2013-01-18, 20:35
(2013-01-18, 10:04)pmcd Wrote: The newegg return policy for that product is
Return for refund within: non-refundable
Return for replacement within: 30 days
In addition it does not have wifi. Few people will need the two hdmi outputs. I still think it is a neat product which is hardly a bargain. You could get a passively cooled Shuttle for far less which would run XBMC just fine. The appeal is the i3 over the typical Atom or AMD solutions found in other small form systems.
The omission of the power chord is just an example of how not well thought out this product is. Not everyone has those chords lying around.
So no wifi, external power, i3, no receiver, non standard ssd, fan ( which the reviews say is quiet at least), etc... and no return if you don't like it. I think this would be a terrible product for most people. I do admit that it has its appeal, but it is so specific that a person had better be sure they only want to use it for XBMC and hope that netflix (and hulu?) running under wine will be ok.
At least with the Mini you get a complete package which can be used for other purposes.
I almost bought a NUC a month ago. The only thing stopping me was the SSD issue ( they are expensive). The thing oddly enough which made me feel ok not buying it was the lack of that 3 (?) pronged power chord. It boggles the mind that they would even sell it like that.
It may sound as though I really dislike this product. In fact I don't and I still find it a step in the right direction. I just wish they had gone a little bit further. They could have included wifi ( they claim support for very few wifi solutions even if it does work with a broader range of cards) and the chord. Still am uneasy with that small form SSD. In time they will become reasonably priced but then there will be a different NUC or whatever. That is why I think it is really a product ahead of its time.
philip
Beyond all what you said, there is the resale aspect. What will a used NUC be worth if you want to sell it. Given that I will stick with the Mac-Mini as its resale value is going to be pertty good.