After the system benchmarking, we tooled around with the XP4 and put it through some extra paces. We found it to be a pretty nifty piece of machinery and quickly understood why these Mini-PC units are becoming so popular. It's small enough to fit virtually anywhere, from crowded desktops to directly underneath a small desk. The XP4 is like a mini-subwoofer, is extremely easy to transport (if need be), and coupled with an LCD screen, can be a poor man's laptop for home use. If you need to work in another room, this puppy is easily transported, and certainly doesn't take up much room. The only caveat we found is to choose your hard disk carefully, as the noise from a loud model is exacerbated with a Mini-PC.
For business and home entertainment use, the XP4 functions very well, and since it's basically a mini-Pentium 4/i845 system, performance and compatibility are high. As we stated earlier, the 3D gaming side isn't on par with higher-end configurations, and there are definitely games (like UT 2003) that are out of its league, but 2D games run nice, and DVD playback is more than adequate. This is a great system configuration for a many potential uses, outside of hardcore 3D gaming.
Current street prices place the IWILL XP4 in the $165-$175 range, and this is an extremely low price for a Mini-PC. Most units are well over $200, while some of the more robust configurations are pushing $300. Granted, the integrated i845GV is one of the main reasons for the low price, and you'll have to live without an AGP slot, but the XP4 is still one very attractive deal. Many home and business users have no need for a powerhouse 3D video card, and with the IWILL XP4, you don't need to pay for one. For those who need a bit more juice for 3D games, IWILL also offers the XP4-G, powered by an i845GE chipset and sporting a dedicated AGP slot.
Our impressions of the IWILL XP4 are decidedly positive, especially for those who want a smart-looking Mini-PC that won't break the bank. It has a sound design, an open internal layout for easy installation, and is incredibly simple to get up and running. The lack of an AGP slot is disappointing, but upgradeable graphics are simply not what the XP4 is about. Due to this, we cant recommend this barebones system for 3D gamers, but everyone else should take a close look at the IWILL XP4, as it may have all you need to set up an inexpensive home, business or secondary network computer.
