Asus unwraps desktop CPU netbook

Two cores and Nvidia Ion too

Asus, concerned that your average netbook doesn't deliver sufficient processing welly, is preparing a model with a desktop processor.

The Eee PC 1215N will contain a dual-core Intel Atom D525, a desktop-centric beast - it draws up to 13W, double what the netbook-oriented N475 does - running at 1.8GHz.

Add to that Nvidia's Ion 2 integrated graphics and you have something of a netbook powerhouse - well, as powerful as a netbook can get right now, though it begs the question: if you need that much extra processing and graphics horsepower, why not just get a small laptop and be done with it?

Well, not many of them come with Bluetooth 3.0 and USB 3.0, which the 1215N does. It also has a 1366 x 768 display, and uses Nvidia's Optimus technology to switch back to the CPU's graphics core to save battery power.

Aimed at HD video fans, the 1215N also has an HDMI - like the display resolution, something rarely seen on netbooks but often found on 11in laptops.

Alas, there's no word yet on availability or pricing, so we can't yet set whether the 1215N is a cost-effective alternative to said mini-notebooks. ®