Cybernet Elite-4 Zero Footprint PC

The quest to free up desktop space continues apace. We've seen compact PCs, mini-ITX PCs and PCs built into the monitor and now we have what could be the ultimate space saver - a PC built into a keyboard.

Cybernet's Elite-4 Zero-Footprint PC is a fully featured system built into a larger-than-normal keyboard and while it's definitely not a 3D gaming system, its overall performance and size could be perfect for business users with limited desk space.

This is one compact PC that's easy to get into - just undo four screws and the top of the unit comes off, allowing full access to the internals. The motherboard uses a SiS chipset solution comprising a SiS651 Northbridge and SiS962 Southbridge. There are two DIMM slots supporting up to 2GB of DDR266 (PC2100) or DDR333 (PC2700) memory, so either 400MHz and 533MHz front side bus Pentium 4s to be used.

It's not that quiet, but when you mount a desktop Pentium 4 into a confined area, you do need to use a fairly big fan. The unit's not adjustable for tilt, but the keyboard's designed to lay at a comfortable angle for most typists, plus there's a good-sized wristrest in front of the keys.

Our review model had a 2.4GHz Pentium 4 installed, with 512MB of memory, although it's available with CPUs up to 2.8GHz. Its overall performance is on a par with a similarly equipped desktop PC. The SiS651 Northbridge provides integrated 3D graphics, which shares the system memory up to a maximum of 64MB - the reviewed system being set at 32MB. So, its graphics performance isn't brilliant, but still perfectly adequate for today's 2D business applications. There's also a PCI slot, but if you use this, you'll lose the optical drive option, since space restrictions don't allow for both. Integrated connectivity on the Elite-4 includes a 10/100Base-T NIC and an optional V.90 modem.

For storage, the Elite-4 comes with a 40GB, 5,400rpm Seagate Ultra ATA/100 drive and the left-hand side of our unit housed a Matshita CDROM, although a CD-RW/DVD combo drive (£102 ex. VAT) can also be had as an option. Near the drive on the left-hand side are a stacked pair of USB 2.0 ports and three audio ports, while the right-hand side houses the floppy disk drive. A supplied pair of small stereo speakers are located above the function keys All the other ports are on the rear panel - two more USB2.0 and two FireWire ports, VGA, two serial ports, two PS/2 ports, RJ-45 LAN and two RJ-11 ports for phone line and modem. There was no parallel port on the review unit, but this is available as a fitted option, as are a number of other port options, such as dual monitor support.

The Elite-4 Zero Footprint PC is an interesting concept and certainly gets the job done - plus it's a very reasonably priced alternative to a standard PC.

The Elite-4 is no speed demon, mainly due to its integrated graphics, but it returns a perfectly respectable score for business productivity use.

Contact: 3C Technology, (01223) 319931
www.zerofootprintpc.com

Specifications:

• Dimensions (DxWxH) 23.5x46.4x8.0cm
• Weight 3.4kg
• CPU Intel 2.4GHz Pentium 4
• Memory 512MB of PC2100 (maximum 2GB)
• Graphics SiS651 Integrated, up to 64MB of shared memory
• Hard disk 40GB Seagate ST340015A ATA/100
• Optical drive CD-ROM
• I/O ports 10/100Base-T, two x RJ11 modem, four x USB 2.0, VGA, two x serial, two x PS/2, two x FireWire, headphone, line in and microphone
• Included accessories Mouse, driver CD-ROM
• Warranty One-year, RTB

See also:

Dell Precision M60

A feature-rich beast.  02 Dec 2003

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