From an aesthetics point of view the AOpen XC Cube MZ855 II really can't be beat. The ability to put the computer into a drawer and use wireless mice and keyboard is incredible. For the business owner wanting a computer to run software, this mini computer is just fine as well. In those respects, AOpen has done a wonderful job in the packaging, layout, basic functionality and compatibility.
From a gaming perspective, the XC Cube MZ855 II is only for the most casual gamer. The Extreme Graphics 2 chipset does not support Hardware Transformation and Lighting or more advanced effects like pixel shaders in hardware. The fact that the computer only accepts ½ height AGP 4x cards limits expandability. One strangeness upon installation of the drivers off the driver CD the computer found Media drives for media readers that don't exist. Personally, I prefer a full mini-PC like a Shuttle XPC or one of AOpen's bigger mini-PCs to the MZ855 II. The limited expandability and the limited capabilities of the on-board graphics make this machine less than it could have been. A modern mini-PC with an Intel 915G or Xpress 200 on-board graphics gives the options to expand.
