In all seriousness Giles, you're better of taking the price in dollars ($326), adding on a bit of a surcharge as you would anyway for US sales, let's say making it $350, and then converting it as if £1=1.2$ which is roughly what things seem to be selling at currently, making it £290.
So I'd predict between £280 and £300 when it's on sale in the UK.
And to be honest, I've stopped playing PC games and have no need for the giant massive box I currently use, and I'd more than happily pay £300 for an Eee Box and then another couple of hundred for a massive external HDD. And that's because I will pay for convenience - the same reason I would pay through the nose for a 12" or 11" laptop when you can save a huge markup by buying the identical laptop in 15" or 17".
However, I doubt it'll be quite as much as that, maybe £200 or so but not much more. Price is always going to be the real driver with any Eee machine - Asus have made sure of that.
> There's another port below it - the power connector's near the base - that some reports maintain is a TV tuner link.
If that's a "TV tuner link" then where's the audio out for my speakers? You know, that "TV tuner link" looks suspiciously like a 3.5mm audio jack...
External TV tuners are usually connected by USB anyway (even my internal "PCI" one is really the guts from a USB tuner and a PCI->USB chip on the same PCB). I don't know why anyone would invent some proprietary standard.
However, beware the fate of those who have the audacity to state obvious facts related to how much we pay here in the UK versus everywhere else will only result in corrective statements from people with nothing better to do that point out that 1) we pay VAT 2) they pay sales tax and 3) by the time you add the shipping costs actually the differential isn't actually worth the airfare.
What you might be mistaking for a tuner socket... #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 18:07 GMT
...is probably the DC power input socket (that is unless that pretty metal stand doubles as an inductive power pickup) I suspect the audio in/out is probably under that alledged flap at the front.
It'd also be interesting to see if it's real wood it's coated with or just wood print tacky back plastic (in that case you could probably get any finish your heart could possibly desire).
I've been waiting for more details of the ebox since I first heard rumours that Asus were producing a desktop model of the Eee (I've had a 701 since last November) but honestly so far it doesn't impress me...
From the details I've seen so far the MSI wind desktop looks like a more promising machine for my usage.
Guess we'll have to wait for production versions of both to be able to compare them properly though.
To all those quibbling about the price, if you import a new one then you'll get hit for import duty too.
I recently imported a device that cost me £350, but after VAT and import duty, it ended up being £470. Not quite the deal I thought it was.
Anonymous Coward
replace them power hungry Desktops now peak oil era is here #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 18:07 GMT
The point is to replace them power hungry Desktops (that have screens) now peak oil era is here! Take in mind a PC costs about 1 ton of co2 and that before you switch it on.
A wonderfully compact design that shows how a reduction in a key factor like CPU power utilization results in a form factor revolution.
Lower power consumption = losing the bulky power supply, and the cooling equipment, CPU fan, etc.
You should be able to run the thing for a couple of weeks, off of a LEAD Acid pile kept under your desk, months if you include the energy generated by opeining your office door, shuffling your feet and swivling your chair left and right.
I preseme the laptop version of the EE PC has the video backlighting as it's primary power consumption load.
Any reason why no mention of the Asus instant on option?
All Asus motherboards as well as some laptop series will have the Splashtop instant-on option, which is embedded Linux.
5 seconds boot time and you are in a stripped down Linux with Firefox, Skype, IM and a photoviewer. For people who are going online to check their emails regularly, this is amazing.
For decades, we have been complaining about slow boot time.
This lets you bypass that and should be a huge selling point.
Call it a green technology if you want to make it seem sexier!
For TV, all you need is a USB slot and one of those DVB sticks that you can get for around 30 quid. USB is generally more compact than your average TV aerial.
DVI to hdmi is just a question of using an adapter cable hdmi is DVI plus a few extra bits for sound and control. Haven't seen a dvi + audio -> hdmi yet.
"there's an external antenna that fits onto a special port on the back of the unit."
As in, a STANDARD connector, or something proprietary?
"The one at the bottom is an SPDif digital optical connector."
Is it the mini version? Why didn't they go for the more common larger connector? Saves us having to use
No PS/2, not that much of a problem these days... 2 usb, mmmm... keyboard, mouse... LOSE. Yes there are some on the front but come on, front should be closed most the time. And what about speakers, always plugged into the front? very clever.
Would be funky though with bluetooth keyboard/mouse and maybe even some wireless speakers.
Probably no chance of this playing HD media I assume? Audio over DVI?
Velocity Micro Edge Z30 Midsize Desktop (2.66GHz Intel Core i5 750, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, DVD±RW DL, Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit)
Apple iMac All-In-One Desktop (3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR2, 1TB, DVD+-RW DL, Mac OS X v10.5 Snow Leopard, 27" LCD)
HP (Hewlett-Packard) Pavilion p6210f Mini-Tower Desktop (2.6GHz Athlon II X4 620, 6GB DDR2, 640GB HDD, DVD±RW DL, Windows 7 Home Premium)
HP (Hewlett-Packard) Compaq Presario CQ5210F Mini-Tower Desktop (2.7GHz Athlon 64 X2 215, 3GB DDR2, 500GB, DVD±RW DL, Windows 7 Home Premium)
Apple iMac All-In-One Desktop (3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR2, 500GB, DVD+-RW DL, Mac OS X v10.5 Snow Leopard, 21.5" LCD)
Asus quietly demos Eee Box
Giles Jones
Pricing #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 12:38 GMT
What's the betting that it will be more like £267 by the time it goes on sale in the UK?
David
Re: Pricing #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
In all seriousness Giles, you're better of taking the price in dollars ($326), adding on a bit of a surcharge as you would anyway for US sales, let's say making it $350, and then converting it as if £1=1.2$ which is roughly what things seem to be selling at currently, making it £290.
So I'd predict between £280 and £300 when it's on sale in the UK.
And to be honest, I've stopped playing PC games and have no need for the giant massive box I currently use, and I'd more than happily pay £300 for an Eee Box and then another couple of hundred for a massive external HDD. And that's because I will pay for convenience - the same reason I would pay through the nose for a 12" or 11" laptop when you can save a huge markup by buying the identical laptop in 15" or 17".
Anonymous Coward
wot no beach #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
I'm not quite clear how these might fit in a real setting.
Possibly a photo of one with a typical user?
Anonymous Coward
oooh #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
That gives me a woody
Mines the one with a copy of razzle
Steve
Love the wood panelling. #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
Now they just need to replace the white plastic with brass. Possibly add a steam whistle.
Thomas
At least £267... #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
... would prove how little Asus seem to understand the market they've created.
Maybe it'll just be £500 for the Linux version, £0.50 for the Windows version because, ummmm, the Windows version has mildly less plastic in it?
Ryan Smith
Well, quite #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
However, I doubt it'll be quite as much as that, maybe £200 or so but not much more. Price is always going to be the real driver with any Eee machine - Asus have made sure of that.
A. Lewis
Yay! #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
A desktot!
It's pretty. But to be honest I'd rather have something beefier. I don't move my desktop around a lot so I don't see the point in having one so small.
Still, I like the trend of shrinking PCs.
Also: Can we have an icon for "I love my EEE and am posting from it"?
MaXimaN
Re: Pricing #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
...or even higher. That said, they can only go so high before they start to get into the Intel-based Mac Mini price range.
Anonymous Coward
You didn't mention the main problem... #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
...it appears to be upholstered in panda food! Please tell me that's not standard.
Anonymous Coward
Doesn't this have a friend, like the Eee PC #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:46 GMT
A friend on the beach...
Mine's the one with sand in the pockets.
Anonymous Coward
Meh... #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:48 GMT
Meh.
For £200 I'd rather get the Acer Aspire. What's the point of a cute box if it isn't portable?
Paul R
Media Center #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:48 GMT
If this can be coaxed to run Windows Media Center, then I'm sold. Looks very nice!
Just need a desktop lovEeely for this model now.
Darren B
Range of colours? #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:48 GMT
Walnut, Oak or Mahogony?
Mines the lumberjack jacket over the sawhorse
Jon
It's not a "TV tuner link" #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:48 GMT
> There's another port below it - the power connector's near the base - that some reports maintain is a TV tuner link.
If that's a "TV tuner link" then where's the audio out for my speakers? You know, that "TV tuner link" looks suspiciously like a 3.5mm audio jack...
External TV tuners are usually connected by USB anyway (even my internal "PCI" one is really the guts from a USB tuner and a PCI->USB chip on the same PCB). I don't know why anyone would invent some proprietary standard.
Anonymous Coward
Audio? #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:48 GMT
Looks very very nice, *but*, where's the audio sockets? Simple audio in and out for speakers and a mic?
Oh and can I get it with all the Open Office and Sky, Firefox,...Thunderbird, etc. that's supplied on the Eeepc?
Oh and can it also lay flat?
richard
is that wood? #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:48 GMT
is it made of old matchsticks or what? and with a hint of apple's mac mini..and what is the actual point of this when compared to their laptops? eh?
TimBiller
@Giles #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 14:48 GMT
Giles,
FWIW I completely agree with you.
However, beware the fate of those who have the audacity to state obvious facts related to how much we pay here in the UK versus everywhere else will only result in corrective statements from people with nothing better to do that point out that 1) we pay VAT 2) they pay sales tax and 3) by the time you add the shipping costs actually the differential isn't actually worth the airfare.
Just so you know ...
Tim
Christian Berger
potential Mac Mini killer #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 18:07 GMT
Wow, that actually might be a Mac Mini killer. You'd finally have a small working computer. The only thing I don't like is that stand.
Tim Schomer
What you might be mistaking for a tuner socket... #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 18:07 GMT
...is probably the DC power input socket (that is unless that pretty metal stand doubles as an inductive power pickup) I suspect the audio in/out is probably under that alledged flap at the front.
It'd also be interesting to see if it's real wood it's coated with or just wood print tacky back plastic (in that case you could probably get any finish your heart could possibly desire).
Andy
how disappointing #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 18:07 GMT
I've been waiting for more details of the ebox since I first heard rumours that Asus were producing a desktop model of the Eee (I've had a 701 since last November) but honestly so far it doesn't impress me...
From the details I've seen so far the MSI wind desktop looks like a more promising machine for my usage.
Guess we'll have to wait for production versions of both to be able to compare them properly though.
smell fresher
Woooowoo #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 18:07 GMT
"Now they just need to replace the white plastic with brass. Possibly add a steam whistle."
Brass and a steam whistle?... If I owned a computer manufacturing company you'd be my head designer!
Alan
price #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 18:07 GMT
To all those quibbling about the price, if you import a new one then you'll get hit for import duty too.
I recently imported a device that cost me £350, but after VAT and import duty, it ended up being £470. Not quite the deal I thought it was.
Anonymous Coward
replace them power hungry Desktops now peak oil era is here #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 18:07 GMT
The point is to replace them power hungry Desktops (that have screens) now peak oil era is here! Take in mind a PC costs about 1 ton of co2 and that before you switch it on.
jubtastic1
CD/DVD? #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 19:37 GMT
I don't see a slot.
Wood looks cool though, with the stand I'm reminded of a 70's era TV
Derek
TV tuner connection #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 22:00 GMT
I think the tv tuner connection is more likely a S-Video or composite, or even component connection for a TV that does have a DVI connection.
I Love it but for a sale from me it has to be around the £200 mark and no more
Lime Smoothie
Does wood more good..... #
Posted Friday 6th June 2008 22:28 GMT
I'm not buying something that I have to creosote every summer.
Seriously, what is with the wood effect? Is it to blend in with the laminate flooring of the expected buyers?
Studebacher Hoch
wood? #
Posted Saturday 7th June 2008 15:18 GMT
that's bamboo
Vendicar Decarian
Emergent Technology #
Posted Saturday 7th June 2008 15:18 GMT
A wonderfully compact design that shows how a reduction in a key factor like CPU power utilization results in a form factor revolution.
Lower power consumption = losing the bulky power supply, and the cooling equipment, CPU fan, etc.
You should be able to run the thing for a couple of weeks, off of a LEAD Acid pile kept under your desk, months if you include the energy generated by opeining your office door, shuffling your feet and swivling your chair left and right.
I preseme the laptop version of the EE PC has the video backlighting as it's primary power consumption load.
zeke
Asus also has Splashtop #
Posted Saturday 7th June 2008 15:18 GMT
Any reason why no mention of the Asus instant on option?
All Asus motherboards as well as some laptop series will have the Splashtop instant-on option, which is embedded Linux.
5 seconds boot time and you are in a stripped down Linux with Firefox, Skype, IM and a photoviewer. For people who are going online to check their emails regularly, this is amazing.
For decades, we have been complaining about slow boot time.
This lets you bypass that and should be a huge selling point.
Call it a green technology if you want to make it seem sexier!
spegru
TV Tuner #
Posted Saturday 7th June 2008 15:18 GMT
For TV, all you need is a USB slot and one of those DVB sticks that you can get for around 30 quid. USB is generally more compact than your average TV aerial.
Most of them work in linux too!
Thomas
Mac Mini killer? #
Posted Sunday 8th June 2008 01:41 GMT
I was under the impression that the Mac Mini is a very poor seller.
greybadger
XBMC #
Posted Sunday 8th June 2008 21:57 GMT
Stick an IR receiver and a TOSLINK (or just HDMI port) and we could have had a ideal XMBC machine.
Seán
DVI to HDMI #
Posted Monday 9th June 2008 09:37 GMT
DVI to hdmi is just a question of using an adapter cable hdmi is DVI plus a few extra bits for sound and control. Haven't seen a dvi + audio -> hdmi yet.
paul
Mythtv Frontend #
Posted Monday 9th June 2008 10:27 GMT
Cheap , quiet , low power and small.
James Prior
Looks just like .. #
Posted Monday 9th June 2008 11:00 GMT
.. a thin client.
And if you buy a decent enough HP terminal (other brands available) the specification and price isn't anything that new or unusual either.
Anonymous Coward
special port? #
Posted Monday 9th June 2008 12:44 GMT
"there's an external antenna that fits onto a special port on the back of the unit."
As in, a STANDARD connector, or something proprietary?
"The one at the bottom is an SPDif digital optical connector."
Is it the mini version? Why didn't they go for the more common larger connector? Saves us having to use
No PS/2, not that much of a problem these days... 2 usb, mmmm... keyboard, mouse... LOSE. Yes there are some on the front but come on, front should be closed most the time. And what about speakers, always plugged into the front? very clever.
Would be funky though with bluetooth keyboard/mouse and maybe even some wireless speakers.
Probably no chance of this playing HD media I assume? Audio over DVI?
Snert Lee
thin client? #
Posted Monday 9th June 2008 18:47 GMT
Wonder if it can do some sort of RDP Windows Terminal Server client? Might be in interesting alternate to all the SunRay boxes we have around here.