The world PC data that has been posted says that 60% + of all PCs
are something other than the big household names. Here is one of those names:
November 01, 1997, Issue: 811
Section: WinLab Reviews
Seanix CS DVD 166 -- The Debut of Affordable DVD(I went to their site and they use QI Videoinlay tech and are a good candidate to use ZiVAs, nice to see pairing of DVD with a P166, no chance for softDVD here, but a better price
By John M. Cummings
Seanix's new desktop system makes using a computer fun. The CS DVD 166
is ideal for both home office and family use, and is reasonably priced
for a fully equipped digital videodisc (DVD) system.
Seanix pairs the relatively slow 166MHz P55C Pentium with an ample
amount of RAM and a fast, capacious hard drive. The system comes with a
166MHz MMX-enabled Pentium processor, 64MB of SDRAM, 512KB of internal
cache, a 6.4GB (nominal) Ultra DMA hard disk, a Matrox Millennium II
video adapter with 4MB of WRAM and a 17-inch monitor (15.8-inch viewable
area) with 0.28mm dot pitch. It also has a 56Kb-per-second fax modem
with speakerphone, Ensoniq Wavetable sound, a microphone and Altec
Lansing ACS400 speakers with a subwoofer.
But it's the digital video component that impressed us the most. With
its crisp monitor and good sound capabilities, the system serves up a
thrilling DVD experience. To whet your appetite, the CS DVD 166 ships
with a title pack that includes The Muppets Treasure Island game and
Silent Steel (an adult adventure game)
On our Wintune benchmarks, the CS DVD scored 321MIPS, with
30MB-per-second cached-disk throughput and 26Mpixel-per-second video
throughput. Average times to execute our application tests were: Word,
74 seconds; Excel, 188 seconds; multimedia script, 19.43 minutes;
AutoCAD R14 open, 11 seconds and AutoCAD R14 render, 56 seconds. Those
scores are very respectable for a 166MHz system.
Its combination of features and performance earns the CS DVD a place on
our WinList. The only other DVD-equipped system on our WinList is the
Pentium II-powered Gateway 2000 G6-266, but it carries a $4,908 price
tag-almost double the price of the Seanix.
--Quick View--
Seanix CS DVD 166
Bottom Line: Well-made, feature-rich DVD system especially geared toward
families and home offices
Price: $2,499
Platforms: 95
Pros: Superb sound system; great DVD software
Cons: Relatively slow processor
Strongest Rival: Gateway 2000 G6-266
Seanix, 800-555-4031, 712-255-3733. Winfo #595 |
