FIRST LOOK: Jetway Magic Twin MiniQ Computer
by Wesley Fink on April 16, 2004 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
2-User Operation
Since we have tested a number of Intel 865G SFF systems, we took a look at the Jetway in what is unique to the system, namely the 2-user operation. Frankly, we were skeptical that an 865G board with a hardware modification and a simple software layer could really provide 2-user operation with each user acting like a separate computer. We set up the 860Twin with an Intel 2.4, an 80GB hard drive, 512MB Memory, the 5600XT, Windows XP Pro and Magic Twin software. This would be considered a very low-cost entry-level Pentium 4 system, and is the kind of set-up a lot of buyers might use with the 860Twin.We then used the splitters to feed 2 keyboards and 2 mice, used the on-board mini-jack for User 1 audio, and a USB converter (to mini-jacks) for User 2 audio. Two flat-panel connectors were connected to the 5600XT and off we went. The splitters were picky about the arrangements of connections for User 1 and User 2, but it was pretty easy to sort out. Otherwise, the setup was easy.
We set up 2 users who were checking email, writing in Word and adding data to spreadsheets. We had no problem getting our single-user installation of Microsoft Office to work just as if these were separate PC's. We also saw no perceptible difference in performance when we ran the 860Twin as a single user or with 2 users working. We can only assume that the time-slicing mechanism used to enable Magic Twin works very well.
As a SFF alone, we did a quick check of the Jetway versus a Shuttle system that is very low noise. With everything else off in the room, we could barely hear the Jetway. Compared to the latest Shuttle, the Jetway seemed just about as quiet. Certainly, most would consider the Jetway a very quiet system, not like some of the loud SFF systems that we have tested in the past.
Unfortunately, things in our industry don't always perform as promised, but the Jetway 860Twin did just what it promised - serving 2 users from a SFF system without a lot of hassle.
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tyski - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
#8I was curious about that too. The easiest solution I would imagine is to have an extra external CD drive, since most SFF don't have room for two internal drives. Wesley, your answer was a little off the mark.
TheDigitalDiamond - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
Oh hell no... someone did not just make a dream come true.. Omg *Starts slapping people* Am I awake? Am I awake? *Pisses himself* Mama bear, lookie, lookie! Lookie god damn it! XDI am overexcited obviously :P I'm gonna look hard at JetWay's other products and see what I can do about a massive one case rig. No doubt anything I was gonna build in the first place could power two users... But now two users can actually use it :D I don't spy SATA support though, diskcontroller time :) If anyone has any specific info on this kind of technology, PLEASE, find a way to contact me! Thanks! :D
araczynski - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
nice little unit, and a (finally) nicely realized concept. definately a great solution for the typical office user and 'lower/mid' level home user. also curious as to how it behaves/performs when one end is used for gaming and the other for say surfing...i would assume cutting half of the cpu's power from a game would be a significant performance hit, unless perhaps you can allocate a smaller percentage of the cpu's time to the 'lower' level surfing?... lot of nice possibilities.Booty - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
I agree - it'd be nice if they tested this system with additional applications and games. Are there any networking glitches? I know a small accounting firm with about 10 employees that would be happy to swap out their 10 old machines with 5 small, quiet new ones...bloinkXP - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
I wonder if we can get more information on the technology that allows two simulantenous users? Where is it setup? Is it similar to MS terminal server/Citrix technology? All that good stuff.Wesley Fink - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
#8 -The single CD is not really any different than an instance of Office. The end-user appears to have exclusive use, but they actually switch with another user in time-slicing. Each user only has exlusive use for a time-slice. There is never a real case where 2 users access the same program or CD, it just appears that way.
webrussell - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
How does the SFF case deal with two people playing different games, each of which requires the CD in the drive?My thought is concerning my wife's Kindergarten classroom. This would be a great way to conserve space with once CPU but two workstations. However, many of the educational games require the CD in the drive.
What's the current work-around for this?
RobertJTownley - Thursday, December 15, 2005 - link
There are a few companies making free virtual cd drives. This software is essentially a special driver that fools the computer into thinking it has more DVD drives than actually exist. You tell the driver to mount an ISO image file and this becomes the virtual drive.http://www.daemon-tools.cc/">http://www.daemon-tools.cc/
Pumpkinierre - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
Great idea. You mentioned multiplexing but does Hyperthreading fit into this anywhere?danishgold - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
There also was a thing called "The Virtual PC BUDDY B-210" it made sharing a PC, between up to 5 people, possible, but without sound.