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SpasticTeapot
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2004
- Messages
- 188
The Mozart TX is, at first glance, a white elephant. It's as big as a refridgerator, even more obsequious, and costs nearly $200 - a hefty sum even for a top-model Antec or Lian-Li.
Of course, phase-change enthusiasts will love it - the fact that it's similar in size and shape to a refridgerator is very convenient. It's also a very nice case for a file server - it's got room for a dozen hard drives, about four power supplies, and you can just put a monitor on top - no mucking about with slide-out rackmount monitors!
However, it appears to be useless as a HTPC. It's big, shiny, and impossible to miss - and, like your Uncle Harold's chromed dome, your guests are not obligated to avert their eyes.
But the Mozart is, in its own way, even less obtrusive than a shuttle - it can hide in plain sight!
For example, if you're careful not to obstruct air intake/output ports. you can cover it with a tablecloth and use it as an end table. You can use it as a TV stand, too - it's sturdy enough to hold most LCD TVs, or so I've heard, and in a dim room one is likely to assume that it's actually a giant stack of stereo equipment.
Furthermore, it's invaluable in case of a terrorist take-over or hostage situation - the non-windowed case is large enough that some of the more svelte Hardforum members could easily fit between the powr supply and second bank of hard drives in case of emergency.
Of course, phase-change enthusiasts will love it - the fact that it's similar in size and shape to a refridgerator is very convenient. It's also a very nice case for a file server - it's got room for a dozen hard drives, about four power supplies, and you can just put a monitor on top - no mucking about with slide-out rackmount monitors!
However, it appears to be useless as a HTPC. It's big, shiny, and impossible to miss - and, like your Uncle Harold's chromed dome, your guests are not obligated to avert their eyes.
But the Mozart is, in its own way, even less obtrusive than a shuttle - it can hide in plain sight!
For example, if you're careful not to obstruct air intake/output ports. you can cover it with a tablecloth and use it as an end table. You can use it as a TV stand, too - it's sturdy enough to hold most LCD TVs, or so I've heard, and in a dim room one is likely to assume that it's actually a giant stack of stereo equipment.
Furthermore, it's invaluable in case of a terrorist take-over or hostage situation - the non-windowed case is large enough that some of the more svelte Hardforum members could easily fit between the powr supply and second bank of hard drives in case of emergency.
