Shuttle's Atom 230-packin' X2700N nettop now available

Surely you remember the Atom-based Shuttle X27 barebones kit -- you know, that cute little nettop case that was selling for $189 with its insides all hollow? For those with no time to fill it up, the full-fledged X2700N is now on tap. Boasting a 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 120GB hard drive and a GMA950 integrated graphics set, this Linux-based box can be yours right now for $379.99. That'll also buy you a dual-layer DVD writer, gigabit Ethernet port, 802.11b/g WiFi, a handful of ports (six USB, VGA, DVI, audio in / out) and a 1-year warranty. 'Tis a shame it's not housing one of those dual-core Atom 330s, huh?

[Via ComputerMonger]

[Kris @ Oct 8th 2008 11:40AM]

I think it needs at least dual-core to be a really good media server. Not too bad for a small server or e-mail machine though.

[Luke @ Oct 8th 2008 11:45AM]

wow thats pretty cool...
may have to look at investing in one
x

[zo @ Oct 8th 2008 11:48AM]

will it do 1080p video out?

[tom @ Oct 8th 2008 12:00PM]

zo: No

[niels ostenfeld @ Oct 8th 2008 12:01PM]

Yes it will indeed do 1080p via DVI. I just got mine a week ago. Hooked it up to my 32 inch flat panel TV, installed windows vista home premium, added two pinnacle tvnano tuners and it works like a charm. even streaming HD 1080p to my linksys extender in the bedroom works. Im really happy with this little bugger, only think is that it is not totally quiet. The fan is a little noisy, but when watching those HD movies you can't hear anything right?

[Thanatos @ Oct 8th 2008 1:04PM]

Thing is for that price you can get something that would wipe the floor with that. It wont be as small but will still be small enough.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090
Continued on next post

[Thanatos @ Oct 8th 2008 1:04PM]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145015
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103211
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106263
$405.94 Before shipping and it will handle anything you throw at it, 1080p only has the CPU at 20%, throw in a Discrete Video Card and youve got a gaming PC. Sure it wont max out Crysis but it can play it.

[zo.spam @ Oct 8th 2008 11:49AM]

by which I mean not blu-ray.. but just using it as a Media Canter...

[Erwos @ Oct 8th 2008 11:59AM]

Sure. But your Atom is going to have a fun time trying to decode HD material in H.264 or even VC-1. MPEG-2 might be an option, I guess.

[Flashpoint @ Oct 8th 2008 12:47PM]

The ATOM might have problem playing back HD BLU RAY disks and some video formats, but as long as I can play divx or mpeg porn filesdownloaded from limewire, it gets a check from me !

[Flashpoint @ Oct 8th 2008 11:52AM]

I'd use this for a classroom laptop server.

Possibly a home wireless media server for Xbox360 and PS3.

...but, I'm gonna have to load Win XP onto that.

[Tuxy79 @ Oct 8th 2008 12:06PM]

Shuttle, you had me up until Linux.

[dr @ Oct 8th 2008 12:13PM]

what the hell are doing with a name like tuxy79 then? Linux seems like a much more appropriate OS for a low powered machine like this - it would be make a nice media server with mythtv.

[jorvay @ Oct 8th 2008 1:24PM]

You can install windows on it if you want, you just have to pay for it separately. Those of us who don't use windows appreciate the lack of a windows "tax." I don't hate windows, I just don't like being forced to pay for it when it's bundled with hardware.

[PEZ @ Oct 8th 2008 12:52PM]

I probavbly wont buy anything atom until the duallys come out.

[Joseph @ Oct 8th 2008 12:34PM]

will it run linux MCE if i add a tuner card? How powerful are these atom pc's? record 2 streams, watch 1?

[Sean @ Oct 8th 2008 12:40PM]

For that kind of money it should be a Atom 330.

[Db @ Oct 8th 2008 12:53PM]

PS3 can use the Linux if you load MediaTomb - no need for XP. Although the HD is smallish for media.

[Chris @ Oct 8th 2008 1:11PM]

It seems like a rip off. You can get those specs with Windows XP in a Aspire One for a little bit less. Why would I want a small desktop instead a nettop for the same price?

[andyg8180 @ Oct 8th 2008 1:29PM]

Because some people want a dedicated media center alternative... out of sight out of mind is also key...

Plus laptops and desktops can serve two completely different purposes...

[andyg8180 @ Oct 8th 2008 1:26PM]

Soooooo close... i need a little more juice if im gonna run XBMC and blu... Plus it lacks some toslink or HDMI lovin for the surround sound friendlies...

[k2001 @ Oct 8th 2008 2:19PM]

you could by a 780g with a downclocked 45 watt tdp x2 with only slight increase in power consumption than the atom.

[andyg8180 @ Oct 8th 2008 2:24PM]

You could do that, but i still need Du-Co so the ripping doesnt take 10 years for a disc lol...

[Neuralgia @ Oct 8th 2008 2:46PM]

If the Eee box wouldn't have viruses when shipped, I would rather go with it.

what a sham, they haven't released the Linux version.

[Fanfoot @ Oct 8th 2008 3:50PM]

Interesting box. As others have said, too bad they didn't go with discrete graphics, since with the GMA950 its ability to handle HD video playback will be limited. Probably why there isn't a BDROM drive option, which would otherwise be a nice addition to something like this.

Obviously it won't be able to use cablecards, but you could run Vista MC or other media software on it with clear QAM or OTA tuners... and it should do a nice job playing audio (I understand the Zune software makes a nice player for this sort of thing), photos, hulu, abc.com, etc from the couch. And it'll probably handle any Xvid/DivX you throw at it.

I doubt it'll play back those HD quicktime movie trailers though...

[paul-engadget @ Oct 8th 2008 4:10PM]

when are we going to see the poulsbo architecture properly rolled out in a form ready for adoption? whilst atom makes low power *cpu* headlines, it doesn't matter if the rest of the chipset is still quite power hungry!