Final specifications revealed for ASUS Eee Box B202?
By Darren Murph 
posted June 2nd 2008 8:45AM
posted June 2nd 2008 8:45AM
posted June 2nd 2008 8:45AM
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Very cool. I could see these being bought for retirement homes and parents everywhere. Not sure about the missing optical drive though.
That was the first thing I thought about. My grandma lives in a condo, so space is a bit limited. A couple of years ago she asked me to get her a small computer. The best deal at the time was a fairly small HP system. She's happy with the size, but if she saw something like this she'd be in love.
For a person like that who doesn't need power, this kind of product is perfect.
They should call it the Wiiee :).
Why is it so hard for these companies to stick to a product name instead of an elaborate naming/number scheme that a customer will not remember.
The Eee pc is already casing confusion with the different model names and screen sizes...
They should take a cue from Apple, Mac mini, Pro, iPod nano etc...
The name speaks volumes about a product image... and Apple understands that.
i want to stab this fanboy in the ass w/ my macbook air
@iEye
They did take a cue from Apple. Its ridiculously small, under powered, lacks lots of USB ports, and is missing an optical drive. The only thing they luckily didn't copy from Apple is the price.
I was going to point out the diluted iPod name to iEye, then I thought "f*** it, let the moron stew in his own stupidity"
@iEye
Is that the Mac mini MB138LL, MB139LL, MA607LL, or MA608LL.
Is that the iMac MB325LL, MA876LL, MB324LL, MA878LL, MB323LL, or MA877LL?
Is that the Mac Book Pro MB133LL, MA895LL, MB134LL, or MA896LL.
Is that the Mac Book MB403LL, MB404LL, MB402LL, MB062LL, MB061LL, MB062LL, or MB063LL?
Is that the iPod MB147LL, MA978LL, MB261LL, MB029LL, MB150LL, MB225LL, MB233LL, MB249LL, MA623LL, MB453LL, MA980LL, MA627LL... (and there are many, many more to list).
Yes, those are the official names of all those products. Just like Dell has the Inspiron line of computers, with the different ones getting a different model number (1505 and 1705, for example), Apple has different product lines, but each one has a different model number. And which one is easier to remember, 1505 or MB403LL? And just like Asus, who will have a model number for each item.
But as usual, you and the other Apple trolls would rather ignore the fact that Apple does the same exact thing as every other company, and think that they are special.
I don't think iEye is off base. This really is a terrible name. And Apple does very good at naming products.
I think iEye is really a Microsoft fanboy trying to make everyone hate Apple, and I think it's working. He's been posting random pro-Apple crap on every single article.
On some article about batteries:
"The great thing about the iPhone is that I can read both posts by bringing up a new page, I'm glad I am not using any other mobile..."
WTF does that have to do with batteries?
He's is just a annoying troll.
And this is coming from a happy Mac user.
Christ I just low ranked Jesus!
@iEye: If your going to treat the EEE's like you treat Apple products, then you really just have 2 products: The EEE PC (the subnotebook), and the EEE Box (the tiny desktop). Just like the EEE's, Apple products have lots of SKU's to represent all of the different configurations.
But even without that, try explaining to someone new to computers the difference between Mac Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook, MacBook Pros, etc. (Keep in mind that each of those lines has many different configurations.)
Also, it's not fair to compare PC product names against MP3 players, which naturally have a smaller set of configurations. Just the same, you have iPods, iPod Minis, iPod Nanos, iPod Shuffles, and iPod Touches, all of those available with different amounts of storage. So if you want to refer to the specific size of your model, you can't just use the cute Apple name.
By the way, my iPod is a Video iPod. iPod Classic? Nope. iPod Touch? Nope. 5th Gen regular iPod, 30 GB. Confusing? I'd say so.
The way many PC makers name their products also gives plenty of information about the product. For the EEE PC, if the number starts with a 7, it's a 7" screen, 9 --> 9" screen, 10 --> 10" screen. For the difference between the 900 and the 901, it's easy to see that the 901 is a more recent and feature-rich model.
Now quit complaining.
This is a OSX86 champion, almost no drivers needed...
I wonder if there is any way 2 push out FullHD content true that DVI connector... i don't thing the GMA950 can handel that. 2 bad :( other wise i would love 2 put that underneath my FullHD tv
I'm sure that you could push out 1080p over DVI.
And stop saying "Full HD", it makes you sound like a tool.
@Erwos
Before us stands living proof that buzzword marketing works.
Actually according to the hardware review this box cant handle 1080 MKV files and it barley was able to do 720. I was thinking the same thing however but the atom just isnt strong enough. if you want a great little box for streaming media check out the popcorn hour, I just got one and it plays every thing i throw at it i think I paid $194 after shipping to the states they are getting to release drivers for 802.11n support and we get firmware updates about once a month plus a huge community to help aid devolopment, sybas actully listens to the forums for feature ideas.
"Content" can mean things other than MKV. MPEG-2, for instance, or even your computer's desktop.
Mac Mini... better specs on an older model...
I would direct you to the Apple web-site for a comparisson, but the Apple web-site is down, perhaps they are adding new and improved customer friendly product and services...
Not to mention 3 times the price...but I guess people like you have more money than god
don't be silly Jeff, of course they're not as rich as Steve Jobs
Actually, only 2X the price (a Mini can be had for $599, which is ~ double this Asus). But you gotta admit that the Mini does provide quite a lot for the difference (much better DC proc, optical drive, BT, and quite a bit of very good software). I'm no Mac fanboy, but these are both good deals for different reasons (and $599 really isn't that expensive for a decent computer...heck, Dell would like you to spend that much on a crappy one).
I'm really just happy there are more choices for tiny, quiet, cheap desktops, as my home office currently looks like a beige box breeding farm (and sounds like an a jet engine testing lab on a busy day).
Apple should really hire better web masters, or fix that crappy Leopard Server. You need to take down the entire web site to make a few updates? Why is it that Intel, Microsoft, Dell, HP, Amazon, and even Engadget do not need to take down the entire web site to make a simple update, while Apple does? And if they did not put up any new products (if they did, it would be splashed all over Engadget so I guess they did not), then they have even bigger problems with uptime reliability.
Because they get free PR everytime on Engadget, Tuaw etc. Apple is smart ;)
this pretty much proves the mac mini is overpriced........ optical drives dont cost tht much...... about the same cpu speed........same integrated graphics.....memory options...... HDD...... i think i may get this rather than tht mac mini..
well actually.... i knew it was over priced before tht. esp after the price went up $100........but at least it means no more PPC......
im bored!
I have never been a fan of the term "overpriced". Only the market can determine what is overpriced. Since the Mac Mini seems to have been a success, it is by definition not overpriced.
You can't compare Apples to oranges. Part of what you're paying for with a Mac is OS X which technically can only be run on a Mac. True, Apple is not going to take over the world with expensive computers with proprietary systems which are from difficult to impossible to upgrade but Apple has carved itself a nice little niche and I think they're quite comfortable in it.
This new Asus computer could in fact prove to be "overpriced" if people are unwilling to buy it. It doesn't have an optical drive which will be a huge minus for most home users. But perhaps they aren't targeted for average home users. Time will tell if it's to be a success.
(Stupid comment system indeed. Sorry for the double post)
I have never been a fan of the term "overpriced". Only the market can determine what is overpriced. Since the Mac Mini seems to have been a success, it is by definition not overpriced.
You can't compare Apples to oranges. Part of what you're paying for with a Mac is OS X which technically can only be run on a Mac. True, Apple is not going to take over the world with expensive computers with proprietary systems which are from difficult to impossible to upgrade but Apple has carved itself a nice little niche and I think they're quite comfortable in it.
This new Asus computer could in fact prove to be "overpriced" if people are unwilling to buy it. It doesn't have an optical drive which will be a huge minus for most home users. But perhaps they aren't targeted for average home users. Time will tell if it's to be a success.
Okay, linuxmacwindows fanboy, it's not you. The system really is messed up. I made sure my last comment was to you and it still didn't end up where it was supposed to be.
damn....... i shouldnt of pulled that all nighter. an atom vs a core 2 duo? haha! wow... im sorry. no more over priced mini remarks.
btw..... i love the mac mini....
The lovechild of the HP Blackbird and Mac Mini?
sorry.......stupid comment system. i should pay more attention....
Fetal alcohol syndrome?
@happy_penguin
I don't understand your point. From an economic standpoint, whether or not Apple can sell x number of Minis doesn't determine whether they are over priced or not. It being successful, does not tell us "how successful it might have been"
Apple operates under a competitive type strategy so in theory they are trying to maximize profit as opposed to revenue.
You very well may be right, but you can't determine that based on the enigmatic "success" because they most likely want to maximize profit, not just be in the green.
Look guys, if you're suffering from posting errors after having posted a previous comment, just look at the URL bar and delete whatever is after the article's name (usually "#blahblahblah"), before you post again.
Jesus @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:13PM
@happy_penguin
I don't understand your point. From an economic standpoint, whether or not Apple can sell x number of Minis doesn't determine whether they are over priced or not. It being successful, does not tell us "how successful it might have been"
Selling an amount of anything has little to do with it. The profit the company makes has everything to do with it. As long as they can sell enough units at a profitable price, they are successful. I Apple has proof enough that they are hitting price points that people are happily paying or they wouldn't be turning a healthy profit. They aren't going away today or tomorrow. Do you want Apple to compete with Microsoft on a full scale? That's not going to happen.
I wonder if anyone has ever tried to steal the book pictured above.
Abbie Hoffman - Steal This Book
System of a Down - Steal This Album
The Coup - Steal This Album
Damn you ASUS. Give me a fully functional DVI port so i can push HD out of and you can have my $$. This would make a perfect (networked) HTPC.. Yeah no optical dirve but who cares i have all my MKV files on another HD. Damnit...How do you upgrade the OS without a optical drive? USB i guess.
If the Linux included is similar to the one on the Eee (which it probably is) it could be a nice PC for grandparents.
Darn it, they brought back the oval base, I kinda liked the squared off one.
You guys seem to forget that even the $600 Mac Mini has Bluetooth and a T5600 Core 2 Duo, as well as the DVD drive. Additionally, the whole PC Mini knockoff has been done before, and usually comes out just as expensive, if not moreso than the Mini ($800-900 range).
The Intel Atom is crap, so I don't know why people keep getting worked up over it, considering the ULV C2D can run circles around it.
The price is OK otherwise, I was expecting $200 for this, especially with the GMA 950.
You seem to forget its not competing with the overpriced mac mini?
Comparing this to the Mac mini is like comparing the eee to the macbook...
Cool machine! Couple of external HDDs bish bash bosh instant fileserver!
Im currently using a Dell SC440 server with a q6600 as a fileserver... Not the most economical solution, but it is Folding@Home :)
Kind of off-topic but...
With the EEE systems (notebook and this unlreleased mini), is it possible for me to just install a normal copy of Ubuntu, Fedora, or Win XP? Or can it only run the particular OS that comes on it?
I have really been wanting to grab one of the notebooks as a tinker system, but was unsure of the OS requirements.
It is certainly possible. I have installed winxp on one EeePC 701 and Ubuntu on another, and let me tell you, in a sense, this is the best notebook for Ubuntu I've ever used.
After the Ubuntu install all it took was for me to download and install a script that tweaked it to enable some Fn+Key functions that the standard install missed.
Now it is fully functional, boots fast, and I get the benefits of using a 'full' and up to date linux distro.
No optical drive?
The tiny laptop I understand, but this?
I can do a minimum-spec for $320
with
Celeron Processor 420 1.60GHz $50 CAD
Asus - P5N-MX w/ DDR2, Geforce 7050, 5.1 Audio, Lan, PCI-E x16 $70 CAD
SEAGATE - 80GB Barracuda 7200.10 ATA w/ 2MB Cache $50 CAD
1GB PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2 $30 CAD
DVD +/-RW Dual-Layer, Black (OEM) $30 CAD
Case+380W P/S $75 CAD
just slide in a copy of Ubuntu and your set
and it's fully upgradeable!
So, besides over charging for the atom and no optical drive the main use for Eee Box is size which would is ideal for thin clients!
Now if we can just get the prices of LCD's down to less that $100 we can start buying $400 computers! :)
I love this trend towards cheap, less-powerful computers. I would never use this as a primary machine, but it's absolutely ideal for use as a home server (web, cvs/svn, ftp, etc). You can get all sorts of more powerful machines for prices ranging from slightly (build-it-yourself, Dell) to much (Apple) higher, but what's the point? The CPU could be half as fast, and I still wouldn't be able to drive it past a few percent utilization by doing an svn commit. We'll see how it actually turns out, but judging by those specs I will get a much smaller, more attractive, cheaper, less power-hungry package that still has significantly more power than I actually need.