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Jadetec MicroPC

A PC in a walkman

Review PC manufacturers are a conservative lot, and have found it hard to deviate from the beige box. As a result, the PC faithfuls have been forced to cast envious glances towards Apple' designer Macs.

Refusing to run with the crowd, however, is newcomer Jadetec. Its MicroPC compresses an entire PC into a compact 950g box, roughly equivalent in size to a personal stereo. You'll need to buy a monitor, but it's your choice whether you go for a CRT or flat-panel.

The miniature PC isn't a unique concept, but the MicroPC is the first we've seen that offers true processing power. The base hardware specs - an 866MHz Pentium III combined with 128MB of SDRAM - aren't the most impressive, but the WorldBench score of 154 shows that the MicroPC is more than capable of mixing with its desktop counterparts.

USB ports add flexibility, while the built-in network and modem ports could prove invaluable. The onboard graphics facilities were never going to generate incredible frame rates, but the Intel controller is a capable device. Keep the resolutions low and the XP is capable of sprinting through a session of Quake. Elsewhere the Jadetec is more akin to a notebook than a desktop PC. The 20GB hard drive isn't the most expansive on the market, but should be fine for most apps. The CD-ROM drive is a modest 32-speed model - this can be upgraded to DVD-ROM, but it will cost an extra £95. Onboard sound is adequate, although you won't want to listen to the built-in speakers for long periods.

The MicroPC's solid level of performance and reasonable pricing makes it an interesting addition to the PC market. If you want to be one of the first to own a miniature PC, the Jadetec is far more than a mere conversation piece.

Info

Price: £799
Contact: 0113 281 7788
Website: www.jadetec.co

Specification

Processor: 866MHz Intel Pentium III
SDRAM: 128MB
Hard drive: 20GB
CD: 32x
Modem: 56Kbps
Network: 10/100
Dimensions: 157x147x45mm
Weight: 950g
Other: onboard graphics card, sound card

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