Play unveils AspireRevo launch date
And it's next month!
Online retailer Play.com has begun accepting UK pre-orders for Acer’s recently launched AspireRevo Ion-based small, cheap desktop PC.
Play UK names the AspireRevo day, and prices
According to the retailer, four models of the machine will be released on 18 May for between £180 ($267/€201) and £330 ($490/€369).
All are based on the 1.6GHz Intel Atom N230 processor – as previously reported. But the most expensive machine comes with a 2GB memory, 160GB hard drive, 3D game controller and a wireless keyboard and mouse. It also ships with Vista Home Premium.
If your cash won’t stretch that far then the cheapest of the four will get you a 1GB memory and an 8GB solid-state drive. You’ll also get Linux instead of Vista.
The two mid-range AspireRevo’s – priced at £300 and £250 ($371/€279) – will both come with a 2GB memory, 160GB HDD and Vista Home Premium. However, the pricier of the two mid-range models also comes with a 3D game controller.
All four models are available to pre-order online now. ®
COMMENTS
Does it exist? Acer says no.
I rang Acer UK to ask about this pc. The pre-sales representitive had never heard of it and told me he dealt with presales not pre-releases. After interjecting into his diatribe I polietly explained that I understood the difference between the two but surely there must be someone I could speak to in Acer about pre-releases? Well no there is not as they can only discuss items that are on sale. So how can they release a product they do not know exists? Does it turn up in the shops and then someone informs Acer who add it to their list? I am with James Dunmore on this. The whole concept is absurd. Acer's support (if you can call it that) even more so. I will not touch anything with Acer on it now as a matter of principle. As an aside why is it nigh on impossible to buy a small form desktop without comprimising on spec?
I'd really like to see this run "modern game"atany decent speed
Vista Premium and, say, Call of Duty 4, both at once, on one of these... what sort of frame rates? Anyone care to guess?
Acer, themselves are saying this will be ideal for running "family friendly" games. I think we all know what that's a euphamism for.
I stand by my original comment rearding the disparities in the hardware. Intel claim the Atom uses 2.5 Watts, TDP, running flat out. Nvidia clam 3 Watts, TDP, from the ion, while on idle cycle. So, the GPU, on idle, is consuming more power than the CPU does, when running at full speed. Start using this thing for seriouswork, and the ower consumption quadruples - for all the fact that CPU is struggling to keep up.
And why does a media PC need to be left on all the time, anyway, other than to ensure that the Confikr boys can keep it up to date? Surely, an "ecotwat" would actually consider the "turn it off, when I'm not actually using it" option? Presumably that's what a reponsible ecotwat would do, with the 40 inch plasma screen, that he or she rather otpimistically plugged this thing into?
Furthermore, quoting Intel, again, the Atom provides "half the performance of a Celeron 430", but consider this; putting a 430 in, instead of the Atom, would (by my estimation) add about $5 to the production costs, while offering a real media and light-gaming platform - albeit at the expense of saddling the user with the job of powering it down whenever they are finished with it.
The Atom makes perfect sense, for saving energy, when the energy is coming out of a cheap battery, and is also having to power the display. It does not make sense for saving energy simply because you can't be arsed hitting the off button. Just turn things off, if you want to save the planet: it's not Rocket Surgery.
Simple Media Center
Simple really... its a cheap media server that looks better than most of the rubbish cases manufacturers churn out. You don't want a powerhouse CPU or GPU... something that'll sit there on but not single handedly eating half of your lecy bill.
Excellent to see the Linux version... does it really matter if they list what distro it is tho? Hardly a hassle if its not the flavour of the month... not like you paid for the one on there, just replace it :)
Neat, cheap linux version. Looks great.
Amusing to see how the comments still manage to tear it a new one despite it having linux/ssd option, HD playback, can run modern games, dual monitor with HDMI support, loads of usb ports, tiny footprint, IR receiver for media centre duties, low power, dirt cheap etc.
It's a complete PC, does pretty much everything that most people will want to use a computer for, and even quite a lot of things that us lot would be interested in.
6 years ago, the powermac G5 was released with similar specs to this little thing.
Top of it's class for the time, cost thousands of dollars and was a hulking great noisy metal monstrosity. Now, just a few short years later, we can get it in a tiny silent box, for 1/10th of the price.
Here's hoping the rate of progress keeps up so I can buy a Mac Pro netbook in 2014 for £200 and use it to read the reg complaints that it doesn't support holo-vision or have a mindmeld 2.0 interface socket on the back. :)
Oh, and the powersaving feature doesn't just have to be for ecotwats, any nerd worth his salt can do rough kwh calculations on everything, can realise that, as a 24/7 machine, one of these things is likely to save over £100/year in 'leccy.
Ecotwat - a new word
@adrian Ecotwat -- now that has made me giggle
But they are pretty cheap, given that some of the itx cases and power supplies are £75 - £150 for a nice looking one.
