Ends 2/26. Newegg has the Intel Next Unit of Computing Kit (BOXDC3217IYE) for $280 with free shipping. Normally priced around $290 and up online. Measures 4.59" x 4.41" x 1.55".
Intel Core i3-3217U 1.8GHz, no RAM (up to 16GB DDR3)
Intel HD Graphics 4000, dual HDMI, 3 x USB ports
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Actually a pretty bad deal.
$280 + $50 HDD + $30 RAM + $100 OS = $460. You can buy a decent laptop with an I3 for that much.
You can buy the same I3 with a better MB for $180 - that leaves $100 for a case/PS.
^ Yeah but you're paying for something the size of a set-top box but that's far more versatile, can also be mounted behind a TV, and more powerful than the typical nettop. I wouldn't want it for a primary PC, but for HTPC use a laptop is pretty large.
Main problem I see is you're stuck with the intel video, I wouldn't have minded it an inch taller and wider then a riser card to add a video card, and yet a decent video upgrade would more than double the power consumption so you'd need a different PSU too.
Most importantly, when you unbox it there's a sound module that plays the intel trademark sound, lol.
Seems even more overpriced than a Mac Mini...
While this box is small, it requires a big power brick. It is so barebone on these things.
It's only a Core i3 mobile and you have to use either USB or mSATA for storage and the Wifi is problematic from what I read.
You better off buying one of those super mini-ITX barebones or a Mac Mini for better value.
$449 Mac Mini refurb gives you a Core i5, 2GB, 500GB space vs this thing that cost $500+ after upgrades.
^ The power brick is no larger than on a mid-sized laptop, around 65W. Better to have it external to reduce heat in the case, and make replacement less expensive and easier should the need arise some day.
Value relative to something else has everything to do with what you need out of it. I can't imagine needing to upgrade it to $500+ for a HTPC use. A 16GB mSATA SSD, 2GB memory and it's ready for most HTPC oriented uses except gaming. In years past I might've felt lack of video capture was an issue but today there is so much content online that I rarely find a need to capture anything.
I can see the wifi being an important factor to some people but to others like myself, I wouldn't even consider wifi for a HTPC because constant streaming over wifi takes bandwidth from other clients that really need wifi.
I do think it ought to cost less than $280, but the question remains as to what serves the same purpose at $280, or mid-$350ish after a modest SSD and memory.
If used as a desktop I can see the i5 being desirable but an i3 can software decode 1080p in the cases where the HD video acceleration can't handle it for some reason, so basically for HTPC you just need to get past the hump of an Atom or equivalent being inadequate for that.