Micro Express MicroFlex 30A

WHAT'S NOT: In an oversight that the company says should not have happened, some manuals did not match what we received on our test system. For instance, we found a hefty manual for Windows XP Home Edition, but our MicroFlex was equipped with Windows XP Professional. Similarly, the CD-RW drive manual didn't match our test component. Furthermore, the user manual that ships with all Micro Express PCs is somewhat outdated. Screen shot illustrations are for Windows 98, and the upgrades section shows how to install ISA cards, although Micro Express systems (and those from other companies) have not provided ISA slots for some time. At its $2190 price, the MicroFlex 30A does not include a business productivity suite; most systems in this price range include one. According to Micro Express, you can add Microsoft Office XP Small Business Edition for $179.

WHAT ELSE: For backing up or archiving data or video, this PC has a Pioneer DVR-104 DVD-RW drive, which writes DVD-Rs at 2X, DVD-RWs at 1X, and reads DVD-ROMs at 6X. That's somewhat slow by today's standards--in contrast to the highperformance 52X/24X/52X CD-RW drive that Micro Express also included on our test system. The bundled Pinnacle Studio 8 software (a recent PC World Best Buy) lets you edit video and burn it to DVDs or video CDs.

The Creative Inspire 5100 5.1 speaker set includes five small satellites and a smallish subwoofer. When paired with the PC's Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy sound card, bass notes from the subwoofer packed plenty of punch but trebles sounded a bit thin at high volumes. They're suitable for a range of activities, but serious audiophiles may want to step up to a higher-quality set.

To access the system's neat and roomy interior, you must take off a top panel before removing the side panel--a minor extra step. A mounting slot for one of the three open PCI slots is blocked by a game port adapter, leaving only two for add-in cards. Should you need the third slot, you'll have to ditch the game port.

This MicroFlex retains the company's standard beige box, whose only frill is a set of front USB ports (but no front audio ports) mounted midway up the case. Color coordination is not a priority with this system: The generic-looking keyboard is a slightly different shade of beige than the case, and the monitor is ivory.

UPSHOT: With its All-In-Wonder card and rewritable DVD drive, this fast system is better suited for the power home user than for the office worker.