> Hants Luggers,
>
> I spotted a review of a EfficientPC Isis "thinnish" desktop PC based on the
> Asus Pundit P1-Ah2 case/motherboard. On paper it looks a good idea, it's
> small, cheap, quiet and EfficientPC ship then with ubuntu installed and all
> the bits supported.
>
> Has anyone any experience with EfficientPC or the Asus system in question?
>
> £207 gets a usable spec Isis system from EfficientPC which would solve some of
> my needs, or I could get the basic Asus Pundit from Dabs for £90 and add the
> rest myself (for probably the same).
Yes, I have two of these. I use one as a Media Center based on Vista Ultimate.
The other is a "prototype" Media Center running on Ubuntu Feisty.
The Ubuntu install was painless. It runs very nicely and the nVidia
6150 onboard chipset runs Desktop Effects in good quality. The unit
has TV-out via S-video and Composite. I have not succeeded in using my
CRT TV as a display yet but I am experimenting and would love to hear
from folks experienced in this. I expect I need to configure the
nvidia control panel or xorg.
I find them quiet and attractive PCs. The front has a vertical blue
light across the whole fascia for power and disk access. The
"bookshelf" size is very handy. Especially for a Media Center unit.
Things to note:
- digital optical out and firewire is on the front.
- the CD is stealthed by a flap that is pushed open by the CD/DVD tray
eject action
- there is room for 2 PCI cards. One is limited in the "length" of a
PCI card on one slot as it will hit the northbridge heatsink. I have a
dual Freeview tuner in mine which is longer than usual. Not a problem
as I just the other slot.
£90 seems OK as I see them go for used/nearly new on eBay for £80+.
Regards,
Imran
--
EjectDisc.com
Media Center Specialists with A+ Service and Support
http://www.ejectdisc.com
