Atom-powered MSI WindBOX nearly ready to ride your LCD
By Darren Murph 
posted January 26th 2009 11:27AM
posted January 26th 2009 11:27AM
posted January 26th 2009 11:27AM
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sorry if I wasn't around when this originally broke but this is freakin genius
Wey not just get a netbook. Why in the world would I want to attach that to the back of a monitor. Who uses VGA anymore anyway when it comes to desktops.
The only thing better would be to ditch the VGA and add TV outs and HDMI on these things...I would love to pick up a sub $300 set top box for streaming hulu, network websites, etc...
Yeah except this is designed for TVs which have VGA more than dvi.
VGA is indeed stupid. Other than that, a netbook ist most definitely not a replacement for this setup. Not everybody needs a portable computer and usually, people prefer to work on something larger than a 10" screen. Screw this thing to a 15'' or maybe 17" TFT with properly thin edges and a compact stand (Eizo has some nice ones), get yourself some wireless HID and voilà, you have an extremely compact system with only slight input/output-related comfort losses (namely screen size).
I agree. I'd like to see them add HDMI, the dual core atom and the NVIDIA graphics though. That would make this a buy on sight product. I want it to copulate with my HDTV.
It doesn't matter that they have VGA more than DVI; with a DVI out you can use a DVI to HDMI cable (they use the same set of pins for actual data - you can even push sound over a DVI to HDMI cable if your DVI port is wired for it; long story). Most modern TVs that do HDMI have an HDMI port that has an L/R RCA audo jack associated with it for precisely this use.
Oh, and just for the hell of it, "VGA" is a graphics standard; the cable itself is more appropriately called a D-subminiature 15 cable, or D-sub 15, or HD-15 in some cases.
"Oh, and just for the hell of it, "VGA" is a graphics standard; the cable itself is more appropriately called a D-subminiature 15 cable, or D-sub 15, or HD-15 in some cases." -John
Of course VGA is a standard, but "VGA connector" implies intent while dsub15 is ambiguous to any specific purpose. Besides, everyone calls it a VGA connector. This is why everyone calls networking wire "ethernet wire" rather than RJ-45 & Cat5-6, because it can be wired so many different ways for so many purposes.
For those who think this is stupid, keep in mind that many commercial installations could make great use of this. Imagine you have 100s or 1000s of live data screens in your facility (ex: airports). What a cheap and easy way to put live content on these screens, each one customizable to its location without needing 1000s of feet of cable and a broadcast center generating any number of different signals (terminal 1 arrivals page 1, terminal 3 departures page 9...etc).
can we stop this "this thing isnt built for my specification so its stupid" comment? seriously, there are still VGA connector users around the world, its catered for them, not for you, actually calling something stupid cause its not catered for you is a stupid comment.
Actually, ethernet cabling uses an 8P8C connector, not RJ45 ;)
@John: C'mon now. nit picking... lol never heard of that, but wikipedia shows it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RJ-45
yes, it is.. it seems so simple but it's a Wind without the monitor!
Even if this sells for the same price as and actual Wind, it's still a deal. I'd expect it to be cheaper without battery and LCD. Thin terminals typically cost $300-$500.. and run Win CE or something and use a low power non-x86 cpu so they can't run anything except the OS they come with.
This is market changing. Most computers at my work could easily be replaced with one of these and the employees wouldn't even know.
Just remember, this is NOT an imac :-)
until I install Leopard on a 16GB flashdrive or memory card it isnt.
VGA? Seriously? It won't be that much longer before LCDs don't include VGA inputs...
Because you can really see a difference, good point.
I screw it to my *digital* LCD panel, but have to connect it via an *analogue* VGA connector, wtf?
Pretty cool. I just wouldn't enjoy finding the usb ports when I need to plug something in, it'd take like an extra 6 seconds of my life.
...or having to move the monitor just to put an SD card in.
When does the Wind Break?
Also, can i cram in 3gb instead?
and what about if I'm already using my VESA mount for an appropriate VESA mounting device? :(
Then you're screwed, like me. The VESA mount of my LCD has already been occupied by an Ergotron LX Wall Mount System, makes it impossible to piggyback this box. and it's a bit of underpowered for me anyway.
A lot of monitors use their vesa mount for the included desktop stand. I wonder if it has passthrough screw holes so you can sandwich it or maybe you just mount it to the wall mount instead.
No-nails or superglue, your choice!
Yet another use for duct tape.
Hopefully it comes with a short little display cable, and a power cable system in relay. Then it'd truly rival any low-end one-piece computer out there.
Would be cool with a wireless mouse/keyboard. Only one cable going to the machine. Would suck for Dell monitors or any monitor that uses the mount for a stand though. As for the USB, just get a monitor that has a USB hub built in, problem solved.
If they come out with one that uses the NVidia chipset so it can has DVI or HDMI I'm in.
umm... i've got an eeebox b202 mounted on the back of a 19" monitor right now... has the same specs as this box and is available now... paid 300 bucks stuck 2GB of ram in there.... it has dvi and wireless n built in.... which this one doesn't seem to have.... just sayin'
Indeed, I've been very happy with my b202 as well !
Yes, the EEE box b202 also comes with a mount to attach it to the back of a TV/monitor.
I got myself a roll of duct tape from home depot, got the job done too.
Exactly what I thought when I saw this. I'm still holding out for the b206 so it can do 1080p.
I just wish that it had svideo/composite output. That's my main issue with these nettops, I want to be able to hook one up to my TV (like my modded 1st gen xbox, but much smaller), but they don't have a basic video output.
Looks like the exact same specs as the Wind netbooks minus screen, webcam, and mic. Hackintosh iMacs will be all over the place.
Power to 'em.
I'd pay $80.
What a fantastic idea! Thank you MSI! This is just right for a tablet conversion kit!
Stick an HDMI port on that thing and you have a sale.
Better yet, just built this box (or something similar) into every TV. Let's stop screwing around here.
so could I install XP or 7 on my 16GB or 32GB SDHC card and use it with this? OR LEOPARD. :D
It's a real pain to get Windows to boot from USB.
If the card reader is connected internally via USB I expect you get the same problem.
I don't see how you can run Windows on this. Anyone?
The same way that you run it on any of the netbooks - from the internal drive (either SSD or, more likely in this case, HDD)
Theoretically, I could attach this to the back of my TV, correct?
Not very theoretical; if it can hook up to a VESA compliant mount then any VESA mount will do. What resolution it can effectively push is a little more theoretical.
bluetack my friend, ha VESA mounts lol
I would like to see a box like this with "mount-through" holes. It would be nice to be able to wall mount, or better yet, cantilever mount something like this to a desk, and still have the box back there.
It'd do 1280x720 easy, 1920x1080 maybe a little tougher, but it probably could. Whether or not it could playback HD Hulu videos is a diff. story.
@ Keith
I work for Jayex, a company in London that sells and installs these PCs and they have the through holes that you're talking about, they are pretty cool
I think that this has excellent potential as a carputer as well
That's probably the best place for it, after the intended consumer base like hospitals or industries where deskspace is low and power requirements are, too.
The carputer doesn't need a ton of power, either, and having a box like this (7" x 10" x .8") makes for an easy thin under-seat or glovebox mount, and a flash/SSD-based external drive connection would be perfect for a carputer's rough ride.
It's not meant for high-end graphics, like some people here seem to want it to be - it's for distributed computing.