Tranquil T2eMP

Connections include Gigabit Ethernet, two PS/2 ports, VGA out, parallel and, unusually, two serial ports. There are only two USB ports and both are round the back - it's a shame there isn't another one on the front. Audio exits through a standard 3.5mm mini-jack, with an optical S/PDIF port for digital 5.1-channel sound. You also get several accessories, including a memory card reader for all popular formats - handy for getting your digital photos onto the system. There's also an 802.11g wireless LAN USB dongle, an MCE remote, a selection of video cables and a CD case for the OS and driver CDs.

It isn't perfect - we'd like to see a DVI-I output for LCD TVs, and a discreet display on the front panel would give an even more seamless experience. But it's still fantastic. We liked the C3 version of this machine, and now there's so much more flexibility behind the clean exterior and it's still virtually silent - the only noise you hear is when you eject a DVD. If you want more power in your silent MCE appliance, this will fit the bill.

Author: Roger Kirkwood