It was way back in December 2008 that NVIDIA began to tout its ION platform as the basis to the world’s smallest, premium, visual computing PC.
Fast forward some four months, and we're almost all aware of what ION has to offer. Bringing the power of a GeForce 9400M IGP to a Pico-ITX platform that supports Intel's Atom processor, ION should, in theory, open the flood gates to low-power systems that can handle modest 3D gaming and decode high-def content without breaking a sweat.
Sounds like the perfect netbook, nettop or HTPC, but if you're not already convinced by NVIDIA's hyperbole, it's now getting many of the industry's biggest names to chime in.
Here's what the likes Microsoft, Electronic Arts and Google have to say:
"Providing superior performance for one of the fastest growing market segments makes NVIDIA ION a winner. Consumers today want less expensive PCs with more capabilities, which is exactly what ION delivers. Users can suddenly do more with their systems, and developers benefit from an expanding market. It’s a win-win for the entire industry," says Jim McGregor, chief technology strategist at analyst firm In-Stat.
"ION enables consumers with new mini-notebook and small desktop systems to access and play a larger library of Windows games, creating incredible opportunity and access for all gamers,” adds Corey Rosemond, group manager, Microsoft Games for Windows program.
New affordable and powerful PC hardware like ION is going to change the landscape of PC gaming.
"New affordable and powerful PC hardware like ION is going to change the landscape of PC gaming. This new mass-market target audience is a perfect match for Battlefield Heroes," said Ben Cousins, executive producer at DICE, a division of Electronic Arts.
"NVIDIA and Google will bring the Earth into view for millions of new users. We’re really impressed with how well Google Earth will run on affordable PCs powered by ION graphics processors. It will raise the industry standard for entry-level graphics," says Stefan Kuhne, Google Earth software engineer.
We're already eagerly anticipating the ION platform, and NVIDIA's telling us that ION-based systems will be arriving in the second quarter of 2009 - that could mean any minute now. (Thanks to pauldarkside for the heads up!)
