If there's one adjective to describe dorms, it'd be "cramped". So maximizing one's space is extremely important to make your college years (surviving on Easy Mac and five hours of sleep) bearable.
CompAmerica, manufacturer of desktop PCs and notebooks, has the solution for small rooms: the Pandora PC. It measures just 2.0" x 6.5" x 6.5" and weighs 3 pounds! That's lighter than even your average ultraportable notebook, and it fits right in the palm of your hand! In fact, it's said to be classified as a "Book PC". Plus, it consumes little power and is said to be extremely fast.
There are two Pandora PC models. The first is the Pandora 915-VX ($588), which houses a Pentium M or Celeron M processor and a CD burner; the other is the Pandora 945-VX ($788), which houses a Core Duo processor with a DVD burner.
The Pandora PC features:
-Choice of 40 to 160GB Hard Disk Drives
-Supports 2 monitors
-Standard Gigabit Ethernet, Modem, Wifi, USB 2.0
-Runs on Windows XP, MCE 2005, or CompAmerica's new AX6 Operating System
-Optional wall mount to hold both the Pandora and any 17- or 19-inch LCD
Not only can you use it as your PC or as your TV set with a TV tuner, you can also plug into CompAmerica's Web based TV network CompAmericaTV.com, and get HDTV. From the press release: "You can record or play DVDs, and also capture and play MPEGs. It supports Microsoft's new Zune and Apple's iPod, as well as other services supported by Microsoft Media Player, Apple Quicktime, and Real Player."
Gee, it supports Zune already? It's not even released yet!
[via press release]
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August 11, 2006 11:56 AM
Looks a little fishy, especially with that Zune comment! Almost like there's TOO MUCH going on under the hood there. :) I wonder what kind of components are in there-and the quality of them. Hmm. Also, the use of a non-standard power brick in those photos at the website are annoying too-looks like rather than plug your standard power cable into the brick, you need your special CompAmerica cable. Yuck. I do like the ability to plug in multiple monitors via a display splitter cable. That's definitely nifty, but given the rest of the components, I worry that it might not be able to power multiple applications on those multiple displays! Perhaps we'll see a review when its released? ;)
August 11, 2006 2:54 PM
Just another second-rate Mac Mini copycat. As expensive as a Mini and lacks most of the Mini's features. Only two USB port. Celeron M at the low end instead of Core Solo. No optical audio in/out. No Firewire. NO HARD DRIVE included in those prices!!! And people complain that Macs are overpriced when the low-end Mini offers so much more for $11 more than this, including a 60GB hard drive and twice as much RAM. Gearlog must be really hard up if they're willing to write up garbage like this.
August 14, 2006 2:41 AM
Hi Guys: The mini PC was reviewed by PC Magazine at the end of July and it is being sold by cerise.com right now. You can see the review here. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1990655,00.asp All the best, Bill.
August 14, 2006 5:22 PM
William, That review is solid, and the machines look pretty much the same, but are they really? The price difference between that review and the Pandora PC specs linked above are pretty different. Maybe CompAmerica cut a few more corners to keep the costs down...although I have to admit the keyboard that shipped with the Cerise version looks pretty cool, even if the whole deal is pretty bad.
August 16, 2006 1:33 AM
No, it's the same mini PC. The difference is the mini PC CPU which ranges from a single mobile celeron which costs $50 wholesale to a top of the line dual core which costs $650. There's also lots of extras you can add on like a wireless card and more RAM. But you're right, some companies put their mini PC's together better than others! I know who I'd buy mine from!