Fit-PC 2 nettop stays slim, gets an Atom upgrade

The original Fit-PC slim may have been able to proclaim itself the "world's smallest," but with an 500MHz AMD Geode processor and no more than 512MB of RAM, it had a bit of difficulty with the "PC" side of the equation. Fit-PC looks to have gone some way towards improving that with its new Fit-PC 2, however, which matches the current nettop ranks by adding your choice of an Atom Z530 or Z510 processor. Otherwise, you can expect the usual 1GB of RAM, your choice of 2.5-inch SATA hard drive, built-in WiFi, a generous six USB ports, HDMI out, XP or Ubuntu for an OS, and support for full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. From the looks of it, this one is just starting to roll out now, and will set you back between $245 and $400 depending on the configuration. Still looking for more? Then head on past the break for a quick hands-on video.

[insky @ May 15th 2009 2:06PM]

That's still really small...

Yeah, I know, that's what she said.

[KRIS_C_123 @ May 15th 2009 2:09PM]

she didnt say that to me ;)

[Guru @ May 15th 2009 2:18PM]

Buy this bro,
Come on a 7 year old desktop,?
get with the times.0nly $245 about 8 hours of work.

[OneLove @ May 15th 2009 2:53PM]

...but she was thinking it (as she walked away laughing)

[ScrapMaker @ May 15th 2009 2:07PM]

I wonder if this will be a decent HTPC? Lately the atom-based ones have really stunk. Just not packing enough power, in my opinion.

The form factor looks perfect though.

[Shinigami @ May 15th 2009 2:27PM]

Ever heard of Nvidia Ion?

[DWells55 @ May 15th 2009 10:14PM]

Yeah, if they added nVidia's Ion to this to offload video processing and allow perfect 1080p playback, this thing would be an absolutely killer HTPC.

[m2h @ May 16th 2009 11:01AM]

Fitpc2 has the GMA500 and new chipset. So yes it could be used as a nice HTPC front end.
Plus it only uses a meager 7watts at full load.

[nanobis @ May 15th 2009 2:10PM]

Nice, if i was only in the market for one i would really consider it.

[The_Dude @ May 15th 2009 2:57PM]

buy your son the wii or even an xbox , safeguard his future sexlife.

[Information Central @ May 15th 2009 6:40PM]

if you WERE only in the market

[Anonymouse @ May 15th 2009 9:42PM]

grammar nazi...

[darkmax @ May 15th 2009 2:11PM]

Wow... nice for my 5-year-old son to use

[Shinigami @ May 15th 2009 2:28PM]

IMO, kids will like Wii more than this...

[darkmax @ May 15th 2009 2:41PM]

not my kids

[The_Dude @ May 15th 2009 2:58PM]

get him the wii or xbox , safeguard his future chances with women.

[adrian @ May 15th 2009 4:41PM]

A nice straight forward video as well.

[Peter @ May 15th 2009 2:16PM]

Arrg! Why is it in Hebrew?!

[Stevenfb @ May 15th 2009 3:05PM]

Israeli's are smart, so smart, they don't care for English

[Information Central @ May 15th 2009 6:41PM]

apostrophe + S = POSSESSIVE

[OOkladek @ May 16th 2009 4:38AM]

The website engadget linked to just did a review of the pc in hebrew, here is the website of the manufacturer: http://www.compulab.co.il/fitpc2/html/fitpc2-intro.htm (yes its in english :) )

[Scott Walz @ May 15th 2009 2:17PM]

Give me an option for a dual core Atom (and a link to buy one, as I can't seem to find one, even on their website), and I'll buy one (or two).

Do want.

[htd @ May 15th 2009 2:22PM]

can handle 1080p video playback? might be nice attachment to my HDTV

[Robbie @ May 15th 2009 4:16PM]

This video shows 1080p playback. looks decent. this would be awesome to mount on the wall behind my TV. Definitely want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsijIVZ4MSk&feature=related

[Level 5 @ May 15th 2009 2:26PM]

Hmm.. get a Lilliput touch screen and this would be a hell of an in-dash carputer.

[charliex @ May 15th 2009 2:31PM]

i've got a fitpc 1 and a xenarc as an in car, its good that its small and fanless, bad that its 5v and needs 5a to run reliably, but its really slow on graphics and so on. hopefully the new one is going to be a big improvement, last time i saw the spec it was 12V.


getting it from israel was easy enough, just have to remember to pay the customs duty.

[wolfe @ May 15th 2009 2:29PM]

Make one with the ION chip and I might get one . . . But just with Intel graphics, forget-it . . .

[hannes @ May 15th 2009 2:30PM]

they say on their website that it would be capable of outputting HD-video, but without an Ion chipset, I wonder how the crappy intel graphics is supposed to do the job...

[m2h @ May 16th 2009 11:06AM]

The GMA500 graphics engine is based on licensed IP from ImagTec, so it's using PowerVR technology. It is more than enough capable for 1080p playback.

ION platform tacks on 30watts. This Fitpc2 is only using 7watts at load. Plus it's a complete package deal. Even with IR on the front for a remote.

[Mike Rosenberg @ May 15th 2009 2:32PM]

Big deal. Aleutia H1 has a fanless Atom CPU, up to 4GB RAM, and the Nvidia Ion for the same price (once you factor in shipping).

[BigD145 @ May 15th 2009 2:35PM]

Niiiiice. Good size for a carputer.

[Ayle @ May 15th 2009 2:42PM]

Install OSX on it and you have the ultimate Mac Mini!

[steve @ May 15th 2009 2:45PM]

It looks like it is set up for dual boot; that isn't the out of box experience is it?

I guess maybe they are using a demo model pre-loaded with a dual boot interface?

[chispito @ May 15th 2009 2:48PM]

Would it kill them to put full-sized USB ports on it?

[vapore0n @ May 15th 2009 3:23PM]

full size are on the back

[Felipe @ May 15th 2009 3:00PM]

So when you say Windows XP or Ubontu, you mean screw them and install Windows 7?

[johnmc @ May 15th 2009 3:40PM]

You misspelled CentOS (or Fedora/FreeBSD/whatever other OS the kids like these days).

[Aqua @ May 15th 2009 3:07PM]

Right now I leave my Dell XPS on all the time for torrents, that is a major power hog. Something tiny and extremely low power like this would be perfect for that task.

[Joey P @ May 15th 2009 4:16PM]

I bought a DNS-323 NAS, now with Torrent downloading ability, for that reason specifically, not to mention 2 bays and the 1TB Green WD's. Suuuper low power and my computers stay off more now. Makes me happy!

[Veraxus @ May 15th 2009 3:07PM]

I can envision some very good uses for these... especially where digital signage and interactive kiosks are concerned.

[html159 @ May 15th 2009 3:36PM]

ugly black box... looks like a switcher

[Anthony @ May 15th 2009 3:52PM]

Yeah, this has carputer written all over it.

[Wwhat @ May 15th 2009 4:49PM]

How is an atom an 'upgrade'?

[ebayaholic @ May 15th 2009 6:46PM]

Ummmmm maybe a 1.6Ghz processor vs. the original 500Mhz one? Maybe? Maybe?

[Wwhat @ May 18th 2009 12:44PM]

Nobody buys those number games anymore, so you are to be complimented on repeating maybe.
It's an atom, and those are just not that hot, literally and figuratively, which is only half good :)

And they probably 'upgraded' to save a few pennies while gaining more from the atom 'buzz' than from the atom's lack of oomph.

[scooter @ May 15th 2009 5:22PM]

Hmmm- your average netbook (EEE) are now $250, and have the same exact specs, very tiny size, AND come with a free screen! Why not buy one of those, and simply rip the screen off? Anyone?

[Information Central @ May 15th 2009 6:42PM]

Well, the footprint of this thing is way smaller than even a netbook. Otherwise, you're right.

[Cargojack @ May 16th 2009 10:43PM]

Why would I want to buy one of those instead of a netbook?

[Wwhat @ May 18th 2009 12:46PM]

You are suppose to buy both, in fact you are suppose to buy everything mentioned on engadget, to help the economy, although if engadget lists 4 crapgadget in one article you are allowed to only buy 1 of them, such is the agreement.

[Information Central @ May 15th 2009 6:42PM]

Another great example of pointlessly using video instead a few decent still pics and some specs.