I’m in the market for a new computer. After struggling with an underperforming laptop for the last 3 years, I’m looking at getting back into a PC. I do a bunch of mostly work-related stuff with my machine: web research, word processing, spread sheets and some basic layout/desktop publishing. I often have 3-4 programs up and running at the same time and need something that does this quickly and in a stable manner. If I could, I would also use my machine for some entertainment stuff - playing CDs, watching DVDs, but probably only light gaming (nothing 3D intensive).
Anyway, I’ve been looking around, and the kind of PC that would fill most of my requirements is worth around NT$35,000: moderately quick CPU (say p4 up to 3gigs), 1MB of RAM, independent graphics chip (but not the latest thing out) with 250MB of memory, a mid-range sound card, 17 inch screen, bottom-end speakers, Windows Professional. Then I started looking into the SFF PC… specifically those by Shuttle (www.shuttle.com) This taps another NT$10,000 or so on the top of the price tag, but you end up with a machine you can drag around the place. This is important, for although I don’t want the complete portability associated with having a laptop, I’d like to have something that I can easily take back to my home country Australia (might be going home in the next 12 months or so).
So I’d like to know a little more about the SFF PCs. Do you have one, and what do you think of it? Are they worth the extra money? They certainly look better, but upgrading bits must be an issue, as the amount of room inside them is, well, less than your average tower PC. The smaller design would suggest they also suffer from problems with overheating… I’ve had a buggar of a time with my laptop for this reason, and want to avoid this again in my next purchase. Anyway, any thoughts on the SFFs?
I’ve got a Shuttle SFF that I absolutely love.
I was lucky enought to get a used one for about 19000.
Totally pimped out, it’s got like 300 gigs of space on it.
It’s fast, and very very quiet.
And now that I know Rik has hookups, I think I’ll talk to him when I get my next one. I was thinking of keeping this for about a year. Maybe longer. I’m very happy with it.
used to own oa sn45g. shuttle xpc are a very good piece of hardware. very easy to build and upgrade. not that quiet but it’s relative… they are great to use but be aware that some models aint that good at all. check hexus.net, they have plenty of reviews and users feedback.
anyways, i’d still get a newer notebook if i were you. sure you wont get anything comparable to a shuttle for the same price in terms of performance but for 25000~30000 you’ll something so much better than your current rig!
I have a current model laptop…ASUS A6…Dual Core, 1G Ram, 100GB HDD… GeForceGo 7300…
it does a good job for any kind of business application… for gaming I have yet to install any hardware-intensive games… that’s what my desktop is for~ no time for CS in the office (plus the WiFi here is ridiculously slow)
Photoshop, IE, Word, Excel… open them all and it still runs smooth as butter…
the only time I’ve thought it to be running slow was when I use Chief Architect (just a little hobby) and tell it to ray-trace (or whatever it’s called…rendering with lighting, reflections etc.) a scene for me…
just kidding of course, i don’t know him from a bar of soap.