The easy-to-use HP m7490n Media Center PC is the complete home PC system that delivers more entertainment choices, and brings them together in one place with easy access from anywhere in the room. With the m7490n you can watch, record, and pause live TV programming as well as schedule the PC to record upcoming episodes or entire series. And you can easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format LightScribe DVD/CD burner (with top-of-the-line 16x DVD+/-R writing), which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc. This desktop is one of the first to offer Intel's Viiv technology, which enables you to quickly turn the PC on and off (after initial boot) with a touch of the included remote thanks to Intel's Quick Resume function. It also offers specially-designed software that makes network configuration easy, for connecting to portable media players, DVD players, TV sets and stereos.

The m7490n comes loaded with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Update Rollup 2), which provides support for Media Center Extender technology built into XBox 360 game consoles. It features a 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium D 930 dual-core processor for powering through work as multiple applications hum along simultaneously and without stress, as well as 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum) with a fast 533 MHz speed, massive 300 GB hard drive, TV tuner card with FM tuner, and 5.1-channel surround sound.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The incredibly huge 500 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing up to 210 hours of television programming, a vast multimedia collection, or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
  
• Processor: The 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium D 940 dual-core processor delivers additional computing resources and help expand the PCÕs capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. Each core has 2 MB of L2 cache onboard (for a 4 MB total), and the two cores share an 800 MHz front-side bus. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) The Pentium D 940 sits near the top of the speed spectrum for this processor class and is one of the strongest multimedia processors available (as of March 2006).
  
• Memory: The 2 GB of built-in memory (2 x 1 GB, PC4200, DDR2 SDRAM) is a very good start right out of the box for power users, and it offers a very fast 533 MHz speed. This desktop has a 4 GB maximum RAM capacity (4 x 1 GB), excellent for your multimedia needs today and tomorrow.
  
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the m7480n's multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 2.4x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 16x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM speeds. It also comes with a second DVD-ROM optical drive, with 16x read speed.

  This LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs. Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.
  

• Keyboard & Mouse: This desktop comes with an HP multimedia keyboard and optical mouse (both PS/2), USB infrared receiver, and remote control.

Screen, Graphics and Sound
Video is powered by the GeForce 7300 LE graphics card with 64 MB of dedicated video RAM. It delivers stunning, HD video--up to 1080i resolution--and ultra-realistic gaming effects. It offers full support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 and true high dynamic-range (HDR) lighting. It also has an integrated audio card that can produce high definition surround sound configurable to 8 speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The m7490n comes with built-in 54g Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g), enabling you to connect to the Internet and other home computers without wires. It has three PCI expansion slots (one available), two external 5.25 drive bays (occupied), one internal 3.5 drive bay (occupied), one HP Personal Media Drive bay (available), one PCI x16 Express slot (available), and the following external ports on the front:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 front and 1 back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• Composite video, S-Video inputs
• Headphone and microphone jacks
• 9-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, and XD Picture Card

The following I/O ports are found on the back:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports
• 1 FireWire
• 1 parallel
• Video (VGA, composite, S-Video)
• Audio (side speaker out, rear speaker out, center speaker out, line-in, line-out, microphone)
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• It includes an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems). HP's Personal Media Drive (sold separately) allows you to add even more storage and the ability to take their digital photos on the go to share with friends and family.

  Preloaded System and Software
  The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Update Rollup 2) is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. The Update Rollup 2 upgrade offers support for the Windows Media Center Extender technology built into XBox 360 game consoles, which lets you access entertainment from your Media Center PC--whether itÕs live and recorded TV and movies, music, photos or Online Spotlight--on any TV in the house.

  It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works 8 (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Symantec Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition (with 60 days of LiveUpdate), PC Doctor, Encarta Encyclopedia 2005, Quicken New User Edition 2005, Microsoft Money 2005, WinDVD Player, Sonic DigitalMedia Plus, Sonic MyDVD Plus, Sonic DigitalMedia Archive, muvee AutoProducer, iTunes, and HP Photosmart Premier for digital image editing and organizing.

  Dimensions and Weight
  This desktop measures 15.16 x 7.6 x 16.54 inches (HxWxD) and weighs approximately 27 pounds.

  What's in the Box
  This package contains the HP Media Center m7490n desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, USB infrared receiver, remote control, and power cord. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 90 days from date of purchase.