S-Presso Mini Review

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ken
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K

Ken

Overall, I like this barebones system marketed by Asus. It has a number
of features that move the PC from the destop to the living room and it
comes off fairly smoothly. The machine is quiet and even with the
Prescott 3.0 gHz chip it runs cool at 49C.

The instant on-software drivers aren't working properly for the TV
tuner and I had contacted tech support. This is disappointing as I
haven't heard back from Asus even though the acknowledgement said they
would respond within 2 business days. The tuner works fine in Windows
XP so I tend to think it is a driver issue.

Anyway, this is a small form factor with a touch sensitive control
panel and "instant-on" to watch TVs and play DVDs. The tuner works find
in the Asus Home Theater (aka Intervideo), but the instant-on TV is
snowy and sound is static. It comes with a CPU cooler, remote control,
and 6 USB 2.0 ports. The main board has 2 IEEE ports on the front
panel, but the manufacturer didn't punch out the holes for them in the
plastic face plate. I don't see them listed in the hardware driver
section of windows xp. Most like these were disabled and it is
frustrating this decision was made as users will want to hook up their
camcorder to a living room pc.

The touch-panel feature is rather limited in utility, it is basically
used in the instant-on part of the operating system.

No built in WIFI, but there is a full PCI and AGP card slot. While the
computer comes with the PCI slot used, you can remove the tuner. I
don't know the brand of this card, but I am willing to bet it is ASUS -
tunes both cable and FM stations.

Overall, I like the machine. I don't like not having firewire or good
tuning with the instant-on, but the box is fairly complete.

If ASUS is reading this, it would be nice if you would respond to

Case Code :WTM200503031330131673
 
This is a media center PC that does not need windows to operate! A
small form factor box from ASUS to put in your living room. Here is a
detailed review and there is a forum following the article. I can't
find any other place where the box is discussed on the web:

http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=3&var1=179&var2=0


Follow-up note to the problems described above. NEVER heard from Asus
so I had to figure this out on my own.



THESE ARE THE ISSUES AND THE FIXES THAT I WORKED OUT


1) Snowy TV picture and static sound with Instant-ON

I have finally got instant-on to work correctly - it required
reinstallation AFTER windows XP. Do follow the directions per the
manual, but if you get bad reception on the TV signal simply reinstall
once you have your NTFS partition etc set up.

2) Loss of touch sensitive key on front panel or volume on remote
control not working

Touch sensitive keys are easily goofed up. Usually this happens from
frequently taking the cover on and off. When you touch the panel, in
normal operation, it changes color from green to yellow (hard to see)
and carries out the command of change mode, pause, etc. If you have
trouble (non-responsive), take off the front panel again and pull the
wire springs out a bit and replace the front panel. NOTE: this problem
also screws up the volume and change channel on the remote. You might
think these are two different problems, but they aren't.

3) Front panel IEEE ports are hidden by black panel

This was slick ASUS. Install IEEE ports, but cover them up with
plastic. Shame on you. Also, you don't say a word about it in the
manual. People want IEEE for their camcorders, this is supposed to be a
unit you put in the living room, right? Hopefully in future models you
will revise the motherboard - every other SFF computer has IEEE ports.

You can't fix them, but users can reveal them. I punched these out so I
could see them behind the lower hidden door. The problem is that there
are no hook-ups for this on the motherboard. At least none that I can
find. The pins are there to hook up to an internal card in the future.
But, beware, the tuner and hardware on this system are linked to
instant on so if you add a sound card or AGP card you risk dropping the
Instant-On feature. Would welcome any comments on this if you have
experience with the hardware modifications. I really would like those
front panel firewire ports active.

Basically, all is well and it just takes some experimentation. Key
problems are resolved and this is a fairly good unit living up to the
manufacturer's claims. DO adjust those wire springs on the touch
sensitive unit tho if you are pulling off the front panel frequently
they tend to get "squished."
 
"Ken" said:
3) Front panel IEEE ports are hidden by black panel

This was slick ASUS. Install IEEE ports, but cover them up with
plastic. Shame on you. Also, you don't say a word about it in the
manual. People want IEEE for their camcorders, this is supposed to be a
unit you put in the living room, right? Hopefully in future models you
will revise the motherboard - every other SFF computer has IEEE ports.
Click to expand...

You have room for a PCI card. Why not just plug in a PCI Firewire
card and connect your camcorder to the back of the unit, in the
PCI slot area ? That should be usable in WinXP.

Paul
 
You have room for a PCI card. Why not just plug in a PCI Firewire
card and connect your camcorder to the back of the unit, in the
PCI slot area ? That should be usable in WinXP.

Paul
Click to expand...

The PCI slot is where the TV tuner card resides. Only the AGP slot is
available.
 
Ken said:
I have finally got instant-on to work correctly - it required
reinstallation AFTER windows XP. Do follow the directions per the
manual, but if you get bad reception on the TV signal simply reinstall
once you have your NTFS partition etc set up.
Click to expand...

I didn't find instructions for reinstalling the instant on software after
loading XP (only warnings to install instant on first). Can you list the
steps you took to reinstall?

Thanks!
 
Paul, Yes, install instant-on first and do windows XP. After you have
done this check and see if instant-on works for the TV feature. Mine
didn't work well. I can't pinpoint it. You might change countries. I
found the USA didn't work, so I tried Beligium etc. Eventually the
picture came through OK.

I guess in retrospect that is what I would do, change countries first.

You can reinstall instant-on because you have a partition from the
first time. Just make sure the CD is the first boot device.

As for the free PCI slot to install a firewire card. I think you
answered it yourself. There is no free slot open with the TV tuner
card.

Hope that helps.
 
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