Prize Winning Winner
Written: Dec 22 '01
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Pros: The future in a box smaller than your monitor
Cons: Not very expandable, but what else do you need
The Bottom Line: This is as easy and as small as it gets. I admit that not having a floppy is scary. But this is a design computing masterpiece.
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| hroeder's Full Review: IBM NetVista X41 (627410U) PC Desktop |
The NetVista X41 was built by IBM to be the future of computing. It has already won design awards. What is amazing is that it's a really good computer about the size of a monitor.
My version runs WinXP and is a 1.6 gig Pentium 4. But that isn't all. The video comes from an ATI 128. This is fed to a flat panel screen that looks like all the offices on television. It's bright, it's fast. Sound is built in, with Soundblaster 16 compatibility and two speakers on the sides of the monitor. Sounds is certainly decent, but won't knock your socks off.
The computer itself, well it's about the size of a CD drive and forms both the base and the back of the monitor. That's it. When you look at this machine you just can't believe that's all there is. But it is.
The network card is a solid Intel network card, and there's a modem. If you're configuring your own definitely opt for the CD-RW drive, because this computer doesn't have a floppy. That's right. No floppy. And let's face it, how often do you use a floppy?
In case you need to transfer some data IBM has come up with a really futuristic periphian call the Memory Key. This thing is about the size of a lighter. It can be your key chain. But it also plugs into any open USB port and is automatically recognized as a drive with 8 meg storage. (for this I paid $25. You can get a 32 meg one for $100) This works without software on any ME, 2000 or XP computer. And it's hot swappable. You get software for a 98 operating system. Almost as cool as the computer itself.
The mouse has a built in little joystick instead of a wheel. It works. Really well. I want one on every computer I use. And the keyboard has some really unique features as well. A button to mute sound, when that call comes in. Another to control the level of sound. And video controls for playback, fast forward, rewind and stop.
Want your email, push a hotbutton. Want to go to IBM's site, push a button. Want to setup other buttons, push a button.
This is a serious "network computer". In a futuristic design, sleek stealth black.
Definitely opt for the larger hard drive and at least 256 meg of RAM (you can go up to 2 gig.) There are six separate USB ports, so you can connect just about anything you want.
It's cool. If you don't want to spend $1500 to be cool, then go spend $25 or a $100 on the memory key. All your geek friends will oooh and ahhh. . .
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1469
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: CD-ROM
Hard Drive (GB): 21-30
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Epinions.com ID:
hroeder
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Member: Harry Roedersheimer
Location: Ft. Thomas, KY USA
Reviews written: 109
Trusted by: 8 members
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