Shuttle X50 PC all-in-one touchscreen

[spookshow]

PC all-in-one touch screen is on the rise. We want to show the growing number of big names in the industry who market such products. After HP and its TouchSmart, MSI Wind and NetOne or Top of the Asus Eee, it's the turn of the Taiwan Shuttle to get into the race with its X model 5000TA.

Renowned for its mini PC, Shuttle has some experience in the assembly of a compact computer. It is therefore not surprising to find that mark a computer generate all-in-one. However, Shuttle has proven nothing yet in terms of touch interface. The bet is successful with this 5000TA X? What are its strengths and its weaknesses against other products on the market? Answers in this Review.

Shuttle X 5000TA: What hardware in this PC?

While most manufacturers choose to cut costs, a Windows XP license and inexpensive components such as Intel Atom N270 processor and 1GB of RAM, Shuttle surprises us here with a PC that embeds a dual-core Atom, namely the Intel Atom 330. 1.6GHz, equipped with 1 MB of L2 cache and engraved in 45 nm, it has a low thermal envelope of only 8W. Nothing very new face to the Atom N270 us you say, except that this processor has two cores.

Therefore, the choice of Windows Vista is required instead of Windows XP, ULCPC whose license does not allow the use of multiple processor cores. The idea was attractive until they cast an eye on the amount of RAM onboard, only 1 GB! Why, when the license for Windows allows the use of more than one gigabyte of RAM, be limited to that amount? Especially since, as everyone knows, the Microsoft operating system is quite greedy in this memory. Damage, even if it is still possible (albeit difficult on this unit) to change the module in place for a 2 GB card

Concerning the graphics is disappointing: the perennial 945GSE Intel chipset and GMA 950 graphics chip is still in the game, as on most computers based on Atom processor. It should not last much longer, NVIDIA and its platform Ion pointing the tip of their nose. But this 5000TA Shuttle X does not face competition.

Ending with the entrails of this PC, let it contains a 2.5-inch hard drive and 160 GB running at 5 400 rpm. If you look on the outside of the X 5000TA, begin by talking about its dimensions: 391 x 327 x 36 mm. It is smaller than the Asus Eee Top of X while the 5000TA proposes large speakers at its base.

It is also lighter than its competitor, with 3.54 kg, it weighs almost 800 grams less than the Asus model. This is one of the selling points of Shuttle, which sees its X 5000TA transportable PC. Hence the presence of a medium that can also serve as a handle. Clever. This media is that more is particularly strong and inspires confidence. Placed in the "handle", it does not disappoint either, the device is sufficiently well balanced that this is done without problem. Damage, however, that a good device for mobility or no battery. Finally, note that the Shuttle X 5000TA is compatible with VESA standard and it is therefore possible to hang on the wall.

Shuttle X 5000TA: Connectors and ergonomics

Concerning the connection of the X 5000TA, it is a complete detail about the video output. Indeed, only a VGA output is available here. It is a bit weak even though it is hardly a surprise, since the Intel 945 chipset does not natively digital transmitter (TMDS). Moreover, there is an audio output, microphone input and line input, 5 USB 2.0, card reader 4-in-1 (MMC, SD, MS, XD) and a Gigabit Ethernet jack. The network is complemented by a Wi-Fi module is compatible with standard i802.11b / g.

Most elements of this connection is to the right of the screen, the left edge with the power button and three buttons functions. These allow you to adjust brightness, volume and intensity of blue light coming out from underneath the screen. You can also ask the question of the usefulness of this feature that brings a touch on an undeniable aesthetic product lines probably appeal to many. However, no need to specify the value of the 1.3 megapixel webcam and microphone above the screen.

And the touch screen in?

Just finish by mentioning the main element of this PC all-in-one touch to the screen. Its size of 15.6 inches to 16 / 9, it has a resolution of 1 366 x 768 pixels and is LED backlit by system. This technology is intended to provide a consistent and uniform brightness. The shiny appearance of the screen is certainly flattering colors, but may interfere with some of you due to its "mirror". Regarding the touch of the screen, it should be noted that the multi is unfortunately not the game.

Bad point finally Shuttle: unlike Asus and its Eee Top, no cloth or keyboard delivered here. You must therefore have a keyboard to plug into the PC, at the risk of breaking the beautiful aesthetic harmony of the X 5000TA. Note however the presence of a stylus, placed behind the upper left corner of the screen.

[spookshow]

Shuffle X 5000TA, a silent PC?

After this overview of the characteristics of the Shuttle X 5000TA place to practice! First mention the touchscreen. His touch is pleasant and fingers do not leave traces too showy. That said, a good wipe will be needed quite often ... One of the selling points of Shuttle concerning the silence of his machine. If the Asus Eee Top was indeed very quiet, can not be said that X 5000TA. Remember, in his defense that embeds a dual-core processor that heats naturally more than nettop Atom N270 of the Asus. But it remains far enough from 22 dB announced by the Taiwanese manufacturer. This value may be obtained by configuring the behavior of the fan in the BIOS and not forcing him to turn the minimum speed, ie 1 400 revolutions per minute. Note that 4 is roaring up 700 rotations every 60 seconds and the default speed adapts to the temperature prevailing in the casing of the X 5000TA.

Some ergonomic flaws

If its design is quite successful, the suffers 5000TA Shuttle X instead of a few ergonomic flaws. The first of these is the backlight, this blue light that escapes from the bottom of the computer. Without returning to his interest on which everyone will be his opinion, it is nevertheless nice to be able to choose to enable or disable it. This is possible through the buttons on the left side of the screen, but by default, and each time you start the camera, this light is activated. Annoying.

Other more minor defect we detected, the inability to vary the brightness, the intensity of the backlight or volume by continuous pressure on the buttons to the right of the device. But this is far less serious than the location of the power switch, particularly poor. Indeed, taking the pen behind the screen, it is very easy to touch the button and turn off the PC. Similarly, if we look to connect a USB device, it can also happen to hold the screen by the side ... and turn off the computer. If we put out this flaw is that we came a few times. A problem therefore ergonomics.

About the touch interface

It is time to address what is for us the big disappointment of this PC touch screen: the total absence of a dedicated interface such as that can be found on the Asus Eee Top. Obviously, this was far from perfect, but Asus had the merit of trying, what Shuttle has not undertaken. The only element that indicates the presence of a touchscreen is the Purble Place, usually excluded from the Windows Vista Home Basic Edition that team X 5000TA. Eg exit the virtual keyboard found on the Eee Top, as well as Shuttle does not provide a keyboard. Damage.

Software issue, not much to put the tooth either. There are many software that runs the webcam, which seems simple and efficient.

This is too bad that the touch screen is quite well managed. Moving the pointer is fluid and many elements of the configuration of the tactile interface are many. You can change the "eGalaxTouch" model linearization (9 or 25 points), manage side effects, the speed of the double-click, its area of application and configure the right click.

The calibration procedure of the screen is quite tedious if you choose a model linearization on 25 points (which will be more accurate), you need to point as accurately as possible 25 points for two seconds. Fortunately, this calibration is required only once, the screen is then adjusted.

You can choose to interact with your X 5000TA with the finger or the stylus provided. We recommend you use the latter for two reasons:

• it leaves no traces on the screen;
• the plot is more precise, as evidenced by this test: on the left, a path without interruption achieved with the stylus, right tactile experience that has unfortunately led to visible discontinuities.

Although it is possible to reduce the sensitivity of the screen to make it more likely to be directed to the finger, we recommend that you use the stylus.

The sound quality coming out of two speakers of 2W. It is much better than the Eee Top, although a bit deaf and made little low, but powerful enough to watch a movie. Finally, the consumption of this machine is relatively low, since we found 35 Watts idle 43 Watts and only charge the brightness being pushed to the maximum of its intensity.

[spookshow]

Conclusion

In our previous test of the Asus Eee Top, we questioned the maturity of the technology of touch screens. Like the Asus model, the Shuttle X 5000TA has not convinced that such was the PC revolution expected by the general public. Also nice is it to tap on the screen to open an application, the touch interface is not sufficiently exploited. It is even less on the Shuttle X 5000TA than it was on the Asus Eee Top.

What then of the use of this computer all-in-one touch? In our view, this computer is a good option for an Internet Point in the kitchen or in the lounge. However, it can act as multimedia PC, with its screen resolution too low and its graphics chip too powerful. Moreover, it has no optical drive. It can not replace a work PC because of the difficulty in holding the position the arm in the air constantly.

Finally you may be asked about the absence of synthetic tests on the Intel Atom dual-heart. Do not worry, be a complete dossier on Clubic fairly quickly.

Proposed to $499 (Rs.25,450) in white and without a keyboard again, the Shuttle X PC 5000TA is a all-in-one at the rate slightly higher than the Eee Top. It will also be available as a barebone (under the name X-50) without memory or hard drive, Intel Atom 330 processor is soldered to the motherboard. Other models are also expected, based barebone X 50, with up to 2 GB of RAM and 500 GB hard drive, black or white.