An iMac in every room

First the iPod, then the iPhone; and now the iHotel.

A Paris-based hotel has provided each of its 172 rooms with an iMac computer and multimedia centre. Instead of televisions, guests now use computers to surf the internet, view movies and listen to music.

The hotel is one of many switching to more multimedia friendly rooms – several hotels around the world now offer check-out services through a computer available in rooms.

The hotel also provides a service through tech group DirectStreams, which lets them take instant pictures through the computers which are then distributed in the lobby. Each morning a list of cultural events and live performances are available via the iMac, and rooms are sized from 15 to 36 square metres.

The best part? Rooms only start from $A154 a night.