Skip to main content

An Atom with Oomph? Acer Announces AspireRevo Ion-Powered Mini Desktop

An Atom with Oomph? Acer Announces AspireRevo Ion-Powered Mini Desktop

Intel’s Atom processor is the heart behind most netbooks on the market today, but (as any gamer or video fiend will tell you) the integrated graphics controller doesn’t offer enough horsepower for serious entertainment. Graphics developer Nvidia is looking to change that with its Ion platform, which grafts its GeForce 9400M graphics system onto the Intel Atom processor, with performance that the company says will bring gaming and high-definition video to Atom-powered PCs. Today at a press event in New York, Acer unveiled what may wind up being the first Ion-equipped Atom-based PCs that will reach consumers: its new AspireRevo mini desktop.

“The Acer AspireRevo is a bold new direction for the PC industry,” Acer said in a statement. “It is a compact, stylish, fully capable PC that uses less energy and provides a brilliant visual experience for daily digital life, games and even high definition video.”

The AspireRevo sports a compact desktop form factor (7.1 by 7.1 by 1.2 inches) that Acer claims marries the netbook and game console: under the hood, the AspireRevo sports the same 1.6 GHz Atom processor as a typical netbook, but also boasts Nvidia’s Ion graphics platform to drive external displays and televisions: the unit sports HDMI output and can handle 1080p high-definition video. The AspireRevo supports up to 4 GB of RAM and a 250 GB hard drive, VGA output, a 4-in-1 media card reader, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, audio in/out, and support for up to six USB 2.0 devices. The unit also sports a VESA mount for popping the system onto a wall or the back of a flat-screen television, and Acer plans to ship the unit in various bundles, including ones that include game controllers with Wii-like 3D motion sensors that can be used as remotes as well as steering wheels, sports equipment, or (of course) guns.

Acer hasn’t said when it plans to ship the AspireRevo or what its price might be, but one thing seems pretty clear: it plans to ship the AspireRevo with Windows Vista, not Windows XP—that in itself would mark a new day in the world of Atom-powered systems.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Usually $299, this HP Chromebook is discounted to $149 today
HP Chromebook 14b sits on a desk.

If the laptop deals that you come across are too expensive because all you need is a basic device, then you may want to check out Chromebook deals. Here's an affordable offer that may catch your attention -- the HP Chromebook 14a for only $149, following a $150 discount on its original price of $299. That's insanely cheap, and we don't think that price will hold for a long time. If you're interested in taking advantage of this bargain, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase immediately because it may be gone as soon as tomorrow.

Why you should buy the HP Chromebook 14a
A Chromebook is a laptop that's powered by Google's Chrome OS, which is a web-based operating system that allows devices to run fast and smooth despite cheap components. For example, the HP Chromebook 14a is only equipped with the Intel Celeron N4120 processor, Intel UHD Graphics 600, and 4GB of RAM, but it's good enough for the basic tasks that you'll need to complete for work or school such as typing documents, doing online research, and making presentations. The HP Chromebook 14a doesn't have much built-in storage as it only comes with a 64GB eMMC, but you'll have all the space that you need for your files on Google Drive.

Read more
Best refurbished laptop deals: How to find cheap used computers
microsoft surface laptop go 2020 on desk

Shopping the best laptop deals can land you some savings, but if it’s an incredibly low price you’re looking for, shopping refurbished is the way to go. Refurbished laptops offer a chance to save big, and you can often find some of yesterday’s best laptops at super cheap prices today. Most refurbished laptops are backed by warranties and reasonable return windows, so you can shop refurbished laptops with some confidence what you’re purchasing will hold up. There are a lot of great refurbished laptop deals out there right now, and they are laptops that make a lot of sense for students or anyone on a tight budget. Below you’ll find links to some of the best places to buy a refurbished laptop.
Best Buy refurbished laptops -- starting at $113
Best Buy's refurbished laptops are -- you guessed it -- Geek Squad Certified and while they may not be free and clear of absolutely all cosmetic scuffs they are still exceptionally clean and always in working order. Some of them even come with additional software like virus tools, streaming access, like Apple TV+, and much more. Of course, the best part is that you can get a premium and fully upgraded model for less, often with more storage, more power, and more features than you would when buying a base model brand new. You've got some great options from Lenovo, Acer, HP, Dell, Gateway, and even Apple to choose from. The cheapest models start around $120 and increase from there. The best way to know what's available is to head over and browse for yourself.

Dell Latitude -- starting at $279
Dell sometimes discounts laptops and machines, for varying reasons, including clearance deals of the week to make way for new stock. That's pretty much the case with Dell's Latitude models with the cheapest coming in around $189 up to $229 and above. There are a lot of different models, each with individual specifications and features, so you'll have to sift through the list, especially if you know what you're looking for already.

Read more
Best OLED monitor deals: Get an OLED screen from just $450
Marvel's Spider-Man running on the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8.

Shopping some of the best monitor deals is a good way to save on some extra screen real estate, but if you’re looking for something that can produce a stunning image you should turn your shopping cart toward the OLED monitors. OLED is one of the best picture technologies currently available, and it can create a lifelike image that makes interacting with games, presentations, and creative work much more immersive. The best OLED monitors can run pretty expensive, but that’s what OLED monitor deals are for. If you’re looking for superior picture quality and some ways to save, read onward for more details on the best OLED monitor deals taking place right now.
ViewSonic 15.6-inch VX1655 4K OLED portable monitor — $450, was $500

Getting into the OLED game can be both affordable and portable with the ViewSonic VX1655. It’s a 4K OLED display that’s made to function as either a laptop extension or something to pair with a tablet. It comes in at a super sharp 4K resolution and a refresh rate of 60Hz. This isn’t something you’d want to pair with a gaming PC, but it’s a great little display to keep with you if you do creative work on the run or want some extra screen real estate while working on a tablet at your desk.

Read more