Looking for small PC, need Advice.

[Gillbot]

I was looking at getting a Compaq Ipaq based PC to play MP3's through my stereo but i'm wondering if there is a better option out there?

I have considered the Dell Optiplex GX240 since it has a rather small footprint but also has PCI slots. This would allow me to toss in my old PCI ATI All In Wonder Card and allot it to do TV duty also.

My main concern with the system is size as I want to hide it somewhere in my entertainment center but room there is scarce to begin with. It's primary duty will be MP3 play but I'd like to add TV out and a remote to allow easier control as opposed to always having to use remote desktop or the like. This would allow the system to be more stand alone as opposed to having other PC's on as well.

Any thoughts on onther flexible SMALL systems? EDIT> Prefer low cost also since this will be an overpowered MP3 player basically. That was the main attraction to the Ipaq, which can be had on ebay for $20-50.

 

[cheesehead]

A good bet would just to be to get an old laptop with a cracked or missing display. Providing it's got a VGA port or RCA connector, you're good to go. For Mp3's, you don't need much; a 166mhz Pentium or 100mhz PowerPC should do the job.
If you want a home theater PC, Shuttle is hard to beat. They make many different products for assorted different processors. And, as the AIW card (if I'm not mistaken) relies on the processor a good bit to do its thing, you'll likely be needing something a bit better than a 50$ system.

 

[Gillbot]

I run a SN45G now and I know a nicer shuttle would do the job but it's not really cost effective.

The down side to a laptop is no TV-Out, which is primarily for my wife as she wants a "remote control" accessible player.

I'm sure a PIII would do plenty in the video arena and it's not a feature that would be used very often. Mainly for TV out of downloaded or captured clips. Not a full service TIVO like device.

 

[cheesehead]

Actually, many laptops have TV-out, including the one I'm typing on right now. It's especially common on "buisness" line laptops; IBM seems to have them on quite a few of theirs, as well as Apple.
The main problem with a laptop is that it's trickier to do PIII-in.

 

[WackyDan]

Be careful with the small form factors from Dell, HP, and IBM/Lenovo....

Some only have half height/low profile PCI slots --> So your existing cards won't work in them....

Some offer systems with both low profile and some with full height cards, depending on when they were made/model/etc.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: WackyDan
Be careful with the small form factors from Dell, HP, and IBM/Lenovo....

Some only have half height/low profile PCI slots --> So your existing cards won't work in them....

Some offer systems with both low profile and some with full height cards, depending on when they were made/model/etc.

As long as their is sufficient case room, I can always run a riser card. I'm not looking for neat, just cheap and functional.

As I said, I was considering the Ipaq but it's lack of expansion room makes it more difficult to do what I want. I'm just not sure what else is out there that may work.

 

[WackyDan]

the older IBM netvistas use low profile but have room - not as small as the dell, but better looking for what your are trying to do...

The newer Lenovo ThinkCentres use full height... and you can get deals on some of the older small form factors.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: WackyDan
the older IBM netvistas use low profile but have room - not as small as the dell, but better looking for what your are trying to do...

The newer Lenovo ThinkCentres use full height... and you can get deals on some of the older small form factors.

Got a link to an ebay auction or some more info on those?

 

[Gillbot]

ttt