I recently bought the Book PC DVD version... totalling to ~ $500 from Directron.com
Book PC DVD, Celeron 500, 64MB PC100 RAM, Heatsink + Fan, 4.3GB hard drive
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet, 56k modem, 4 speaker sound, 3D video and TV Out
Wireless Keyboard/Mouse included
Yes, you're all going to say this lacks the small form factor and integrated display of the IO, and more of you will say it lacks PCI slots and expansion capabilities. This machine is not for everyone, but it is a great desktop computer for organizations which need many budget business app machines. My school is currently evaluating this option to replace their many useless 486's that many teachers and office workers currently suffer with. We already have many monitors, we just need decent faster computers to run Word, Excel and Netscape. Book PC will allow us to do so at half the traditional cost.
About the lack of expansion capabilities: We already have 200+ PC's ranging from 486's through Pentium II's which we bought whole and never upgraded. We will never need the PCI slots on these machines. These are simple, decent, budget desktops for the computer labs and offices.
The DVD and TV out work VERY WELL and make this great as a DVD player. I took this puppy home and plugged it into my four speaker system and large screen TV. It was great, sitting back on the couch with the wireless keyboard, soda and popcorn, blasting Rob Zombie in The Matrix in the scene where Neo first meets Trinity.
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After my initial good impressions of this system, I was thinking... would this work with a FCPGA Pentium III Coppermine or Celeron II with the Powerleap FCPGA --> PPGA adapter?
I had no idea where I could ask this question, so I figured I'd go here to talk to other Internet Appliance enthusiasts. I then noticed that new message areas for alternative appliances were added. Anyone know who can I contact about creating a new message area for Book PC conversation?
