Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Mini PC Grows Up? Shuttle XPC Reviewed

Posted by simoniker on from the big-boy-now dept.

Bender writes "The Tech Report has done a comprehensive review of the just-redesigned Shuttle XPC. These toaster-sized systems, sold with motherboard but sans CPU, memory, and storage, are becoming a very attractive alternative to the standard DIY system that's over twice the size. This latest PC 'cube' has everything: PCI Express, a BTX-inspired chassis design, room for a small RAID array, and pre-routed cables. The only snag is a Pentium 4 thermal throttling problem discovered through some nice investigative work. If Shuttle can fix this problem, this thing could be a killer personal workstation box."

6 of 238 comments (clear)

  1. More powerful than you think by xenostar · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My company has a little Shuttle that we use as a temporary server in situations that require a server to go up as soon as possible, and it's the handiest thing on earth. Just stick it into a bag, go to the site, configure it and in an half hour you have a server running. I love those little things.

    1. Re:More powerful than you think by sp0rk173 · · Score: 5, Funny

      huh. I thought it would be more powerful than that.

  2. Re:Take a cue from NASA... by networkBoy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They aren't cooling anything, rather they are preventing being heated by the sun. Big difference.
    -nB

    --
    whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
  3. Wait... by okmnji · · Score: 5, Funny
    These toaster-sized systems, [...] a Pentium 4 thermal throttling problem

    Wait... so does this mean I really *CAN* put Linux on my toaster?

  4. "This is an X PC..." by SlowMovingTarget · · Score: 5, Funny

    I like the name...

    This PC can screen save no more.
    This PC kicked the bit bucket...
    It has bought the server farm...
    It is pushing up daisy-wheels...
    This... is an XPC!
    Aww... Come on, you know you were thinking it.
  5. Re:If this works... by slomr2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If this works, then Apple might crap its pants. Really though, the concept of an ultra-compact, cube computer has been around for a while...this is just the PC manifestation. Maybe this could inspire Apple to re-release the Cube...
    The problem with the cube wasn't technology or willing customers. It was last of customers willing to pay MORE than Apple's already inflated prices for a computer that does less than their regular offering. If Apple released a G5 Cube for $999 they would have more trouble keeping those in stock than the iPod-Mini. But Apple being Apple would release it at $1,999.