NEC made a new category of personal computers with its P5010. It is a No1 in Japan and there's a reason for that.
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When you see a problem you'll solve it. Because, problems are here to be solved. However, there are people so frozen by the fact that a problem exist that they don't even try to do something. Anything. And most of such "What to do? What to do?" people work in IT industry, to be more precise, they design and assemble hardware of personal computers.
Apple is an innovative company and engineers came with some brilliant solutions guided by Jonathan Ive and Steve Jobs. They are in their own part of the universe, and in the galaxy far, far away there are all other PC manufacturers that fights for a part of the market. Most of the time they envy Apple and time is spent on envy, not on a creative thinking. But, there are voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say: "We can do better!". It is a bold statement, it's true, but it is also a true statement. Those voice probably belong to engineers at NEC and they braveness is backed up by PowerMate P5010.
When Apple invented iPod, it actually invented a whole new market. It seems to me that NEC invented a new category of personal computers. PowerMate P5010 is a compact device and the first thought that comes to mind is: "It is another iMac." But it is not. It's better. PowerMate P5010 is a desktop computer, but it is also a movable device with weight of 4kg, with nice handle for easier moving around your home. It is white and that handle fits very nicely into overall design. On its right hand side the new NEC has a slot-loading DVD that supports Double Layer discs. PowerMate P5010 has 2GB of RAM and its heart is AMD's Turion 64 X2 T-52 ticking at 1.5GHz, while Radeon X1200 is here for graphic tasks. The processor is only thing that doesn't deserve applause, I'd be happier to see a Core 2 Duo inside, but you can't have it all.
The monitor is 17.1-inch wide with NEC's Super Shine View technology and it quality is very good, although I would never do some design or prepress work using it. However, P5010 is not aimed at that market segment. Movies and games are its area of expertise. With a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels and vivid colors it is ideal choice for a "home cinema". The built-in speakers are loud enough; for a connection there is wireless LAN, while 13-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader make data transfer very easy. And that transferred data you can store onto 200GB SATA hard disk.
NEC is proud of its "One cable" solution and with a reason: It's pure joy to have just one power cord and you can forget other cables on the desk or beneath it. P5010's keyboard is wireless and can operate from the distance of up to 10 meters, more than you'll ever need. NEC PowerMate P5010 is a silent PC because it is designed to allow a hot air to flow from the bottom to the top. We saw something similar at Apple's Cube but I hope that P5010 won't share Cube's destiny. Very good solution and taking all into consideration it's understandable why this PC has won "Japan Good Design Award" and why it is No1 in selling in Japan.
All said and done, I see just two possible drawbacks. First, P5010 looks very good and it's shame that it is not perfectly suitable for design or prepress work. Such good device would fit nicely in a designer's room. The second danger is marketing this device as a desktop computer. NEC PowerMate P5010 is a hybrid PC and marketing people at NEC should emphasize that fact in every occasion.
Apple is a company that almost every other company tried to copy. NEC is another one that came to Apple's part of the universe. Now, it is the time for others to copy NEC. ■
