Dell PCs to carry digital copy of Iron Man
Paramount movie available to mainstream customers in promotion
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 9/30/2008
SEPT. 30 | Several Dell desktop and notebook computers will come pre-loaded with a digital copy of Iron Man, which streeted on DVD and Blu-ray Disc today.
Participating models include the $649 Inspiron 1525, $899 XPS 420 and $1,299 XPS 630.
The movie is in Windows Media format and can be viewed either directly on the Dell PCs or on TVs via such content-shifting technology as Xbox 360 or Slingbox.
This is the first time that Iron Man distributor Paramount Digital Entertainment has offered a film pre-loaded into PCs. The studio does plan to offer further films in this fashion, according to sources.
Paramount has rolled out catalog films pre-loaded onto media servers built by the company Video Giants and installed into luxury home theaters. Iron Man, however, will be available for more mainstream consumers.
The Iron Man offer is combined with Dell price cuts off the models’ original tag. Consumers save $269 with the Inspiron, $313 with the XPS 420 and $419 with the XPS 630.
Dell appears to be centering its current product marketing strategy around Paramount's summer blockbuster, stamping the Iron Man offer front and center across the computer maker's Web site home page.
Dell also might be using Iron Man to compete with online downloading/streaming services such as iTunes or Amazon.com’s Video On Demand.
The Web site touts, “You can start enjoying your favorite movie as soon as you get your new Dell without the hassle of searching for and downloading your content, saving you time.”
Dell’s pre-loaded Iron Man file is protected with heavy digital rights management, as detailed in its ‘Content Terms of Sale.’ For example, Dell warns that upon purchasing, users must “agree that [they] are purchasing the content for your own personal, noncommercial use and not for redistribution of any kind. You agree not to redistribute, broadcast, publicly perform or publicly display any content or otherwise transfer any copies of content obtained from Dell.”
