The Wall Outlet Computer

Overview / What the product is

• The Chip PC “Jack PC” is an extremely small thin-client computer designed to look like a standard North American wall outlet.
• It’s intended to be mounted in a wall and connected using only one Ethernet cable to a server, typically via remote access (e.g., Remote Desktop) rather than running apps locally.
• The original model discussed was released in early 2006 for about $300.

Intended use case (thin client + remote access)

• The device is meant to connect to a full Windows server and act as a client.
• While it contains a local OS, it’s primarily designed for remote sessions.

Power + networking design features (PoE and security)

• The installer ideally uses PoE (Power over Ethernet) so the client can be powered through the wall-hidden Ethernet, avoiding an external power connection.
• Benefits highlighted:
  • Users can’t easily accidentally unplug it from the network.
  • It’s harder to steal than a normal desktop PC because it’s physically mounted in the wall.
  • It enables a clean desk/cable setup by moving wiring into the wall.

Disadvantages / limitations

• Hard to relocate once installed (permanent/wall-mount style).
• Installation may be more involved:
  • The manual/design intent is to replace existing Ethernet wall jacks.
  • In older buildings without Ethernet, installation may require cutting drywall and running cabling, rather than using a simple switch-based approach.
• Overall, the design is framed as a permanent office installation, not a portable device.

Hardware / physical components described

The Jack PC system includes:

1. Mounting hardware on the back
2. A wall plate (North America standard size; also has a Europe variant)
3. The Jack PC cube
   • Includes silicone covers used around screw holes.

A missing piece mentioned:

• The Ethernet termination block that attaches to the back.
• The presenter later obtains a unit that includes it.

Operating system + local functionality test (offline)

• The Jack PC ships with Windows CE 4.2, shown as 4.20 Professional.
• The video tests it offline by bypassing the DHCP error.

UI/app observations:

• Configuration/control options exist for:
  • inputs
  • displays
  • printers (dual/USB)
  • networking
  • authentication
• The Start menu is minimal (connections, settings, networking, shutdown).
• There is a desktop shortcut to a saved Remote Desktop session, including stored IP/connection details.

Multimedia / app behavior (Windows CE limitations)

• The device includes Windows CE Media Player.
• A USB flash drive was used to test playback:
  • Sound playback works for some media tracks.
  • Attempting to open an MP3 sometimes fails with “verify path and file name,” suggesting media/file-path or format handling quirks.

File browsing expectations vs reality:

• The presenter expected a file browser (e.g., Windows Explorer / file manager) but found:
  • Windows Explorer is stripped out / unavailable
  • No general file browser or right-click-access file navigation
  • Access appears limited to Media Player’s “open/browse” flow.

Troubleshooting / menu behavior

• While navigating settings, the system froze once, requiring a forced restart.
• Desktop customization exists (e.g., hiding icons), but nothing was found related to enabling file browsing/explorer.

Client setup: connecting to a Windows XP server

After connecting the Jack PC to the network (with DHCP), the presenter uses Windows CE “Connections Manager”:

• Creates a new Remote Desktop client connection (RDP mentioned).
• Sets performance from 56k to LAN.
• Can share local USB storage to the remote PC (with an “unsafe” warning).

Remote target:

• The remote target is a Windows XP PC configured to accept Remote Desktop connections.

Results:

• After restarting the Jack PC to obtain DHCP/IP, remote login works successfully.
• Audio is reported as coming through.

Local USB sharing + DVD/installation attempt

USB sharing test:

• Confirms the USB drive appears to the remote XP machine via the redirect/share mechanism.

Half-Life installation attempt:

• The presenter attempts installation by inserting a USB DVD drive.
• Problems:
  • The Jack PC has difficulty detecting/redirecting the DVD drive contents.
  • On the Jack PC side, only hard disk appears—not the new optical device.
• Outcome:
  • Installation ultimately proceeds by using the disc directly on the XP machine instead.
  • Remote installation via that USB DVD path wasn’t reliable.

Remote gaming/performance test (Half-Life)

• Half-Life is launched over Remote Desktop to evaluate capability beyond productivity.
• Observations:
  • There is noticeable lag (mouse delay), as expected for remote graphics streaming.
  • Audio behavior depends on settings:
    • OpenGL mode fails due to unsupported video card mode.
    • Adjusting Remote Desktop performance settings (bitmap caching/compression, resolution) sometimes improves responsiveness and enables audio in one configuration.
• Conclusion from the presenter:
  • The hardware is not suitable for serious gaming over Remote Desktop.

Final takeaways about intended vs actual use

• The Jack PC is positioned as a productivity thin client:
  • Best for Microsoft Office/corporate applications via remote session.
• Gaming over Remote Desktop is possible only in a limited, laggy way and isn’t the intended workload.

Product history / variant mentioned

• A newer variant existed with more modern I/O, including:
  • DisplayPort instead of DVI
  • USB-C
  • USB 3.0
• The model discussed appears discontinued (not currently listed in Chip PC’s catalog, per the presenter).

Main speakers / sources

• Primary speaker: the YouTube video narrator/reviewer (author of the channel)
• Referenced source: Technology Connections (mentioned for helping acquire an additional unit)