Jadetec MicroPC4

The latest MicroPC proves size isn't everything by packing a lot into its small frame.

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Price: £1056.33

Manufacturer: Jadetec

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Verdict

Pros:

Small
Some good features

Cons:
Doesn't come with monitor as standard
Limited expandability

Overall:
If you don't want a PC that takes over your house then the Jadetec MicroPC4 could be just what you're looking for, and its performance isn't bad either.

Henry Tucker, Personal Computer World 15 Nov 2002

The Jadetec MicroPC4 is one of the smallest PCs we've seen, but just because it's small, doesn't mean it doesn't include all the essential features you need.

It measures 198 x 161 x 62mm and weighs 1.25kg, which makes it highly portable. One minor irritation is that it uses an external power supply, but this space-saving feature helps Jadetec achieve the MicroPC's compact size.

What is most remarkable, however, is that the MicroPC4 is based on an Intel Pentium 4 1.7GHz processor with 256MB of DDR SDRam memory. Unlike a full-sized PC, the MicroPC4's memory is in the form of an SO Dimm, which is smaller and more often found in notebook PCs. It has two slots, one of which is free, situated underneath the CD-Rom drive, which are quite easy to get at.

In addition, it has a 24-speed CD-Rom drive as its sole optical drive. Should you want a DVD-Rom or CD-RW drive, though, you can change the CD-Rom for one of these. It costs £95 ex VAT for the DVD-Rom option, £125 ex VAT for a CD-RW and £225 ex VAT for a DVD-Rom CD-RW combo drive.

However, it lacks any form of floppy disk drive, internal or external, so you have no form of removable media. This is particularly frustrating as the drivers for the supplied infrared BTC multimedia keyboard come on a floppy disk. However, Jadetec does offer a USB floppy drive for an extra £45 ex VAT.

For internal storage it comes with a 2.5in 40GB IBM Travelstar hard disk drive. As with the memory, the rest of the internal components can also be accessed with relative ease, so you could change either the CPU or the hard disk drive, should you ever need or want to.

Despite the limitations on internal room, the MicroPC4 still has an array of connectivity options. One of the most impressive of these is the Intel Gigabit Ethernet connection as well as a Realtek 10/100 Base-T NIC (Network Interface Card) and a 56Kbps V.90 modem.

You won't be stuck for USB ports either, as it has four; two on the front and two on the back. The two ports on the front of the system are USB2 so you can benefit from the improved transfer rate. It also has two mini Firewire ports.

These are the four-pin smaller version though, which aren't as common as the larger six-pin version. The four-pin version doesn't carry the same current as its larger cousin, so you won't be able to benefit from devices that can work without a power supply.

In addition to all this, it has a Type II PC Card slot which would be ideal for an 802.11b wireless card. And if you want to connect it up to your television, as long as you have the requisite cables, it has both composite and S-Video ports as well as S/PDIF out.

The MicroPC4 doesn't come with a standard mouse and keyboard but does have an infrared keyboard with mouse features built in. This is in the form of a directional button on the right-hand side of the keyboard, and left and right-click buttons on the left-hand side. It also has 15 buttons for features such as sleep, launching your internet browser and volume controls.

The MicroPC4 is well designed. Its case is an aluminium-coloured plastic and has plenty of vents to help keep the system cool. It's been designed in such a way that it can either lie flat on your desk or stand vertically on one edge supported by two feet that clip out.

The system is sold on its own without a monitor, although Jadetec does offer various monitor options. And as for software, all it comes with is Windows 2000.

The MicroPC4 isn't the most amazing PC on the market, but if you want a small system with a good array of basic features then it may well be just what you need.

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