News - NVIDIA secures Microsoft buy-in to ION

[HEXUS]

Graphics giant announces its netbook graphics platform has secured Windows Vista certification.

Read more.

[this_is_gav]

Netbooks have so far been restricted to using Windows XP or Linux as their operating system due to the greater graphical resource requirements of Windows Vista.

It's not the graphical resources which is stopping the majority of netbooks using Vista. It's the same as XP in that respect. It's the performance issues associated with Vista, though I'm sure the bulky nature of the Vista GUI doesn't help either.

[dangel]

It's not the graphical resources which is stopping the majority of netbooks using Vista. It's the same as XP in that respect. It's the performance issues associated with Vista, though I'm sure the bulky nature of the Vista GUI doesn't help either.

It's the total memory load, the use of the hard disk (too much of) and the fact that Vista's DWM (the 3d desktop aero enginey fun thing) isn't anywhere as lightweight as Window 7's when it comes to memory use. Vista sucks on old hardware, or low powered hardware (such as netbooks) - Seven does not by comparison.

But you're right - the intel GMA graphics on most netbooks *will* run aero for Vista just fine.

[TAKTAK]

Hmm, the reason i'm interested in ION is that i want an ITX HTPC...

And ION ticks all of the right boxes...

[pauldarkside]

Hmm, the reason i'm interested in ION is that i want an ITX HTPC...

And ION ticks all of the right boxes...

I've thought about one in ITX form but I'm currently set on selling my netbook and replacing it with an ION/Atom version. I'm just hoping there'll be one with either DVI or preferably HDMI connectivity - best of both worlds then.

[spraint]

First ION machines are due in the spring, but at $299 for the lowest desktop config, not really that competitive IMHO. As for netbooks, Intel's Arrendale chip looks to have that sown up, unless VIA can improve efficiency with its Nano.

[scaryjim]

As for netbooks, Intel's Arrendale chip looks to have that sown up, unless VIA can improve efficiency with its Nano.

Surely that depends on how stripped-down AMDs Yukon and Congo platforms can be? There's currently talk about 8W chipset + 8W CPU: if they can shave a couple of watts off that and keep the price at ~ £250 for a netbook that's got to be challenging...