Date: January 20th, 2003
Article by: Nathan Glentworth
(Owner, Head Editor & Hardware Reviewer)
Product was donated by: Philips
<--Shop for the Philips AURILIUM Here
PHILIPS CORPORATE PROFILE
Royal Philips Electronics is tenth on Fortune's list of global top
electronics corporations. We are active in about 60 businesses, varying
from consumer electronics to domestic appliances, and from security
systems to semiconductors. We are a world leader in digital technologies
for television and displays, wireless communications, speech recognition,
video compression, storage and optical products as well as the underlying
semiconductor technology that makes these breakthroughs possible. We
have world class solutions in lighting, medical systems (particularly
scanning and other diagnostic systems) and personal and domestic appliances
where our investments in design and new materials are critical to success.
Translated into figures, we produce over 2.4 billion incandescent lamps
every year, and some 30 million picture tubes. Around 2.5 million heart
procedures (scans and interventional procedures) on X-ray equipment
are carried out each year using our technology. One in seven television
sets worldwide contains a Philips picture tube, and 60 percent of all
telephones contain Philips products. Thirty percent of offices around
the world are lit by Philips Lighting, which also lights 65 percent
of the world's top airports, 55 percent of major soccer stadia, and
30 per cent of hospitals.
PRODUCT INTRODUCTION
Making the choice between the standard two channel stereo
configuration and the more robust surround sound setup really comes
down to the purpose of your future computer purchase. To some mainstream/office
computer purchasers, a multi-channel soundcard is just an unneeded extra
cost that can be avoided or the value put to better use by upping the
system memory or perhaps a faster processor. To others, such as the
enthusiast, gamer or musician, a surround soundcard is as important
as a fast CPU, oodles of system memory or a screaming fast videocard.
But, with OEM prepackaged computers still making up the
majority of today's computer market sales, we still see two channel
setups holding their ground as the most popular soundcard specification
in the everyday home computer. Now say you purchased an everyday computer
with onboard or PCI card sound solution and after 6 months or a year
you wanted to experience the fidelity of full 5.1 surround sound, what
would be your options?
1.) You could purchase a surround sound PCI card and void
your computer's warranty by installing the card yourself.
2.) You could have the computer manufacturer install the soundcard at
a high installation fee and upgrade cost.
3.) You can find an audio solution that is relatively cheap, effective
and won't involve you touching your computer other than one small connection.
If you are interested in option #3, Philips now has an
external USB 2.0 compliant 5.1 sound center that can have you enjoying
surround sound with a quick insertion of a USB cable.
Let's have a look.
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