Toshiba of Canada brings consumers one step closer to the coming era of multimedia convergence with the launch of a product that merges television and computer technologies.

timm, the 20-inch Toshiba Integrated Multimedia Monitor, is both a 181-channel tuner with high performance picture tube and a vga direct-input computer monitor.

While business applications such as teleconferencing and multimedia presentations are well suited for the new product, Toshiba will be marketing timm in the consumer electronics category.

Craig Macklem, director of marketing, advertising, sales promotion and public relations for Toshiba Canada Consumer Electronics Group, says computer products are ‘quickly becoming a consumer product, as opposed to a business product. Just look at the number of home computers.

‘timm is not just a computer monitor, it is also a television receiver, and our company strongly believes it belongs with consumer electronics,’ Macklem says.

It is already possible to buy tv tuner cards that give desktop personal computers the capability to receive and play tv signals.

And at least two manufacturers sell pcs with factory-installed tv tuner cards – Apple in its Performa line and Compaq in Presario.

Ralph Hyatt, manager, product marketing at Compaq, says ‘the convergence of the tv and computer is naturally going to happen. The only question is `What is it going to look like?’ ‘

According to Hyatt, 8% of the Presario computers Compaq has sold since introducing the feature in September have been tv-capable.

timm is a 20-inch remote-controlled tv with cd-quality sound designed for use with interactive multimedia applications, including cd-rom, CD-i and video games.

It also has connections for a vcr, satellite receiver or laserdisc player.

The dot pitch of the timm screen is up to 36% finer than conventional picture tubes in order to recreate the high resolution of computer graphics.

It has built-in vga compatibility for immediate hook-up to dos-based computers and with an adapter will hook up to Mac II computers.

timm is available at authorized Toshiba retailers across Canada now at $1,399.

Macklem says advertising will likely not begin until the fall.

He would not be specific about media plans, but all work will be coming from D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, of Toronto. PS