Shuttle launches $299 mini desktop

(Credit: Shuttle)

Shuttle is at it again with its oh-so-adorable and affordable mini desktops. Late Tuesday night, the KPC 4800 popped up on the company's Web site.

It's similar to the original KPC, the $199 4500, which was introduced at CES earlier this year. The main difference is that the 4800 has an optical drive and dual-monitor support. Also, your color choice this time is, well, there really isn't one. So far, only black is available on Shuttle's site.

Rear view of the KPC 4800.

(Credit: Shuttle)

It runs Foresight Linux, but has an option to upgrade to 32-bit Windows Vista. The Linux version starts at $279; the Vista machine at $479. Monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse, and other necessary computing accoutrements are sold separately.

Last week my esteemed colleague Rich Brown made an excellent case for why buying a cheap desktop isn't necessarily the most practical choice for the average PC buyer. First, they're not that much cheaper than what Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Acer are offering in traditional, more robust desktop systems. And second, "While the Mac Minis and Eee Boxes of the world have visual appeal by themselves, customers still have to figure out how to use them, and their aesthetic and space-saving benefits can vanish once you connect them to a display, and a mouse and keyboard."

But the Shuttle KPC is just so dang cute. Even more so, I daresay, than Dell's mini desktop offering announced earlier this week, the Studio Hybrid, which starts at $499 with Vista.

But looks aren't everything. It's hard to tell just how big a demand there is for this class of desktop. Is this something you'd be interested in? Let us know in the comments.

[artzxp]

I just purchased the KPC 45 barebones model for $99. Added a Intel E2180 @ 2Ghz for $79, a 500gb western digital HD for $70, and 2 gigs of PNY RAM for $39. Total cost was about $300 and it runs really fast (Vista even runs without stutter). I primarily use it as a NAS device so I can remotely download torrents while I'm @ work or away from home, but it also doubles as a great multimedia device for my room as far as music and movies. I guess the only thing mine lacks from this new model is the dual monitor support and the optical drive, which I have no use for. The changable faceplate option is also pretty cool for customizing it to your liking.

[artzxp]

I just purchased the KPC 45 barebones model for $99. Added a Intel E2180 @ 2Ghz for $79, a 500GB WD HD for $70, and 2 gigs of RAM for $39. I really just needed a NAS device with a torrent client and so that I could remotely download torrents when I'm @ work or away from the house. But I figured for around the same price I could just build this and have it double as a multimedia box for my room for watching movies. The computer runs really fast and even runs vista without a stutter. The only difference from the above model is that the KPC 45 lacks the dual monitor support and the optical drive, which I have no use for. Overall a great investment.

[ev61]

I think the computer manufacturers have lost touch with why we want these devices. It is not necessarily because they are small, or cheap, or lack unnecessary add ons that cost us money. No we want them because they are small, cheap, AND lack unnecessary add ons. The new Asus Eee PC is too expensive, and this unit drives up the cost with unnecessary add ons.

Optical drive? Pull it. Dual monitor support? Pull it. Give me built in IR/Bluetooth, DVI and a USB and you really created something of value. Keep that low cost, and I can have one in every room!

[JohnMcGrew]

I've been buying these things barebone for years. They make great "mini servers". They make decent network workstations. They're cheap. They're small. They're very quiet. They're reliable. I add just whatever CPU, hard drive, RAM & OS the misson demands. Most of the time I don't leave an optical drive on them.

[treet007]

The basic assumption that most of you make is that this "mini desktop" PC will be used in an air-conditioned room. Anything this small can overheat like mad in a house, especially during the summer, without air con. I end up sticking to a mini-tower chassis to maintain proper cooling when using the computer in a house with no air con.

[c.bicknelli]

I'd love one of these or the Dell Studio.....if I were in the market, no doubt about it.

[ArtInvent]

Why don't they put one of the top 3 mainstream Linux versions in these things. Who the h is out there asking for Foresight Linux? Ubuntu is just as free as any other distro, as are Fedora and OpenSuse. Same deal with all the other Eee etc cheapo boxes and laptops. The people out there who actually already like and use Linux might actually scoop these things up if we didn't have to re-install our own OS.

[ice82]

I thought about getting these minitowers for my home theater, but decided to stick to my HP midtower for my home theater PC. Better cooling, expandability, and media center+remote control works wonders!

[deowll]

I like the form factor but I want at least middle of the road power. At least a core two and two gig of ram and a decent vido card or performance. Make that three gig if they use my system ram. I like big hard drives and plenty of usb ports.

Yeah right. Who am I kidding?

[anmath2]

I believe these desktop units arnt sold for performance because so many other computers can over power the KPC 4500. But in this age, people look for slim, cute lookin objects and so the marketing behind this computer is how it looks and how it fits with ur lifestyle. look at it! it looks very cute. so hardcore gamers or computer fanatics wont be as amazed by this computer as sumone who wants a small, compact computer which will work with thier current lifestyle arrangements. When these computers hit the market, dont look for it to hav alot of power b/c it wont.

[skshrews]

The consideration that most people use their PC's mainly for web surfing, email, pictures, and word documents begs the question: why are so many PC's so overpowered?

The analogy is automobiles-many people drive SUV's when a compact car would suffice for most of their needs.

The KPC"s are what computers should be. Even a few dollars more for "higher powered" systems is not worth the trouble when you factor in the aggravation, complication, and even-albeit small-energy use differences.

Perpetually complaining that a small PC like the KPC lacks CPU "this" or graphics card "that" plays into the mindset of "ever-more" that only benefits the manufacturer.