ASUS' BD-equipped Essentio CS5110 mini PC gets official

If you've been courting the idea of picking up a mini PC resembling an overstuffed history book with a glossy black finish, ASUS' got just the thing. Housing an Intel processor, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, slot-loading DVD / Blu-ray (optional) drive, up to 1TB of hard drive space, a 256MB GeForce 8600M and 7.1-channel audio out, this thing is an ATSC tuner away from being a pretty potent little HTPC. You'll also find gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, an integrated IR receiver, FireWire, 10-in-1 multicard reader, HDMI / VGA out (DVI via bundled adapter) and a multimedia keyboard / mouse combo to go along with that MCE remote. ASUS also promised that it's newest 3.4-kilogram (7.5-pound) desktop keeps ultra-quiet, but sadly, it failed to mention a price or release date.

[Via DailyTech]

[mushrooshi @ Apr 10th 2008 8:38AM]

I hope this doesn't outshine the desktop eee

[packetsniffer @ Apr 10th 2008 9:42AM]

Considering the insane amount this will cost... I'm thinking it won't.

[giles @ Apr 10th 2008 8:41AM]

Looks nice, I want one!

Will look much nicer than my current MCE under the TV.

[DCGaymer @ Apr 10th 2008 8:43AM]

Supposedly it runs at 29 decibels when it's idle....I wasn't sure exactly how loud that was....so I searched for a graph...and found out it's about as loud as a bowl of rice Krispies. LOL

http://www.cpperformance.com/Decibel-Levels.jpg

[Dave @ Apr 10th 2008 8:45AM]

Nice one, I hope it stays under $500 and will come to Europe!

[facebookfake @ Apr 10th 2008 11:48AM]

Well, if it stays under $500 you wont have to worry about using it.

Because the world will end. The moon will fall into the sea dooming earth and all who inhabit it to a watery-grave, for ASUS hath spawned a deal with Lucifer, the Morning Star, himself. Repent!

Or sin as much as possible. Your call.

[jay_u @ Apr 10th 2008 8:48AM]

ddd

[Neeko @ Apr 10th 2008 8:56AM]

Iam in the market for a new PC...Just sucks that my "OLD" AMD64 3200 just wont give me a reason to upgrade.. Its a waste of $$ to just put it in the corner..

[sdh @ Apr 10th 2008 8:59AM]

nice design.

[quinny @ Apr 10th 2008 9:04AM]

Slot loading Blu-Ray! mmm how long before this ends up in a macbook pro?

[Rob @ Apr 10th 2008 9:06AM]

This would not be cheap. But, I'm interested though.

[dj-kenpo @ Apr 10th 2008 9:09AM]

looks more like a ps3 than a history book...

[andyo @ Apr 10th 2008 9:10AM]

The HP slimline with one of the cheapest full-size BD drives (which will require you to upgrade the processor to a C2D and graphics card to a 8500GT) with added-on Wireless-N will all-in-all cost you about $900, with 500GB HDD and no Bluetooth. This one seems to use a slot-loading BD drive (much more expensive), a 8600M card (arguably better and more expensive than a 8500GT) and a better audio option (7.1 as opposed to 5.1 on the HP). Also, the HP weighs like 9kg, compared to this one at 3-something. And it IS much smaller as well.

I see this costing like $1000+ if it is to come in these next few months.

[Paul Kay @ Apr 10th 2008 6:33PM]

I agree.

[DiscoCat5 @ Apr 10th 2008 9:19AM]

so is this the "desktop eee?"
by the way judging on my sisters asus laptop i cant say im a fan of asus build/finishing quality on SOME of thier products. however this doesnt look too bad, if this was at a good price point then i think asus have been doing a good job cornering their markets, however i still dont like the eee.

[bobbyk @ Apr 10th 2008 9:30AM]

I saw a version of this at the London Ideal Home Show in an Asus booth. Looked rather nice and a possible date of this summer was suggested. I hope so, was impressed with it. (Also the wife liked it too.)

[Ian @ Apr 10th 2008 9:38AM]

What was the non definitive pricing?

[Ian @ Apr 10th 2008 10:42AM]

Needs a CableCard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cyb3rw1z4rd @ Apr 10th 2008 11:03AM]

awesome....I hope it's cheap..

[tom @ Apr 10th 2008 9:46AM]

Hmm....this thing does have something neat under its hood, I doubt it would be cheap, providing it got a M$-Windows MCE and some decent hard drive space and optional BR drive.

Wouldn't a PS3 do most of the stuff for much less?

[John @ Apr 10th 2008 10:01AM]

The PS3 is a decent computer if you're running linux, but there are many reasons why you don't want to try and use it as both a console and a computer, primarily because it forces you to partition only 10 gigs to your OS or to the PS3 itself.

[crsh @ Apr 10th 2008 12:20PM]

Hrm.. Sony take a look, this is what the PS3 should've looked like.

[Mog @ Apr 10th 2008 1:42PM]

That IS what the PS3 looks like. Just boxier. No thanks.

[shuguanyu @ Apr 10th 2008 12:33PM]

Does it include the kitchen sink because I could use one of those too!

[Murc @ Apr 10th 2008 1:45PM]

so thats what it would look like if I smashed the 360 & PS3 & Wii into eachother....

[ecclaed @ Apr 10th 2008 4:01PM]

What's attractive about it from the onset is the design. It looks like a book; a book that's outfitted like a little monster. That's clever. :)

[Chris @ Apr 10th 2008 7:35PM]

Hopefully Apple takes note and bumps up the currently ridiculously overpriced and underpowered Mac mini