HTPC Reviews

Unleash your creativity with the 2.50GHz Gateway SX2802-01 Desktop with huge storage. Packed in its compact design, just a third the size of tower PCs, is a potent Intel Core2 Quad Processor, 64-bit Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 4GB of industry-standard DDR2 memory, and a 750GB hard drive. Power through multimedia applications while enjoying easy usability for tasks and entertainment with conveniences like the digital device holder and features like 3rd-generation Dolby Home Theater 10 audio enhancement. Plus, the plethora of ports, 9 USB, plus HDMI, eSATA and IEEE 1394a Firewire, and the media card reader mean the Gateway SX2802-01 Desktop gives you connectivity and expandability to spare.

Features

• Powered by 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad processor
• 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM. 750 GB Serial ATA hard drive
• 64-bit Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
• 3rd-generation Dolby Home Theater 10 audio enhancement

User Reviews

Gateway has very good SX models. I got SX2802 and so far vey good performance. What I like the most of this machine is the size and the configuration. Also it has HD output and 5 channel audio out. You can make this as a very good entertainment hub. — Good Solid small size machine

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Meet the Q Series

Tight on space? On a tight budget? Why not consider a mini PC? These PCs aren’t just for desks. They are cool digital lifestyle devices you won’t want to live without

Q100. Basic mini PC
The size of a book and just right for email, internet, music and more. They’re quiet and consume less energy than standard PCs

Q110. Premium Full-HD mini PC
As tiny as Q100 with upgraded graphics, more storage and Full hi-def support. Pair with your HD TV for an affordable media PC

Q100/Q110. The anywhere PCs

Space-challenged?
Make bulky PCs and tangled cables a distant memory. Spend more time enjoying your PC rather than struggling with where to put it, hide it, afford it, or worse—not get it.
PCs are no longer banished to remote rooms in the house. At 6.7h x 6w x 0.79 thin, these nettops fit anywhere. Place them in the living room, bedroom or even the kitchen counter for quick, easy anytime access.
Q100 and Q110 are possibly the tiniest, thinnest nettops around. But if you are really tight on space, Q110 can attach to the back of your monitor to create a mini all-in-one PC.
(VESA-compatible bracket included.)

Q100 vs. Q110. What’s the skinny on these minis?
They look identical, rival the competition in size and performance, are available in black or white with the same easy set-up and convenient 6 USB ports. They even have the same Intel® Atom™ processor. What’s the difference?

Q100 basic mini PC

Tiny, ultra-slim and extremely affordable. Fits anywhere you need a PC. Ideal for basic computing tasks, internet, email and more.

VGA port
Connect your mini PC to your monitor to output to a large screen. Enjoy streaming movies, playing online games and more.

Energy efficient
Uses 90% less energy than a standard desktop. When idle, it consumes less energy than a 14-watt bulb.

Nice and quiet
A completely fanless design means zero background noise. Quiet enough for any room in the house.

Q110 premium mini PC

The smallest and most powerful nettop yet. Designed with more storage for videos, games and music with Full HD support

HDMI port
Output movies, games, photos and more to a larger HD TV in crystal-clear 1080p HD video and audio

Larger capacity
Q110 has 250GB storage (compared to Q100′s 160GB) plus twice the memory to store all your multimedia.

Full HD graphics with NVIDIA ION graphics
Quality high definition 1080p video and 3D gaming capabilities in a tiny nettop.

IdeaCentre Q100 3014-1FU

Intel Atom 230, 1GB, 160GB 7200RPM S-ATA HDD, no diskette drive, PCI/PCIe Ultra Small Form Factor (1×2), Sis Mirage 307DV, Gigabit Ethernet, Windows XP Home Premium

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LCDs are now soaking up a larger and larger percentage of the market, and it’s been hard slogging for plasma displays. But that doesn’t faze Panasonic. As the sole remaining major Japanese plasma manufacturer, it offers a huge range of models. Yes, Panasonic also does LCDs, but only in smaller sizes. If you see a Panasonic HDTV that’s 46 inches or larger, it will be a plasma.

While those of us who cover the field recognize the dramatic advances in LCD technology in the last few years, many of us appreciate the things that plasmas still do better than LCDs. Exhibit A is the subject of this review—the new Panasonic Viera TC-P50G20.

Inside and Out
Panasonic’s G20 series is strictly 2D and offers 50- and 54-inch models. As of this writing, they are exclusive to Best Buy stores. If you shop for either set elsewhere, you’ll have to opt for another Panasonic line. The G25 models appear to be nearly the same as the G20s and include identical prices for sets of the same size. The only differences are the addition of a Viera Link connection for a home network camera on the G25s, as well as additional 42- and 46-inch G25 models. Both lines are THX certified and ENERGY STAR qualified.

The TC-P50G20 has a relatively plain, gloss-black bezel. At 3.5 inches deep (without stand), it isn’t a member of the thinner-isin club. Along with Panasonic’s higher-end models, this set is equipped with the company’s newest Infinite Black Panel (Infinite Black Pro in the 3D designs). According to Panasonic, this updated screen filter is better at rejecting reflections and offers deeper blacks.

There are five preset Picture modes: Vivid, Standard, THX, Game, and Custom. Each of them (including THX) is individually user adjustable and assignable to different inputs. But the settings are global for each mode; you can’t tweak them separately for each input. I recommend that you use the THX mode for your most critical viewing, as I did. (more…)

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The S10V is the company’s most compact HTPC case. It is available in two colors, black or silver. Origen AE was so kind and sent us the silver variant this time around.

Features

• One piece 5mm aluminium front & sides
• 2 x 60mm exhaust fans (pre-installed)
• 2 x 60mm intake fans (pre-installed)
• Front media bay, USB hub, audio & firewire
• Rubber isolation hard drive screws
• Optional MCE & IR Trans module
• Support for 2 hard drives
• Slim optical ide drive adapter included
• Revisable PSU mounting
• IR220 VFD/IR Module included
• Philips RC197 Vista remote included

Specifications

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