Just Confirm Dell Zino 410 HD Quad Core AMD and ATi 5450 HD Radeon and Bluray drive

now waiting... hehehe... will update this mighty little player once it arrive

for car pc I have tried to customize for a friend of mine....

we used a Asus eepc generation 1 (bought 2nd hand) RM300.00

so we remove the LCD, upgrade the HDD to a Solid state Drive (SSD) and the notebook is fitted on a bracket behind the boot... and link to monitor via VGA... keyboard uses Rapoo 10M wireless keyboard with trackpad...

it works but only 1 thing... you need to boot up and shut down properly and that suck....
at last not a good thing too....

---

Added on November 1, 2010, 11:45 amoh for my HTPC I get this keyboard damn awesome!!!

Rapoo Wireless Keyboard + Pad (Li-ion rechargeable)




This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Nov 1 2010, 11:45 AM

The Rapoo keyboard cost RM180

---

Added on November 6, 2010, 6:06 pmYahoo dell just drop me an email,

Zino will arrive on Monday 8/Nov/2010

will do a short review

This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Nov 6 2010, 06:06 PM

My Dell Zino estimated to arrive today

Just received a sms from dell they told me it will deliver to me tomorrow...

Well to your question buyid HTPC or Dell Zino...

1. Dell Zino (my spec) is from the highest specification offered by Dell
(Yes it is X4 phenom, MXM Discreet graphics and Bluray drive)
I exclude out the monitor and I purchase via phone...

like what stan001 said it your choice of htpc platform you can go with Atom + Ion or (Ion2) but what you get is cooler pc and lower performance pc too...

AMD + ATi provide better performance as the processor come from notebook insted like atom come from netbooks... the down side the fan may spin faster and you get a little noise (barely noticable) and it is AMD some prefer intel... but for me I am ok with this 2...

I choose Zino due to few reason...

1. building your own htpc may not look as good as Zino well not as small... for the performance vs space vs cost...

2. I get 3 years from dell (extended) and since I'm going to run this HTPC for 24 hours 7 days... (downloading HD media) 3 years warranty is a assurance you get from dell...

3. Low power since in idle it only take up 25watt... (atom and ion is 5% lower)

4. I have no time to build my own HTPC furthermore I have not done any research on it...

5. Dell Zino 410 offered HD sound (7.1 channel via hdmi) and 5.1 via optical out...

6. it is cute and come with remote...

---

Added on November 8, 2010, 10:17 amoh I pay installment (0% IPP) at RM175.00 per month....

---

Added on November 8, 2010, 10:18 amThis is my spec

1 T211008MY-Dell™ Inspiron™ 410 Desktop 1
2 Inspiron Zino HD with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450 Discrete Graphics (Direct) 1
3 AMD Phenom™ II X4 P940 Quad-Core Mobile Processor 1
4 Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN 1
5 Discount is only valid if the corresponding upgraded item is selected above. 1
6 Limited time promotional offer only. No further discounts apply. 1
7 Defaulted with Black color lid 1
8 Shipping material 1
9 Regulatory Label - APCC (MXM video card) 1
10 Resource DVD 1
11 Shipping Documentations (English) 1
12 4GB (1X4GB) DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz Memory 1
13 Integrated 4-in-1 media card reader 1
14 750GB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive with Native Command Queuing 1
15 Chassis with MXM video card 1
16 12.7 " SATA tray load Blu-ray (BD) Combo Drive (BD Read Only) 1
17 Roxio Burn 1.0 1
18 Cyberlink PowerDVD Software for Blu-ray 1
19 Cyberlink PowerDVD Software media kit 1
20 For ROW. 3 pin 90W Adapter 1
21 1 Meter Power Cord (MY/SG/ HK ) - MXM 1
22 No Monitor 1
23 ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450 MXM Discrete Graphics Card 1
24 System includes Discrete Graphics Card 1
25 Integrated 2.1 HD analog & 7.1 HD digital with THX audio 1
26 IR remote control 1
27 Dell™ AX210 CR(2.0) Speakers 1
28 Dell Wireless 1501 (802.11n) WLAN Half-Height mini-Card (MY) 1
29 Dell MS111 USB Optical Mouse 1
30 Keyboard Filler 1
31 Dell™ USB Keyboard (English) 1
32 Windows 7 OS label 1
33 Windows® 7 Home Premium COA Label (MY/D/TH) 1
34 Windows 7 Microsoft Patch 1
35 Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64bit Edition (English) 1
36 Media DVD kit for Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64bit (MY/D/TH) 1
37 Microsoft Office 2010 1
38 Microsoft office Starter 2010 License 1
39 WinRE software 1
40 Dell Dock 1
41 Dell Welcome 1
42 Dell Support center 2.0 64 bit 1
43 Dell Connect 2.1 1
44 DataSafe Local 2.2 Basic 1
45 Skype Software 1
46 THX® TruStudio PC™ 1
47 Adobe Reader 1
48 AMD Fusion Media Explorer 1
49 Readme Guide 1
50 McAfee® SecurityCenter™ 11 (Multi Language) - 15 months 1
51 McAfee® SecurityCenter™ 11 Media Kit 1
52 To activate your online backup account, go to Start, Programs, Datasafe Online 1
53 # NFO, RYLTY, DTSV, OL 1
54 3 Yrs Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis 1
55 # Yr 1 Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis 1
56 # Year 1 Standard POW 1
57 # Include Yr 2 to 3 Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis 1
58 # Includes Year 2 To 3 Parts Exchange Service 1
59 For Info Only:3 Yrs Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis 1
60 3 Years Plus Phone Support: Mon-Fri 0900-2100, Sat 0900-1600 1
61 Please Call 1800-88-1308 For DELL Technical Phone Support 1
62 For Info Only:Great Technical Tips & Information available 24x7 at http://support.ap.dell.com 1
63 1Year Dell Online Backup 2GB 1
64 Dell Online Backup 2GB 1
65 MOD,SW,DSO,2GB-FREE,2.0 1
66 Info Mod for No Raid 1
67 Technical Support 1
68 For Info Only: Dell's Terms and Conditions apply 1
69 Great Technical Tips & Information available 24x7 at http://support.ap.dell.com 1
70 Dell's Terms and Conditions apply 1
71 Mod Specs Info (Malaysia) 1

This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Nov 8 2010, 10:18 AM

RM2382.00

I took the highest spec + 3 years warranty + IR Remote but took our monitor

My Dell Zino is HERE!!!

I'm still @ office rite now and will not be able to review until tonight...




This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Nov 9 2010, 02:09 PM

and my Zino come with remote AWESOME!!!!

no it come with 750GB + Bluray!!!

---

Added on November 9, 2010, 3:54 pmYes Dell Zino has build in Receiver the remote is optional RM35!!!

This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Nov 9 2010, 03:54 PM

Cheapest package dont have just add the remote RM35 super chip wei outside this remote easily cost RM100++ quality is AWESOME!! very solid!!!

if you bought just call dell to add it in!!!

When you take the IR Remote from dell... Dell will put in a IR recever build in Look at my Zino pc just right beside the windows 7 sticker you can see the recever mark...

Un-Official Review Part 1...

I will post the official review on a new thread... (Zino thread) I will open this thread once I compile the youtube video (Recorded in HD)

OK Let's start...

1. This unit is very quiet how quiet it is well if you compare to Xtreamer I can say Xtreamer Pro fan is much more noisier than Zino HD

2. Everything is setup by Dell including 15 month McAfee antivirus but I decided to remove McAfee and install Ms Security Essentials insted as it is lighter on the PC

3. Booting up is a little pain due to my 32" SONY LCD do not detect the resolution... (not only this Zino even my Dell Vostro has a hard time with this LCD TV) so when I plug into my sis 32" Samsung everything is perfect!!! (BAD TV!!!)

4. After the final and hustle setting the TV I finally manage to get it displayed...

5. Sound Although I'm using a cheap 5.1 with analog input somehow the player can decode 2.1 sound into Dolby and DTS on the system excellent!!!

Performance!!!

My Vostro a core i3, Nvidia m310 Graphics score 4.9 and Dell Zino score a solid 5.0 this means you can Play left for dead 2 on a 720p resolution with Trilinier and 2X MASA rendering + Triple Buffer V-sync and rest of the options set to HIGH and still can get 35 - 45++ Fps (My Vostro on Nvidia only get 28-35 fps) you can guess the performance...

I will try to post up some video and pics once I edit it...

7. Media center remote... works great !!! and the IR is very wide

8. Now I'm installing Call of Duty : Modern Warefare 2 for testin...

but I can tell you one thing this little thing is FAST and it is FASTER than i expected forget Intel Atom with ION this thing ROCKS!!!!!

As I know Dell Zino 410 has 7.1 connection via HDMI and Optical Out... I cannot try it as my system only uses coaxial at the moment (saving money to upgrade my surround)

so yes it can support DTS MA and Dolby True HD and the sound board is THX certified (it obtain with some creative chipset)

so YES pretty much can go with 7.1/5.1/2.1 options all the way...

I will post my review of my dell zino tomorrow... (you tube upload too slow @ home I try to upload at the office tomorrow)

---

Added on November 15, 2010, 12:16 amYes it can handle but 1 thing, if you wanted to watch US movies/channel you need US IP address... and yeah it is posibble if you can get US ip address...
so... any advise on how to GET United States IP...

This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Nov 15 2010, 12:16 AM

yeah I'm lookin for free kekekeke (I'm cheap!!!)
hahaha


Here is my review of my Dell Zino

---

Added on November 15, 2010, 12:35 pmthe video has some wind noise.... must be my fan kekeke

This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Nov 15 2010, 12:35 PM

mine is 720p resolution... I'm looking at 1080p next most likely would be samsung LED...

http://www.chicchedicala.it/2010/03/09/com...7-media-center/

this works better you need google transalte to read though...

sorry bro I have no Astro cancelled it due to HTPC...

Oh yes the remote works with Boxee and XBMC

---

Added on November 17, 2010, 7:26 pmOh Yes I have been watching PPstream on Big Screen ever since!!! loving it!!!

---

Added on November 17, 2010, 7:29 pmThere is 2 Dell zino the older one is called Inspiron 400 Zino HD and it does not support DTS-MA and TrueHD

Inspiron 410 Zino HD the current version has 2 hardware options, I took the highest spec model come with ATI Radeon 5450 Graphics where DTS-MA and TrueHD can bitstream from optical out where it support 5.1 and HDMI pass thru where it support 7.1

it is also THX certified

Yes Inspiron 410 Zino HD has optical output for my version and bluray drive!!!

---

Added on November 17, 2010, 7:37 pmWell here is the answer

1. Usually i3 can handle with 2 core + 2 thread but for good HD video performance it is preferred to use a GPU which support h264 codec hardware acceleration you can look at Nvidia Ion or Ion 2 chipset alternatively you can look at Nvidio 210m or 310m but the gaming performance is so.. so..

2. Picture Quality should have no issue if you take Ion chipset Audio another hand it depends on your needs if you look for DTS-MA or Dolby TrueHD then... sadly NO as Ion only can take 5.1 perhaps Ion2 (I have not confirm this)

3. YES!!!

This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Nov 17 2010, 07:37 PM

erm... fyi I'm using a Dell vostro 3400 which is a core i3 and it is pared with a nvidia 310 mobility and a intel build in graphics (Yes it is a hybrid platform)

for what I can tell yes i3 can handle Hi def video decoding performance look it is a 2 core + 2 thread but you will be running at 50%+ processing compared to a hardware accelerated GPU which reduce cpu processing to only 10% + -

also if you look at my Zino review you will notice a i3 runs slower compared to a AMD chipset but that is gaming... video do not take up that much power...

thats why I stated quite clearly Video : no issue at all
Audio another story... if you want DTS MA or True HD you need to look at a graphic card that support 7.1 passtrough

Look it is pure simple, you cant rely on processor alone to do all the work on a computer... if you want to build a good HTPC or a gaming computer you need to take account on the sound and graphics

YES i3 can decode virtually everything but at what expense Higher CPU power and laggy pc performance... for a good HTPC you need to get a graphic card that support hardware HD acceleration which greatly reduce the weight of the cpu and with lither cpu your cpu can decode HD audio and the rest which make your HTPC experience GREAT!!!

Sound yes even a Atom can decode HD audio but it is useless if your sound card or HDMI cant output HD audio... you need optical out and HDMI pass through inorder to get DTS MA and Dolby True HD and your sound+graphics would need to work together with the processor...

just a processor alone will not give you a good experience imagine you have a ferrari driving in KL city peak hour... hahaha wasting petrol!!!

My advise get a Discreet graphics

Or

Get a build in unit with ion chipsets which support hardware acceleration