Having just looked at Dell’s Mini PC offering for business users, here’s something more suited for the home user. Piixl have launched a cunningly designed media PC, the EdgeCenter 3770, which will fit neatly behind any VESA flat screen HDTV around its mounting unit using its aluminium VTX chassis. The chassis is adjustable to allow the PC to attach itself to the mounting unit to different sizes flat panels. But if course the key thing is what’s inside the unit, so here are the specs for the base Piixl EdgeCenter 3770 unit

* Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 (6MB cache, 3.00 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
* Onboard Integrated Nvidia 9300 IGP
* DDR2 memory 667 MHz 2GB Ultra Low Profile
* 500GB HDD 7200 RPM SATA II
* Built-in HDMI audio
* DVD Read/Writer
* Hauppauge HD DVB-T / Analog Hybrid TV Tuner
* Wireless N USB Mini Adapter
* Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit
* Keyspan Vista Media Center RF Remote Control
* Logitech Wireless Desktop MK300

This base configuration for the EdgeCenter 3770 will set you back 2680 GBP ($4400) which is not cheap but for the convenience of having your media center hidden behind your TV it may not be that much to pay. Of course most of the specs are able to be upgraded to turn the base configuration into a real beast of a PC tucked away behind your display. We’re not so keen on the price but the concept is outstanding.

Source: Piixl

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Aimed at the business user with space consideration a top priority, Dell have launched the Optiplex 780 USFF (Ultra Small Form Factor). The base on this unit measures a mere 9.4 x 9.4 inches yet the box contains the usual bits and pieces you’d associate with a ‘normal’ sized desktop. The Optiplex 780 USFF also has a neat $624 price tag with customisations and for that you get the following bells and whistles

* Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic SP1
* Intel® Celeron® 450 (2.2GHz, 512K, 800MHz FSB)
* 1GB DDR3 Non-ECC SDRAM, 1066MHz, (1 DIMM)
* 160GB 2.5 inch SATA 3.0Gb/s
* Integrated Video, Intel® GMA 4500
* Dell USB 2-Button Entry Mouse with Scroll, Black
* Dell USB Entry Keyboard

Of course there’s no optical drive or monitor, but with most workplace installs done over a network and monitors chip as chips, well almost, the 19 inch Dell E190S will set you back $169, for a touch over $800 you get yourself a corporate desktop. As usual with Dell PCs you can ramp the base Optiplex 780 up a touch with a Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 (2.93GHz) powered unit with 2 GB memory, 320 GB HDD and 8X DVD+/-RW SATA optical drive costing $902. Not bad if you’re looking for something compact for your office workstations.

Source: Dell

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Unfortunately the maxxed out 3.33GHz Xeon will also add $1200 to the base price of the Mac Pro, but hey it’s a 3.33 GHz processor. Here’s the various options currently available for Apple’s Mac Pro

* 2.66/2.93/3.33 GHz Quad_core Intel Xeon
* 3/6/8/12/16 GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
* 640 GB/1 TB/2 TB 7200 rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
* NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512MB
* 18x double-layer SuperDrive that burns and plays both CDs and DVDs

The base configuration will set you back a mere $2499 and that’s without a display unit. Adding in the new 3.33 GHz Xeon will add $1200 to that price as mentioned. Even with the large price tags the specifications are pretty impressive so if you’re still keen check out the base product over at Amazon.

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Apple have upgraded their iMac range with 16:9 ratio displays and Intel’s Nehalem processors. The all-in-one iMacs come in two display sizes, a 21.5 inch 1920 x 1080 res and a nice 27 inch 2560 x 1440 res. Here are some more details about the latest iMacs

* Perfect viewing from almost any angle with IPS technology
* LED backlighting remarkable brightness and efficiency.
* A seamless, precision-forged enclosure makes the back one continuous aluminum surface.
* Apple Wireless Keyboard and the new wireless Magic Mouse

Processor options

* 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache
* 3.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB shared L2 cache
* 2.66GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with 8MB shared L3 cache (27 inch only)
* 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with 8MB shared L3 cache (27 inch only)

* 4GB (two 2GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; four SO-DIMM slots support up to 16GB

HDD options

* 500GB Serial ATA 7200 rpm (21.5 inch only)
* 1TB Serial ATA 7200 rpm

* Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer burning (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

Graphics options

* NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory3 (21.5 inch only)
* ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256MB of GDDR3 memory
* ATI Radeon HD 4850 with 512MB of GDDR3 memory (27 inch only)

* FireWire 800 port, 4 USB 2.0 ports, SD card slot
* Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17-watt high-efficiency amplifiers, built-in microphone
* Optical digital audio output/headphone out, optical digital audio input/audio line in
* Ethernet Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit)
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking

These latest iMacs certainly look very sexy, but is that enough to persuade you to buy one? The price tags don’t look too bad as well, with the 21.5 inch model starting at $1,199 and the 27 inch version at $1,699. Needless to say the higher specced options mentioned above will increase that figure. Crave have started the ball rolling with a review of the 21.5 inch standard model iMac.

If you’re keen it’s worth checking the two models out over at Amazon (21.5 and 27) where they are available for pre-order.

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MSI have just launched a couple of Wind Box mini desktops, namely the DC200 and DE200 for US$250 and US$300 respectively. The difference between the two units is an ATI Radeon HD 4350 Graphics card and HDMI output sported by the DE200 big brother of the duo. Otherwise the following details are common to the Wind Box siblings.

* 1.6GHz Intel Atom Processor
* 1GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM RAM
* 160GB Hard Drive, VESA Wall mount included (L-Shape)
* Wireless b/g, 4-in-1 Card Reader, 4 x USB Ports, 1 x D-sub, 1 x LAN
* Windows XP Home
* 11.14 x 1.18 inches x 7.01 inches
* 4.5 lbs

These specs were gleaned from the Amazon website where the DC200 and DE200 Wind Boxes are on pre-order right now, but over at the MSI press release Wireless 802.11n is touted as being available on these suckers. Best check that out before purchase if it’s important to you. So if you’re on the lookout for a small desktop as an entertainment unit the DC200 and DE200 may be the answer you’re looking for.

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Having appeared in Japan last month the Dell Vostro All In One desktop has finally landed Stateside. It’s base price is US$600 and rises according to the amount of add-ons you require. Here’s a list of what you get for $600

* Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core E5300 (2.60GHz,2MB L2 Cache, 800FSB)
* Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic, Service Pack 1
* LCD Integrated 19″ Widescreen Flat Panel Display
* 8X (DVD+/-RW) Burner Drive
* 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz
* 160GB 7200RPM SATA HDD
* Intel® GMA X4500, Integrated Graphics Card
* 1.3Meg Pix Camera with Digital Microphone

Whilst the specs don’t exactly leap out and grab you, the Vostro AIO is not designed for the top end of the market, aimed squarely at those of us, who want a desktop but not for it to take up large amounts of real estate. Consequently the Vostro AIO user won’t be a high PC user and thus generally won’t need top end specs. We like the unit and think it’ll sell well, if you fancy one swing over to Dell and take a look see.

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If you’re looking for a high-end gaming desktop then iBuypower’s latest offering the Paladin XLC may just be what you’re looking for. The V3 top-end model sports an Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition processor with three NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 2GB video cards. Here’s all the specs on the Paladin XLC range

Model	Paladin XLC Series V3	Paladin XLC Series V2	Paladin XLC Series V1
Price	$4366	$2159	$1399
Case	Coolermaster HAF 932 Full Tower	Coolermaster HAF 922 Mid Tower	Coolermaster HAF 922 Mid Tower
Processor	Intel Core i7-975 processor Extreme Edition	Intel Core i7-950 processor	Intel Core i7-920 processor
Memory	12GB DDR3-1600	6GB (2GB x 3) DDR3-1600	6GB (2GB x 3) DDR3-1333
Video Card	3X NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 2GB	2X ATI Radeon 4890 1GB	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275 896MB
Hard Drive	80GB Intel X25M SSD	1TB S-ATA-II 7200 RPM	1TB S-ATA-II 7200 RPM
2nd Hard Drive	1.5TB S-ATA-II 7300 RPM	1TB S-ATA-II 7200 RPM	None
Optical Drives	LG 22X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive; LG 6X BLU-RAY Re-Writer & DVD±R/±RW Burner Combo Drive	LG 22X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive; LG 6X BLU-RAY Re-Writer & DVD±R/±RW Burner Combo Drive	LG 22X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive
Keyboard & Mouse	Razer Lacosa & Razer Deathadder	iBUYPOWER Deluxe Keyboard & Mouse	iBUYPOWER Deluxe Keyboard & Mouse
Sound Card	3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard	3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard	3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard
Speakers	iBUYPOWER 2.1 Channel Stereo Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System	iBUYPOWER 2.1 Channel Stereo Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System	iBUYPOWER 2.1 Channel Stereo Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System
Network Card	Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)	Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)	Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)
OS	Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium	Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium	Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Quite impressive figures especially the V3 if you’ve got $4000 plus spare at the moment. But with 12GB of memory and three NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 cards onboard, the V3 will give you plenty of great gaming time. All the models are customisable just in case those specs are exactly what you’re after. We also noticed on the V3 that if you’re an impatient gamer and can’t wait for your gaming beast to start up, it comes kitted out with an 80 GB SSD to boot up from in super-fast time. Nice!

Source: iBuypower

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