The "Windows XP Box" (2003)

(mini-itx.com)

116 points | by doubletwoyou 2 days ago

10 comments

  • projektfu 5 hours ago
    This was my favorite build from that site: https://www.mini-itx.com/projects/psu-pc/
  • 101008 4 hours ago
    Sounds like a fun project and very cool for the nostalgic people (like me).

    A bit off topic, but I also loved the fact that the website remains like an antique website from that era (I know the article is from 2003 but the design is clearly not "modern"). I am going to say something probably stupid, but I feel there is a correlation between old/vintage design = good content.

    • denissem 4 hours ago
      I agree. Specially text-based websites. The content is very rich, full of details, sometimes technical details, useful links, etc.
  • geon 55 minutes ago
    Very impressive to pull off such a compact build in 2003!

    I built a Shuttle xpc cube in 2008. I though that was tiny. I specifically used a laptop hard drive to reduce noice.

    I think it was this exact model: https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/s/o2HKpeLmrA

    It was my firts step away from windows. I ran ubuntu on it a couple of years until I switched to macos to do ios dev.

  • Terr_ 5 hours ago
    The final embellishment of making it automatically "dual boot" between XP and Red Hat Linux is a very nice touch.
  • Dwedit 1 hour ago
    Back when software came in boxes.
    • egeozcan 1 hour ago
      I'll never forget the day I bought (made my parents buy) Age of Empires 2 and its blue box.

      More like, "back when software came in physical media".

      Putting the CD in the drive, the installation starts, and that wow effect starting the game, the hard disk clicking like crazy.

  • alexjplant 5 hours ago
    benheck built a luggable computer into an MGD beer case around the early 00s as well. The build log and pictures seem to be lost to time but I recall it having a flip-open disc door that was cut out of the side of it. I didn't appreciate the humor as a kid but having had a beer or two in my day it's a lot funnier in retrospect.
  • petterroea 3 hours ago
    I miss when software came in nice boxes
    • ahonhn 53 minutes ago
      I have on my bookshelf an unopened and still shrink-wrapped copy of Spaceward Ho! (Win 95 version IV requiring at least a 486/33). I like its bold red colour and the exciting way the unseen floppy disk and manual rattle about inside when I turn the box!
  • mysterydip 6 hours ago
    I used to love the mini-itx form factor. For the time, lots of features in a compact space. I think micro atx might be a more popular form factor now?
    • toast0 6 hours ago
      MicroATX has almost certainly always been more popular than MiniITX.

      MicroATX motherboards are usually cheaper than ATX or MiniITX and you can typically use normal PSUs and optical drives instead small ones that are more expensive and have fewer options.

      You can always put a mini ITX board in a full size ATX case if you want though...

  • whalesalad 4 hours ago
    Just last night I won an auction for a dual Pentium III supermicro setup with 1GB of memory. To relive this era of computing, including simulating my high school network by deploying Netware in a lab.
  • spacecadet 6 hours ago
    Reminds me of running good old TinyXP.