Everyone's waiting for the convergence of television, personal computing, and high-speed Internet connectivity. Some say it's already here -- albeit in bits and pieces. Products like the TVPC, smartly combining the names TV and PC, are helping to push us into that convergent future.

Using standard connectors, the TVPC from Ino Technologies attaches to your TV, stereo system, and the Internet through either a cable, DSL, or analog modem. With a software package called CouchClick, TVPC allows you to use regular PC software in a TV format. CouchClick turns your TV screen into a familiar GUI environment.

Like most PC bundles, the TVPC uses the Micosoft Window's operating system. And with a 1 GHz processor and 256 MB RAM, you can probably use all of your PC software and games. Plus, TVPC comes Internet-ready, able to handle Java, Shockwave, RealAudio, RealVideo, and a range of MP3 players. A DVD/CD player is also part of the deal.

In addition to a wireless remote, the TVPC also sports a wireless keyboard, an added bonus for ardent couch surfers. You'll be able to easily switch from channel surfing to Web surfing, and when you're bored with that, you can opt for more serious computing.

Use of the the CouchClick software is optional. It can be turned off, and instead you can use the standard Windows GUI. It's also customizable. You can restrict other people's access to your personal files or the Web.

As far as connectivity goes, the TVPC includes 2 USB ports, a serial port, a parallel port, a telephone jack, and an Ethernet connector.

Pricing and Availability
The TVPC is currently available in the UK for around $800. It'll be making its way to the US in the late summer.

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