[GHM]

I was just reading a review on this little unit headed for the States. I couldn't believe the starting price! $229 seems almost too good to be true  . From the initial review, this will make a great little music or movie server for Windows users. Here's the review.
http://blogs.amd.com/home/2009/11/12/the-dell-inspiron-zinohd/

[Big Red Machine]

Neato.  Way less than a laptop and with extra monitors in the house this could make a very nice dedicated part of any audio rack.

[ctviggen]

That would be perfect if it had a better sound card.  You're going to play a Bluray DVD with 2.1 channels? 

[ctviggen]

I guess you could hook up a USB sound card, but that seems silly.

[jrebman]

Looks cool.  Wonder what the measured noise level will actually be.  But a small box that will run W7 competently is something very high on my priority list.

Thanks for the heads-up.

[ctviggen]

Especially if it's quiet.

I was thinking of asking for the WD TV live, but this is only a little more (assuming you don't add a better processor, more memory, etc.) and would be better (other than the anomalous sound card issue).

[jrebman]

Can anybody who knows AMD processor specs translate the model numbers given into rough intel equivalents?  I've not kept up with the CPU world in several years, so I really have no idea what these processors listed for this computer are roughly equivalent to.

Right now I have a core2 duo intel e-8400 for my main desktop machine, and a couple of smaller machines -- Acer netbook and Asus EEE box with Atom processors, neither of which I'd dare to try to run W7 on. (except the core2 which I'm about to upgrade shortly.)

-- Jim

[ctviggen]

There's a discussion of this computer here also:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1170527&page=3

The blog writer is posting there, too. 

This is supposedly fast enough to not require upgrades.  If that's the case, this is phenomenal. 

[ctviggen]

Perhaps I misspoke.  They're still trying to determine whether the processor should be upgraded.  Even with a processor upgrade, it's under $300.  They're also still trying to determine if the HDMI passes audio (DD/DTS).

[jrebman]

Thanks for the link.  Since I'd basically only be interested in a usb audio stream (up to 24/192) to an external dac and don't have any use whatsoever for video,  The upgrade to the 3650 dual core might be the only things I'd really consider except a larger HD.

The noise level is still the biggest question maark, however at that size, there are plenty of places where it could be tucked out of the way and not be a problem.

I need to check on full usb 2.0 compliance as well.

-- Jim

[GHM]

I checked Dell's website. This product is ready to be ordered now.

[lonewolfny42]

http://www.dell.com/us/en/corp/desktops/inspiron-zino-hd/pd.aspx?refid=inspiron-zino-hd&s=corp

[Bemopti123]

I like the looks of it, but when I went to the Dell order page and saw the different options line up, the only one that would entice me would be the higher spec one with a dedicated ATI 4330 graphics processor and the 4 GB memory...but with this, the price reaches something as high as $900.  The barebone $229 might seem to be the best bang for the buck and later opt for upgrades. Of course will all things in compact packages there is a limitation in the upgradability factor. 

Nevertheless tempting.

[cliffy]

I guess a USB DAC would be required for highest quality sound.

Would this be ideal for a squeeze client or server?

[GHM]

I guess a USB DAC would be required for highest quality sound.

Would this be ideal for a squeeze client or server?

I don't see why it couldn't be. It is a computer..just a very small one.
I like that they included two eSATA ports. You can add plenty of hard drive space for music or movies!

[jqp]

If nothing else, this looks nearly like the "$200 network appliance" predicted a few years back - in six months they will be $150 on the Dell Outlet with a full waranty and phone support. But actually probably a great PC for the kids or even the family for Christmas.

[enjoythemusic]

(*&^$^%*^(&)* and i JUST got the Dell $399 Netbook because i wtd HDTV output to surf the web on the Pioneer Kuro in the livingroom plus do other networking items. GRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!  Then again the netbook is a full 'laptop' as it were and has a screen and HDTV tuner built in. The Netbook uses stripped down (i think) XP so kinder on the processor as i recall.

HRUMPH.... oh well....

[martyo]

I guess a USB DAC would be required for highest quality sound.

Would this be ideal for a squeeze client or server?

I don't see why it couldn't be. It is a computer..just a very small one.
I like that they included two eSATA ports. You can add plenty of hard drive space for music or movies!

Pretty sure that is what Big Red meant:

Neato.  Way less than a laptop and with extra monitors in the house this could make a very nice dedicated part of any audio rack.

[lonewolfny42]

I guess a USB DAC would be required for highest quality sound.

Would this be ideal for a squeeze client or server?

I don't see why it couldn't be. It is a computer..just a very small one.
I like that they included two eSATA ports. You can add plenty of hard drive space for music or movies!

Pretty sure that is what Big Red meant:

Neato.  Way less than a laptop and with extra monitors in the house this could make a very nice dedicated part of any audio rack.

This statement "might" worry me....(as per audio)

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=57482.msg507178;topicseen#msg507178

[jrebman]

Thanks, Chris -- very good to know.  Though I suspect for a media optimized device they may have done things a bit different than on a general purpose laptop.  Just a guess though.

-- Jim