Conclusion:
The
Cooler Master CM Media 280 Convertible HTPC Case case does not disappoint at all, and is everything I have come to expect from Cooler Master. Everything has been well thought out; from the initial design and VFD placement, all the way down to the rotating bezel.
This case looks right at home in my home theater rack, and there is not much more I can ask for in a home theater PC case. While my use of it is for a home theater system, that should not stop you from using the CM Media 280 as a normal system case! If you want to place this on the floor, the mid-tower configuration works as well as the HTPC configuration, and the display could be used to provide business related information during those "work" sessions.
There are a few minor issues with the software and the case. The software could simply do with some refinements, and perhaps Cooler Master will provide updates to keep the software up to date and fully functional. The biggest issue I have with the case is that the optical and floppy drive bay doors scrape when you open them. Not a big deal, and this could be related to the pre-production nature of the sample, but the front USB and dual 5.25" drive bay covers do not scrape at all.
A search of
PriceGrabber did not return any results for either the CM Media 280 or 281. I feel a price of around $150 - $200 for the CM Media 281 would be reasonable, while $200 - $250 for the CM Media 280 (with the VFD and remote) would be well priced.
Given the performance and overall high quality features, I award the
Cooler Master CM Media 280 Convertible HTPC Case the rating of "Highly Recommended".
Pros:
» Tower or desktop configuration
» 60, 80, and 120mm fan compatibility
» Inverted motherboard design
» Easy installation
» Tool-less optical installation
» High quality craftsmanship
Cons:
» Optical and floppy drive bay doors stick
» Not 100% tool-less
» POP3 email accounts only
» Associated Press news only
» No RSS or forum updates
Special thanks to
Cooler Master for providing the Cooler Master CM Media 280 Convertible HTPC Case to Bigbruin.com for review!
