Test: Origen AE X11 HTPC.

Konklusion:

Origen AE, har med deres X11 virkelig lavet noget stabilt og flot isenkram her.
En ting, der går igen og igen, er deres gennemgang af meget tykke Aluminiums plader, som bliver forstærket af de indbygget Magic Fleece måtter som siger, at de har taget stor hånd om de personer der er allergisk for støj.
Ikke kun når man betragter X11 ude fra, kan man fornemme den store kvalitet det oser af, men også når man åbner for "hjelmen", kan det ses og høres, og det er mildest talt fantastisk.

Der er dog nogle ting, som Origen AE burde tage op til overvejelse. Det er hvordan de kan retfærdiggøre at et så dyrt et kabinet - vi snakker 2800,- ikke har et LCD Front Display, Fjernbetjening og heller ikke USB Multi Card Reader Bay. Til den pris ville jeg mene, at alt udstyr er inkluderet i prisen.
En anden ting som de burde gå i tænke boksen med, er deres DVD-Drev monterings system, som i mine øjne slet ikke fungere optimalt. Godt nok skal man meget sjælden skiftet DVD-Drev i en HTPC´er, men det skal gøres før eller siden, da et kabinet som X11 med dens store prisskilt ikke er et man skifter ud de næste mange år.
Den bitte "tap" der stikker op af kabinettet, som vil have direkte kontakt til bundkortet, burde de også tage til overvejelse, da den helt sikkert ville dræbe bundkortet.

En ting der også trækker pænt meget ned, er det store mellemrum der er mellem kabinettet og indstiks kortene - det er simpelthen modbydeligt, at de har tilladt så stor en fejl. Jeg vil dog ikke udelukke, at det kan være en produktions fejl på den model, der er landet hos mig.

Men hvorvidt kabinettet gør sig selv værdig til 2800,- (plus, det det nu koster at købe Card Reader, fjernbetjening og LCD Front Display) er en smags sag, da det er rigtig mange penge, for et kabinet.

---

Rating begrundelsen:

Innovation/Teknologi

Alt det Aluminium er simpelthen en ren fryd at se på. Der er meget plads i X11 - også mere end hvad der var brug for under denne test. DVD-Drev monterings idéen er god nok, hvis den havde virket som det virkede for Harddisk rammen, at det virker langt fra for DVD-Drevet trækker ned i points for Innovation/Teknologi - 3 Point.


Bundle/Tilbehør

Her er det kun en stor skuffelse. Bundle og Tilbehør er der så lidt af - hvis man overhovedet kan kalde det for noget. Det manglede LCD Front Display, USB Multi Card Reader Bay og Fjernbetjening + diverse software, er så meget mangelfuldt, at der kun tildeles 1 point for den DVD Aluminiums front og knap der følger med - meget skuffende, for så dyrt et kabinet - 1 Point.


Design/Layout

Ros skal de have i Design og Layout - det er så fascinerende flot og simpelt. De rå skuret Aluminiums flader, kan få en hver til at måbe. Dette gælder ikke kun udvendigt men så sandelig også indvendigt, hvor der er pænt og nydeligt. De mange lag af Magic Fleece vil gøre alle imponeret. Faktisk er det synd, at man ikke kan vise det indvendige frem for dem som er imponeret af det ydre - 5 Point.


Software

N/A.
Faktisk ville jeg gerne have givet 1 i denne kategori. Men da kabinettet ikke behøver software, så længe der ikke er noget der har brug for det - og det er der ikke noget der har. Nok mest pga. min skuffelse mht. det manglede Front Display og fjernbetjening. - N/A Point.


Ydelse

Alt den Magic Fleece, har ydet meget for dette kabinet. Det er meget vigtig, at kabinettet larmer så lidt som overhovedet muligt, og uden alle disse lag af Magic Fleece havde det med garanti ikke været muligt at nyde stilheden - 5 Point.


Prisen

Det er så her, at vi finder den allerstørste betydning for næsten alle mennesker. Er X11 prisen værdig, og når man ser produktet som helhed, er der mange mangler - ting der ikke er helt gennemtænkt - så nej, jeg synes ikke, at 2800,- er noget man kan tillade sig at tage for X11. Det er ganske vist rigtig flot og stilrent, men langt fra nok, til at være 2800,- værd. - 2 Point.

---

UK Conclusion

Origen AE has with their X11 really made a stable and fine piece of hardware.
One of the things that go again and again is their general use of thick aluminum plates which is reinforced by the build in Magic Fleece plates that tells us that they have taken care of these persons who is allergic to noise.
Not only when you look at the outside of the X11 will you notice the great quality the product offers but also when you pop off the hood it can be seen and heard it is simply said fantastic.

There are a couple of things that Origen AE should reconsider. It is how they can justify a so expensive cabinet - we are talking about 2800 DKR and then the LCD display, remote control and USB multi card reader bay are not yet included in the price. Considering the price it should be included.
Another thing is that Origen AE should put one's thinking cap on with their DVD-drive mounting system which in my eyes not functions optimal. A fact is that you rarely change the DVD-drive in a HTPC but it must be done sooner or later because a cabinet like X11 with its large price ticket isn't a cabinet you replace in many years.
The little metal dowel inside the cabinet which will lead to fatal contact to the motherboard should be considered too because it most certainly would kill the board.

Another thing that deducts points is the big spaces between the cabinet and PCI-cards metal frame - it is simply disgustingly that they have allowed such a mistake, I will not exclude that it could be an error made under the assembling only on the model that has been sent to me.

Whether the cabinet is 2800 DKR worth (plus the cost of card reader, remote control and LCD display) is a matter of taste, it is a lot of money for a cabinet.

---

Rating explanations:

Innovation / technology

All the aluminium is simply just delighting to look at. There is a lot of volume in the X11 - even more than I needed during this test. The mounting system idea for the DVD-drive is good enough if it had worked like the hard drive system does. Because the functionality is far away from the expected it deducts points.
A score of 3 is given.

Bundle / accessories:

This is just a big disappointment. The bundle and the amount of accessories are very small - if you even can call it a bundle. The missing LCD display, USB multi card reader bay and the remote control + software is so missed that I award it with a score of 1 to the DVD aluminium front and button that comes with the cabinet - very disappointing to such expensive a cabinet.

Design / layout

Origen AE shall be praised for their design and layout - it is fascinatingly beautiful and simple. The raw brushed aluminium surfaces can make anyone gawp. This is not only at the outside but in the inside indeed - it's nice and lovely. The many layers of Magic Fleece will impress anyone. It is a pity that you cannot show the inside to those who is impressed by the exterior.
A score of 5 is given.

Software

I would have liked to give a score of 1 in this category. But the cabinet doesn't need software as long as nothing needs it - and there aren't. It must be my disappointment of the missing LCD front display and the remote control.
I give to score N/A.

Performance

The Magic Fleece has done a lot to this cabinet. It is very important that the cabinet has as little noise as possible and without all these layers of Magic Fleece it would by guaranty not be possible to enjoy silence.
5 points are given.

Price

It is here we find the category with the biggest influence to most people. Is the X11 the price worthy and when you look at the product in its full there is a lot of lacking - things for reconsidering? "No" I don't think it is 2800 DKR worth and should be the price you should pay for it. It is nice and lovely for sure, but far from enough to be 2800 DKR worth.
A score of 2 is given.