[joelbaby]

In the many years 15++ or more that using XBMC windows
I also think ssd are rubbish and overrated, rather have mechanical or hybrid hdd at a push, also didn't like you're forced to use msata ssd only, so no, If Im going to part with my bucks, its going to have to be with my requirements, perhpas whne ts more mature and has better Linux support and other cases that add 2.5' bay support.

For someone with 89 reputation points it surprises me how little you have contributed.

You came on here saying you'd bought an i5 nuc, with 8Gb of RAM for CAD work, and a 750Gb 2.5" HDD. Do we really care? Your PC had very little to do with XBMC, it is way overspec'ed for that use. Then you tell us that HTPCs have not come down in price. What a crock. You just overcapitalised. It's like buying a 4WD (SUV) to drive the kids to school, and then complaining that you have to get such an expensive car to do a simple task. All most people need for XBMC is a Celeron or Pentium processor.

my requirements

Good luck with those. Lets remember them:

1. A windows PC for work with 8Gb RAM for Computer Aided Design.
2. XBMC running outside Windows (despite the fact you have Windows installed on this PC).
3. More mature Linux support (despite the fact that Linux has been on intel for many years).
4.You have no interest in Openelec (despite it being linux based).
5. No mSATA disk (despite the fact that you have a 120GB mSATA disk). What are you going to do - frame it and hang it on the wall??
6. An infra-red receiver built in (the only real advantage of Haswell NUC over previous version).

Just accept the fact that your research was ... poor? Why not just build a mini-itx PC. Or get a separate HTPC for XBMC, and a workhorse for your Windows work.

Some people use this thread to discuss XBMC.