Asus unveils Celeron-based Eee Box B203

It looks like all those crazy rumors are true -- we've just received word that the Celeron-based Eee Box B203 has popped up on Asus' website. Aside from the the Intel C220 processor, very little has changed from the Atom-based Eee Box B202: it sports Windows XP Home, ships with up to 2GB RAM and 160GB storage, and measures a diminutive 222 x 178 x 26.9 mm (roughly 8.7 x 7 x 1 inches). Of course, it still ain't the prettiest device we've ever seen -- but if it's cheaper, faster, and small enough to fit behind your monitor anyways, we'll gladly overlook the paint job.

[Via Liliputing]

[nerdtalker @ Dec 14th 2008 5:47PM]

It sure as hell better be cheaper if it's sporting a considerably-less-cool Celeron. Like, way cheaper.

[Blaine Oliver @ Dec 14th 2008 5:58PM]

All these different types of EEE are driving me crazEEE

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 14th 2008 5:49PM]

"They're raping me! They're raping me, and it hurts, IT HURTS"
"Who is raping you!?"
"He said his name was Intel Celeron"

[brandon @ Dec 14th 2008 5:53PM]

You bastards!!!

[dandaman @ Dec 14th 2008 6:09PM]

southpark is the worst show to be produced.

[Mike @ Dec 14th 2008 6:30PM]

@brandon

thats what he said

[Randy Bucknell @ Dec 14th 2008 8:52PM]

I don't see why they didn't use the dual-core Atom. I would have preferred that by far. (Using a black B202 as I type)

[Kris120890 @ Dec 14th 2008 5:53PM]

You're better off waiting until the B204 and the B206 are launched. I think the added bonus of HDMI is worth the wait. Although the Atom 330 is ready to be rolled out soon. You can already buy the motherboards with 330 in.

[Wolfticket @ Dec 14th 2008 6:49PM]

HDMI would be more of a bonus if it could handle hidef.

[RyanTV @ Dec 14th 2008 8:31PM]

i thought the 330 processor/chipset was rumored to be able to handle HD video.

[Neuralgia @ Dec 14th 2008 11:24PM]

Actually it already has a DVI port, which as you may know, handles DIGITAL video.

The only dood that HDMI woul bring is digital AUDIO.

Besides, all the reviews stated that the B202 handles 720p OK.

[Neuralgia @ Dec 14th 2008 11:27PM]

Forgot to mention, that the ugly paint job was ONLY present on the testing models sent to places like engadget.

The ones sold, where or only white or only black. You can check amazon or newegg.

PS: I want one for my kitchen's 19" HDTV

[moochuck @ Dec 14th 2008 5:54PM]

asus Wii pc lol

[Kris120890 @ Dec 14th 2008 6:21PM]

It's okay.
You're the only 1000th person to have used that little comment on endgadget alone.

[TJ @ Dec 14th 2008 7:37PM]

Shouldn't he win a prize or something for being the 1000th? At least balloons and confetti?

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 14th 2008 9:21PM]

He winz teh internet.

Now go make so funny original jokes.

[who? @ Dec 14th 2008 9:57PM]

An Apple and Microsoft fanboy walk into a Best Buy...

[mitchell @ Dec 15th 2008 1:01AM]

1000th person? That's amazing, such an even number. You would have thought it would be 1,008.

[Steve @ Dec 15th 2008 6:30AM]

1008th isnt a even number??? i better go retake GCSE maths

[Giga @ Dec 14th 2008 5:55PM]

I think it looks pretty good actually. Maybe I have bad taste?

[ilh @ Dec 14th 2008 6:20PM]

They think the MiFi effergy is "sexy" and it's exactly the same shape, just smaller, so the only thing different is that thing doesn't have circles painted on it. I guess circles aren't in fashion at Engadget.

[Blastar @ Dec 14th 2008 6:44PM]

I don't know but I was thinking exactly the same thing.
It reminds me rain drops but in a more cool high style.
Environmental friendly for sure since it doesn't consume lot of energy and a style that goes with it. I would say that its a good match.

Anyone else agreed ?

[Kris120890 @ Dec 14th 2008 7:09PM]

I agree
I was going to buy one until I decided to build my own instead. I may still buy one.

[Down @ Dec 14th 2008 6:01PM]

I disagree - I think that is one of the prettiest little computers (desktop) I've seen.

[Major4Play @ Dec 14th 2008 6:02PM]

Put a dual core 1200 Celeron in it please, they retail for £25 I'd take the price rise.

[Oli D @ Dec 15th 2008 3:26AM]

Or a intel core 2 duo like my Net-tops...

[seyxcommando @ Dec 14th 2008 6:03PM]

Wow, the Eee and Atom hype are able to make even Celeron boxes cool? What is the world coming to...

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 14th 2008 6:05PM]

Still worth it if it's shipping with the VESA bracket.
That's pretty sweet.

[GingerFox @ Dec 14th 2008 6:05PM]

celeron? christ i thought they died out a while ago, all i see when i read it is bleh, 'intel bleh inside'

[futurepastnow @ Dec 14th 2008 6:26PM]

It's probably faster than the 1.6GHz Atom.

Celeron 220 is 1200MHz which should make this twice as fast as the original EEE PC, which had a Celeron underclocked to 630MHz.

[GingerFox @ Dec 14th 2008 7:13PM]

meh tbh it just makes me chringe when i see a pc with them in, might be better but jst a bias i guess sorry:P

[arztin @ Dec 15th 2008 1:02AM]

The whole point of atom is energy consumption, but if your plugging it in anyways who cares?
Atoms are for netbooks.

[MoeJoe @ Dec 14th 2008 6:10PM]

You get a bad draft in your house and the thing will tip over

[PyRo1509 @ Dec 14th 2008 6:23PM]

Just prop it up with the 800 other Eee models

[Chris @ Dec 14th 2008 6:23PM]

As much as people hate celerons, they're cheaper and faster so I'm not gonna argue with that.

[Mike @ Dec 14th 2008 6:32PM]

wait, someone hates the celeron???

[Patriks7 @ Dec 14th 2008 6:59PM]

"Of course, it still ain't the prettiest device we've ever seen"
Of course it isn't.. It's white, but it's still missing the Apple sticker, right Engadget?
Tbh, I think this looks way better than any other mini PC in the market (unless the bamboo Dell's are in this market as well, which I'm not sure about..)

[kiran_mk2 @ Dec 14th 2008 7:13PM]

What is the point of this? The original EEEbox sucked very little power and was quick enough for what it did. The B204/6 with 1080p-capable graphics and HDMI is about to come out so where does this model fit?!?

[daniel @ Dec 14th 2008 9:22PM]

Yepp, I too want to know the answer to this question. Anyone?

[KilgoreTrout @ Dec 14th 2008 7:15PM]

It's really strange how we all came to hate the Celeron.
I can't stand it too , but I fully realize that my sentiments are almost totally irrational and probably deriving from the age when celerons were the cheap alternative to P4 and P duo.
Even if a single cored Atom is way cooler than the spiffiest celeron (but runs hotter-sorry 'bout that) it will perform at lest as well, (or as bad) at a cheaper price, not to mention that for the equivalent price AMD will give you nearly double processing power (shame they're so noisy and problem prone).
I haven't tried to play with one of these things yet , but I soon will because a client asked me (on my input and idea) to produce a sort of "uber-digiframe-mit-touchscreen&voice control" that will include a hack of one these nettops.
One of the options I'm evaluating is this Eee, but on a hunch I think that its best config would be a double cored atom on a mobo that would tolerate ddr3 and some SSD memo.
Or what?

[Chase @ Dec 14th 2008 7:43PM]

so can i snap off the bottom and use it as a towel rack?

[Garst @ Dec 15th 2008 12:30AM]

So Asus wants to give the Eee Box a bad name by installing a Celeron processor? Too bad. It had potential.

[adrian @ Dec 15th 2008 5:54AM]

this model just seams a wast of time, better to wait for the b204 with hd graphics card built in

[Mmaster23 @ Dec 15th 2008 5:53AM]

I spot a problem. The special windows xp home licenses are limited to 1.5gb of memory. Shipping 2gb from factory is breaking the netbook/nettop license. Strange.....

[Mubeen Iqbal @ Dec 15th 2008 4:39PM]

You're better off waiting until the B204 and the B206 are launched. I think the added bonus of HDMI is worth the wait. Although the Atom 330 is ready to be rolled out soon. You can already buy the motherboards with 330 in.

[wazzle638 @ Jan 14th 2009 5:31AM]

One important difference between the Atom versions and the Celeron version, if I read the specs correctly, is powerconsumption. If you plan to buy an Eeebox and have it on always, running a home server, then the power consumption matters. The Atom versions seem to consume twice less (36W power adapter) than the Celeron (65W power adapter).

Sources:
http://event.asus.com/eeepc/microsites/eeebox/en/specifications.html (Atom)
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=2727&l1=24&l2=165&l3=0&l4=0 (Celeron)