Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates plans on Tuesday to show his idea of the home PC of the future--a vision he will be trying to convince computer makers to get behind.
Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard have come up with a concept PC that builds on the company"s current Media Center entertainment idea and goes a few steps further. The Media Center PC of the future has a remote control with a built-in LCD screen for programming recordings. The PC, known as the Windows Home Concept, also supports Internet telephony, dual high-definition TV tuners, biometric security, and a built-in cable modem.
Gates will show off the device as he kicks off the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC), a week-long gathering for those who build devices based on or connecting to the Windows operating system. The prototype is like a concept car--Microsoft doesn"t expect it to hit the market in its current form, but rather hopes to get several of the PC"s advances into the mainstream within a few years.