FIRST LOOK: Jetway Magic Twin MiniQ Computer
by Wesley Fink on April 16, 2004 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
Our Take
A 2-user SFF system is not something that everyone is looking for. Some users want their SFF to be the tiny computer that can out-overclock everything in existence; others want an SFF with no fans and total silence. The Jetway 860Twin will not likely appeal to either of these users. However, for someone looking for a small, quiet, and reasonable computer that can really work for 2 users, and appear to each user like they are the only person using the system, then the Jetway is a great and truly unique solution.As a standalone SFF, the Jetway is very competitive with the best 865G SFF that we have tested. It performs well, and is quiet enough to keep up with the leaders in silence in this category. It also was very easy to set up and has an extremely useful front-panel LCD that tells you the time, CPU temperature, and fan speed. There are a number of competent Intel 865G Small Form Factor computers, and the Jetway 865G is another one that we can recommend based on our look at the features and performance.
However, what truly stands out on the Jetway is its unique abilities as a small computer that can serve 2 users. The Jetway is the first and only SFF computer that can truly work with 2 users, using just the standard software that you own and the Magic Twin hardware and software that comes with the system. This could be the perfect system for a family who doesn't want to spend a lot of money, but would really like to be able to give their school-age child access to a computer for their schoolwork while mom or dad could still answer emails and shop on the internet. It would also be a great computer for a family with 2 kids who both need to do homework or research for a paper at the same time. Both students could use the same economical computer system and never feel that they had to "share". A couple could also use the Jetway 860Twin at the same time without having to fight over computer times or set up sharing schedules. The system is cheap enough that even first-time computer buyers can buy a system that will support two users, right out of the box. The only extras that they would need would be a Dual head video card, an extra monitor, and 2 keyboards/mice. Many households have a CRT monitor and want to buy an LCD. With the Jetway, they could move that old CRT to a 2nd user and put the new flat panel with User 1.
Last, but certainly not least, are the potential business users who have a need for an economical 2-user system. What a great computer for a small start-up with a lot of ideas, but not much cash. The small company could actually use the Jetway 860Twin to equip the company with computers for a very small amount of money. This isn't true networking; rather, it is just clever and transparent time-slicing, but the multiplexing is all but invisible to each of the two users.
The Jetway 860Twin is a truly unique Small Computer that will definitely meet your needs if they include 2-users for one computer or a very low cost per user. There is nothing else on the market that provides the same features at such a low cost per user. If these features would solve some problems for you, then you should definitely take a close look at the Jetway 860Twin. This small computer did exactly what Jetway promised and it is a great solution for anyone looking for low cost computing.
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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.