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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paranone - Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - link
@fchiu:(I assume you're from Anandtech, right? Sorry, I'm new here...)
I read Windows XP can't really have concurrent sessions, it was planned for SP2 to allow one local and one remote session simultaneously but hasn't been left in the final version, TomsHardware also says it's theoretically possible but in practice it doesn't work (that's what they call "fast user switching" you are both referring to, no?).
Well, since I read the Jetway 915P-TWIN mobo on TH, I'm looking everywhere on the web to find a software solution but although I don't see any hardware trouble in having 2 users sharing a computer and I read Magic Twin is just a "software add-on" or "software layer", you say it needs some special components but which are those?? I can't figure that out and as I see it, you couldn't either (or didn't want to).
But indeed you can't install the program on whichever computer, it says it's "hardware protected".
So does anybody know if it's possible by software, know of a software to do it (enjoying our dual head graphic cards and usb plugs) or if it's not possible without hardware add-on (but why!) is there any widely distributed product out there?
(I saw this : http://www.adfast.com.tw/easys.htm , probably distributed in 2 1/2 taiwanese stores and the Virtual PC Buddy named above is some really old hardware)
timbeech - Wednesday, August 4, 2004 - link
Howard Computers has a TwinPC available using the Jetway Motherboard. This unit will play UT2004 with a high-end graphics card allow two users to play each other on the same machine AWA play on the network. It has been tested with a variety of applications that require the cd to be in the drive and it works great.RobertJTownley - Sunday, April 25, 2004 - link
Multiple IP addresses can be assigned to the same Network Interface Card. No special software needed, look at the static windows ip configuration.fchiu - Sunday, April 18, 2004 - link
#3- I tried it and each station can join ut2003 and play ok.#5- software is installed once and running on one computer. it is still ith in the EULA
#7- hyperthread will help the system. 2 user will give the system to do more process at the same time. More memory also helps.
#8- Jetway also make Mainboard with this feature. if you want to stick with SSF just use USB External CD Rom.
#9- the process is time slice is true. If the first station have a command sending to the drive play a DVD movie, it will not let the second user have access to the drive.
#10- windows xp allow multiple user login at the same time (switch between user)
#15- There is only 1 network card and 1 IP. IP is just an address for the network to find the system. software will decodes all the information that is recieve from network card.
#16- how many percent of the world population uses microsoft windows?
#18- it is still one computer running one operating system. all this will tell you is the score of the system running 2 benchmark software at the same time.
fchiu - Sunday, April 18, 2004 - link
asianafro - Saturday, April 17, 2004 - link
would a kvm switch work in this situation? If it ever were to get support from the open source community, it would be a great way to manage 2 operating systems...yumarc - Saturday, April 17, 2004 - link
To Panther: 2 users can use the computer at the same time.I'd also like to see some game benchmarks tests with a high end video card.
Panther - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
alright, I'm clearly missing something here. How is this any cooler than have 2 user accounts logged into any old machine?TauCeti - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
Great! After billions of dollars spend someone invented a system with the ability for _two_ users to work simultanously with windows XP. A miracle!If you have 20 children at home i suggest to get some cheap terminals/X-Servers and use a decent UNIX-box. This is surreal.
thraxes - Friday, April 16, 2004 - link
I suppose both users share the same IP when connected to a LAN, is that correct? 2 Useres each with their own IP means two NICs, right?