ASRock has been putting out tiny, low power nettops with NVIDIA ION graphics for about as long as anyone… which is to say for a few months. Now the company is introducing an updated model called the ASRock ION 330HT-BD. Like the first model, the new computer can handle HD and Blu-Ray video while using very little power thanks to the NVIDIA ION platform. But the ION 330HT-BD has a few new features including a media center remote control, WiFi, DTS audio, and an eSATA port.
The nettop features a dual core 1.6GHz Intel Atom 330 CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, and a Blu-Ray drive. The laptop has two 2.5″ hard drive bays and can support up to 1TB of storage. It has 7.1 channel audio, an HDMI port, VGA output, 6 USB ports, S/PDIF, and an eSATA/USB port and 802.11b/g/n WiFi. The computer measures 7.7″ x 7.3″ x 2.8″.
There are also two new less powerful versions including the ION 330HT and ION 330Pro. The former lacks the Blu-Ray drive, but includes a Super Multi Drive. The ION 330Pro has a DVD drive but lacks WiFi and the media center remote. No word on pricing yet.
I guess nettops will be the ‘de rigueur’ device to have next to a HDTV soon enough. Although you would think some of these monsters 50”- 60” set will just include the computer in there as some “slide in” like a rack mounted computer for a TV.