ET review: Zotac Zbox a complete PC
It's obviously ideal for places where space is at a premium, but it's also very efficient, drawing about one-fourth the power of a conventional desktop PC.
By Hitesh Raj Bhagat, ET Bureau | Updated:
Price: Rs 17,999
Features: AMD Fusion E350 1.6Ghz with integrated AMD Radeon 6310 graphics, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Wi-Fi b/g/n
USB 3.0, DVI, HDMI, EuP Ready
Pros: Small, efficient, attractive design
Cons: Limited upgradability, no Windows OS, no DVD drive
NEW DELHI: This little device challenges the notion that desktop PCs need to be bulky monsters. Barely larger than (and about the same weight as) a 2TB external hard drive, the Zotac Zbox is a complete PC in a tiny enclosure.
Included in the box is a table stand and a plastic VESA mount, you can use the stand to mount it behind any flat panel monitor with VESA mounting holes or even directly to a wall or cabinet. Mounted correctly, the Zbox takes up no space at all and stays completely out of sight and out of mind (because you can't hear it either).
Note that the Zbox reduces weight and size by using an external power adapter, just like a laptop. Inside the tool-less chassis (the cover of which can be removed by just removing two thumb screws), you'll find some laptop components: SO-DIMM RAM (one slot is vacant) and a 2.5-inch drive.
Connectivity in this tiny PC is impressive. You get two USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, eSata, SD/MS/xD card reader, built in Wi-Fi, Ethernet, DVI, HDMI, optical audio out and the regular 3.5mm ports for a microphone input and headphones/audio out. A DVI to VGA adapter is bundled in the box, to connect to older monitors without any digital video inputs. Press the power button and a bright green electroluminescent ring confirms that it’s powered on.
There are some downsides: both sides are glossy plastic, which shows fingerprints, dust and also flexes a fair bit. Build quality is not a strong point here. There is no DVD drive and because of the size, you get limited upgradability (you can add one additional stick of RAM, but that's it).
Features: AMD Fusion E350 1.6Ghz with integrated AMD Radeon 6310 graphics, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Wi-Fi b/g/n
USB 3.0, DVI, HDMI, EuP Ready
Pros: Small, efficient, attractive design
Cons: Limited upgradability, no Windows OS, no DVD drive
NEW DELHI: This little device challenges the notion that desktop PCs need to be bulky monsters. Barely larger than (and about the same weight as) a 2TB external hard drive, the Zotac Zbox is a complete PC in a tiny enclosure.
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Featured here is the Zbox AD 02, a follow up to last year’s Zbox. It features AMD’s Fusion platform: a dual core CPU with a ‘discrete class’ GPU built in. It offers a whole lot more power under the hood than a standard netbook or netbook, while keeping the overall machine size and power requirements roughly the same.Included in the box is a table stand and a plastic VESA mount, you can use the stand to mount it behind any flat panel monitor with VESA mounting holes or even directly to a wall or cabinet. Mounted correctly, the Zbox takes up no space at all and stays completely out of sight and out of mind (because you can't hear it either).
Note that the Zbox reduces weight and size by using an external power adapter, just like a laptop. Inside the tool-less chassis (the cover of which can be removed by just removing two thumb screws), you'll find some laptop components: SO-DIMM RAM (one slot is vacant) and a 2.5-inch drive.
Connectivity in this tiny PC is impressive. You get two USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, eSata, SD/MS/xD card reader, built in Wi-Fi, Ethernet, DVI, HDMI, optical audio out and the regular 3.5mm ports for a microphone input and headphones/audio out. A DVI to VGA adapter is bundled in the box, to connect to older monitors without any digital video inputs. Press the power button and a bright green electroluminescent ring confirms that it’s powered on.
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So what can you do with it? It's obviously ideal for places where space is at a premium, but it's also very efficient, drawing about one-fourth the power of a conventional desktop PC. Importantly, the Zbox is EuP (Energy using Products) Ready: a new directive by the European Union, that places certain restrictions on the power consumption of electronic products. A product is certified as EuP ready when the power consumption is less than 1 Watt in the power off mode. There are some downsides: both sides are glossy plastic, which shows fingerprints, dust and also flexes a fair bit. Build quality is not a strong point here. There is no DVD drive and because of the size, you get limited upgradability (you can add one additional stick of RAM, but that's it).
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Just the device (Windows is not included) will set you back `17,999. Factor in the cost of buying a genuine version of Windows, a display, keyboard, mouse, speakers and external DVD drive (roughly another Rs 19,000, all told), and you end up with a total cost of Rs 37,000. Now, for that price, you can get a higher-specced Intel Core i3 dual-core laptop with a 15-inch screen, pre-loaded Windows 7 and dedicated graphics. So, what's the deal?Essentially the Zbox is built as an energy-efficient machine, and the idea is that you can just attach it to your existing flat panel TV (hence no speakers needed) and use it with a wireless keyboard and mouse.
It would have been the perfect home theatre PC, if it could playback all 1080p HD videos without choking, many high bit rate full HD video files posed a problem, but 720p video played fine. It breezes through all other tasks like web, photos, office work and simple games. Buy it if the space and energy-saving nature of the device appeals to you.
Also See: Dell Zino HD
Price: Rs 30,000
Features: AMD PhenomII X3 triple core 2.0Ghz, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Wi-Fi, DVD-R/W
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(Price includes keyboard, mouse, 18.5-inch monitor and Windows 7 Basic)Download
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