Review: Philips Showline MCP9350i home entertainment computer

Despite the large number of PC manufacturers making computers with Microsoft's Windows Media Center operating system, there are precious few from traditional consumer electronics companies.

However, Sony recently released two Media Centers (the XL100 and VA1), and now Philips has followed suit with the MCP9350i.

Concentrating on the entertainment side of things, the MCP9350i looks like a standard piece of AV hardware that would usually sit under a TV.

It comes with a remote that will control all aspects of Media Center as well as Philips' range of televisions.

At the back of the computer rests a variety of ports including VGA and DVI for connecting a monitor and Scart, as well as S-Video for hooking up to a compatible television.

Audio is taken care of by optical and coaxial digital outputs (these will hook directly up to a 5.1 surround sound speaker system), while those with standard stereo speakers will be able to use the analogue 'line-out' alternative.

If there's one area of disappointment with the Showline MCP9350i, it's the fact that Philips has opted for analogue tuners over digital.

There are two of them, which allow two channels to be recorded at the same time, but with the majority of people in the UK now able to receive Freeview, plus the fact that analogue will be switched off from 2008 onwards , it's a surprising move by Philips. There's also no option to swap them for digital tuners when you buy it either.

However, should you have a Freeview or Sky set top box, you'll be able to connect these to the Showline MCP9350i and, thanks to the three included Infrared 'blasters' (receivers), it will be also able to control channel changes.

Low noise is crucial when it comes to home entertainment computers and thankfully the MCP9350i is incredibly quiet. When switched on, the fans spin at full speed for about three seconds, but from then on it's barely audible.

Philips has opted for an Intel Pentium 4 630 (3GHz) processor combined with 512Mb of memory as the driving force behind the MCP9350i. This is perfectly adequate for Media Center, but if it's going to be used as a standard PC, the 512Mb of memory could start to restrict the number of programs you can run at any one time.

A 250Gb hard disk will be able to store a decent amount of recorded video, while the multi-format DVD provides a way to archive up to 8.5Gb of recorded content at a time.

A compact wireless keyboard is also included along with Likemusic (a personal DJ-style application), Norton Internet Security Suite and various Cyberlink DVD titles.
On sale for just under £1,000, Philips' first Media Center PC is an impressive piece of kit. However, if you live in a Freeview area you might want to wait for the next version to hit the shelves, but when that will be is still unconfirmed.

Also consider
Mesh Cubex Media TV 
A good range of software, Media Center features and a 20in monitor
Rating: 4/5
Price: £1499