Mar 23 2011 - Nettops are a new category of desktop computers based upon the low cost, low power processors originally designed for mobile internet devices. They generally have much more in common with netbooks than they do with desktop computers. In general, they are very affordable but lack some of the features one would typically expect from a low cost desktop PC. They are best suited as Internet terminals or basic computers rather than a primary PC. Here are my selections for the best nettops current available based upon price, features and usage.
Best Value Nettop - Acer Aspire Revo AR3700
©Gateway
Priced at $350, the Acer Aspire Revo AR3700 may not seem all that affordable because it is more expensive than many netbooks. The thing is, this nettop can achieve far more than a netbook and is actually priced quite well for what it can do. With an NVIDIA Ion platform, this little box has the ability to stream 1080p high definition video. Add in 2GB of memory and a Windows 7 Home Premium operating system and this makes it a solid internet and media station PC. The system does have a few faults in its design though including a relatively small 250GB hard drive that will limit media storage and an optical audio out port on the front of the unit. Still, it is hard to find something with a better value.
Best Nettop As A Media Station - ASUS EeeBox PC EB1501P
©ASUSTeK
One function that nettops are very well suited for is as advanced media stations for use with a home theater system. Their small size, low noise operation make them something that is easy to install and won't disrupt the environment. They also offer more flexibility than dedicated media streaming devices. The ASUS EeeBox PCEB1501P may be a bit more expensive at $500 but it offers a superior NVIDIA Ion 2 platform with improved HD graphics support and an internal DVD burner to let it double as a traditional DVD player. It still uses the Intel Atom D525 dual core processor and 2GB of memory that make it less suited for complex computing tasks. It even comes with USB 3.0 and eSATA for high speed external storage expansion.
Best Performance Nettop - eMachines Mini-e
©eMachines
High performance is a very relative term when it comes to nettops. The Atom processors that most are based upon are fine for most basic productivity, internet and media streaming tasks but you aren't going to be doing much more. The eMachines Mini-e offers a bit more performance than others because it uses the AMD Athlon II Neo K325 dual core processor that gives it an edge. Mind you, this isn't all that much faster and still falls well short of traditional desktop PCs. At $360, it is certainly affordable, very small, produces little noise and comes with a bracket for mounting on the back of a monitor or HDTV. All this for a relatively small $360 price tag.
