One of the features Chaintech are adding along with their higher-end mainboard solutions is called "C-Box3". Basically this is a 5.25" expansion bay insert with some flash media drives, an IrDA header, and some other ports and accessories.

Along with the C-Box3 comes a nifty infrared remote which named the "Handigator" (I kid you not) which is intended to create a home theatre environment out of the PC.

The "Handigator" integrates with some custom software Chaintech include along with the Zenith series mainboards that allow the end user manipulate the mouse from 10-15' feet away, via remote. The "Handigator" also works with DVD viewing software by the likes of InterVideo (WinDVD) to give you full featured access to TV, Music, Video, and even picture slideshows. You'll need to supply a TV-tuner card and a DVD player of course, but the rest of the features will work with any WinXP machine.

WinDVD will also play back DivX files with 96kHz/24-bit quality. The software package integrates its own MPEG-2 codec within the software.

Intervideo are best known for WinDVD, but the company has a whole slew of "prosumer" video playback, editing and creation software applications such as; WinDVR, WinDVD Recorder, WinDVD Creator, DVD XPack, MP3 XPack and WinRip.

To be accurate though, InterVideo are facing a tough position as they break out of the OEM world which they have embraced for so long, and begin their journey towards consumer software retail. Part of the reason InterVideo participated in Chaintech Reloaded 2003 was to begin spreading the message that WinDVD is no longer just another piece of OEM software bundled in with a videocard or DVD-ROM.

For the moment, bundling WinDVD and said "Handigator" remote along with Chaintech's Zenith motherboards will net consumers a savings of about $129USD - which is the sticker price for those who decide to pick up the DVD playback software and remote separately. A basic version of WinDVD will cost you $99 even.

I think the movement towards the PC as a home theatre system is on the correct path with software packages such as this and wireless remotes but there are still many issues to be worked out - namely noise from the dozens of cooling fans we pack into cases these days.