LUXA2 LM200 Touch HTPC Enclosure Review

Usage

When you turn the LM200 touch on the first thing you notice is the LCD will turn on if you have it connected to your video card. Before we can go ahead and use the touch screen on the LCD we need to install the iMON software included on the CD. Once installed you can go ahead and setup the software, there are quite a few settings which we won’t get into, but it is pretty customizable.



LUXA2 LM200 Touch HTPC Enclosure LUXA2 LM200 Touch HTPC Enclosure

Now that you have all of the settings the way you want them you can go ahead and launch iMON. It will take up the entire screen and helps you navigate through your media, shows your relevant information, and you can even play movies right on the LCD. The touch screen works great, but there is a catch.it only works with the iMON software, you cannot touch the LCD and act like your finger is going to be the mouse. Here is a video showing off some of the features of the LCD and the case.



The included remote also works really well and I had no problem using it. Another really cool feature is the slow closing optical drive bay cover and the slow opening front panel. These small features really make the LM200 stand out.

Final Thoughts

[ad#review991-top]For one of the first cases in the LUXA2 line we are very impressed. First let’s talk about looks, the LM200 Touch sets itself apart from many HTPC cases. They could have gone with a typical HTPC design but they made the LM200 Touch look different. The slight curves on the corners and all aluminum design really make this a one of a kind case. The small LUXA2 logo on the top of the case gives the case a nice finish.

Now on to the features, first the touch screen 7-inch LCD. You will not find many HTPC cases with a LCD already built in, most have VFD’s or something similar. The 7-inch touch screen LCD is definitely the highlight of the LM200 Touch. It works very well and makes navigating the iMON menus simple and easy. Also the information display of your hard drive, memory, and CPU usage is really cool. The slow closing optical drive bay and the slow opening front panel are little features that add a “cool” factor to the case. The included remote, buttons, and volume knob on the front of the case also make navigating menus very easy.

Internally this case is pretty bare. I have not seen a case design so simple yet so effective. The horizontal mounting panel is a genius idea that makes installation of your drives simple and easy. It is sure easier than trying to install drives in cages. Our installation took about 10 minutes, which is pretty quick for a HTPC.

The single rear exhaust fan is nice and quiet and provides adequate cooling. The large aluminum top panel really keeps all of the noise inside of the case. This is key especially if you have this case in your living room.

The LM200 Touch is not without its faults. First off the touch screen only works with the iMON software, you cannot use it with Windows Media Center or another media player. I really wish this would be a true touch screen, but that would really bring the price up. Talking about price we found this case online for $599, which is more than you would spend in parts for a good HTPC setup. Other similar cases like the Moneual Labs MonCaso 972 are $100 cheaper and you can fit a normal ATX motherboard inside.

This is truly a unique case and a great start to the LUXA2 brand of cases. Overall ThinkComputers gives the LUXA2 LM200 Touch HTPC Enclosure a 9 out of 10 score and our Editor’s Choice Award!

rating9 10 small TC award editorschoice small

Pros:

– Very unique design
– 7-inch touch screen LCD
– Easy installation
– Included Remote
– Quiet

Cons:

– Touch screen only works with iMON software
– Price

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