Review: Fujitsu-Siemens Scaleo E PC

Most of these Media Center PCs are produced by traditional computer companies, such as Dell , Evesham and Elonex .

Fujitsu-Siemens also has a background in the wider consumer electronics field and that experience shows in the design of its Scaleo E.

The PC looks just like an ordinary VCR or DVD player. An illuminated status display on the front panel tells you what is being recorded or played and there’s a simple row of buttons for controlling playback and recording.

Beneath this there’s a small flap that pulls down to reveal audio, composite video and S-video connectors, as well as headphone and microphone connectors. The only real indication that this is a PC is the set of Firewire and USB ports on this panel.

Around the back are twin TV tuners, two Scart connectors for hooking up the unit to your TV or other video devices, and multiple audio connectors for 7.1 surround sound and digital audio output.

You also get DVI and VGA connectors for a computer monitor, and a set of additional Firewire, USB and Ethernet connectors.

The Scaleo really does have the A/V side of things very well covered. The only weakness is its games performance.

The Pentium 4 processor with hyperthreading is powerful enough, but the integrated graphics chip was by far the weakest performer in our 3D graphics tests.

However, at just £799, the Scaleo is cheaper than all its rivals here and is comparable in price to a top-of-the-range DVD recorder. (A version with a better graphics card is due to be launched soon, but wasn’t available in time for this review).

It may not be much of a games computer, but the Scaleo’s VCR-style design will look at home in your living room, while its price makes it a realistic alternative to an ordinary DVD recorder.

This is part of a group test on remote access software. Other articles are:
Media Center PCs introduction and Editor's Choice
Ambros Shuttle SD36G5M
Cube 247 Omega ST2
Dell Dimension 5150C
Elonex Artisan VX
Evesham Ebox V
Fujitsu-Siemens Scaleo E
Hi-Grade DMS II 3200
Mesh Cubex Media TV PCW
Panrix Mantis
Sony Vaio VGX-XL 100
Entertainment systems and Viiv