By Martin Vedris
SYDNEY, NSW: Computing technology is getting smaller and more powerful and the latest mini PCs from ViewSonic continue the trend with Blu-ray drives, 320 GB hard drives and 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs encased in tiny boxes.
The ViewSonic PC mini series includes the PC mini 550, PC mini 530, PC mini 132 and PC mini 120.
The PC mini 550 (RRP $1,499) is billed as the ‘performance model’. It’s equipped with Microsoft Windows 7, an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz CPU processor and Centrino platform. The system memory includes 4GB DDR2 RAM and a 320GB hard drive. It also Blu-ray disc drive for playing full HD 1080p video. It comes with remote control, making it ideal for connecting to a home entertainment system with a big screen LCD TV.
The size of a paperback novel, the PC mini 132 (RRP $799) weighs just 0.45-kilograms. It also includes Microsoft Windows 7, a dual core Atom 330 processor and 2G SDRAM. An optional VDD100-DVD super multi recordable DVD drive is also available. Graphics performance experience is enhanced with the latest nVIDIA ION video chip.
The PC mini 120 (RRP $499) is also very small and light occupying 6 litres of space and 550 grams. It comes with Microsoft Windows XP, 1GB DDR2 memory, a 160GB SATA hard drive and it offers four USB ports.