Samsung's new ArtPC Pulse is now officially available for preorder starting at $1,200. The expensive PC got a very low key rollout, which sort of stoked the tech world's curiosity as a result.
The computer suspiciously looks like the latest Mac Pro because of its form factor. Like the Apple desktop, it is also cylindrical, one that some quarters are now labeling as artistic trash can design language. The ArtPC Pulse, however, offers some key selling points that uniquely position the product to capture the interest of specific market segments.
First, there is the case of the speaker. A good portion of the 10.7-inch body has been allocated to a Harman Kardon speaker. The importance of this component is underscored by the prominent display of the audio equipment company's logo.
The speaker is designed to work in what Samsung touts as 360-degree Omni-directional orientation. There is currently no available information about the speaker's specifications and, of course, it is yet to be tested as the desktop only starts shipping on Oct. 28.
However, there is the possibility that it could also get a smart assistant feature similar to the Amazon Echo or the Google Home. One should remember that Samsung has been furiously developing its own smart assistant technology as evidenced by its recent tech acquisitions.
For those interested about the actual computer specifications, the ArtPC Pulse runs on a sixth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, a 256 GB SSD and 8 GB of RAM. It is also outfitted with an AMD Radeon RX 460 graphics card. The bottom line is that it is not exactly groundbreaking. To put this in context, the computer's RAM falls within the minimum standard among PC these days while the graphics card does not meet the Oculus Rift's VR requirement.
With its design and features, the ArtPC Pulse seems to be gunning for the Mac Pro customers and it could also pose credible threat to HP's Pavilion Wave, which is now out in the market. Whether the company will be successful in this respect is a question that remains to be answered at this point.
So should you buy the desktop? It is probably wise to wait for its release and get insights from user reviews. One should remember that despite the quality of the speakers, the hardware itself is middling. In addition, the Mac Pro and the HP Pavilion Wave seem to trounce it in terms of design that you would want for your home. However, if it could support smart assistant technology, then it would be a different story.
