2005-06-30 - Keys: "Shuttle XPC - the laptop alternative?"

Normally it's notebooks and Apple Macs that are on duty in the music business. But haven't PCs earned their place as well? This is what the German music magazine Keys wanted to find out, as its editors tested the Shuttle XPC System G5 8300M as a laptop alternative. Right from the start they fell in love with its design: "As a PC user there's only little to counter the stylish Apple machines. Except if you are a proud owner of a Shuttle XPC." But looks isn't all that matters. So it was that the editors moved on to the next question: "Can performance and style go together in such a small size?"

"Until the mid-90s there was apparently only one single color and one design of computers," write the editors of the German music magazine "Keys." Normal PCs had to stand aside: "Since then the community of PC users has looked enviously at stylish and shiny Macs and tried to talk up the everyday gray over with arguments like good price/performance ratio and flexibility." But there's light at the end of the tunnel: "There are quite a few very stylish PC models that impress not only with design, but also with compact dimensions and a low weight, just like the Shuttle XPC multimedia PC we have right here for our test." It is the Shuttle XPC System G5 8300M they are talking about, designed to serve as the perfect fully-configured PC solution for the living room. "The compact case contains everything a modern audio fan could wish for," making the Shuttle XPC System G5 8300M perfect for audio professionals according to the editors.

The system comes with a powerful Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz processor for socket 775 and 512 MB RAM, a 200 GB hard disk, a DVD-writer, an ATI X300SE graphics card and onboard 6-channel sound. One of its highlights is the pre-installed TV-card with video in/out. Moreover, it features high connectivity "with four USB and two Firewire ports to plug in any peripheral you want." For better audio playback the editors installed a "M-Audio Delta Audiophile 192." Sound is the thing that matters for a living room PC, especially the noise the PC itself produces. And the editors were surprised: "The noise level of the Shuttle XPC System G5 8300M stayed remarkably quiet. The system fan was only briefly on at full speed while booting or shutting down the system, otherwise the Heatpipe Cooling did a good job even in longer operation and under full load."

How about its performance then? "The performance of Shuttle XPCs met our expectations," add the editors of "Keys." The Pentium 4 processor offers "enough power for modern audio applications." They tested the software "Cubase SX" which the Shuttle XPC System G5 8300M managed flawlessly. Better yet, it outpaced its competitors: "Compared to laptops with similar performance characteristics the Shuttle XPC still is a bit faster and performs under permanent full load more reliably," conclude the editors.

Conclusion:

"The Shuttle XPC represents a powerful alternative for mobile recording. Whoever is uncertain that a laptop can meet your expectations for such applications should seriously consider the Shuttle XPC. The carrying bag available as an option and the relatively low weight of 5 kg make it a chic date wherever an outlet is available. Style conscious users, who only require a PCI-slot, will also be well served."

Pros

• Noise level
• Case
• Workmanship
• Weight

(Source: Keys, Issue 8 August 2005, Page 72-73)