Onkyo is releasing a redesigned version of its HDC-10 home theater PC, the HDC-1L. Keeping the same basic design as the HDC-10, the HDC-1L switches form a Core 2 Duo processor to a cheaper and less powerful Atom. System specs are what you'd expect from a nettop: 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, and a copy of Windows XP. The computer is designed to be used as an audio source for a home stereo setup; with only VGA video output and its underpowered Atom chip, the system's clearly not up to the task of playing back high bandwidth HD sources. Then again, without an optical or coaxial digital audio output, the HDC-1L doesn't look like it belongs hooked up to a surround sound system, either. The sweet-spot Onkyo's going for seems to be as part of a bookshelf-type speaker system, reinforced by one of the combos Onkyo offers the system in, combined with a pair of powered speakers. Alongside another combo package, this including both the speakers and a 1440 x 900 LCD screen, the HDC-1L is available in Japan, starting today.

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