14 DAY TRIAL // When speaking of a nettop, or any other sort of mini PC, one would expect an Intel chip to lie at the core, but it looks like Zotac went for something less conventional when it designed the Zbox Mini-PC.
The thing with mini PCs is that they are specifically made so that they can carry out just the basic range of computing tasks.
Their advantage lies in the fact that they can fit almost anywhere, maybe even on wall or shelves or drawers.
That said, Zotac has provided its latest such product, one which forgoes the Intel Atom or AMD Fusion CPU/APU lines in favor of the VIA Nano X2.
The Nano X2 is a dual-core unit whose clock speed is of 1.2 GHz or 1.6 GHz and which integrates VT CPU virtualization technology, VIA PadLock hardware security features, 64-bit software support and, for easy upgrades, pin-to-pin compatibility with VIA Nano, VIA C7, VIA C7-M and VIA Eden processors.
In this case, it lies inside a palm-sized case, meaning that the new Zbox Mini-PC can easily be integrated into a so-called home entertainment environment.
For those that want more numbers, the whole product measures 13 x 13 x 5 cm, but no other details are known at the moment.
“The ZOTAC ZBOX is a great example of the kinds of innovations in form factor design that are possible on our low power VIA Nano X2 dual-core processor platform,” said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc.
“It provides an excellent solution for home and officer users seeking a premium computing experience in an ultra compact size.”
Although this can more or less count as an official release, the fact is that there is no telling when this small thing will start selling, nor at what price. More info on the VIA chip can be found here.