MPC (Micron PC) Millenia TS Pro

WHAT ELSE: The Millennia TS Professional's graphics subsystem nicely complements the PC's video editing capabilities. The graphics card uses NVidia's midrange GeForce3 Ti 200 chip set, and it includes an S-Video output port. Matched with a 19-inch Micron 910ex monitor, the system delivered bright, rich colors; realistic flesh tones; and sharp, easy-to-read text. The midsize tower cases in MicronPC's Millennia line are nicely designed for average users who might want to upgrade. You can remove the side panel after loosening a single thumbscrew and pinching together two tabs; the panel goes back into place with little effort: You line it up by the hinges and then swing it shut.

Our test system had three open PCI slots and four open drive bays (two internal ones and two bays for removable media drives) but no free memory sockets. You can add cards to the PCI slots without tools, by popping open a slot cover (snapping it back on takes a bit of pressure). The removable media drive bays also afford tool-free access. You can pull off the front bezel of the tower, and drives slide in and out on green runners that you can snap into the open bays.

The Microsoft Internet Keyboard supports smooth and accurate typing and has ten hot-keys for shortcut access to often-used Internet applications.

For documentation, you get a setup poster and a thick user guide that covers the Millennia and ClientPro lines, with a detailed glossary, a lengthy upgrading chapter, and a helpful troubleshooting appendix.

The system's 24X/10X/40X CD-RW drive is certainly adequate for burning audio CDs and backing up data to rewritable CD media.

UPSHOT: Intel's Northwood process may not help this system much, but the Millennia TS Professional's other features should serve power users well. And the video editing software is a nice extra.