Product Reviews

If you want a tiny, basic PC, Foxconn's Tuckaway could be ideal. The chassis is so small there's not even room for a power supply inside; instead it has a neat notebook-style external unit.

One of the challenges with this kind of PC is building it. However, there's not that much that has to be done with the Tuckaway, as it comes with its memory card reader and notebook DVD/CD-RW combo drive installed.

This leaves you to install only the memory, processor and hard disk. While the Intel 915-based motherboard supports most LGA775 processors, the cooling system will handle only a 3.4GHz processor or below. However, we'd suggest that you fit no more than a 3GHz processor, as the computer gets quite hot otherwise. There are two DDR memory slots on the motherboard, so we'd advise budgeting for 512MB of memory.

You have to remove the top of the case using the thumb screws to install these components. It's only then that you realise how cramped the inside is. To get to the

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processor socket, you have to remove the cooling fans and their assembly. It's important to install the processor first, as the socket's lever can't be raised while memory is installed due to lack of space.

The heat sink then has to be screwed to the board before you can replace the cooling fans. It's a bit of a squeeze getting everything back in place and you'll need a to use bit of force; it feels as though the components don't quite fit properly. Finally, there's a single PCI slot for expansion. You won't be able to upgrade the onboard Intel graphics, but you can, for example, install a TV card.

With the top of the case back on you can install the hard disk. This is done by turning the case over and removing the bottom panel, which gives access to the hard disk cage. Unfortunately, the cage isn't very big and we couldn't get a 250GB hard disk to fit inside it. A 160GB disk or below should be fine, as these tend to be thinner.

You'll also need a SATA hard disk, as this is the only connection provided, which could make this case a poor choice if you were hoping to salvage bits from an older computer. Again, it's a little difficult to reattach the bottom panel and it required some gentle persuasion to make it sit flush.

The Tuckaway was a lot quieter than we were expecting. The scores of 122 in our Shopper tests and 4,328 in PCMark04 were respectable for a PC using a 3.4GHz processor, although the poor onboard graphics mean you can't play games.

As a simple desktop PC built for office applications, the Tuckaway is an attractive choice.