MiniPC bumps the game to Core 2 Duo with LF870 and VT870

While these MiniPC-brand miniPCs aren't exactly the smallest contenders on the block, they sure do look useful in their uber-simple black cladding, and now they're sporting Core 2 Duo processors, paving the way for all sorts of utilitarian good times. The LF870 keeps the same size of its predecessor, which at 4.5-inches tall is hardly "mini" by today's standards, but packs the full range of (Merom) Core 2 Duo processors, all the way up to the 2.33GHz T7600. There's also a minimum of 512MB of RAM, a 250GB SATA hard drive, DVD burner, PCI Express slot and even a WiFi option. The much smaller VT800 forgoes the disk drive to manage a 2.8-inch tall form factor, and the HDD is of the 2.5-inch variety, but the unit still manages the full range of Core 2 Duo action, along with a max 2GB of RAM and integrated Intel graphics. The new PCs, which should be shipping later this month in Japan, go for 130,000 yen ($1,095 US) and 122,000 yen ($1,028 US) respectively, while a third barebones option, the ET610E, goes for a mere 54,000 yen ($455 US).

[Via Akihabara]

[asher @ Oct 20th 2006 10:49AM]

I was hoping they'd put a larger, more obtrusive, fan on the top and add a high pitched whirring noise or perhaps include a few playing cards to stick in the blades of the fan.

Seriously, is it so hard to put that fan inside, or use convection current?

[David @ Oct 20th 2006 10:59AM]

Having the DVD drive so low could prove annoying if its placed on a cluttered desktop.

[esoterica @ Oct 20th 2006 12:11PM]

Looks like a kit computer from 1978.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 20th 2006 12:38PM]

"And the included hotplate will help keep you coffee or leftovers piping hot!"

-and it earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval too.

[JkEw @ Oct 20th 2006 1:27PM]

WOW that's one fugly computer!

[Rat Bastard @ Oct 20th 2006 2:01PM]

Jeebus, I have a fan filter like that inside my computer. INSIDE being the operative term. That is the ugliest box this side of a pantsless Janet Reno.