Caped crusader
Warrington distributor VIP has launched a new PC brand onto the market in the form of the Cape 7 ION small form factor PC
As the name implies this is a mini-desktop - or nettop as Intel would have us call it - based around Intel's Atom CPU (the N230 in this case) and NVIDIA's ION graphics platform.
The most distinctive thing about the Cape 7 is its size. The dimensions are 173 x 154 x 20 mm and it weighs a mere 591 grams without the stand.
The ION graphics means it can handle 1080p video, but the single-core Atom N230 CPU means it will probably struggle with anything more than casual games. The presence of a VESA bracket implies its primary use is expected to be bolted onto the back of a TV. Other specs include 2GB memory and a 160GB 2.5 inch HDD and it's manufactured by Pegatron.
Acer launched a similarly specced SFF desktop nearly a year ago costing £250 with Windows Vista installed. One is thinner and offers Windows 7 Home Premium, but it's launching against some pretty well-established incumbents.
There's also a no OS version for £159, which gives you an idea how much of the cost goes straight to Microsoft. It's available from the following etailers: CCL, Ginger6, SCAN, Overclock, ARIA and Overclockers.
