Posted 10/12/09 at 09:04:03 PM by Ryan Whitwam

So you want a Netbook, but you’re not crazy about dealing with a slow computer? You’re in luck. The recently leaked specs for the upcoming ASUS Eee PC 1201N should make any geek’s wallet feel a little too heavy. The 1201N is said to be packing a 1.6 GHz Atom N330 Dual Core CPU paired with 3GB of RAM. The standard configuration will have a 320GB hard drive as well.

The thing that really sets it apart is the video. The 1201N will be rocking the Nvidia ION chipset (Geforce 9400M), which will be pumping video to a 12 inch display with a resolution of 1366x768. You can also expect an HDMI out with the ION chipset.

There will also be a less powerful version, the 1201HA, with a standard Atom chipset and Intel graphics in the same 12 inch chassis. No pricing information is available right now. Release date is also a mystery. The fact that they both run Windows 7 indicates they won’t be available until after Windows 7 is released on October 22.

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Posted 04/08/09 at 07:33:20 PM by Pulkit Chandna

Last week, it was rumored that Acer would unveil the very first Ion-based nettop this week. That rumor has been vindicated by Acer. The AspireRevo, as the diminutive nettop is called, was unveiled on Tuesday by Acer and Nvidia.

The AspireRevo pairs a 1.66GHz Intel Atom 230 processor with Nvidia’s new Ion GPU. The Nvidia Ion GPU enables the AspireRevo to support 1080p HD video, true-fidelity 7.1 audio and DirectX 10 graphics.

The nettop features up to 4GB of RAM, a maximum of 250GB hard drive, HDMI/VGA outputs and six USB 2.0 ports. To put the stats into perspective, the nettop measures 7.1 x 7.1 x 1.2 inches (about the same size as a hardcover book). Its pricing and release date are still awaited.

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Posted 04/03/09 at 06:51:24 PM by Pulkit Chandna

Acer might become one of the first manufacturers to jump onto the Ion bandwagon. According to Taiwanese website Digitimes, Acer is set to launch its first Nvidia Ion-based nettop computer called the Hornet. Industry sources told the website that the launch will happen in Beijing on April 8, 2009.

The Acer Hornet will have an asking price of under $300. The petite PC will also have a motion-sensing controller a la Nintendo Wii. The controller is not only meant for gaming but also for generic control. According to Nvidia, the first Ion-based notebooks, netbooks and PCs are just around the corner – to hit retail in the second quarter.

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