Marvel hits PC! Iron Man on PC as Pre-load!
By Kevin Coll and Justin Vactor
“Hi, I am a Marvel!”
“and I am a PC”
PC manufacturer Dell and Paramount Pictures are opening a new front in digital distribution Tuesday with an offering allowing consumers to order “Iron Man” preloaded into newly purchased computers.
“The key focus here is to lead off our slow immersion into content as a major piece of the puzzle in terms of what consumers want from a PC,” said Rachna Basin, director of content for Dell’s global consumer group.
For now, Paramount is the only studio that has signed on, and Iron Man” — which will be available accompanied by exclusive bonus footage for $20 day-and-date with its DVD release — is the only film being offered.
The offering is the first step Dell is taking toward setting up a broader digital content storefront that could create significant competition for Apple’s dominant iTunes Store.
“Iron Man” will be presented as an option to consumers as part of Dell’s personalized purchasing process, which allows buyers to customize virtually every facet of their PC from such essentials as storage capacity to stylistic touches like laptop-cover artwork. The Paramount/Marvel Entertainment film would be preinstalled on Dell’s Inspiron, Studio and XPS laptop and desktop models. The Dell-”Iron Man” product is available only in the U.S. for now, but Dell is expected to make similar offers overseas.
Preinstalling content is not a new technology, though more common on portable devices. Nokia, for instance, preloaded Sony’s “Spider-Man 3″ last year on its N95 model in various regions overseas.
“Iron Man” will be available only in standard definition. Full details of DRM were not available, but Dell will allow users to burn one copy of “Iron Man” to DVD.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
I have to admit this is a pretty interesting concept. Not new as we read there about Spider-man 3 but it doesn’t surprise me. Marketers are doing anything they can to entice customers to buy a computer and with Iron Man pre-loaded that seems to be a hook. However, I do know if it will work. I will wait to consult Ad Age magazine to see what they say. That being said as PC owner i think it is cool but Mac still has the edge appeal and besides, who liked watching stuff on your PC? I mean Iron Man should be seen in Blu-ray and that is it.
