quick Resume technology will enable users to turn on and turn off their PC’s within just a few seconds, although the exact figure is unknown. As you would probably have understood, Viiv is a computing platform(like Centrino), and not a processor range. In fact, it is unclear at this time if Intel would make specialized Viiv processors or make use of standard processors, because Intel already has processors with the Viiv specifications on the market.

So, what is Viiv ? More than anything else, It’s hype in my opinion. Intel’s Hyper Threading processors currently rule the roost in the Media Center category because of their virtual multitasking abilities, but with AMD’s Athlon X2 range fast gaining popularity, all that may be about to change. The centrino platform has been very, very successful so far, and one of the few remaining areas where Intel is still miles ahead of AMD. Is the Viiv a similar effort ? In some ways it is, and in others it isn’t.That is because computers in the market today already offer the same features as the Viiv platform does, so there isn’t much of a revolutionary aspect about it.

The difference Viiv makes is that there will now be computers that will be far better optimized for home entertainment, but it doesn’t even offer integrated TV Tuners, and that makes one think, are Intel really all that serious ?