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MTV Networks, which made its name with music videos, is putting its brand on computers targeted at its audience of young adults that combine the Internet and television with a DVD player and stereo.

MTV said on Wednesday it struck an exclusive pact with computer maker Lan Plus to offer a line of personal computers and PC-based devices this spring that let users watch movies on DVD, catch cable shows, surf the Web, and get exclusive MTV programming in one device.

Mixing movies, music, and television with the Internet is a top goal of major media companies, and this pact is one of MTV's first forays into offering devices in this arena.

"We are seeing a lot of majors get into this particular category and combining all these media," said Tony Calandra, interactive director at MTV in an interview. "We feel our audience will be looking for such a product."

MTV is putting its name on a line of computers and PC-based devices that fit its audience well -- most of whom have grown up with computers in their home and are tech savvy, he said.

A price has not yet been finalized but the computers will likely retail at about $1,800, Calandra said. MTV plans to launch the line of computers online. Other terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The computers are expected to be equipped with a DVD/CD-RW drive, cable-ready television tuner, as well as a radio tuner with remote and be powered by Athlon XP chips from Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

The pact with Lan Plus, which agreed to merge with McGlen Internet Group Inc. in October, marks the latest bid by PC makers to differentiate their products by teaming up with name-brand marketers to reach new audiences.

To wit, PC-makers have teamed up with major employers in the United States to offer employees computer deals. In Latin America, they have joined with banks, retailers, and online service providers to offer low-cost PCs to customers in a bid to boost PC usage.

News source: Reuters - MTV to Answer Calls for 'I Want My MTV Computer'

Auditing the Auditor

Grassley, who requested the TIGTA report on IRS inventory, called the findings "shocking."

"In just the last three years alone, the IRS is missing approximately 2,300 computers," he wrote.

The TIGTA report, which also found that the IRS lost one firearm and had five stolen in the same three-year-period, said "although the IRS has established procedures to control its inventory of computers, firearms and other sensitive items, it has experienced longstanding difficulties in maintaining reliable and accurate inventory information."

Data Dangers?

Grassley criticized the agency for poor inventory controls going back as far as 1983, and says the loss of computers and their data may put sensitive information at risk.

"Because of the lack of information it is unknown to what extent, if any, taxpayer information may be inappropriately released," Grassley wrote.

Issued in late November, the TIGTA report states "the IRS reported that, to its knowledge, no missing computers contained classified data or had an internal secure modem installed."

Mathis told NewsFactor that none of the computers in question have compromised taxpayer information.

Finders Keepers

Mathis told NewsFactor that of the 2,300 missing computers mentioned in the report, 1,597 had been accounted for and reported back to TIGTA.

She said the IRS is implementing TIGTA recommendations and that they should be in place by the end of the month, adding that the agency is confident it will eventually be able to account for nearly all of the computers.

"We think most are just accounting issues," she said of the lost computers. "We think we'll eventually account for almost all of them."

Holding Up Funding

Still, Grassley harshly criticizes the IRS, pointing out that a taxpayer would be held accountable for missing receipts.

"Sadly, all this from the IRS -- an agency that requires taxpayers to show every receipt -- [which] can't find 2,300 computers," the Senator wrote. "The IRS wouldn't accept from a taxpayer the non-answer it has given regarding the missing 2,300 computers."

"It is my view that serious consideration should be given to placing a limitation on the IRS budget until there is real improvement -- not real promises -- in inventory management," Grassley wrote.