For now, rockets make a crash landing into the ocean, never to be used again. Elon Musk’s SpaceX wants to shirk that reality, however, and utilize rockets that both take off and land vertically, allowing them to be reused. The Grasshopper has been shown off a total of three times now by SpaceX, the latest of which you can see in the video below.

While the rocket didn’t hit its target of at least a few hundred feet, it did improve over the last time we saw it. The rocket hovers in the air for a bit before gliding back down into place; the first time around, it did little more than bounce briefly into the air. The test was conducted in McGregor, Texas, on December 17, and was followed up by an announcement tweet by Elon Musk on Twitter.

This comes after SpaceX managed to score a contract with the United States Air Force on December 6. With the contract, SpaceX will get the chance to run two missions, during which it will get to demonstrate its space vehicles as part of the EELV program. The missions are slated to take place in 2014 and 2015.

[via TPM]

This unit is able to work with 8TB of storage capacity over one single network. You’ll be able to work with RAID-1 mode, RAID-0 mode, or as JBOD. With RAID-1 you’ll be mirroring for high data security and with RAID-O you’ll be high speed striping. Each hard disk’s status can be monitored with the S.M.A.R.T. system that Shuttle offers up, and in RAID-1 you’re able swap a defective hard disk.

This machine has 1 USB 3.0 port up front as well as 2 USB 2.0 ports and a card reader – for many types of SD cards. This device works with external hard disks as well as USB sticks and printers connected to the network. This system has AutoCopy, this allowing data to be copied automatically from USB media or SD memory cards straight to the KD20. You can also transfer to a USB-connected storage device besides with timed backups for additional data security.

This unit uses a dual-core processor with tested speeds of 75/55 MB/s (read/write) (under optional conditions) – and energy consumption has been found to only be up at 9W in sleep mode and 15.5W in full operation. Access to the NAS occurs via Gigabit Ethernet and switches and (WLAN) routers with 10/100/1000 Mbit/s data transmission are compatible as well. Topology discovery is also included for connections to your PC.

You’ve got integrated DNLA-compatible media server action here for media playback, an iTunes server and BT download function also able to be used. There are also free OMNINAS apps on the market for iOS and Android devices for mobile access to content on your KD20.

This device has a recommended retail price of EUR 129.00 (ex VAT) and it’s available for purchase right this minute!. Have a peek here at a hands-on video provided by Shuttle to see the NAS in action!

The Shuttle XS35GTA V3 is the machine using a discrete ATI Radeon HD 7410M GPU with 512 MB of DDR3 VRAM. The machine runs an Intel dual core Atom D2700 processor and an Intel in M10 Express Chipset. The machine has dual RAM slots supporting up to 4 GB and can support an optional DVD or Blu-ray slim line drive. It also has space for a single SATA HDD or SSD. Shuttle recommends the bare-bones machine to sell for €233.

The other machine is the XS35V3, and it uses a dual-core Intel atom the 2700 processor. Graphics are via an integrated Intel GMA 3650 GPU, and the PC supports an optional DVD or Blu-ray drive. Users can put up to 4 GB of RAM inside the drive and a single SATA storage drive. The XS35V3 will sell for €172.

Connectivity includes a gigabit ethernet port and three USB ports – two on the back and one on the front panel. There’s also an SD card reader for directly transferring files from a digital camera or media player.

As for the user-interface, as you’d expect it’s browser-based. There’s support for standalone BitTorrent downloads and DLNA media-server functionality, and Shuttle will offer iOS and Android apps for phones and tablets.

Build quality seems good – though Shuttle obviously has some experience making small, sturdy hardware – though the company is obviously coming from behind in terms of things like software flexibility; rivals like Synology already offer plugin-based feature expansion, for instance. Still, Shuttle looks to be aiming for the long-haul, with the KD20 only being the first of the new OMNINAS range. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, as is release date.

Alternatively, one of those PCI cards can be used to slot in a separate graphics card, or indeed you could use Sandy Bridge‘s onboard GPU capabilities to drive up to four displays simultaneously. Using an mSATA-SSD, fitted into the Mini-PCIe slot on the mainboard, means the system can take advantage of Intel’s proprietary Smart Response Technology, exclusive to the Z68 desktop chipset, to bolster the performance of the regular hard-drive.

Such drives can be fitted into the XPC SZ68R5′s two 3.5-inch bays (one internal, one external) or into the 5.25-inch bay (which otherwise could be used for an optical drive). Motherboard connectivity includes two SATA 6 Gbit ports, two SATA 3 Gbit ports, two USB 2.0 and an RS232 port, while on the outside there are four USB 3.0, six USB 2.0, an eSATA/USB combo, 7.1-channel analog audio, and S/PDIF digital audio. The standard PSU is a 500W unit, and one of the front USB ports gets 2 Amps for charging power-hungry devices like your iPad.

Shuttle is asking €301 ($397) for the XPC SZ68R5, though that doesn’t include a processor, RAM, any standalone graphics cards, optical or hard-drives, or SSD memory for the Smart Response Technology boost.

Graphics are courtesy of whichever Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3, i5 or i7 processor you slot in, so basically HD Graphics 2000 or 3000, and the XH61 can take a CPU with a maximum TDP of 65W. Ports include HDMI, D-Sub, three audio outputs (with 7.1-channel surround sound support), gigabit ethernet, six USB 2.0 (two up-front behind a drop-down panel) and two PS/2 for legacy peripherals.

The box can be positioned upright or flat on your desk, or even screwed into a VESA mount on the back of your display, and while it may look nowhere near as slick as the aluminum Mac mini, there’s plenty of flexibility for turning it into a media center PC or something similar.

The Shuttle XH61 is priced at €146 ($186) though you’ll have to supply your own processor, memory, hard-drive and optical drive on top of that. Drop a Core i7 inside and you might have quite the little slab of potency.

The H3 6700P uses the Intel H67 Express Chipset and second-generation Core i7 or i5 processors. The machine supports up to 16GB of RAM and offers HD audio as well. The little board inside the computer has 7.1 channel HD audio and gigabit Ethernet to round out the main features of the computer. The machine supports up to 500GB of storage in drive bay one and has an additional drive bay supporting another 500GB HDD if needed. The machine also has space for a single optical drive.

Graphics for the computer are AMD FirePro or optional NVIDIA GeForce graphics. The SFF rig has eSATA, USB 3.0, mic in, headphone in, and various buttons on the front panel. It has a single PCI x1 v2.0 slot inside along with a PCI-E slot for graphics cards and a mini PCI-E x1 slot for an optional WiFi card. Pricing for the computer is unknown.

The XG41 has six USB 2.0 ports, dual com ports, S/PDIF audio output, and audio ports on the front and rear of the machine, the mainboard under the hood has a single mini PCIe slot for expansion and three SATA 3Gbit/s ports for storage drives. The case is made to support 2.5″ storage devices and one of those three bays can be used for a slim line optical drive leaving two HDD bays. The board supports Intel Core 2 and other processors using LGA 775 sockets.

It also has a pair of RAM slots on the board that will support up to 8GB of RAM. The cooling system uses a heat pipe system that has dual fans for quiet operation and cooling performance. The power supply for the machine is an external 90W unit. The mainboard is a small mini-iTX unit and it uses the Intel G41 Express + ICH7 chipset. The maximum power consumption of the CPU chosen for the machine is 65W. Graphics are handled by Intel GMA X4500. The XG41 will sell for EUR 159 plus VAT when it launches.

Inside the aluminum chassis there’s a motherboard using Intel’s H67 Express chipset for the latest Sandy Bridge Core i3/i5 /i7 processors, along with LGA1155 for GPU enhancement, SATA-III 6Gbps support and two SATA-II 3Gbps connections. Other ports include a pair of eSATA – Shuttle envisage some users setting up RAID arrays and using Intel’s Rapid Storage tech – along with four USB 3.0, seven USB 2.0, HDMI and DVI.

A heatpipe system for the CPU means a smaller, quieter – and more power-frugal – fan can be used, while still leaving space for two graphics card slots. Up to 16GB of DDR3 1333 MHz memory can be fitted, and there’s gigabit ethernet and surround sound support. The demo model at E3 2011 this week used a Core i5 2500K CPU, 4GB of DDR3 memory and an NVIDIA video card. No word on pricing at this stage.

Press Release:

Shuttle Unveils H3 6700G Gaming PC at E3 2011

Shuttle Teams Up with Top Game Publishers to Demo Up-and-Coming Games and Franchises on Shuttle’s New H3 6700G Small Form Factor Gaming PC at E3

LOS ANGELES, CA — Jun 09, 2011 / (http://www.myprgenie.com) — Shuttle, a world-leading PC manufacturer focused on high-performance small form factor desktops, has teamed up with the computer and video ga me industry’s top publishers at E3 2011, including Square Enix (Tomb Raider(R) and Final Fantasy(R)), to present its new Shuttle H3 6700G small form factor gaming PC. Shuttle is the PC provider of Square Enix’s upcoming tactical MMORPG, WAKFU(R), among other titles.

SMALL FORM FACTOR GAMING PC

Shuttle’s new H3 6700G, designed for gamers and extreme gamers, is based on Intel’s H67 Chipset for Socket 1155 processors. Housed in a brushed aluminum chassis and featuring the latest technology like USB 3.0, 7.1 surround sound audio, and full 1080p video via HDMI, the H3 6700G is light on weight yet heavy on features. The configuration shown at E3 2011 features Intel’s Core i5 2500K CPU, 4GB of DDR3 memory (up to 16GB), and an NVIDIA gaming performance graphics card.

Find out more about the new H3 at http://us.shuttle.com/barebone/Models/SH67H3.html

The reason for such a long delay has to do with the amount of testing required once the assembly is replaced, a procedure which will take several days. The testing requires 48 hours to verify the assembly is working properly and then certify it as flight ready. Workers have already begun the process, starting with draining of the shuttle’s external fuel tank. And the crew of STS-134 has returned to Houston for additional training until the next launch attempt.

The launch of the Shuttle Endeavor had attracted great attention since it was the next to the last shuttle flight before NASA undergoes a long dark period with no man rated launch vehicle in it’s inventory. NASA had developed the Ares 1X test launch rocket in anticipation of a return to the moon with the Constellation Project. But the Obama Administration canceled that program after just one test launch and directed NASA to design and build a new launch vehicle, a process that’s expected to take several years. During which, NASA will have to hitch rides from the Russian Space Agency to ferry crew and material to the International Space Station.

[via NASA Shuttle News]

There’s also a 2-megapixel webcam, stereo 2W speakers and a useful carry-handle (though with no battery you’ll have to buy a long extension lead if you want to transport the X50V2 while it’s powered on). Since it’s provided as a barebones machine, as well as supplying RAM you’ll need to slot in your choice of 2.5-inch SATA drive, too.

Ports include four USB 2.0, ethernet, a 4-in-1 memory card reader and audio in/out, while there’s also integrated WiFi b/g/n and a spare miniPCIe card slot. No word on an official MRSP, but street pricing seems to have settled at around £280 ($462) for the black version.

[via PCLaunches]

Shuttle is now offering a system configurator for a computer called the SG41J4. The computer has a strange little front panel (that reminds us of the Nokia XpressCovers) that the user can remove and modify. The barebones rig can be crammed full of an Intel Core 2 Processor with a 1333 MHz FSB. It has a pair of DDR3 RAM slots that support up to 8GB of RAM. The case also has room for a pair of optical drives and a pair of 3.5-inch desktop HDDs.

Other features of the computer include a PCI x16 slot that will fit a video card needing dual slots and the rig uses the GMA X4500 integrated GPU. That integrated GPU means that if you don’t use the PCI-e slot the integrated graphics are used. The machine measures in at 32.5 x 21.5 x 19cm and uses the normal Intel Box CPU cooler. The PSU the machine has inside is 250W.

[via Shuttle]

The small form factor of Mini-PCs is pack a lot in a tiny bundle and Shuttle’s new models are no different. Both the SH67H3 and SH67H7 can hold two 3.5” drives and one 5.35” drive with four DIMM slots capable of up to 16 GB of DDR3 memory. There are plenty of ports for users too with four USB 2.0 slots and three USB 3.0 slots.

The chassis and case cover for both models are made of aluminum and a 300 W power supply keeps the Mini-PCs running. The H7 model is the more stylish of the two with ports and connectors hidden behind drive doors, while the H3 is more traditional with all connectors exposed.

Press Release:

Mini-PCs for 2nd generation Intel Core processors

Product demonstrations at CeBIT 2011 in Hall 17, Stand E41

Shuttle Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of
multi-form-factor solutions such as the world-famous XPC Mini-PC
Barebones, showcases two models for Intel’s new 32 nm-technology
processor generation (code name: Sandy Bridge) at CeBIT 2011.

Shuttle, as the Mini-PC pioneer, is set to launch the XPC Barebone
SH67H3 and SH67H7 at the end of March 2011. Both are based on the
Intel H67 Express chipset and boast extremely impressive technical
features to support all Intel Core 2nd generation i3, i5 and i7
processors with LGA1155. There are four DIMM slots that enable DDR3
memory support with a maximum capacity of 16 GB.

Furthermore, these Mini-PCs are able to accommodate two 3.5″ drives
and one 5.35″ drive with the motherboard offering 2x SATA 6 Gbit/s and
2x SATA 3 Gbit/s. Additional drives can be connected externally via
eSATA or via an array of USB ports. On the front and rear of the
SH67H3 and SH67H7 models there are for the first time 4x USB 3.0 and
4x USB 2.0 ports as well as 2x eSATA/USB combo ports. A Gigabit-LAN
interface is also provided for fast network access and data transfer.

All second-generation Intel Core processors have a built-in graphics
function. At the rear of both SH67 models are two digital monitor
outputs. With both HDMI and DVI-I connections, the user can run two
monitors and enjoy seamless playback of HD content. The Mini-PCs
deliver audio signals via S/PDIF or HDMI.

Additional graphics performance is provided by the PCI-Express 2.0
x16 port which is compatible with the latest dual-slot graphics cards.
If a single-slot graphics card is used, one PCI-Express 2.0 x1 port is
then available for expansion cards. The third expansion option is the
Mini-PCIe port, which can be used for various applications, e.g. a
WLAN module.

A 300 W, 80-PLUS-certified power supply unit ensures the compact PC
is able to deliver high performance. The overall system is cooled by
means of a heatpipe with a large speed-regulated fan.

“With one machine available in two different designs, consumers are
able to choose their preferred option. The H3 design is more
traditional and all connectors are directly available. The H7 on the
other hand has a more elegant look and all connectors are elegantly
hidden from view behind drive doors,” states Tom Seiffert, Head of
Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. “With these new
models, we are responding to the commonly expressed wish of our
customers to go back to aluminium as the material for the chassis and
case cover.”

Shuttle’s recommended retail price for the Barebone SH67H3 is EUR
239.00. For the XPC Barebone SH67H7 the recommended retail price is
set to EUR 251.00 (both prices ex VAT).

Shuttle has announced that it is offering 10% off on all of its barebones computers on Newegg.com. The discount is good for up to $75 off a Shuttle Barebone PC and the special deal ends today. To get the discount you have to enter a special promo code at checkout.

The promo code is EMCZZYR22 and in addition to the 10% off on all models, some of them are shipping for free. Others will ship for only $4.99. This special may be one of the better deals for the holiday season on Shuttle hardware.

The three new configurations are ready to ship units that will be offered at leading retailers here in the US and in Canada. The three versions are all in the same crazy thin 1.5-inch thick chassis and are aimed at different users. The XS35 for everyday use packs in a Atom D510 CPU, WiFi, Intel GMA 3150 graphics, 1GB of RAM, and a 160GB HDD.

The configuration for media fans has an Intel Atom D510 CPU, Intel GMA 3150 graphics, 2GB of RAM, 320GB HDD, a slim DVD burner, and WiFi. The high-end offering is the XS35 GT for HD media fans. This configuration has the Atom D510 and packs in NVIDIA ION graphics with 1080p output. It also has 2GB of RAM, DVD burner, 500GB of storage, WiFi, and the other features of the lower-end models.

Ports include nine USB 2.0, an eSATA/USB combo connector, analog and S/PDIF audio, gigabit ethernet and a multiformat memory card reader.  Inside there’s a 3.5-inch hard-drive bay and a 5.25-inch optical drive bay.  The supplied PSU is a 300W unit, and there’s a heatpipe cooling system.

The Shuttle XPC Barebone SH55J2 is available in Europe now, priced at €251 ($320).  Obviously you’ll also need to budget for a processor, hard-drive and DDR3 RAM if you want a working system.

Press Release:

Mini-PC for current Intel Core processors

Shuttle XPC Barebone SH55J2 supports Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core
i7

Shuttle Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of
multi-form-factor solutions such as the world-famous XPC Mini-PC
Barebones, today announces the launch of its new XPC Barebone SH55J2.
Now, for the first time, a single Mini-PC supports all Intel Core
variants for socket 1156.

From today, the SH55J2 brings you a Mini-PC platform which utilizes
all the features of the new Intel Core series – whether it is the
integrated HD graphics chip, the turbo boost function or two and four
CPU cores. The energy-efficient processor generation is ideally suited
for Mini-PCs.

The HDMI interface can be activated using many Core i3 and Core i5
processors with integrated graphics function. Even playback of HD
video is possible with it. A VGA connector to use a second monitor is
also available. Both high-resolution picture and sound are transmitted
digitally via HDMI. If enhanced graphics performance is required or a
processor with no graphics function is used, then the PCI Express slot
can be fitted with a faster dual-slot graphics card.

What’s more, the Shuttle XPC Barebone SH55J2 also has a total of nine
USB ports, an eSATA/USB combo connector, audio ports (analog and
SPDIF), a Gigabit network interface, a PCI slot and a card reader.
Inside the case is space for two 3.5 inch hard disks and a 5.25 inch
optical drive.

Its 80 PLUS certified power supply unit with a 300-watt output offers
sufficient reserve capacity for sophisticated system components. The
SH55J2 is also cooled via a heatpipe cooling system with speed
controller. Anti-theft protection is provided by a Kensington lock at
the back of the case.

The Shuttle XPC Barebone SH55J2 is available from specialist
retailers in Europe immediately. Shuttle’s recommended retail price is
251 Euros (ex. VAT).

The new X350 is only 1.5-inches thick and is about a one-third the size of Shuttle’s previous generation Slim PC. The new X350 is so thin that it can be connected to the rear of a PC monitor or a TV.

That means that it would add no extra bulk or gear in your entertainment system or on your desk when installed. Inside the machine is an Atom D510 CPU and next-generation NVIDIA Ion graphics. 1080p output is optional and Shuttle will start taking orders for the machine this week.

The small gaming machine can be fitted with up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM and it offers 7.1-channel surround sound audio along with Gigabit Ethernet. The OS is Windows 7 and the Core i7 CPU can be one of several models up to the Extreme Edition. Storage is up to 2TB with space for two HDDs inside the machine.

The machine comes with a DVD burner stock and can be upgraded to Blu-ray. A USB 2.0 port and USB/eSATA port are located on the front panel of the machine. The computer uses a 500W power supply. The machine measures 8.5″ x 7.5″ x 13.1″. The machine starts at $1899 and will get much more expensive than that when the GTX 480 and high-end CPUs are added.

There are also two PCI-E-x16 slots – for either a single dual-slot card, or two single-slot cards in CrossFireX or SLI configuration – together with two gigabit ethernet ports with switchable failsafe or load-balancing.  Meanwhile there are two internal SATA bays – complete with RAID support – and a total of four SATA interfaces and two eSATA; Shuttle also thrown in a power connection for external SATA devices.

A custom heatpipe cooling system and 80-PLUS-certified 500W power supply round out the key specs, adding up to one darned impressive dinky PC.  It’s available – without CPU, memory or drives, mind – for €470 excluding VAT ($577).

Press Release:

Unique Mini-PC Barebone – suitable for 6-core CPUs

Europe-wide launch of Shuttle’s new SX58J3 flagship / “The smallest,
fastest Mini-PC in the world”

Shuttle Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of
multi-form-factor solutions such as the world-famous XPC Mini-PC
Barebones, proudly announces today the launch of Europe-wide delivery
of the new XPC Barebone SX58J3. This new model offers extraordinary
computing power and its key features places it at the top end of what
is currently feasible in terms of miniaturisation.

The SX58J3 is particularly remarkable thanks to its compatibility
with Intel’s ground-breaking 6-core processor, the Core i7-980X
Extreme Edition (codename: Gulftown), as well with all Core i7 CPUs
for socket 1366. To complement this, the four slots on the Barebone
are able to accommodate up to 16 GB DDR3 memory. The central interface
for all components is provided by an Intel X58 Express chipset which
was especially developed for high-performance systems.

“This Mini-PC which measures just 33 x 21.5 x 19 cm contains the
fastest desktop technologies currently available,” states Tom
Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. “In
particular, professional applications in the areas of media design,
R&D and complex games benefit from the high performance density of the
machine.”

One modern dual-slot graphics card or two single-slot graphics cards
with PCI-E-x16 interface can be used. ATI CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI
technologies are both supported.

The features of the SX58J3 include two Gigabit interfaces that can be
redundantly switched in “Failover” mode or can support load increase
with “Load Balancing”.

The two hard drives which can be fitted in this Mini-PC with an
internal volume of just 1300 cubic centimetres can be connected via
RAID. A total of four interfaces for SATA devices and two for eSATA
devices are available. There is also a power connection for external
SATA devices. A card reader for standard types of memory card is
located on the front panel.

The effective heatpipe cooling system ensures optimal stability in
this model while the highly-efficient 80-PLUS-certified 500W power
supply provides the necessary energy to meet all requirements.

The XPC Barebone SX58J3 is available from specialist retailers
immediately. Shuttle’s recommended retail price is EUR 470 (ex VAT).

Along with the J3, which we’ll get to in a moment, they’re going to showcase their small form factor PCs, all-in-one PCs, slim PCs, and the ever-popular Shuttle concept models, they’re going to be showing off a few notebook and netbook prototypes. Each of these pieces of tech are going to be on-hand at the show, so if you’re there, you’ll be able to play with them.

Now, for the J3. This is a highly-anticipated piece of hardware from the PC manufacturer, because it features Intel’s Core i7-980X Extreme Edition “Gulftown,” which happens to be the world’s fastest processor. It also showcases NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 480, which is the world’s fastest graphics card. If that’s not good enough for you, the J3 is also the world’s smallest 1-liter slim PC, featuring next-generation NVIDIA ION 2 graphics. All of which make one beefy machine, that we imagine will definitely fall into a few PC gamer’s hands over the course of this year. Full press release just below.

Release Text:
Shuttle unveils new desktops, laptops, and concept models for extreme gaming and HD entertainment at Computex 2010

City of Industry, CA — April 28, 2010 / ( http://www.myprgenie.com ) — Shuttle, the industry leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance small form factor (SFF) PC solutions and creator of the XPC, today officially announced its exhibition at the 2010 Computex, Asia’s largest and most influential trade show for the computer industry held in Taipei, Taiwan from June 1-5, 2010.

At Computex 2010, Shuttle’s latest portfolio of innovations — from new small form factor PCs, all-in-one PCs, and slim PCs to Shuttle concept models, including notebook and netbook prototypes — will be on display for attendees to experience first-hand at the show.

Shuttle will be showcasing the highly-anticipated Shuttle J3 which supports the Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-980X Extreme Edition “Gulftown” — the world’s fastest processor — and the NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX 480 — the world’s fastest graphics card. The world’s smallest 1-liter slim PC with next-generation NVIDIA(R) ION 2 graphics and a slim optical drive bay for internal DVD drives will also be unveiled.

Beginning today, Shuttle will be opening up its schedule for meetings with media, resellers, and VIP guests. Interested companies and representatives from the U.S., Canada, and Latin America are welcome to email marketing@us.shuttle.com to arrange an in-person meeting, email or telephone interview, or request further information on Shuttle’s new products.

For the latest information about Shuttle and Shuttle’s new products, visit http://us.shuttle.com or follow @ShuttleLabs on Twitter.

The new machines include the J1 4100P and the G2 7600P. The new workstations can be fitted with Intel Core 2 dual core and quad core processors or AMD Phenom II X4 CPUs. Graphics options include NVIDIA Quadro FX video cards or ATI FirePro video cards.

Shuttle has also announced that in June it is set to launch a SFF PC using the Intel Gulftown processor. The SFF rig will pack in a 6-core CPU for the first time when the machine launches. The new J1 4100P and G2 7600P workstations will ship today starting at $899. Pricing on the Gulftown version is unknown.

The machine is listed at the J1 4100G and it is aimed at PC gamers. Shuttle is also offering some nice upgrades for free right now to those who buy. For a limited time buyers get a free CPU upgrade, gaming mouse, and a copy of red Faction Guerilla.

The SFF machine can be crammed full of gaming goodies like a Core 2 Quad processor and NVIDIA GT 240 graphics. That’s not exactly a high-end video card, but in a tiny machine, you can only expect single slot cards. The J1 4100G starts at $889 and versions for media enthusiasts and general computer users are available.

That should make for a cheaper, quieter system, and thanks to some new ports the X50V2 is a more flexible one too.  Shuttle have added one parallel and two serial interfaces on the back, perhaps not much interest to mainstream consumers but helpful if you’re looking to use the all-in-one for installations.

Otherwise there’s still a 15.6-inch touchscreen – running at 1366 x 768 resolution – and room for a 2.5-inch HDD/SDD; they’ve increased the maximum supported RAM to 4GB, too.  Ports include audio in/out, 10/100 ethernet, VGA, four USB 2.0 and an internal mini PCIe slot for a WiFi card.  Shuttle are selling the XPC X50V2 Barebone now, in black or white, for €353 pre-tax ($484), and will offer pre-configured versions at some point in the near future.

Press Release:

Version 2.0: All-in-One-PC from Shuttle gets a huge makeover

Power consumption reduced by almost 50% / fanless design means low
maintenance

Shuttle Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of
multi-form-factor solutions such as the world-famous XPC Mini-PC
Barebones, is announcing the sales launch of a new All-in-One-PC. The
second version of the X50 promises impressive, improved features and
additional functions.

Almost one year after its successful introduction, the X50V2 Barebone
is now being launched and will also be offered in future as a complete
system, with a choice of Windows 7 or Linux.

Lower energy consumption is just one of the many advantages of the
successor to the original. For the X50V2 Barebone, Shuttle has chosen
the new Intel Atom platform with D510 Dual Core Processor (2x 1.66
GHz) and NM10 Express Chipset. The new version of the X50V2 is, for
the first time, completely passively cooled and therefore extremely
quiet. The energy consumption of the only 3.6 cm wide PC has also been
reduced by around 50 % at the same time. The size of the supported RAM
has been increased to 4 GB. New features include one parallel and two
serial interfaces on the back of the X50V2, which make it considerably
more attractive for special applications. The practical webcam,
integrated stereo loudspeakers, WLAN (N), card reader and stand, which
can be turned into a carrying handle, are also available with it. The
standardised VESA mounting interface allows it to be fitted to monitor
arms and wall mounts for freely suspended use of the device.

The new Shuttle X50V2 Barebone is available in black or white and is
on sale now. Shuttle’s recommended retail price is 353 euros (without
VAT).

Video demo after the cut

According to NetbookNews, when attached the netbook saw a tenfold increase in graphics performance, benchmarking around 5,000 marks in 3DMark06 compared to around 500 when the CULV machine was tested alone.  It’s not just for graphics cards, though; since the i-Power GXT Mini box basically gives you a PCI-Express slot to play with, you can slot in a desktop TV tuner card or a USB 3.0 card.  There are also a couple of USB 2.0 ports on the front panel no matter what guts you opt for.

Shuttle will apparently sell both preconfigured versions of the setup, with a video card already in place, and barebones versions.  Meanwhile the GXT port itself will be showing up on netbooks and nettops from the company, such as the one demonstrated in the video below.

The tiny SFF PC is only 3.3cm thick and is HD compatible. This may well be the best SFF PC Shuttle has for use as an HTPC machine in the living room. The chassis used for the XS35 is 1-liter class and has a standard VESA mount interface. That interface means you can mount the PC to the rear of a TV or LCD display.

The machine is complete, runs the Intel Atom D510 processor at 1.6GHz, and uses the NM10 Express Chipset. Graphics are handled by the NVIDIA GT218, otherwise known as the ION 2 platform. The machine has HDMI out, five USB ports, VGA out, LAN port, memory card reader, 2.5″ HDD, and an optical drive. The machine will be available in Q2 2010 at an undisclosed price.

Shuttle says that the new system is nearly a 100% redesign and was developed for versatility. The J-series machines now support the mini-ITX standard to allow for more upgradability. A new linear fan cooling system and larger ventilation holes keep things cooler inside the small chassis.

The new cooling system allows for dual slot graphics cards to be used and up to 8GB of DDR2 memory. The cables inside the machine are pre-routed and the machine is based on the Intel G41 chipset. Graphics are via Intel GMA X4500 and the machine has a single PCIe x16 slot and a PCI slot for upgrades along with a 250W PSU. The machine will sell for EUR 146 in Europe plus VAT. There is no word on US availability.

Shuttle is known for its SFF line of computer systems and for some of its newest AIO computers. The company has announced that it will be offering up to 50% off some of its machines this week for holiday shoppers.

The catch is that Shuttle won’t tell us yet exactly where the up to 50% off deals will be offered. We do know that het deals will be on some of its XPC line of computers. The deals will be good during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Shuttle will only say shoppers should expect the deals to be at major online retailers. My money is on Newegg.com or TigerDirect.

The new X500V comes preloaded with Linux, or openSUSE 11.1 to be exact. The computer itself is based on a dual-core ATOM 330 processor, which runs at 1.6GHz. If you’re looking to buy the base specifications for this little device, then you’ll be getting 1GB of DDR2 memory (which comes with a second DIMM slot, for upgrade options up to 2GB), and 160GB or hard drive space. The machine is 36mm-thick, and is built around a 15.6-inch, 1366 x 768 touchscreen with a 1.3 megapixel webcam, stereo speakers and a microphone in the bezel.

The unit, at its entry-level set up, comes with a Gigabit Ethernet port, as well as 802.11n WiFi. Five USB ports and a VGA output are also present. It’s available now in the UK, in either a black or white variation, and is priced at 511 Euros, or $752. We don’t have any word on an American release date.

[via Register Hardware]

Best Buy tossed the Samsung Instinct HD online confirming its most important specs in the process. The phone will sport a 5MP camera that can play and record HD video along with Wi-Fi and lots of social networking. We found out early in the week that Apple’s latest OS, Snow Leopard, will ship on August 28 for $29. Bill Gates should be ashamed.

Shuttle swiped some of the team form ECS a while back and it looks like the new employees are going to be working on a netbook for Shuttle. That is just what we need, another netbook on the market. Speaking of another netbook, Nokia whipped its new Booklet 3G out this week with a promise of 12 hours of run time per charge.

The Nokia N97 Mini was reviewed early on Tuesday and the verdict was the keyboard is horrible. That may as well be the kiss of death for the smartphone. Asus’ new Eee Top nettop computers were confirmed as coming to the U.S. with the ET2002T and the ET2203T coming with some very nice features like NVIDIA Ion.

Nintendo filed a patent application on a new football controller this week that looks really weird. From the line art, it looks like you plug your remote and nunchuck into it. I wonder how long it will take for someone to put a football through their TV when this thing hits market. Sony let it slide this week that they are still losing money on the PS3 Slim from a hardware perspective. The motion controller spawned from Project Natal is due to hit market in 2010 as well.

Elecom unveiled a cool SSD this week that has 16GB of storage in a design so small it plugs directly into the internal SATA port on your mainboard. It looks like you have to give up any ports beside it though thanks to the fat drive. HIS launched a new HD 4890 iCooler x4 video card this week that is overclocked and has a unique cooling solution. I wondered if putting the heat back into the chassis would cause any issues for the other components of a computer using the card.

Corsair unveiled a new SSD with 256GB of storage called the X256 with seriously fast read and write speeds Tuesday. The SSD will support TRIM for Windows 7 reducing unneeded delete cycles to prolong the drives life. Samsung’s Omnia 2 was spied on the Samsung mobile website sporting a Verizon logo. Details are scant, but we know it has a 3.7-inch screen with AMOLED tech.

Motorola announced that it will be holding an event on September 10. The event is expected to be the unveiling of the Sholes and Morrison handsets thanks to the Android drawn on the logo. Sony finally offered up a real competitor to the Kindle this week with the unveiling of its first 3G eReader with a 7-inch touchscreen at $399.

A rumor tipped up Wednesday that has the cheap, plastic MacBook getting an update and possibly a lower price tag. That would be a welcome addition to the Apple line. It’s almost disgusting to see cool gadgets gutted and filmed for our enjoyment. The Sony PS3 Slim was torn down and snapped Wednesday and it was almost enough to make the gaming geeks cry.

I talked about the new PocketDock Wednesday that allows you to charge your iPod or iPhone with a plain USB cable rather than the Apple cord you typically use. It also has a 3.5mm output to connect to your home stereo. We also saw a new external Blu-ray player perfect for netbooks this week sporting both USB and eSATA interfaces. The power sipping optical drive gets all the juice it needs from the USB port.

Sirius XM unveiled the XM SkyDock for iPhone and iPod touch. The dock turns the iPhone into a touchscreen controller for satellite radio programming and keeps the phone charged up. The Super USB mobile phone charger showed up this week and charges all sorts of devices at once, it reminds me of a Swiss army octopus.

Thursday we showed off the official video of the slick new Nokia N900 along with its Maemo 5 operating system. This may be Nokia’s best chance to fight RIM and Apple on even ground. We found out that Apple will be having an event on September 9 and while what they will be showing off is unknown, we suspect it’s the iPod devices with cameras to go along with all those leaked shots of iPod cases.

Thursday Microsoft officially confirmed the rumored price cut on the Xbox 360 Elite. The console price dropped to $299 to combat the new PS3 Slim selling at the same price. The PS3 seems to be the better deal with the Blu-ray player in it to me. Navteq issued a study this week that claims using a GPS with traffic data can save drivers four days per year of sitting in traffic. That’s four more days you can spend at the office.

I ran across an external laptop battery later in the week that promises to work with 10,000 different laptop models. The battery claims to be good for about three more hours of use. TiVo filed a lawsuit in an East Texas court against Verizon and AT&T over DVR patents. The court is that of the judge that ruled against Nintendo and other big companies in recent patent suits.

Sony unveiled several new DSLR cameras this week, all of which can store to SD and SDHC cards. The cameras are due in October with the most expensive one selling at $950. Logitech’s new Squeezebox Touch was spotted running wild Friday with accessories showing up on the Logitech website. The thing looks a lot like the Harmony tablet style remotes to me.

Yet another iPhone blew up this week in France leaving the teenage boy using it with a headache that lasted about two days. I bet he had to replace his tightie whities too and just didn’t mention that part. What’s with all the European explosions? Altec Lansing brings back the 80′s with a new style boom box called the MIX Boombox sporting all sorts of digital media docks and inputs. I could totally see the thing sighting beside a cardboard dance floor while dancers spin around on their heads.

The Nokia N900 went on pre-order in Germany and Italy Friday at 599 EUR. There is no word on pricing and launch date for other countries yet. We posted up reviews of the new Nokia E52 and E55 mobile phones Friday. We liked the E52 better than the E55.

Another week has come and gone and another week in review in the history books for your perusal. Till next week!

Shuttle have experimented with Intel’s Atom processor range, in the shape of the X50 all-in-one desktop, but are yet to venture publicly into netbook hardware.  It’s unclear whether they would offer a barebone design, in which buyers could select and install their own memory, storage and the like, or a more mainstream preconfigured model.

ECS, for their part, are claiming to have “no knowledge of any raid” on their workforce, and are presumably carrying on business-as-usual.  The company are responsible for the OEM manufacturer of many brand-name netbooks, as well as producing their own reference platforms including an Android-based model back at Computex.

According to the press release, it seems the X50 barebone can be outfitted with between 512MB and 2GB of DDR2 RAM, and various types of 2.5-inch drive.  That could be anything from a budget 80GB hard-drive to a high-capacity SSD, though that would arguably be overkill given the 1.6GHz processor and GMA 950 graphics.

Other specs include a 4-in-1 memory card reader, gigabit ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, VGA output, five USB 2.0 ports, audio in/out and a VESA mount on the back.  It comes with no OS, but instructions for loading software from a network connection or USB drive are included.

The Shuttle Barebone X50 will go on sale at the end of June, with an MRSP of €361 ($499). 

Press Release:

Make your own All-in-One-PC: Shuttle presents the X50 Barebone

Memory and hard disk can be chosen individually

Shuttle Inc., the market leader in the Mini-PC segment and
manufacturer of Multi-Form-Factor solutions, is now shipping the
All-in-One-PC X 5000TA that was shown at the Computex in Taipei as a
barebone. Now users can decide for themselves which components should
be installed in their All-in-One-PC.

Now individualists can really get their money’s worth. With the
Shuttle X50 Barebone the decision for HDD or SSD, 512 MB or 2 GB
DDR2-memory is totally left to the purchaser of this little gem that
is only 3.6 cm thin.

Shuttle is delivering the barebone, available in both black or white,
with an Intel Atom 330 dual-core processor (2x 1.6 GHz), 15.6″
touchscreen, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, card reader, Gigabit-LAN, WLAN
(Draft-N), stereo speakers, microphone and a fanless 65 Watt power
supply.

“The market introduction of the X50 Barebone has enabled customers to
adapt Shuttle’s All-in-One-PC even more flexibly to their own
requirements,” says Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle
Computer Handels GmbH. “For sophisticated technical users it can be
built in only a few steps.”

The detailed installation guide is a helpful tool for the
installation of missing components or for upgrading the hard disk and
memory. The operating system is then deployed via USB drive or via the
network.

The Shuttle X50 Barebone is available from specialist retailers from
the end of June 2009. Shuttle’s recommended retail price is EUR 361
(ex VAT). Suppliers can be found using the “Shuttle StoreLocator”
www.shuttle.eu/buy.

That graphics chipset is capable of driving two separate displays, and a PCI Express 2.0 slot can take a separate graphics card and – if it’s by ATI – use SurroundView.  Six USB 2.0 ports, audio in/out, PS2, VGA and DVI are standard, plus there are mainboard connectors for a further four USB 2.0, two COM, one parallel and S/PDIF digital audio out.

The Shuttle SA76G2 comes with a 250W PSU and heatpipe cooling, and has all the necessary cabling pre-routed inside.  It’s available now, priced at €191 ($265).

Press Release:

Versatile Mini-PC Barebone to support AMD processors for socket AM3

New entry-level model ready for up to 8 GB DDR2 RAM

Shuttle Inc., the market leader in the area of mini-PCs and the manufacturer of multi-form-factor solutions, is now offering another barebone for modern AMD processors. The SA76G2 hits the market with a style not unlike its predecessor, the SN68SG2: classic black G2 design in polished aluminium.

Even at only 30 x 20 x 18.5 cm (DxWxH), the compact device is the first mini-PC barebone from Shuttle to support AMD processors for socket AM3. Processors with AM2 and AM2+ sockets can also be used, ensuring maximum compatibility and long-term upgrade options. This versatility comes thanks to the AMD RS760/SB710 chipset inside.

Another highlight is the ATI Radeon 3000 onboard graphics that is DirectX-10 compatible and allows for addressing up to four monitors at once. This is achieved by installing an additional ATI graphics card into the PCI Express 2.0 slot, which then cooperates with the mainboard’s integrated graphics processor via ATI SurroundView™ technology.

Given that this unit is destined to live on the desktop, it makes sure that a variety of ports are always within reach. This includes six USB ports on the front and rear sides, headphone and microphone jacks, 6-channel audio, PS2, VGA and DVI. Additional ports – up to four USB, two COM, one parallel and SPDIF – can be wired to the outside from connectors on the mainboard.

This mini PC barebone from Shuttle draws its power through an efficient 250 Watt power adapter, and also features a reliable heatpipe cooling system. All key cables are pre-routed with delivery to help you get set up fast.

The new Shuttle XPC Barebone SA76G2 is available from specialist retailers immediately. Shuttle’s suggested retail price is EUR 191 (ex VAT). A list of retail locations is available through the “Shuttle StoreLocator” at www.shuttle.eu/buy.

Video demo after the cut

The VX800 also brings with it the VIA Chromotion video engine, with support for MPEG-4, WMV9 and VC1 hardware acceleration, together with Chrome9 HC3 integrated graphics with full DirectX 9.0 compatibility.  Alongside the video outputs there are ethernet, HD audio, PS/2 and four USB 2.0 ports.

Shuttle are positioning the fanless XS29F as ideal for replacing bulky, noisy and power-greedy desktop PCs in homes and offices.  It can be customized with a number of SATA-II drives and up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM.  No word on pricing as yet, but it will land in June.

Press Release:

Silence is Golden in the Office with Shuttle’s First VIA Nano-Based Mini PC

VIA Nano processor powers fanless Shuttle desktop for a silent, small form factor PC in home office and small business environments

Taipei, Taiwan, May 27, 2009 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the adoption of its VIA Nano processor by Shuttle Inc. in its latest ultra small form factor PC, the fanless Shuttle XS29F. Ideal for home office or small business environments where space is often at a premium, the Shuttle XS29F is completely fanless for near silent operation.

The VIA Nano-powered Shuttle XS29F takes performance efficiency and low noise to new levels of genius, combining a low profile, unobtrusive design with the superior multimedia and productivity performance of the VIA Nano processor. From office applications and browser-based tasks, to high-end multimedia playback, the XS29F excels where other fanless SFF systems falter. SME and SOHO users will also benefit from a lower TCO through reduced energy consumption and lower fuel bills.

“The VIA Nano processor is designed from the ground up to offer that long sought after blend of performance and energy efficiency”, said Richard Brown, Vice President of International Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Shuttle have leveraged this to produce a remarkable device that redefines the modern desktop in terms of both size and noise.”

“The Shuttle XS29 Slim series offers small but can do it all functionality that meets VIA’s design strategy of small is beautiful,” said David Yu, chairman of Shuttle Inc. “By adopting the VIA Nano processor, the Shuttle XS29 Slim series takes advantage of performance and power efficiency that makes it ahead of its kind, and perfectly suited for any modern living room or office.”

About the Shuttle XS29F
Powered by a VIA Nano U1700 processor, the XS29F is complimented by the VIA VX800 media system processor, bringing support for D-sub and DVI Dual video support, rich HD audio, Fast Ethernet, S-ATA II storage and up to 4GB of DDR2 system memory.

The VIA VX800 provides the VIA Chromotion video engine with hardware acceleration for today’s more demanding video formats, including MPEG-4, WMV9 and VC1, while the VIA Chrome9 HC3 integrated graphics core boasts full DirectX 9.0 support. Back panel I/O includes both VGA and DVI ports, Ethernet, HD audio, PS/2 and four USB 2.0 ports.

Shuttle has engineered the XS29F to have a maximum power usage of under 50 watts for the entire system, housed in a small form factor, sub-3 liter chassis; almost one tenth the size of a regular desktop tower.

OS is Vista Home Basic, and there’s a 160GB hard-drive and 1.3-megapixel webcam, too.  Connectivity includes five USB 2.0 ports, gigabit ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, VGA out and 6-channel audio output; you’ll also find stereo speakers, a VESA mount on the rear and a foldable anti-slip stand.  The Shuttle X 5000TA is available in Europe now, with an MRSP of €499 ($651) excluding VAT.

If 15.6-inches, Windows Vista and an Atom 330 processor aren’t to your liking, you’ll be pleased to hear that Shuttle have confirmed that the X 5000TA is only the first such all-in-one model they have in mind.  According to the company, different sizes, feature sets and OSes are already in development, which we’d assume might mean higher-performance CULV processors, bigger screens and perhaps even integrated optical drives.  No word on when we can expect them to hit the market, however.

Press Release:

All-in-One-PC from Shuttle: X 5000TA with a touch screen and
energy-efficient Intel Atom Dual-Core processor

X50 model series only 3.6 cm thin / Now available in Europe

Shuttle Inc., the market leader in the Mini-PC segment and
manufacturer of Multi-Form-Factor solutions announces the availability
of a new product generation. The All-in-One-PC X 5000TA is a blend of
energy-saving technologies and an innovative operating design. Once
again, Shuttle’s customary design and its high-quality finish are
reflected in the new All-in-One-PC.

The only 3.6 cm thin All-in-One-PC comes supplied with an Intel Atom
330 processor (2x 1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 memory, a 160 GB hard disk and
Windows Vista Home Basic. The X 5000TA’s high-gloss finish together
with the visual chrome elements break new ground.

“Compact, power-saving All-in-One-PCs open up new and interesting
application areas whether as a second PC for fast internet access, as
part of a home automation system, for IP/videotelephony or for the
next generation to obtain their first computer experiences”, says Tom
Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH.
“The possibilities for these devices are also becoming increasingly
apparent in the business sector; for instance information can be
displayed at the POS and finger-based or stylus inputs can be made.”

Meeting the requirements of its All-in-One product category, the X
5000TA has the complete integration of a Mini-PC in a touch-sensitive
15.6 inch screen with a resolution of 1366 x 768. It also comes
supplied with a 1.3 megapixel-webcam, sound-rich stereo loudspeakers,
microphone and WLAN in the modern N-Standard.

Furthermore, the feature set includes Gigabit network, 5x USB 2.0,
6-channel audio, a card reader, Kensington-Lock, a VGA-out for
external monitors and a control panel to adjust the loudspeakers,
screen and the blue LED. An efficient Heatpipe Cooling System is
present to cool the whole system effectively. A fanless, external 65
watt power supply provides the All-in-One-PC with power.

Folded upwards by 180 degrees, the chromed anti-slip pedestal can be
used as a carrying handle. The practical VESA mounting surface on the
back of the device enables it to be attached to monitor arms and wall
mounts.

In the case of a warranty claim the purchaser of the Complete System
can make use of the 24 month Pick-up-and-Return-Service and a
Europe-wide free telephone hotline.

The Shuttle X 5000TA Complete System is available immediately from
specialist retailers or via the Shuttle Systems Configurator.
Shuttle’s recommended retail price is EUR 499 (ex VAT). Alternatively,
the X 5000TA can be ordered as “X50XA” system in similar configuration
just without operating system and 24 months of Bring-in warranty
service for EUR 419 (ex VAT). Click on www.shuttle.eu/systems to
access the Shuttle Systems Configurator. Suppliers can be queried via
the “Shuttle StoreLocator” at www.shuttle.eu/buy.

Models in other sizes, different feature sets and with different
operating systems are already under development.

Other specs include a Gigabit-LAN connection, 6-channel audio, PS/2-connectors, serial interface, 6x USB, VGA and DVI-out, connect the X270V to peripheral devices. Currently, this nettop is only available to European markets. The pre-configured X270V is running 299 Euros.

For those of you in Europe, you can get your hands on this sleek new nettop here. As far as making an appearance in the U.S., well we don’t know if it will. You’re probably better off finding one of these.

Other specs include a 160GB 5,400rpm hard-drive, gigabit ethernet, integrated 2W stereo speakers, a 1.3-megapixel webcam and microphone.  There’s also WiFi b/g/n, a 4-in-1 memory card reader, VGA output and a total of five USB 2.0 ports, plus audio in/out.

Shuttle load Windows XP Home onto the X50, together with their ezCam software, and since the only port on the back is the VGA output, it’s straightforward wall-mounting the touchscreen nettop using the standard VESA mount.  No word on pricing, but back in January we were told around $499 with Shuttle releasing the nettop this month.

Press Release:

Your vision is just a touch away

Leading a new age of All-in-One PCs

(Taipei, Taiwan, 18 March 2009) Shuttle Inc. – the leading designer and manufacturer of small form factor (SFF) computers and accessories today introduced X50, an all-in-one PC, as part of its all-new product line – Shuttle X Vision. X Vision represents a core value of Shuttle – an uncompromising insistence on quality and innovation, and Shuttle will continue to lead the way with its “VISION for neXt generation PCs” line.

The new X50 integrates state-of-the-art touch and small form technology, offering an intuitive interface that empowers both novices and professionals. The 15.6-inch all-in-one PC combines all the essential applications into a single device that starts up quickly, with a simple touch of the screen by finger or included stylus pen. Even the stand itself brings a unique touch – it is convertible, and can be flipped upward to reveal an easy carrying handle, or be completely removed for VESA ready mounting. That makes the X50 very versatile and suitable for a wide variety of applications and settings, including digital signage or kiosks.

“The PC industry is heralding a new age of simple and intuitive function with the launch of all-in-one PCs. Shuttle has taken a great leap forward in beauty and functionality with our new X50. It strikes the perfect balance between quality craftsmanship, performance, and price,” said David Yu, chairman of Shuttle Inc.

Designed to be elegant yet space-saving, the X50 measures as slim as a magazine – it’s only 1.4 inches thin with a sleek, smooth, and streamlined exterior. The X50 features a touch-enabled screen, making its eye-catching screen the centre of action. The built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam enables users to take pictures or stream live images across the Internet in real-time chatting. Shuttle X50 is powered by Intel’s Atom 330 dual-core processor and comes loaded with the Windows XP Home operating system. The X50 features 1GB of system memory and comes with a 160GB hard drive, which is spacious enough for storing information and multimedia content. Intel GMA950 graphics provides generous performance for everyday computing. Shuttle X50 is shipped with a single cord for power and features easily accessible I/O ports on the two sides. It just looks stylish with less wiring – and less clutter.

All components and materials of the X50 meet the rigorous standards of RoHs. Packaged with an ENERGY STAR 5.0 qualified power adapter, it draws a mere 30 watts of power. The innovative Shuttle I.C.E heat pipe inside effectively dissipates heat away and keeps the system cool. With astonishing low noise at only 22dB, it is a simple and elegant sensation to operate the all-in-one X50.

For the latest information and specifications on the Shuttle X Vision X50, please visit our official website: http://global.shuttle.com

Both have a 15.6-inch LCD touchscreen, with the X50′s running at 1,366 x 768, and 1GB of RAM.  Where the Eee Top has a 160GB hard-drive, however, Shuttle make do with just 80GB; it does apparently come with XP Pro, though, rather than Home.  Chipset is Intel’s 945GC, with GMA 950 graphics.

Ports include at least five USB 2.0, ethernet, audio in/out and a card-reader.  The Shuttle X50 All-in-One is expected to go on sale in March 2009, priced at around $499; that makes it around $100 cheaper than the ASUS machine. 

Baselined against a Pentium-D system, the Shuttle barebones – which was outfitted with Windows XP, a 7,300rpm SATA hard-drive and 1GB of DDR2 RAM – edged ahead of the single-core N270 and VIA C7-D in the overall tests.  However just 16-percent faster seems on the low-side, considering the whole extra core.

Media performance fared better, with 2D graphics tests showing the 330 besting the N270 by 41-percent and the C7-D by 71-percent, while audio and video encoding tests were less dramatic but still saw the 330 ahead by at least 18-percent.  In what PC Pro are calling an erroneous result, the 330 was actually slower at running Office 2003 than the two other systems.

This Mini-PC features an Intel GMA X4500HD graphics engine along with Intel Clear-Video technology. This makes for clear and bright HD playback. Also included is up to 16GB of DDR2 memory and a PCI-E-2.0 slot. Connections aren’t a problem, either, with 8-channel audio, HDMI, VGA, FireWire, USB 2.0, eSATA, Gigabit LAN and optical SPDIF on both the back and front panels.

What’s particularly cool about this model–pardon the pun–is that the heatpipe cooling system used on Shuttle XPC models has been perfected even more so that it cools even quieter. You can get the Shuttle XPC Barebone SG45H7 now from specialist retailers and costs EUR 319 or about $400.

This latest offering is very compact and is meant to play back Blu-ray. That is really its prime function. Running on Windows Vista, this system features a NVIDIA GeForce 8200 graphics card, with the option of upgrading, an AMD Athlon X2 6000+ processor, a Blu-ray Combo drive, a hybrid TV tuner card, WLAN and a card reader.

Other specs include 2x 1 GB DDR2-800 memory, a 500GB hard drive and a remote control. This Mini-PC runs quiet and is the perfect way to bring functional media into your home. Check out the full press release below.

Press Release:

Shuttle announces HD-compatible AMD-based Mini-PC Complete System with a new look

Picture and sound playback in high-definition quality over HDMI interface

Shuttle Inc., the market leader in the Mini-PC sector and manufacturer of Multi-Form-Factor solutions extends its portfolio with a new compact entertainment artist specifically designed to play back high-resolution Blu-ray media. The Shuttle XPC H7 7800H complete Mini-PC system is easy to use, stands for high processing power and space for expansion.

The Windows Vista based complete system includes a Blu-ray Combo drive, a card reader, hybrid TV tuner card, WLAN and a remote control. Based on the Shuttle XPC Barebone SN78SH7, this attractive Mini-PC solution barely measures 32.5 x 20.8 x 18.9 cm (DWH).

Users that want even higher performance than the built-in NVIDIA GeForce 8200 GPU already provides, can also equip the free PCI-Express X16 slot with an even larger graphics card. The heatpipe cooling system ensures the system runs quietly at maximum stability.

The very intuitively designed media centre interface of the pre-installed Windows Vista operating system is very easy to read on a television screen. Operation with the enclosed remote control is quick to learn and means this Shuttle Mini-PC can be instantly accessed from the sofa.

Technical specifications:

* Mini-PC Complete System is based on: Shuttle XPC Barebone SN78SH7
* Processor: AMD Athlon X2 6000+
* Memory: 2x 1GB DDR2-800
* Hard disk: 500GB, Serial-ATAII
* Wireless Communication: Wireless LAN
* Optical Drive: Blu-ray Combo
* TV Tuner: DVB-T/Analog Hybrid (incl. remote control)
* Other Drives: 25-in-1 Card-Reader
* Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium

The Shuttle XPC H7 7800H complete system is available immediately from Shuttle specialist retailers or can be ordered via the Shuttle Systems Configurator on the Shuttle website. Shuttle’s recommended retail price is EUR 915 (ex VAT).