ASUS S-presso SFF System Review Posted! - Page 3

David · 15th Feb 2005, 03:31 AM

Hi Orion23,

I should be able to answer your questions within the next day or so, as I plan to use Windows XP Media Centre 2005 as the OS for my new system.

Like you I shall be interested to see how the included FM/TV tuner performs.

Having just had another look at the supplied Multimedia System User Guide, I see that it is necessary to install 'Instant On' before installing an operating system, which at first surprised me but, on thinking about it, I can now see the logic behind this... and the whole procedure is described in some detail in the manual!

More news later!

-David-

patrikm · 18th Feb 2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaz

THe higher end version of the S-presso comes with a TV Card! So, it definately can do output to a TV for sure! However, the only video input is the TV antenna in. No S-video or RCA input.... therefore, using the Cable TV won't work unless you get a converter... but that's gonna lower the picture quality any day.

Hi,
I have only one question (aswers for other I found in review).
If I use Instant ON function and play DVD - can I look this video on my TV attached through TV tuner????

This is last thing which obstruct S-Presso order-

)

Thanks
Patrik

peaz · 19th Feb 2005, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrikm

Hi,
I have only one question (aswers for other I found in review).
If I use Instant ON function and play DVD - can I look this video on my TV attached through TV tuner????

This is last thing which obstruct S-Presso order-

)

Thanks
Patrik

The only TV Out video is on the TV Tuner. Thus, I thnk the Instant-ON software SHOULD by right have drivers to run the TV Tuner card as well. Otherwise, it don't make sense at all.

However, I can't confirm this as I didn't have the chance to run it. Maybe someone else who have tried it out can confirm it.

David · 19th Feb 2005, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaz

The only TV Out video is on the TV Tuner. Thus, I thnk the Instant-ON software SHOULD by right have drivers to run the TV Tuner card as well. Otherwise, it don't make sense at all.

However, I can't confirm this as I didn't have the chance to run it. Maybe someone else who have tried it out can confirm it.

Hi,

Hopefully I can throw a bit of light on this one.

The short answer is yes, the 'Instant-On' software does contain drivers to receive TV programs (after you have set your Country first!). It can also play CD's (naturally!), plus DVD videos (provided your player had already been set to the correct region... it can't change or set that) and it can also receive FM radio. This is all before installing Windows of course!.

The sound quality on the TV and radio is quite poor though, which I suspect is down to the very cheap unpowered and unshielded speakers I had plugged in at the time!

-David-

David · 19th Feb 2005, 01:16 AM

Hi,

Just a quick update on the availability of these, if anyone is anxious to buy one.

It would appear that they are currently in VERY short supply, to the extent that (so far as I am aware) they aren't any available in Europe at all at the moment... and probably won't be for at least another couple of weeks or so. If anyone has heard anything different though... please do let us know!

I can't speak for the USA, or Asia of course, but if anyone in the UK is anxious to get his hands on one, just as soon as they are available, then I might be able to help... just drop me a PM.

-David-

patrikm · 19th Feb 2005, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Hi,

Just a quick update on the availability of these, if anyone is anxious to buy one.

It would appear that they are currently in VERY short supply, to the extent that (so far as I am aware) they aren't any available in Europe at all at the moment... and probably won't be for at least another couple of weeks or so. If anyone has heard anything different though... please do let us know!

I can't speak for the USA, or Asia of course, but if anyone in the UK is anxious to get his hands on one, just as soon as they are available, then I might be able to help... just drop me a PM.

-David-

Hi,
I'm from Czech republic and there are some pieces of this amazing HW.

Patrikm

patrikm · 19th Feb 2005, 02:16 AM

Thank for this info - I just waiting for this confirmation. Last night I spent with reading of manual and there ins't any hint about TV mode in Instant On. So now I can order this HW and as I hope enjoy their features. In fact I looking for similar features more than 2 years because I hate many remote controls, many hw's - one for DVD, second for CD, etc.
Patrikm

David · 19th Feb 2005, 05:26 AM

Hi,

Copies of the latest manuals (one for 'hardware' and another separate one for 'software') can be downloaded from the Asus website.

It was interesting that although mine included the latest software manual, the hardware one still was the previous edition.

Although I haven't compared them in detail, I did notice that it now tells you to jumper the optical drive as a 'master' rather than a slave.

It does appear though that it (the optical drive) has to be connected to the Secondary IDE channel connector, rather than the Primary... even if you are (like me) using a SATA hard disk, otherwise I just could not get the 'Instant-On' software to install.

-David-

peaz · 21st Feb 2005, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Hi,

Copies of the latest manuals (one for 'hardware' and another separate one for 'software') can be downloaded from the Asus website.

It was interesting that although mine included the latest software manual, the hardware one still was the previous edition.

Although I haven't compared them in detail, I did notice that it now tells you to jumper the optical drive as a 'master' rather than a slave.

It does appear though that it (the optical drive) has to be connected to the Secondary IDE channel connector, rather than the Primary... even if you are (like me) using a SATA hard disk, otherwise I just could not get the 'Instant-On' software to install.

-David-

Sound like it's using Linux with pre-configured scripts that mounts the optical drive specifically on the master secondary IDE... I guess the installtion of the Instant-On software isn't smart enough to detect the hardware before proceeding to install itself according to the config.

Anyways.. Thanks David for the extra info!

Pentolux · 24th Feb 2005, 06:46 PM

First and foremost thanks a lot for that in depth review.

There is just one question I would like to come back to. I know that when having an additional graphic card in the Aopen XC Cube AV, the instant On feature does not really work. There seems to be a workaround on Aopen's behalf that let's you chosse the graphics adapter while using Instant On, if I understood correctly.

Is there something like that with the P111 as well, or does an additional graphic card mean no Instant On anymore? And if it still works, does it work 100% or are there some limitations to it?

Otherwise keep up the good reviews and thanks again for the assistance.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
ASUS System DIY Competition!	News Writer	News	0	14th Sep 2004 11:18 PM

15th Feb 2005, 03:31 AM	#21 (permalink)
David Newbie Join Date: 7 Feb 2005 Location: Oxford, England, United Kingdom Posts: 9 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Hi Orion23, I should be able to answer your questions within the next day or so, as I plan to use Windows XP Media Centre 2005 as the OS for my new system. Like you I shall be interested to see how the included FM/TV tuner performs. Having just had another look at the supplied Multimedia System User Guide, I see that it is necessary to install 'Instant On' before installing an operating system, which at first surprised me but, on thinking about it, I can now see the logic behind this... and the whole procedure is described in some detail in the manual! More news later! -David-

19th Feb 2005, 01:16 AM	#25 (permalink)
David Newbie Join Date: 7 Feb 2005 Location: Oxford, England, United Kingdom Posts: 9 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Hi, Just a quick update on the availability of these, if anyone is anxious to buy one. It would appear that they are currently in VERY short supply, to the extent that (so far as I am aware) they aren't any available in Europe at all at the moment... and probably won't be for at least another couple of weeks or so. If anyone has heard anything different though... please do let us know! I can't speak for the USA, or Asia of course, but if anyone in the UK is anxious to get his hands on one, just as soon as they are available, then I might be able to help... just drop me a PM. -David-

19th Feb 2005, 02:16 AM	#27 (permalink)
patrikm Newbie Join Date: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 5 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Thank for this info - I just waiting for this confirmation. Last night I spent with reading of manual and there ins't any hint about TV mode in Instant On. So now I can order this HW and as I hope enjoy their features. In fact I looking for similar features more than 2 years because I hate many remote controls, many hw's - one for DVD, second for CD, etc. Patrikm

19th Feb 2005, 05:26 AM	#28 (permalink)
David Newbie Join Date: 7 Feb 2005 Location: Oxford, England, United Kingdom Posts: 9 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Hi, Copies of the latest manuals (one for 'hardware' and another separate one for 'software') can be downloaded from the Asus website. It was interesting that although mine included the latest software manual, the hardware one still was the previous edition. Although I haven't compared them in detail, I did notice that it now tells you to jumper the optical drive as a 'master' rather than a slave. It does appear though that it (the optical drive) has to be connected to the Secondary IDE channel connector, rather than the Primary... even if you are (like me) using a SATA hard disk, otherwise I just could not get the 'Instant-On' software to install. -David-

24th Feb 2005, 06:46 PM	#30 (permalink)
Pentolux Newbie Join Date: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 1 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	First and foremost thanks a lot for that in depth review. There is just one question I would like to come back to. I know that when having an additional graphic card in the Aopen XC Cube AV, the instant On feature does not really work. There seems to be a workaround on Aopen's behalf that let's you chosse the graphics adapter while using Instant On, if I understood correctly. Is there something like that with the P111 as well, or does an additional graphic card mean no Instant On anymore? And if it still works, does it work 100% or are there some limitations to it? Otherwise keep up the good reviews and thanks again for the assistance.