[magnetik]

...and I'm waiting for the same specs in an asRock packaged case, without any fan inside but with Remote and BluRay, and able to dim the lights in the front. Hope somebody just release one.
With Zotac here I would need external player and external IR receiver to make it complete for a HTPC.

Agreed - I have looked around (ALOT!), and can't get a certain answer on the new Zotac all-in-one unit ION2 unit to see if it does infact have a cooling fan in it.

[sylvio2000]

@ lloydsmart
Do you really need Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA bitsreaming? I dont know what sound system do you own, but for 99% nobody can hear a diferrence between DTS and Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA with their sound system

@ magnetik
I have found a german site showing the zbox with fan http://ndevil.com/zotac-zbox-mit-ion-2-s...en-107700/

[lloydsmart]

@ lloydsmart
Do you really need Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA bitsreaming? I dont know what sound system do you own, but for 99% nobody can hear a diferrence between DTS and Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA with their sound system

No, I don't need it, but I want it. I know my amp is capable, and I know my source material has it, so I want to play it. I don't need an xbmc system at all, but I think it's pretty cool and I want one.

[sircube]

I have found a german site showing the zbox with fan http://ndevil.com/zotac-zbox-mit-ion-2-s...en-107700/

just too bad.

[ion_man]

There is a very bad review on the new acer ion2 where the benchmarks are MUCH slower than the older ION.

That review was based on a pre-production model and it was incorrectly made. Apart from that 3D performance is completely irrelevant for movie playback.

The asrock core 100 looks the next big thing on the horizon.

You keep spamming that same off-topic advertisement link for some outback ozzie company again and again, this is the fourth time on this forum.
Furthermore those boxes are a complete overkill for a HTPC, noone needs a core i7 cpu to play movies.

[ion_man]

I'm really quite disappointed with these Mini-ITX "ION2" platforms
(and I use the term ION2 very loosely) for HTPC purposes.

In order for the Intel Pineview platform to support VDPAU, you
need an external GPU. To me, this defeats the point of having
a Mini-ITX form factor since now you need a much larger case.

Don't worry there will be mobos with on-board ION2 coming out soon, no need to use a separate graphics card.

Most (if not all) first gen ION products are being EOL'd, all manufacturers will be replacing them with ION2 products in the next few months.

[prae5]

There is a very bad review on the new acer ion2 where the benchmarks are MUCH slower than the older ION.

The asrock core 100 looks the next big thing on the horizon.

As mentioned above please keep discussion on topic, this thread is to cover ion2 products.

[spicemuseum]

Zotac Zbox (it's not an Xbox!).

http://www.zotac.com/index.php?option=co...47&lang=en

Looks like it's going to land at about 190 quid, plus hdd and RAM. Pre-orders being taken at a few on-line shops now.

Anyone seen a review of it?

[CrashX]

190 quid ??

[spicemuseum]

190 quid ??

Plus hard drive and RAM. Not cheap, but could be a Revo killer (depending on Acer's next move).

Here for example:
http://bit.ly/cE68ns

[magnetik]

@ magnetik
I have found a german site showing the zbox with fan http://ndevil.com/zotac-zbox-mit-ion-2-s...en-107700/

Thanks for that - really, what a waste

[ion_man]

Thanks for that - really, what a waste

The Shuttle XS35 is without a fan:
http://www.shuttle.eu/press/press-releas...4a21b6/54/

[magnetik]

The Shuttle XS35 is without a fan:
http://www.shuttle.eu/press/press-releas...4a21b6/54/

Yeah that's the real game changer - interested to see the retail cost - hopefully they do a 'bare bones' version without the hard drive too.

EDIT: Although, checking the Shuttle site, their all-in-one iMac clone the X50V2 with similar specs (Atom Dual core, NM10 chipset, fanless) has a RRP of 353 euros (base of article link below) - considering it has a 15.6inch screen to boot - this could put the XS35 at a pretty competitive price point.

http://www.shuttle.eu/news/view/version-...2246cd/29/

[spicemuseum]

Yeah that's the real game changer - interested to see the retail cost - hopefully they do a 'bare bones' version without the hard drive too.

EDIT: Although, checking the Shuttle site, their all-in-one iMac clone the X50V2 with similar specs (Atom Dual core, NM10 chipset, fanless)....

http://www.shuttle.eu/news/view/version-...2246cd/29/

Don't think this is ION2, so not directly comparable.

Agreed on the 'fan' revelation/disappointment with the Zbox. :-(

Agreed that the Shuttle XS35 looks like it could be the next step. My bet is that it will sadly be the wrong side of 250 quid when it's released.

[ion_man]

Agreed that the Shuttle XS35 looks like it could be the next step. My bet is that it will sadly be the wrong side of 250 quid when it's released.

Shuttle has never been a low cost manufacturer, just look at the prices of their barebones. Also it's much cheaper to stick a plastic fan on a chip than to engineer and manufacture a passive cooling solution, so I would expect the Shuttle to cost more than the Zotac.
You get what you pay for.