NVIDIA shows off Ion Windows 7 multitasking, confirms launch details

We've already gotten a pretty good idea of Ion's capabilities, but NVIDIA doesn't seem to be one to turn down an opportunity to show it off, and it did just that recently at a joint press conference with Microsoft. As you might have guessed, the pair was especially keen to show off Windows 7 multitasking on the platform and, judging from the video available at the read link below, it seems to be more than up to the task, with it able to convert a 1080p video file to a more portable size while the video was playing, and play Left 4 Dead at 720p resolution without any noticeable hiccups. In other news, NVIDIA also confirmed that the first Ion-based system would, in fact, be a desktop, and that it'll begin shipping sometime this spring. Unfortunately, there's no word as to who may be manufacturing said desktop, with NVIDIA's Drew Henry only going so far as to say that it'll be "very small" and "affordable."

Read - TweakTown, "NVIDIA demo Windows 7 multi-tasking on ION "
Read - Electronista, "First NVIDIA Ion system a desktop, due in spring"

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2009 2:55PM]

This in a mini 10 would be amazing!

would this run the Sims 3?

[jon Posted Feb 11th 2009 3:17PM]

He made a point of saying the first ion system would be affordable.
That should put to bed any suggestions that it will be an apple product.

;)

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2009 4:03PM]

my guess is it will be a new dell studio-mini or something like that.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 1:49AM]

i was hoping motherboard manufacturers would pounce on this. if dell or hp were to pump out a system around the ion platform there's a chance that they won't include an expansion slot to prevent ion from hurting the sales of their more expensive all-in-one touch screen media center pc's. either way its cool to see that the ion platform is actually going into production.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2009 4:24PM]

Kevin Spacey!- wait, no, just some other bald guy.

[MichaelofBenetton Posted Feb 11th 2009 5:13PM]

is this article saying that ion will ship in spring with windows 7

which will mean windows 7 is getting released in spring?

please...

[quasar Posted Feb 11th 2009 5:16PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoRTlqjkpxU

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2009 6:06PM]

Can someone ask Nvidia, why they are using the a 3 year old Sony XBR in their presentation? Seriously...

[superhobo Posted Feb 11th 2009 6:22PM]

Get out of my head, Charles.
Stop planting ions in there.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2009 9:04PM]

Hey, nVidia, how's about you man up and pay and fix the 8400 and 8600 GPU's that are STILL overheating!

It's a massive worldwde problem that you've turned a blind eye to!! Arghhhh

[mp3 Posted Feb 11th 2009 11:54PM]

Put that in either a Dell Mini 10, an Asus Eee 1000 and I'll be a very happy mobile gamer.

[veer01 Posted Feb 12th 2009 2:34PM]

I cant wait for the ion platform to make its way into netbooks. When that happens im buying for sure. ATM, im watching and waiting.

[Michael Pollard Posted Feb 24th 2009 4:51PM]

@ all the Mac comments: It would be weird if they were selling retail a Mac with Windows 7 preinstalled... :)

But they do say "Windows 7" together with "it'll begin shipping sometime this spring." ( Here's hoping ! )