TECHNOLOGY : AST Research Joins the Growing List of ‘Multimedia Computer’ Producers

AST Research Inc. in Irvine has unveiled a so-called multimedia computer as part of its Advantage! product line, adding itself to a growing pack of PC makers seeking to capitalize on an industry growth area.

Multimedia computers are souped up with special features that give a computer the ability to combine compact-disc quality sound, full-motion video, and jazzy color graphics.

Dennis Cox, director of the company’s consumer products group, calls multimedia the “next generation of personal computing.”

The computer includes two stereo speakers, a circuit board that delivers sound capability, an 80-megabyte hard disk drive, and a CD-ROM (compact disc, read-only memory) drive, which uses compact disc technology to store the high volumes of data for high-resolution graphics or video applications.

AST will pitch the Advantage! Multimedia PC in the educational, entertainment and office productivity markets.

The Advantage! line is sold in more than 200 retail outlets throughout the country, including Circuit City electronics stores and several warehouse-style retailers.

A number of other computer makers, including PCC Group in Brea and Advanced Logic Research Inc. in Irvine, have also launched multimedia PCs in recent months.