Announced on Stereophile web site. Looks ripe for modding, and the price is right.
Article:
http://www.stereophile.com/news/041105serving/
Blackbird site:
http://www.digitaltechniques.com/index.html
Hey, Mike, I was looking at these. The 300Gig version is $800, which is not exactly a bargain b/c:
It probably doesn't have a video card. A good video card is a big part of normal computer's overall cost usually.
It comes with M-Audio 2496 card, a nice card, but not enough if you are running analogue outs. I'm not even sure if spdif out is bit-perfect or not (could be). Even then, I'd rather see a modded E-MU card or even a USB card (Edirol, Transit) with coax spdif. Or at least give us an option to order it without a soundcard at a discount.
They don't specifiy which processor and how much memory there is. For straight 16/44.1 playback, you don't need much, but if you're at all interested in 192kHz upsampling, computer crossover/room correction, you will need some power, which will run too hot for their "fanless" system.
Doesn't come with screen/monitor. You have to buy either a wireless PDA or use wireless laptop. You also have to buy wireless router to set up wireless hub to use the Blackbird. You really don't want that tiny PDA screen to control ANY PC, and you will miss the keyboard and mouse.
I've seen a full Dell system for $399 and good laptop for $499. I'd rather get these and add internal harddrive or USB2.0 harddrive...
