Dell Computer has launched its smallest desktop computer, the
OptiPlex SX260, which is half the size of its OptiPlex
machines.
The machines, which were launched in Tokyo by Michael Dell, are
designed to take up less space on the desk than ordinary computers
and can be placed either horizontally or vertically.
An optional LCD monitor is available with a companion bracket that
acts as the monitor stand and does double duty as a stand for the
main PC, so the two will take up even less desk space.
Dell has taken out features such as PCI or AGP slots, so users will
not be able to connect their own graphics boards or other add-in
cards such as SCSI adapters. Instead, Dell has chosen Intel's 845G
chipset which includes integrated graphics.
There is also no floppy disk drive as standard but the machines are
the first OptiPlex line models that support booting from Universal
Serial Bus (USB) memory keys. Dell said it planned to launch such a
device next month and that it expected the higher reliability and
storage capacity to make such modules more popular than floppy
disks for booting machines.
Should users want a floppy drive, the computer's hot-swappable
media bay accepts the same modules as Dell's Latitude C range of
notebook computers.
Users have the choice of Intel Pentium 4 or Celeron processor and
up to 2Gbytes of double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic RAM
(SDRAM). Other technical features include six USB 2.0 ports (two
front and four rear), integrated AC97 audio and integrated Intel
Extreme graphics support.
The cheapest OptiPlex SX260 costs $599 (£387) but a typical system
will come nearer to $1,499 (£969). This machine includes an Intel
Pentium 4 processor running at 2GHz, 256Mbytes of DDR SDRAM,
20Gbyte hard disk drive, 24X CD-ROM drive, Intel Gigabit Ethernet
networking adapter and a 15in LCD monitor.