Shuttle X50 - Juke-in-a-box?

[Dermbrian]

This is being released shortly.  I can't tell yet if it will be available with WindowsXP or with Vista, but I'm hoping for XP.  It has the typical 'netbook' specs, but has the new dual-core Atom processor instead of the single core in Acer Aspire One's and similar netbooks.  Maybe that will let it handle sites like Hulu, abc.com, nbc.com, fox.com, etc.  My Aspire One struggles sometimes with those.

Unlike the similar EEE Top (single core, though), this unit has a VGA out which I can use to feed our living room TV.

If those video sites are watchable and VGA out work acceptably, then I'll have the heart of my jukebox-slash-internet tuner.  And very low power consumption.

[Cary B]

Looks like XP Home:


   
Shuttle X50 Touchscreen All-in-one PREORDER
Price per Unit (piece): $1.00
   
Ask a question about this product
Shuttle X50 Pre-Order - MSRP = $499
Preorder Now for $1* to reserve yours! These will be available very soon and we have been promised 25 of the first shipment, which is due mid-April. First come, first served!

Just announced at CES and as first previewed in the CES Live Blog at www.yourexodus.com, we are now accepting preorders for the upcoming Shuttle X50.  Here's the preliminary specification:

    * Intel Atom 330 Dual Core
    * 15.6" Touchscreen LCD
    * 80 GB Hard Drive
    * 1 GB RAM
    * Integrated Webcam
    * WiFi
    * Windows XP, most likely Home

Potential uses for this, green, revolutionary PC include: Point-of-Sale, Digital Signage, guest user terminals, really cool picture frames, and - well - you tell me and I'll put it here.

I was told 3/31 that the first shipment will be pre-configured systems only.  We will, of course, offer upgrades to 2GB RAM and larger hard drives when these come in.  Also, just in - there will be a BAREBONE model made available shortly after the initial product launch!

Per Here:  http://www.getashuttle.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&option=com_virtuemart&product_id=93&vmcchk=1&Itemid=75

[Dermbrian]

Shuttle's own web site states "Shuttle X50 is powered by Intel’s Atom 330 dual-core processor and supports for Windows Vista Home Basic Edition operating system. "  And that's as far as it goes in mentioning operating systems.

Sorry that my thread title is kind of misleading.  But this thing really will be an option for those of us not inclined to bidding on ELO touchscreens on Ebay to re-purpose our last desktop PC.  Just add WinCab (my perennial favorite jukebox app) and a speaker system and you can build a touchscreen jukebox cab as small or as large as you'd like.

I just hope it has enough horsepower to do double duty, allowing me to feed some streaming internet TV shows to the 'real' television. 

Brian

[Dermbrian]

Step 1.  Placed pre-order at getashuttle.com.
Step 2.  Scored a Logitech Z-2300 speaker system through craigslist for $50. 
Step 3.  Waiting impatiently.

Until I get the Shuttle X50, I'm sitting here running Rhythmbox on my little Linux eeePC and listening to my music collection through the new speakers.  I tried to watch a TV show via this existing setup on cbs.com (supports Linux...) last night with its VGA out to our TV.  Again, dropped frames and stuttering made the experience a strain to me and useless to the rest of the family.  I plugged in my Aspire One and tried Hulu and tried a show there with similar lousy results.

My fingers are getting cramps from crossing them in hopes that the Shuttle X50 will do better with its dual-core Atom processor.  If not, at least it will make a great touchscreen music player.  But I still hope for the dual-purpose of internet video 'tuner' in a $500 touchscreen package.   And digital picture frame and video chat kiosk, of course.

We have Verizon FIOS, internet only, slowest available speed.  I can't imagine that's not enough 'pipe', but I still have my doubts about that, too.  I've never felt overly impressed by the speed that web pages open, etc.  And Netflix online movies were unwatchable on our desktop PC which isn't a terrible slouch before we dropped that service about 2 years ago.

Brian

[richms]

Really it needs adobe to pull finger and make flash use graphics card offload for h.264 before these low spec machines will do it well. Oh, and a graphics card that does it properly so not the intel inbuilt stuff.

I will pass on that machine - if they make an ion chipsetted one and its up for it then I will re think it, but to me they are just too low powered to do much other then be a wordprocessor - certainly no way you will have video playing at anywhere near its native resolution on it. I think it would strugle to even run a powerpoint show smoothly based on what I have seen on a dual core atom itx board a friend had to try for something similar.

[Dermbrian]

There was 'confusion' over the actual configuration of the X50.  My pre-order's price was increased while they simultaneously removed any operating system, so I could no longer justify buying that one.

I canceled my X50 order and I have now placed a preorder for a dual-core Atom MSI Touch from Amazon.com.

18.5 inch touchscreen PC with DVD drive, 250g hard drive 2 gig mem, Vista Home Basic

This MSI has no VGA out.  I'll miss that.  That was unique to the Shuttle.

There's a single core MSI Touch that comes with XP, but this one comes with Vista.   Unfortunately, that means I won't be able to use WinCab (DwJukebox) as a touchscreen program, since the touchscreen functionality requires Windows XP or DOS.

It's looking like perhaps Microsoft drew the XP line at single core Atom's?  Anyway, I expect this one to hit my home in about mid-May.


Brian

[Barry Barcrest]

I will pass on that machine - if they make an ion chipsetted one and its up for it then I will re think it, but to me they are just too low powered to do much other then be a wordprocessor - certainly no way you will have video playing at anywhere near its native resolution on it. I think it would strugle to even run a powerpoint show smoothly based on what I have seen on a dual core atom itx board a friend had to try for something similar.

Strange? A Few of the users of freebox jukebox use intel atom based boards and they can play music videos without any problems. The intel Atom CPU is more than adequate for most day to functions and to call it a simple word processor isn't really fair.

[richms]

friend has a single core atom netbook and it cant even play 640x360 res h.264 fullscreen without stuttering on occasion, no chance on 1280x720 stuff.  Stutters on youtube "HD" mode even.

the machine is little better than a P4 IMO, sure, its about 5% of the power consumption but no way it can handle HD video playback without a graphics chipset to offload it to.

[Barry Barcrest]

the machine is little better than a P4 IMO, sure, its about 5% of the power consumption but no way it can handle HD video playback without a graphics chipset to offload it to.

I think you might be right as music videos tend to be VOB files at best and i know those play, HD stuff I have not tried. I can play full HD content on my P4 but like you say that is probably down to the graphics card I have in that machine which is far superior to the Atom graphics chipset.

[Dermbrian]

My MSI touchscreen PC (dual core Atom 330) is out for delivery.  I should be able to comment on its performance tonight.

It's not really a question of handling video.  The machines will play DVD's and most hard-disked stored video just fine.  It's the decoding of streaming internet video (Hulu.com, Netflix, even YouTube) that is a struggle on these netbooks.  And to be fair, it's a struggle on a few of the desktop PC's in the house, too.

The E-Touch demo works fine on my Acer Aspire One (single core Atom 230).  SKJukebox works fine.  DWJukebox (aka WinCab) does not.  The Allegro sound handling in DWJukebox gets choppy even without any multitasking.  That is a real bummer.  There is no other 'singles based' jukebox that compares to what Chris has created.  So I am hopeful that the dual core Atom will do better on DWJukebox.

BTW, I plan to use my MSI Touchscreen PC for almost everything EXCEPT word processing.  It's going to be my multimedia library and player and will never see Office 2007 loaded on it.  It will sit on my entertainment center and not on a desk.

Brian

[leapinlew]

FYI
http://blogs.pcmag.com/miller/2009/04/netbook_performance_just_say_n.php

[richms]

I am very keen on that announced but not yet available ion based atom board - ion has HD decode, and the chipset s much lower power then the abortion they used on the intel branded itx boards that sucked down more juice then the CPU and didnt have any worthy 3d stuff.

No sign of it locally here yet, and noone has even heard of zotac to know who the importer will be which is a real shame.

[Chris]

The E-Touch demo works fine on my Acer Aspire One (single core Atom 230).  SKJukebox works fine.  DWJukebox (aka WinCab) does not.  The Allegro sound handling in DWJukebox gets choppy even without any multitasking.  That is a real bummer.  There is no other 'singles based' jukebox that compares to what Chris has created.  So I am hopeful that the dual core Atom will do better on DWJukebox.

Sorry to resurrect a really really old thread, but I wanted to note that my latest build of DWJukebox (3.4) should clean up a lot of "choppiness" issues, especially those related to page changes.  I'd be interested to know if it solves the issues with your Aspire One.

--Chris

[Dermbrian]

I'll give the latest version a try on the little netbook and let you know if it runs any better with the changes.

Thanks,
Brian