When you've got a footprint of just 7.4- x 7.4- x 1.73-inches, it's hard to make too big of an impression. That said, Zotac's new ZBOX looks to be just the thing for those scouting a diminutive
HTPC or bedroom machine that can handle the best
Glee re-runs and all of that YouTube HD footage that your long-lost siblings continue to email you from the wilds of Wisconsin. Originally
launched back in March, this pint-sized PC is just now starting to make its way out to reviewers, which hopefully means that it's ever closer to shipping to end users, too. The benchmarking lords over at
Hot Hardware took the time to unbox and preview the device, giving you the opportunity to wade through a gallery of images while it undergoes all sorts of torture. Head on down and have a look if an
Ion-based machine that can fit inside your shoebox sounds even marginally appealing.
posted May 4th 2010 11:19AM
damn that title. made me think it was an xbox mod.
@Wiggy Fuzz
That's the point. The XBox is a fantastic and loved media center extender and/or HTPC alternative. But it's gaming associations, aesthetics, flashing lights and fans do put many off and frustrate already owners. Also, the menus are - understandably - orientated around playing a game and even if you set it to launch straight into Media Center, you can't play a DVD within there.
@FORDY
The PS3 is a much better "media center" than the 360.
@FORDY Not to mention horrid power consumption and the fear of it dying. Those are the two big things that kept me away from using it as a media center streamer and why I built an HTPC.
@KupoCheer
Fear of death is a very small concern with the newer models. Cooling is improved. And they produce less heat to begin with.
Now the DVD-ROM drive being extremely loud is a valid concern. That would be the one thing preventing me from using it as a dedicated media center.
@Peytral
Nice! Now you just added to my cup of decisions. So gonna get me a PS3. Nice!
I think some the early posts may have been referring to the original xbox, which was much more known as a popular media center (XBMC).
I followed the unboxing link, but they make no mention of price or street availability. Anyone?
@Center
They've been "available" on Amazon UK and Play.com for weeks at ~£190/~$290, but they've been "out of stock" from the day they were released. I'm not sure what's going on with them.
Fans = One
Interest = Zero
@technobear It's the dual-core. Unless you only let the box sit idling or use it for notepad you really want a fan. The fan doesn't need to spin very fast but from having no fan to a few RPMs is a huge difference.
If this is in the sub $350 range - sans hard drive - color me excited.
No hard drive, no RAM, no OS?
I'd pay up $150 Not a dime more.
@LowSky
Also no wifi. I know that's cheap to add via USB, but it's also more clutter.
@chispito
I have a couple of zotac boards in various computers in the house ... you're not missing out on anything in regards to the wireless. I've got an htpc with a zotac sitting 3 feet from a router ... it drops the wifi signal constantly. I've had the board replaced twice, the antenna and card three times on the last board. I gave up and just wired the damn thing.
On a positive note, their support has been impressive.
@chispito
Where do you get that there's no WiFi?
It says it on the box.
http://hothardware.com/image_popup.aspx?image=big_box-side.jpg&articleid=13011&t=n
@Ken J
That was supposed to be in reply to @LowSky
Chispito, I'm very familiar with their WiFi issues. I'm wondering if they've improved that one weakness. That would make this lil box the tits
@LowSky
My bad.
Depending on the price this could be a pretty good htpc option. I built myself one using the exact same hardware (zotac ion mobo) and together with Linux and XBMC it's absolutely awesome. Too bad this thing needs a fan though, with the larger case I have (silverstone ml-02) the single-core zotac ion board is just about able to run fanless.
There just hasn't been a great OS I've seen for any of these little gadgets. Love the concept, but I need a pretty and slick Media Front End that will organize all of my shows and movies, and display fan art if I just point it in the right direction to look in.
hence, HTPC and MediaPortal. A combo I can't live without, yet.
This isn't the Ion2-based one, is it?
They replace the wireless card yet?
I bought the Mag-ND01, got it home and was told by Zotac Tech Support that I could expect no more 22 feet of strong wireless signal. From an N card!?!? Truthfully, even at 22 feet it was still only a single bar. Forget about this machine if you plan to use it wirelessly...
I've still been looking for a RELIABLE 1080p box that'll stream over the network (gigabit). I've heard yea and nay about so many other machines. Anyone have a box (homemade or prebuilt) that will play 1080p without hiccups?
@scld
Are you sure its the box having issues with displaying 1080 content, or just the network being unable to handle the bandwith?
In any case, since this thing packs ION, I don't doubt it can handle it.
@BigJayDogg3 ya, I tried increasing the cache on VLC to be as long as the clip itself, then I tried to play it locally. It was an old slimline running Vista. I haven't tried an Ion device yet, but I haven't been able to find many small form factor machines where someone says "I can absolutely play 1080p video" in the review. I'm thinking mostly of these Ion based nettops.
Also, the Tegra 2 stuff at PAXEast was pretty awesome. It's getting harder and harder to resist buying this stuff.
@scld
I got a Neuros Link Phantom (v1.2) and it works great for me.
http://store.neurostechnology.com/ultra-quiet-neuros-link-phantom-p-83.html?osCsid=iq65a52bphds0d11q3d3l54040
Fullscreen 480P Hulu and Fullscreen 1080 HD NBC.com were very smooth on a 42" LCD TV. So I can say that the Neuros Link can absolutley play 1080P video. Also it is super quiet.
It is still on "gamma" software so you need to be able to handle some bugs and dealing with patching on ubuntu. Also it comes bare bones so if you want a hard drive or DVD/Blue Ray you have to do it your self.
I use it for "teh internets on ma TV"
I didn't get the wireless keyboard that they offered but got a Rapoo 2900 instead and it works great with it!
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/rapoo-2900-wireless-keyboard-sports-touchpad-bluetooth-and-tha/
It's 2 better than XBOX.;)