Eee PC heads to the desktop in 2008

Like your Eee PC do ya? Good, how about a desktop version to go with it? With the unexpected success of their new ultra-portable, Asus is looking to RAZR that momentum with a desktop version of the Eee PC. Jonathan Tseng, Asus president of marketing, says that the new Eee -- Easy to learn, Easy to play, Easy to Work -- will launch in 2008. Good news for us consumers but likely unwelcome tattle for Redmond. As you may have noticed, the recent onslaught of low-cost, low-powered, low-speced (Lll?) PCs are all Linux-happy slabs in order to avoid those heavy Microsoft licensing fees.

[Syliss @ Nov 9th 2007 3:46AM]

I just hope the SSD or hdd (lol) size isnt too small!!!

[Richard @ Nov 9th 2007 3:49AM]

I don't think ASUS will have the same success with the desktop version as with the laptop. If you look at the small Linux desktop machine market (machines about the size of a VHS tape in some cases) there are plenty of products to choose from. ASUS just had the right product at the right time with the EEE laptop, there just isnt much around under $400 with a 7" lcd that is also pretty lite and easy to carry.

[Awk @ Nov 9th 2007 11:33AM]

Maybe not a desktop version, but a full size laptop version with a bigger battery and a DVD/CD burner would be nice. Light, easy to see, and solid state with instant on. 20GB of free space and I'd use it for business.

[m-p{3} @ Nov 9th 2007 8:14AM]

In term of Linux Desktop, the Koala from System76 is probably a good choice.

[Luke @ Nov 9th 2007 3:53AM]

I'm going to buy an Eee very soon, but that said, I don't think a desktop version should be in the cards yet. SSD has reached its time for notebooks, but not for notebooks. Same with Linux. The Eee in my mind is a near perfect second computer, but not something I'd want in a desktop.

[Luke @ Nov 9th 2007 3:54AM]

*not for desktops.

[ChiWax @ Nov 9th 2007 3:57AM]

Why would Microsoft care about low-goal users? They've been providing software and now hardware for people who want to max-out their digital world. I don't really think they even consider low-goal users when it comes to anything they make.

[theycallmetak @ Nov 9th 2007 4:10AM]

Uh, Vista Basic? That's a pretty low goal. How about XP Home? ME? They didn't seem to be shootin' high with those products. If you mean low goal as in easy-to-use-low-system-requirements, I don't think anything MS has made has hit that mark yet.

And "max out their digital world"? Which brochure or flash ad did you get that one from? Cooooooooooooome on...

[Rob @ Nov 9th 2007 10:03AM]

Because, the lower users mostly will move up to higher end systems eventually. If they learn to use Linux then moving to Windows later becomes a barrier.

[ChiWax @ Nov 9th 2007 11:50AM]

I max out my own digital world and Microsoft has been the biggest part of that. It doesn't mean the Eee or any other product out there isn't any good. It just means the world has turned against the biggest and taken all the advancements for granted. I feel lucky to do all these things with my PCs and XBOXs and PSPs. Now the PSP itself is Sony, but thanks to Microsoft I use it as "almost" my main information/entertainment device. I don't play games on it, I play them on MS's 360 and on the PC. If I need to to play a game on the go, the PSP is ready to do that. I could go on and on about what I do with PCs. What worries me is we have made doing 100 things with your PC or MAC uncool...so people drool at the prospect of doing it with a phone or a mini-laptop. That's all....

[3rdsun @ Nov 9th 2007 2:31PM]

Does the events surrounding the OLPC ring any bells. Microsoft literally played the underhand so OLPCs could run Windows. There is more to computing than just Microsoft. I was once blinded by their shadow but now I see the light.

[skhawaja @ Nov 9th 2007 5:07AM]

why not ride the tidal wave?

What exactly do you use your PC for right now?

For some it is a collection of specific applications that do not exist on other platforms.

For me it is a collection of applications that are web based - so I'm free.

The more people we have with computers and eventually online is better.

Whatever reputation ASUS has at the moment didn't just happen overnight - I want to see what they are going to bring.

[Mile @ Nov 9th 2007 7:44AM]

What do I use my desktop for? Mostly reviewing online photographs and films made by both professionals and amatuers.

[Benson @ Nov 9th 2007 2:10PM]

I use my computer for computing; MathCad, GNU Octave, and some Mathematica. I also run everyone's favorite bloated office suite (OOo). Both of those require some serious horsepower, even if the office suite shouldn't. So for me, the desktop eeeeeee won't be worth looking at. The laptop could be of some use, but right now my N800 does all the light work, like typing engadget comments while walking across campus, or SSHing into my desktop to accomplish real work. Even the Eee seems a bit over-powered and under-screened for my mobile needs.
I'm sure there are people out there who would like one of these, but I can't imagine there are many of them. (And the macmini's already established, satgisfying many of the people who would have bought an Eee tower if it came out first.)

[skhawaja @ Nov 10th 2007 5:36AM]

Mile & Benson

There is a niche for such desktops - for the power user I think ASUS may go far enough along as to make their motherboards have a perfect fit with the os they are polishing - it makes sense - they already ship one CD along with the motherboard drivers so why not throw an os on there optimized for that very board.

How many applications do you use on a daily basis that do not exist on other platforms?

[Benson @ Nov 12th 2007 9:26AM]

Non-cross platform apps: For me, that's mainly MathCad. AFAIK only available for win32. And the only reason I'm running XP on one of my machines. Mathematica and Octave are both cross-platform, including Linux, and could thus run on the Eee (laptop) just fine. They would just get performance commensurate with the processing power of the machine, and thus be practically unusable.
OOo is likewise cross-platform, but again not practical with limited-power machines. I'd probably use Abiword and Gnumeric, though, rather than let that tie me to high-end hardware.
My point was, this fits in a no-man's land between the thin-client and web machines (N8x0, Eee PC, etc.) and the Real Computers. If all you do is thin-client and web stuff, why not go for the Eee with it's portability? The only reason I can see is annoyance with the small keyboard.
OTOH, if you run Serious Apps, then you probably can afford a higher-performance system, and will greatly benefit from it.
But, as I typed this, I just realized what I said about OOo vs. abiword & gnumeric. I guess if you do a lot of "office suite" stuff, and stay away from the bloated beast, a bigger display and full-sized keyboard, and higher specs in general, could make pretty good sense.

[Benson @ Nov 12th 2007 9:22AM]

Non-cross platform apps: For me, that's mainly MathCad. AFAIK only available for win32. And the only reason I'm running XP on one of my machines. Mathematica and Octave are both cross-platform, including Linux, and could thus run on the Eee (laptop) just fine. They would just get performance commensurate with the processing power of the machine, and thus be practically unusable.
OOo is likewise cross-platform, but again not practical with limited-power machines. I'd probably use Abiword and Gnumeric, though, rather than let that tie me to high-end hardware.
My point was, this fits in a no-man's land between the thin-client and web machines (N8x0, Eee PC, etc.) and the Real Computers. If all you do is thin-client and web stuff, why not go for the Eee with it's portability? The only reason I can see is annoyance with the small keyboard.
OTOH, if you run Serious Apps, then you probably can afford a higher-performance system, and will greatly benefit from it.
But, as I typed this, I just realized what I said about OOo vs. abiword & gnumeric. I guess if you do a lot of "office suite" stuff, and stay away from the bloated beast, a bigger display and full-sized keyboard, and higher specs in general, could make pretty good sense.

[Unregistered @ Nov 9th 2007 4:48AM]

LLL?
Oooh, iwantoneofthose! :)

[spam_from_engadget @ Nov 9th 2007 5:19AM]

There are already plenty of small desktop boxes that can run Linux out there. I'm sending this from one.

I think a better plan for ASUS would be to produce a laptop with a slightly larger screen. They have previously alluded to a 10-inch EEE, and that's the product that I'm waiting for.

[MacroEQ @ Nov 9th 2007 6:22AM]

A low cost desktop (as described above) would do better in "developing countries" and not North America or Europe. As for the Eee PC (sub notebook), the screen should remain 7" as anything larger is technically a laptop. All I'm waiting for is a larger SSD.

[spam_from_engadget @ Nov 9th 2007 12:10PM]

> the screen should remain 7" as anything larger is
> technically a laptop

Well why not make an "EEE Laptop"? I like that the EEE has a small solid-state disk, has a slow processor and runs Linux - there are no other [sub-]notebooks out there with those features. But I'd like a larger screen.

[Andrew @ Nov 9th 2007 6:36AM]

I like the idea, but the main line of defense (and pride) of the EEE PC is its small, compact, portable, yet likable. It is popular because it fills a certain need, I need a small, quick, lightweight machine to carry around at a sub 4-digit price tag.

I have a gaming rig, and a 7 year old IBM NetVista running Windows and Linux respectively (haven't touched the windows machine in a while, probably the only reason it still works). My $50 eBay find (Search for P4 NetVistas, they run Fedora AMAZINGLY) turned into an amazing rig with Linux. I don't think I want to spend $300+ on a desktop that essentially is just as powerful, though I applaud Asus for shipping with Linux. Maybe for a media-center (with decent storage) or a Car-PC (with decent cooling/power adaptations).

Who know's where they take it, I can't wait for the 8G to come out so I can play with it!!

[HOVIS @ Nov 9th 2007 7:04AM]

if they can get the cost right down to £50 / $100 it may become the pc of choice for un-seen applications such as vending machines and such, I can think of a lot of always on, low (computing) power uses.

[Mile @ Nov 9th 2007 7:42AM]

The desktops may be a hit. They could be great for a second PC for the kidz and I'm certain we'll start seeing some ideas/hacks for some type of home appliance.

But why was ASUS surprised that their little lappy was hit? I thought the buzz on the tubes was deafening.

[James Yopp @ Nov 9th 2007 8:53AM]

I think they were just surprised at the positivity in the mainstream reviews. They knew it would sell like hot-cakes, but would it get good press from agenda-pushing pundits? That was the question.

[Kevin @ Nov 9th 2007 7:51AM]

good for grandma, i wouldnt want one. but i love my eee in laptop form.

[Tony @ Nov 9th 2007 8:41AM]

I think they should keep as their focus on the laptop and make that the best it can be.

[thethirdmoose @ Nov 9th 2007 10:02AM]

"low cost, low powered, low priced"

And perhaps you would care to tell me the difference between 1 and 3?

[futurepastnow @ Nov 9th 2007 12:36PM]

Price - Cost = Profit

[thethirdmoose @ Nov 9th 2007 1:02PM]

1. Low cost
2. Low price
3. ???
4. Profit!

[Patrick @ Nov 9th 2007 10:43AM]

I'm suprised they did'ne announce theat the desktop would cost $50 then change it to $250 when it comes out. Yep i'm still bitter aobut the price kie with the eee laptop.

[FK @ Nov 9th 2007 11:13AM]

LOL PC

Low-Cost
Open-Source
Low-Power

[Bobby @ Nov 9th 2007 12:02PM]

I've heard that Microsoft Revenue goes toward EUGENICS operations in Africa.

This is covered in the the last 30 minutes of the following film.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1070329053600562261

So anyway, since this laptop uses Linux it's a great way not to pay Microsoft.

[roknfunkapotomus @ Nov 9th 2007 2:05PM]

man...i want an eee pc so badly. Anyone actually have one and know how the interface is? All the hardware reviews say good but typing is a pain. Who knows if these catch on we might see microsoft pushing its licensing fees down

[tnkgrl @ Nov 9th 2007 2:45PM]

I don't think a desktop is going to be as interesting as a sob-notebook... I'm pretty impressed with my Eee - here's what I've been up to: http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2007/11/09/asus-701-eee-update/

[kalman51 @ Nov 9th 2007 5:32PM]

the new asus eee pc to table picture is here:
http://indafoto.hu/kalman51/image/136973-9c01bd74/6943

[Jake @ Nov 10th 2007 12:09AM]

that actually makes alot of sense, why not have everything in the keyboard?
makes me feel stupid for not thinking of that! definetly makes me interested in the thing now.
might be usefull for trips, like going to see family. my cousin has a comp, or maybe an extra monitor, so i just take this out of my bag and voila! makes sense to me