External thoughts
An external examination will point out any marked differences between the SB65G2 and other cubes that have gone before it.
The box gives some of the game away. Intel's i865PE chipset is harnessed by Shuttle FB65 motherboard. A black anodised finish gives the cube a slick look and built-in wireless connectivity is something that we've been requesting for some time.
If you're of the thinking that it's very similar to the SB62G2 (Springdale with integrated graphics) you'd be right. The front is exactly the same, save for the 4-pin FireWire port and Line-In socket on the left. The anodised finish looks pretty good from most angles and does a reasonable job of hiding smudges and marks. The aluminium is pretty robust and well-made. The SB65G2 gives off the feel that Shuttle's quality control department is gainfully employed. The two buttons, used for power and reset functions, make satisfying clicks when pressed. It's little touches like these that'll sell the Shuttle XPC line. Power and hard drive lights are equally pleasant.
The four screws that hold the front on have Allen key inserts. Removing the facade is as easy as it sounds, and Shuttle has a long list of accessories, flashing panels and the like. We kind of like the understated black finish.
Nothing amazing here on first glance. 4 x USB 2.0 ports, a single 6-pin FireWire port, PS/2 plugs and the ability to feed 6-channel sound through three audio ports is pretty common on most recent XPCs. Moving S/PDIF functions over to the top-right is also a Shuttle trait. It features both S/PDIF In and Out (optical connections). The 40mm fan's exit is clearly seen on the left, too. A number of XPCs have had a circular cutout on the top-left of the rear panel which is normally left empty. We now see why.
This is the first XPC we've seen that features Wireless connectivity as standard. The SB65G2's size and portability absolutely screams out for some kind of wire-free support. Shuttle obliges. The antenna is similar to a number of standalone wireless receivers / transmitters that are widely available from any decent e-tailer. The limited space on offer allows Shuttle to run 802.11b (11Mbps) Wireless support through a USB interface. More on this later.
Bundle-wise, it's all pretty standard fare. All the screws, ties and paraphernalia needed to attach devices is provided in a small plastic bag. Three manuals, all in decent English, highlight the installation, motherboard specifics and Wireless support in easy-to-understand fashion. Custom cables, including a small ATA133 and floppy cable, twisted ATA33 cable and thin SATA lead provide for immediate storage / optical drive support. A couple of CDs then provide all the necessary drivers. More than adequate, we'd say.
