ION-based PC from Acer

Acer has introduced the world's first nettop computer based on the NVIDIA ION platform: the AspireRevo could be the hit product of the year 2009.

We have already seen countless promising attempts in the netop market, but neither ASUS nor its competitors have been able to put a product on the table that has met all the important criteria. Acer seems to be the first to offer a powerful solution to the current situation, as AspireRevo knows everything you would expect from a 7,1 × 7,1-inch device. The secret to the machine's increased performance this time lies in the chipset used: the small Acer, the first in the world, is built on the ION platform, which can be linked to the NVIDIA name, beating Intel's rivals so far. The most significant difference is in multimedia capabilities, as the integrated GeForce 9400 mGPU alone is powerful enough to play high-definition content, so the process doesn't unnecessarily burden the not-so-brutal Intel Atom processor. Compatible with DirectX 10, IGP also has the advantage of being significantly more powerful than Intel's integrated graphics controller, the GMA3, in applications that require 950D visualization, so less resource-intensive games are expected to run on reasonable limits. To confirm the latter assumption, Acer spoke of supporting titles such as Spore, Call of Duty 4, and Sim City 5.

Aside from the chipset, the AspireRevo is no significantly different from the solutions currently on the market: in terms of processor, the aforementioned Intel Atom N270 unit excels, and the amount of central memory can consist of up to 4GB of DDR2 modules. In terms of equipment, we are usually confronted with the usual parameters, but here we can also discover some innovations: a 250 GB hard drive, a multi-format card reader, HDMI / VGA output, a gigabit network card, a 7.1 channel sound card and six USB 2.0 ports. device. The extras again lack an optical drive, which, considering the machine’s graphics capabilities, seems a bit of an incomprehensible move. The shortcoming will certainly be remedied by the manufacturer by introducing an external unit at a later date, but it is still questionable what type of discs the add-on will handle.

The exact timing of the launch of the promising asset is still unknown, as its expected purchase price is shrouded in obscurity.