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MSI’s “Toast PC” Nettop Actually Looks Like a Toaster

Paul Lilly — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:39:29 -0600

Say what you want about MSI, just don't try and claim the company doesn't have a sense of humor. How else would you explain the company's Toast PC?

Let us set the record straight - we're not the ones who labeled this a Toast PC. MSI is actually calling it that, at least during CeBIT. We'll have to see if the name sticks following the convention.

We'll also have to wait until after CeBIT to find out the Toast PC's specs. All we know so far is that it comes with a slot-load DVD drive located at the top, the same location you'd slide in a slice of bread if this were a real toaster. There's also a remote control that snaps onto the side of the PC. Oh, and we're pretty sure it doesn't actually make toast.

Image Credit: ushour.com

Sparkle's Calibre CUTi Nettop Appeals to Unicorn Lovers

Paul Lilly — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:30:17 -0600

Leave it to a company called Sparkle to deck out its latest nettop with a unicorn. We're not sure why, nor do we know what's up with the funky capitalization in the Calibre CUTi's name, but hey, it's the hardware that counts, right?

And on that front, the Calibre CUTi combines an Intel Atom dual-core 1.6GHz processor with Nvidia's Ion platform. It also comes with up to 4GB of DDR2 memory, a 160GB or 320GB hard drive expandable to 500GB (also supports SSDs), a 5-in-1 card reader, Gigabit LAN, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth, six USB 2.0 ports, 7.1-channel audio, and an HDMI port.

Sparkle says the Calibre CUTi consumes just 14W while idle, or "less than an energy-saving light bulb," and 30W at full bore.

No word yet on price or availability.

Image Credit: Sparkle

Intel Officially Announces Next-Gen Atom Platform

Paul Lilly — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:05:04 -0600

It looks like the elves in Intel's workshop have been working overtime this holiday season, enough so that the chip maker today officially announced its next generation Atom platform, which includes the first Intel chips to integrate graphics and a memory controller in the CPU.

On the netbook side of things, the new Atom platform consists of an Atom N450 processor. It's a single-core part clocked at 1.66GHz with 512KB of L2 cache and a 7-watt total TDP. For entry-level desktops, there's the single-core D410 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2 cache, 12-watt TDP) and dual-core D510 (1.66GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 15-watt TDP). Intel says both processors were designed from the ground up for small devices and low power usage, and both come built on the company's 45nm high-k metal gate manufacturing process. These chips will run in Intel's NM10 Express Chipset.

An industry first on x86 processors, the new Atom chips integrate both the memory controller and graphics into the CPU. By going this route, Intel reduces the number of chips from three (CPU, chipset, I/O controller hub) to two (CPU, chipset), which the company claims results in a lower TDP, and "substantial reductions in cost, overall footprint, and power."

Intel said it will announce pricing information when the platform ships in the first week of January.

YouTube Video Demo

Image Credit: Intel

Nvidia: Original Ion Faster than Pine Trail, Too

Paul Lilly — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:23:05 -0600

Yesterday we posted a blurb referencing comments Nvidia made to news and rumor site Fudzilla, in which the graphics chip maker talked up its upcoming Ion 2 platform as being a faster solution than an Atom platform built around Intel's upcoming Pine Trail architecture. So does that mean you should hold off on buying a netbook?

Not at all, Nivida's Ken Brown says, who got in touch with us to clarify a few points. Regarding the performance benefits of Ion 2 over Pine Trail, Brown said all of that is correct, but that "is also true for current generation Ion-based PCs. Pine Trail will not deliver a significantly better experience than current-generation Atom-based PCs (link). Ion based systems which are available today will provide a much better experience than Pine Trail for HD video, games, media conversion, and other applications that people want to run."

In addition, Brown stated that first-generation Ion parts will also deliver anywhere from 5-10x faster graphics performance than Pine Trail, so for anyone who needs a graphically-charged netbook today, waiting isn't necessary.

Image Credit: Nvidia

VIA Nano Scores a DirectX 10.1 IGP Chipset

Paul Lilly — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:45:59 -0600

VIA this week announced its new VN1000 digital media chipset, which the company claims is the "world's most power efficient DX10.1 chipset" on the planet.

Providing the DirectX 10.1 graphics is VIA's Chrome 520 IGP, which boasts the same traits as the Chrome 500-series, such as a 500MHz GPU and 32 stream processors. It also supports Shader Model 4, OpenGL 3.0, and OpenCL 1.0.

VIA says its high-performance ChromotionHD 2.0 video processor also offers advanced filter and "ultra smooth decoding" of MPEG-4/AVC, H.264, MPEG-2, VC-1, WMV-HD, and AVS video for Blu-ray content.

"The VIA VN1000 leverages our optimized VIA Nano 3000 Series processors, creating the most balanced, power-efficient, multimedia-focused desktop platform on the market today," said Richard Brown, VP International Marketing, VIA. "Supporting the latest system memory, graphics, and entertainment standards, the VIA VN1000 takes the VIA processor platform to new heights of power-efficient visual sophistication."

Other features include support for DDR3 memory at speeds up to 1066MHz, a single x8 and four x1 PCI-E lanes, up to ficve PCI slots, and 8-channel audio.

Image Credit: VIA

Acer Already Planning Builds Based on Nvidia Ion 2 Platform

Paul Lilly — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:30:15 -0600

According to some chatty sources in the PC industry, Acer has placed orders with Nvidia for the company's upcoming Ion 2 chips, which are being designed to support Intel's Pineview parts (Atom N450, N470, D510, and D410 processors).

This is a somewhat different scenario than with the original Ion platform, which was a chipset with IGP. But Intel's Pine Trail-M (netbooks) and Pine Trail-D (nettop) chips have changed things around by moving the northbridge duties -- memory controller and IGP -- onto the CPU. So this time around, Nvidia's Ion 2 part will be more like a discrete GPU, the sources say.

It's a win-win combo for both sides. Acer's Ion-based AspireRevo nettops have been well received by consumers, and Acer expects the same to be true with its Ion 2-based builds.

CompuLab Announces Fit-PC2i Windows-7-or-Ubuntu Nettop

Paul Lilly — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:38:57 -0600

CompuLab, an Israeli outfit specializing in circuit boards for embedded systems used in telecommunication systems, automotive devices, gaming systems, and a bunch of other applications, announced what it claims is the world's smallest dual-Gigabit Ethernet PC.

They'll get no argument from us. The tiny nettop measures a scant 4x4.5x1.05 inches and weighs a measly 13 ounces.Yet despite its diminutive stature, the die cast aluminum enclosure manages to engulf an Intel Atom Z530 (1.6GHz) or Z510 (1.1GHz) processor, 1GB of DDR2-533 onboard memory (optional 2GB), an internal 2.5-inch SATA drive bay to supplement the optional 4GB of onboard Flash storage, and Intel's GMA500 graphics.

Other features include 5.1-channel audio, Wi-Fi, four USB 2.0 ports, and choice between Windows 7 Professional, Windows XP Home with SP3, Ubuntu Linux 8.04, or "other operating systems" that you choose to install on your own.

The Fit-PC2i will start shipping in January for an as-yet undetermined price.

Image Credit: CompuLab

Intel Fast Tracking Pine Trail Debut

Paul Lilly — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:45:45 -0600

Expect to see quite a few netbook and nettop deals this holiday shopping season, especially if Intel forges ahead with plans to fast track the introduction of its upcoming Pine Trail platform.

"Intel is planning for a fast transition to Pine Trail. To generate excitement for the platform ahead of launch, Intel is planning a press release in late December publicly disclosing the details of the platform," X-bit Labs claims to have read in an Intel document.

Should Intel aggressively push Pine Trail ahead of its launch, consumers could see a fair number of pre- and post-Christmas day sales on older Atom platform-based netbooks and nettops. And look for plenty of coverage at next year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Intel's Pine Trail platform will include a bunch of next-gen Atom Pineview processors, which will come with an integrated graphics core, a built-in DDR2 memory controller, a new core-logic set, and other goodies.

Image Credit: laptoping.com