ASUS AiGuru SV1T videophone adds 7-inch touchscreen to 70s nostalgia

You've got to hand it to ASUS -- the little Taiwanese company isn't afraid of pushing the limits in niche markets. Above is its latest Skype-certified AiGuru dedicated videophone, the SV1T. The major new feature of the all-in-one device with WiFi (or Ethernet), VGA webcam, mic, and speaker is that large 7-inch 800x480 pixel touchscreen. A compelling device if they can get the price right; its predecessor listed for $300 -- about $201 too much in a market saturated by cheap netbooks.

[Merlot and Shiraz Posted Sep 18th 2009 3:24AM]

Yep, little company with 100000 employees and 22billion revenues

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 3:50AM]

Fair point, but I wasn't referring to ASUSTek and its OEM business. -- Thomas

[ghatid Posted Sep 18th 2009 3:58AM]

It looks like it should fit in a car.

[Information Central Posted Sep 18th 2009 4:02AM]

'70s

apostrophe + S = possessive

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 4:57AM]

@Information Central : surely then it should be 70's -- i.e. it belongs in that decade...

[F C Posted Sep 18th 2009 5:59AM]

"70's -- i.e. it belongs in that decade..."

Well it should have friggin stayed there!

[formetopoopon Posted Sep 18th 2009 6:30AM]

I could see how this would be great for a grandparent as it would be much easier to use than a netbook. It certainly has a niche, albeit a small one.

[Electromodo Posted Sep 18th 2009 10:52AM]

I was trying hard to justify the price of $260-$300 and to buy it for my grandparents, but I couldn't justify it. I gave them my old laptop, at least they can receive emails too.

If it was around $100-$150 like Belkin or CMC Skype phones, then it would be another story.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 6:52AM]

Video demo: here

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 6:54AM]

Video demo: http://www.gsmdome.com/asus/asus-eee-phone-touch-not-quite-a-cellphone-video_9306

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 9:36AM]

Any news on whether this will support the Skype "High Quality" video resolutions?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 10:30AM]

The price is $269 - already available through skype shop - available only in USA. Hope it comes to Europe. Yep, maybe this is not for everyone, BUT - grandparents and all other technically "challenged", or ppl who like to use skype but don't want to boot their pc's just to make a call.

[Wwhat Posted Sep 18th 2009 11:06AM]

I hear on a forum that it crashes a lot and that it's hell to setup because you have to enter everything with the 4way pad, even the WiFi passphrase, and that's not a fun way to spend a few hours.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 7:14PM]

so what makes this one better than the last one? in fact, if you cilck on the link to the previous model, that has a higher resolution than this new model? huh?

[keithwwalker Posted Sep 18th 2009 10:43PM]

Finally! I can call the wife without HAL9000 listening in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiyOfgMiMbc

[CJ Posted Sep 19th 2009 7:07AM]

I hope to god AT&T Pick this up.

Because then it's a videophone on Bell (formerly) Telecom! Stanley Kubrick would be proud!