I found this a few minutes ago; complete mini-itx system for $300-$400 http://www.mitxpc.com Cool idea turning netbook into media center computer ;) On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 21:01, AZ RUNE wrote: > I use a modified ASUS 1201N netbook running the N330 Atom Dual Core and the > nVidia Ion graphics. > > I modified it to run with 4GB RAM and a 640HDD > > It has become my mobile mini-entertainment server. I have it partitioned > with dual boot Ubuntu and Mythbuntu 10.04 > > When I go home I plug it in to a 42" HD TV and I have it grab my TV via USB > adapter, I can play Wow at 24 fps 1080p on the big screen and while a movie > is playing I can still get stuff done using Twinview and terminal on the the > netbook (love HDMI output). > > It also has VGA output and I have used it to save my boss for presentations > at work. While doing the presentation I showed how to do a basic dualboot > installation in Virtual Box so others could follow along. My company is in > the process of migrating to Linux so everyone had to learn to dual boot. > > It is 3.5 pounds and I get 3 hours battery life on gaming or HD tv > watching, streaming to my girlfriends work via https website so she can > watch Gordon Ramsey shows recorded on the Mythbuntu side of the dual boot. > > I get just over 4 hours on the intel graphics if I switch it in the BIOS. > I normally leave it on nVidia though. I also run crossover from codeweavers > to run silverlight and use IE to watch netflix in Ubuntu. > > It is a trooper of a machine while I am looking at a quad core for some > specific tasks this machine has allowed me to be very versatile at work and > home in tackling technology issues in day-to-day stuff. > > Hope this helps your decision, > > > Now the question is at what level to settle on. There's the SheevaPlug >>>> (and similar) that use up about 10 watts but need more storage and can't >>>> really handle any notable processing. Moving up a notch, you can get a >>>> N270 Atom mini-itx system that also hovers between 10-15 watts but is a >>>> bit faster and will typically have a much larger (up to 1 TB) hard >>>> drive. Then you can move up to an NVIDIA ION system with a dual-core >>>> Atom and now we're maybe in the 30 watt range but this can handle HD >>>> output, if necessary. >>>> >>>> Decisions, decisions. That's why I was kind of hoping that some local >>>> folks would have used some of these systems and could comment on how >>>> well they work for them. >>>> >>>> > -- > Brian Fields > arizona.rune@gmail.com > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >