Dell rechristens the USFF with OptiPlex 780 mini PC

What's smaller than a small form factor PC? Frankly, a lot. Cells, shrimp, quarters -- you name it. That said, there aren't many bona fide PCs out there that can shrink down beyond the admittedly vague SSF dimensions, but Dell's making another push for its Ultra Small Form Factor (USFF) as the "world's smallest fully functional commercial desktop PC with an integrated power supply and Intel vPro technology." Of course, there's quite a bit of qualification going on there (and rightfully so, given just how tiny the fit-PC2i is), but those interested in taking the plunge can order one with an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, Windows 7 and a host of other run-of-the-mill amenities starting at $629.

Dell christens the USFF with OptiPlex 780 mini PC

[Slick Posted Dec 10th 2009 6:15PM]

Is that Display Port in the back?

[whiskers Posted Dec 10th 2009 6:40PM]

@Slick

Sweet mother of god...

[michaspi Posted Dec 10th 2009 6:50PM]

@Slick
Yes, yes it is.

[Michael Pollard Posted Dec 10th 2009 8:30PM]

Along with *7* USB ports, and eSATA. And VGA, if you don't want to use the DIsplayPort (or HDMI/DVI adapter). (And serial, for some reason...)

[kingu Posted Dec 11th 2009 5:58AM]

@Slick Nice. But you still have to pay royalties to IBM for X86 and to MS for the operating system you dont use.

[KevinQ Posted Dec 10th 2009 7:05PM]

Along with a serial port??? what gives

[peepeeland Posted Dec 10th 2009 8:32PM]

I'm always thankful of tech with tons of labels on them, cuz I always forget what it is that I bought. Just like how I was thankful for Batman for Game Boy, which had "BATMAN The Video Game" on it. Thanks, cuz I almost shoved my cartridge into my VHS deck.

[Michael Pollard Posted Dec 10th 2009 8:34PM]

So, Dell dropped the floppy drive.
They dropped the parallel printer port.
They've gone current-tech on this model with 7 USB ports, eSATA and DIsplayPort.

But they kept the obsolete-for-ten-years RS-232 port? Really?!?

[kingu Posted Dec 11th 2009 6:08AM]

@Michael Pollard Some people will buy it for this reason alone. Along with the fact its small it makes for an option for anyone who just need RS232.

[carlcamera Posted Dec 11th 2009 9:32AM]

@Michael Pollard I agree the serial port seems weird. But in the world of OptiPlex, Dell tries to offer equal capabilities in several form factors -- all Optis share drivers to simplify I/T support and reduce computer envy among coworkers. No matter which Opti 780 form fact one gets, it has the same capabilities(*). The larger ones have more expansion. (*) My footnote is that the USFF because of its size doesn't get equal but rather "close to" capabilities. If you compare the USFF ports to its form factor brothers, USFF has all external connections except it lacks a parallel printer port and 1 USB port (the other form factors have 8 USB connections the USFF has 7.) If, because of size constraints, I had to choose to omit either the parallel port or the serial port -- I'd omit the parallel port; so I guess I agree with Dell's decision here.

[Michael Pollard Posted Dec 11th 2009 11:00AM]

@carlcamera
Neither serial nor parallel (or floppy) are part of the 2001 standard PC specs. You can get a serial ISA card (two RS-232 ports) fairly inexpensively, if real ports needed, or you can add a USB/serial dongle.

Besides, most old equipment that uses serial won't have software or drivers for Windows 7. Most of it isn't even intended for XP.

And as FC pointed out, it's also missing PS/2. Lots of legacy barcode scanner interfaces use PS/2, and since that's all hardware it doesn't need any OS support; the OS just sees the characters as if they were typed.

[F C Posted Dec 10th 2009 10:40PM]

Something about this says 'thermal issues' to me... like other Optiplex models. And btw, a PS2 port would make more sense than that serial.

[brockorr Posted Dec 11th 2009 1:48AM]

@F C good call. I glanced over that the first time..

[kingu Posted Dec 11th 2009 6:04AM]

@F C Lots of usable equipment use serial, hence peoples need for it. PS/2 on the other hand is defunct.

[jpoppyz Posted Dec 10th 2009 11:15PM]

what the hell is the point of having a small computer that for the most part remains stationary? I prefer a bigger computer with better specs at a lower price, haha.

[carlcamera Posted Dec 11th 2009 9:10AM]

@jpoppyz Dell also sells those computers, but some folks (me for one http://bit.ly/745usff ) prefer small computers rather than massive cross-fire frag-master behemoths. USFF is another choice in the expandability/space trade-off.

[hiimdh Posted Dec 11th 2009 12:27AM]

DVI should be standard, but given the commercial industry's inclination to not upgrade monitors as often, i understand the VGA. Just old technology still being used.

[kingu Posted Dec 11th 2009 6:02AM]

@hiimdh DP is made by the same people that made VGA, see how long that lasted. DVI on the other hand pretty much failed on longevity and HDMI is HDCP, costly, and inferior. With the fourth inclination of HDMI it's just a joke. The HDMI consortium has no plan, just an evil scheme.

[brockorr Posted Dec 11th 2009 1:51AM]

It has a DisplayPort (I think)... Seems a little silly to not put an HDMI there instead... but what do I know...

[kingu Posted Dec 11th 2009 6:03AM]

@brockorr It would cost more, and dell displays already have DP.

[carlcamera Posted Dec 11th 2009 7:36AM]

The Ultra-Small Form Factor computers target businesses or office placements where space is limited and/or customer-facing desks where a lot of computer clutter is unwanted. doctor's offices, dentists, hospitals, reception desks are popular applications for this form-factor. I own a Dell Opti 745 USFF and think it's great: http://bit.ly/745usff

[pankomputerek Posted Dec 11th 2009 7:43AM]

no blu-ray option -rubbish

[MadMax808 Posted Dec 11th 2009 11:42AM]

@pankomputerek These SFFs, especially Dell's, are used a lot in schools and businesses. I doubt these are really aimed at typical home consumers, so I understand the lack of blu-ray.

[bonedog73 Posted Dec 11th 2009 1:55PM]

I like the USFF 760's better with the power supply outside, less heat! Problem with these USFF with the power supply on the inside is eventually there are cap, memory all kinds of heat related issues. I'd rather buy a tower.

[MadMax808 Posted Dec 11th 2009 5:25PM]

I would LOVE to replace the desktops in my computer lab [k-6 school] with these little guys. 50 regular towers virtually eliminates any real estate, desk-wise, for anything besides the monitor, keyboard, and minimal movement for the mouse.