Aeeeris kit turns Eee into UMPC, is later killed by Seeephiroth

Eee-branded tablets and UMPCs may be coming, but if you want one right now your only option is to do it yourself. You could go the duct tape DIY route, but those looking for a more aesthetically pleasing path should instead think about ordering up an Aeeeris conversion kit. It's basically a $60 reverse-facing replacement bezel for a 700-series netbook, providing indentations for the touch-screen LCD, its controller, and a pair of speakers (all sold separately). Supposedly the conversion is a "breeze," but after watching installation vids we're not so sure we'd agree with that -- nor the marketing spiel on the site that labels this as a low-cost solution for small businesses. Still, if you're looking for a tablet on the cheap, missed out on the $600 tx2500z last month, and don't have any qualms about dissecting your Eee, hit up the read link and order today.

[eggothewaffle @ Jan 5th 2009 9:30AM]

Best. Engadget. Title. Ever.

And I don't even like Final Fantasy games.

[Louis @ Jan 5th 2009 10:12AM]

I thought the same thing! I didn't even read the article yet, just clicked ahead to comment. Amazing!

...and now to read the atricle.

[chefgon_ign @ Jan 5th 2009 10:55AM]

I came in here to post the exact same thing. Kudos to Tim Stevens.

[Malfoy Roark @ Jan 5th 2009 11:20AM]

Mr. Stevens does get much kudos from me on the title.

[Gaucho @ Jan 5th 2009 9:36AM]

Engadget just got +100 respect points from me for that awesome headline.

[therpham @ Jan 5th 2009 9:41AM]

I'll admit it: I lol'd.

[blarvh @ Jan 5th 2009 9:56AM]

Spoiler alert for us who haven't had time to play the game yet?

[Jack @ Jan 5th 2009 10:49AM]

it came out in 1997...

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Jan 5th 2009 12:26PM]

@ Jack

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Jan 5th 2009 12:27PM]

@ Jack

Yeah, and it's a long game. I'm still trying to raise a golden chocobo.

[Graham Wellington (formerly tyrone washington, or marsha goldberg) @ Jan 5th 2009 2:07PM]

you know i hear if you master the knights of the roundtable materia 4 times and put it in cloud's ultimate weapon it turns it into excalibur!!!

[OneLove @ Jan 5th 2009 9:59AM]

EEE PC is so 2008!

[neuralien @ Jan 5th 2009 10:11AM]

I nominate this headline for Best Headline of 2009. Seriously, this is one of the funniest titles I've seen in a very long while. =)

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 5th 2009 10:26AM]

I feel sorry for you then.

[phil @ Jan 5th 2009 10:25AM]

excellent headline!

[Chaos Theory @ Jan 5th 2009 10:25AM]

Tim is now awesome.

[Charlie @ Jan 5th 2009 10:44AM]

+1 on the best title ever!

@blarvh: Are you kidding?

[jinsei888 @ Jan 5th 2009 10:59AM]

it's aerith not aeris... You guys fail yet again, epicly

[Zorque @ Jan 5th 2009 11:04AM]

It's "epically", not "epicly". Oops!

[MarbleMind @ Jan 5th 2009 11:22AM]

It's "Aeris" in all English-language versions. Oops!

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Jan 5th 2009 11:49AM]

@jinsei888

YOU FAIL! EPIC FAIL!!

[PvP @ Jan 5th 2009 11:58AM]

Massive props to Engadget! You just moved up one spot on my bookmarks.

[Michgar @ Jan 5th 2009 12:02PM]

To reinforce what has been said above me, many Lol's and snorts for the absolutely hilarious FF7 reference.

[SlickD @ Jan 5th 2009 12:27PM]

I also clicked on the article totally because of the title! lmao!

[QUOW @ Jan 5th 2009 12:32PM]

A Final Fantasy reference? In MY Engadget? It's more likely than you think!


+1

[raisinberry777 @ Jan 5th 2009 4:55PM]

Engadget earns my respect with the FFVII reference.

[riz @ Jan 5th 2009 5:51PM]

title is made of win, yes, but theres also an article...

i want a replacement case like this, but a slider or even old sidekick-style 180* rotate. For those times when an onscreen keyboard cant cut it, how are you supposed to use the keys and screen at the same time? Ooh, a slider eee would be slick...

[Benson @ Jan 5th 2009 7:30PM]

I think this + a spacer + some work could result in a decent slider, but obviously that's not the intent of this. For a panel-only, a $180 N800 might be a better option (for most) than a $200 Eee, a $60 front panel, and a $20 touchscreen (which doesn't come with the Aeeeris). And an N810 at about $250-$300 might similarly beat the sliderized Eee for practical considerations, if not in coolness.

The N8x0s don't have the horsepower of the Eee, but they're quite adequate, the same resolution, and pocketable. And the N800 even has a D-pad and some buttons on the front, which any Aeeeris mod really wants. The one serious advantage of the Eee, of course, is the VGA output for projectors and such.

Is it bad that, having said all that, I'm _still_ horribly tempted to go buy a second 701 (or even a 700) and Aeeeris it?