Shuttle Prepares X27 Nettop With Tiny Footprints

[DiGiTaL MoNkEY]

Shuttle, specialist with small form-factor PCs, is planning to release one with an even smaller footprint, the X27. Shuttle says the new PC will use as little as 23 W in idle mode, and 36 W on load. That's takes it more into the power consumption domain of some business-class laptops. The X27 falls into the 'Nettop' category of low-cost desktop PCs, and uses the Intel Atom low-power processor. It also has a tiny acoustic footprint at a mere 23 decibels, that's -- quieter than a "bedroom at night" (late night), according to decibel noise charts, reports Smart Planet.

The low noise is matched by a suitably small case which measures 10 inches long, 7 inches wide and 2.75 inches tall; about the same size as Asus' Eee Box. Pricing and availability are yet to be disclosed.

http://www.smartplanet.com/news/tech...-low-power.htm

[sanjay]

less than $200 and i have a new HTPC. dont need HD content.

[nelson92]

would this be mini-ITX? or a custom size board, i just want that case and chuck in a VIA nano in it.

[SLATYE]

Originally Posted by nelson92

would this be mini-ITX? or a custom size board, i just want that case and chuck in a VIA nano in it.

It looks like it could be ITX - but it'll probably be using a custom-built mainboard (to avoid needing a full ATX power supply; it's probably only getting +5V in).

[shift6]

Could be used as a torrent box perhaps...Looks really nice though, hope it can be available for cheap even with the shuttle brand & form factor.

[SLATYE]

Originally Posted by shift6

Could be used as a torrent box perhaps...Looks really nice though, hope it can be available for cheap even with the shuttle brand & form factor.

Shuttle have been good recently - the K45 and K48 are very well priced compared to any of their previous mini-PCs. As an Atom-based system, this one will probably be designed to be as cheap as possible.

[C-NuT]

Looks very nice. Wonder how it will compare in features and price to the Eee box.

[nEBUz]

I said I'd never go back to shuttles after my SN25P got to be too much hassle (8800gts ) but that is one sexy beast. Maybe if it's not my actual PC i can exempt myself from the rule.

[Suntzu]

My SN25P being going strong faultlessly for more than 12 months with a 8800GTS.

Im liking the look of this new shuttle. Just what I need for my missus.

[pipsqeek]

Same here, my SN25P has been going great with an 8800GTS.

The X27 looks great. I have been looking at a good new HTPC machine. This one might be it.

pips

[DiGiTaL MoNkEY]

Atom-based Shuttle X27 priced at $189USD

Shuttle let us know Thursday that the miniscule desktop will start at $189--sans monitor, and peripherals, like all Shuttle PCs. It will be available in mid-September.

Now, $189 isn't the cheapest PC Shuttle makes. But that's the lowest price we've seen thus far in the emerging Nettop category, or small desktop PCs bearing Intel's low-power Atom processor.

The Eee Box from Asus, another Nettop, goes for $350. CherryPal, a newcomer to the space, makes a tiny desktop that keeps most data in the cloud, has a Freescale processor, and is to sell for $249.

Cheap is good, but as my colleague Rich Brown points out, is there actually a large market for these small, low-power PCs when you can get a full-fledged desktop for about the same price?

Shuttle plays to the nichiest of niche markets--people who love Linux--so that's probably not its biggest concern. But the company is clearly hoping PCs that can cut down their power usage and space, as it promises with the X27, will catch on.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-...eed&subj=Crave

[zfind]

A fully fledged desktop is often in a large ugly case, uses lots of power and just doesn't have that teeny tiny form factor and / or cuteness.

Definite market, I would buy one of these purely as a lowish-end HTPC.

Gorgeous looking too.

[shift6]

How disappointing...From Engadget:

Update: We just talked to Shuttle and they told us that $189 is just for a barebones rig -- no chip, memory or hard drive. Fully spec'd with an Atom, you're looking at $500+ -- which is ridiculous, since the MSI Wind barebones nettop runs $139 with an Atom chip. Oh well.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/29/a...priced-at-189/

[pipsqeek]

That's a pity.

I just built a Shuttle SN78SH7 for a client on Friday. Quad cored it up, maxed out the RAM, 1TB SATA drive. It's a great little machine. Faster than mine.... only downside to that is that I'll have to build another one for myself now

pipsqeek

[SLATYE]

What's the point in selling an Atom-based barebones system? You can't even buy Atom CPUs separately! I didn't think Intel was planning to make socketed versions.

That said, this $500 figure seems a bit odd. You can get a HDD and 1GB of RAM for under $100 (AU). Presumably an Atom would cost about as much as a Celeron - maybe $50 AU. $189 + $100 + $50 is not $500, it's $339. Unless you do something silly like put a 1TB HDD and 4GB of RAM in there, I'd be surprised if you hit the $500 mark.