ZOTAC, the master of all things miniature, has just announced the all new ZBOX. With a stylish design, an integrated Blu-ray drive and NVIDIA's Ion chipset, the company is hoping that this will be the ultimate companion for any HDTV.
The mini-PC makes use of a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Atom D525 paired with NVIDIA's latest Ion chipset, which features 16 shaders and a dedicated 512MB frame-buffer. While those specs won't set the world on fire, the added power of the GPU should make light work of any high-def videos and even allow for some light gaming.
While the manufacturer offers a model of the ZBOX with 2GB DDR2 and a 250GB 5400RPM hard-drive, a bare-bones variant is available without these components, allowing a purchaser to customise it however they like.
Despite its dimensions, the system actually has quite a few connectivity options. ZOTAC has outfitted the ZBOX with USB 3.0, eSATA and a mini-PCIe slot, giving owners plenty of options for expansion. It also includes HDMI and DVI outputs, gigabit Ethernet and a built-in 802.11n WiFi card.
Of course, it's the inclusion of a slot-loading Blu-ray reader that is the system's stand-out feature. The company is claiming that this is the first mini-PC to ship with such a drive, and it should mean that it is a great addition to any living room.
Unfortunately, ZOTAC hasn't given any details on availability or how much the it will cost, but at the right price, the ZBOX looks like it could make for a fantastic HTPC.
