IBM's Aptiva S series puts real 'voice' into voice mail

Voice mail has taken on a whole new meaning with IBM's new Aptiva S.

Using text-to-speech technology and voice modem, the Aptiva S enables users to listen to their e-mail letters over the phone as the computer 'reads' the text message aloud.

It also sports another new IBM feature, multimedia monitors with integrated enhanced acoustic Wave-Chamber and multidome speaker design.

The speakers are placed on the left and right sides of the screen, making the monitor resemble a television set - an appearance further enhanced by the computer's black colour, right down to the mouse.

The Aptiva S multimedia PC has 200MHz Pentium with MMX (multimedia extension), 3D graphics accelerator, theatre sound and CD-Rom drive.

Its floppy and CD-Rom drives can be stored within the compact-sized case and then popped out when their operations are needed.