Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Legacy Archives

Systemax Launches Impact Mini-PC Line

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

Niche computer maker Systemax today announced its new Impact Mini-PC line, aiming at hoome users who want a living-room friendly PC but who are frustrated by the Mac mini (or its current inability to function as a fully-fledged media center). Three new Impact Mini-PCs range from economical home-use systems to Media Center-eqipped units with TV Tuners, remote controls, S-Video, and S/PDIF. Plus, you know, they’ve got cool blue blinky lights.

"PC users have been asking for an alternative to the Mac Mini that satisfies their needs in terms of feature set and functionality for the home environment," explains Richard Wallet, Systemax executive VP, in a release. "With our new line of Impact Mini-PC’s, Systemax has stepped up the challenge to offer three attractive and unique configurations at price points that blow away the competition."

Recommended Videos

At the high end, the Systemax Impact VXR2 sports a 1.66 GHz Core 2 processor on a 667 Mhz frontside bus, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Intel integrated graphics, 1 GB oF RAM, an 80 GB hard drive, a DVD-RW optical drive, 802.11b/g wireless networking, an ATSC/NTSC hybrid television tuner, plus 2 USB 2.0 ports one FireWire port, DVI video output, S-Video output, and S/PDIF digital audio. The VXR2 also comes with a remove control or managing media and video programming from across the room. Next up, the Impact VXR2 offers much the same specs, but steps back a little bit to a 1.6GHz Duo mobile processor on a 533 MHz frontside bus with 512 MB of memory. Finally, the plain-old Impact mini-PC ditches Media Center and the remote and just aims to be a reasonable system for home use rather than a media hub: it’s driven by a Celeron M 1.4 GHz CPU on a 400 MHz frontside bus, runs Windows XP Home, and has rather light 256 MB of RAM with a DVD/CD combo drive, 40 GB of storage, and 802.11b/g wireless.

While the Impact Mini-PCs may fall down in the high-definition department—and upgrading RAM and other components in compact systems like these can be notoriously tricky—Systemax’s price points draw some attention: The Impact VXR2 carries a suggested retail price of $899.99; the Impact VXR comes in at $799.99, and the Impact just barely hits the sub-$500 mark at $499.99. All three systems will be available through TigerDirect as of October 1, and ship with a Microsoft USB keyboard and mouse.

Geoff Duncan
Geoff Duncan
Former Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Topics
Apple will finally stop making iPhone-to-Windows copy-paste such a chore
Your iPhone may finally copy and paste with a Windows PC like it should
Apple Universal Clipboard feature

Copying something on an iPhone and pasting it onto a Windows PC should be one of the least remarkable features imaginable. While this simple process seems effortless between an iPhone and Mac, Windows users are still left waiting.

Now, Microsoft is formally asking Apple to provide interoperable clipboard access through the company’s European Union interoperability process. The request, submitted on March 25, argues that iOS restrictions prevent third-party platforms from creating an experience comparable to Apple’s Universal Clipboard. Apple has now reached Phase III and committed to developing a solution.

Read more
Chrome wants more extension reviews, but good ratings won’t keep malware out
Google is testing built-in extension review prompts, but good ratings can still hide malware
malicious-google-chrome-extensions-on-web-store

Google is preparing to add extension review links directly inside Chrome, putting feedback closer to the menus people already use to manage their add-ons.

A Chromium change, first spotted by Windows Report, points to review options in the Extensions menu, the chrome://extensions management page, and extension context menus. Only eligible Chrome Web Store extensions in good standing would qualify, and the feature is still under development.

Read more
Passkeys were pushed as a safer future. Hackers have figured out ways to break those synced to Google
Google’s “uncopyable” passkeys may be easier to steal than promised
google-lawsuite-AI-Scams

Passkeys have been pushed as the safer successor to passwords. It promised protection from phishing, credential reuse, and password leaks. Google even claims that it cannot be copied or accidentally handed to someone else. But it might not be as secure as the company wants it to be.

Security researchers (Via BleepingComputer) have now found three ways malware can undermine those promises for passkeys synced through Google Password Manager. The techniques, collectively named Pass-ta-key, target Google Password Manager inside Chrome on Windows computers equipped with a Trusted Platform Module. Every attack requires malware to already be running on the victim’s computer.

Read more