At this point, we're
beginning to wonder if we'll ever see ASUS' Eee Keyboard on store shelves. Heck, we've even see it
drop by the all-knowing FCC, yet the company has apparently delayed the official debut once more. The kids over at
Register Hardware were able to sit down with a tweaked version of the device, which is now slated to ship in early 2010. What's different? ASUS threw out the old resistive touchscreen that
we'd played with before and swapped in a capacitive panel like the one in SE's
XPERIA X10, Apple's
iPhone and Nokia's
X6. Engineers assert that touch response was far better with capacitive, and at least in this application, it simply made more sense. We're also given a good look at the external WiFi / UWB antenna that we spotted in the aforesaid FCC filing, which is being used over a sleek internal option due to possible interference from the metallic enclosure. Other than that, most everything else has remained the same, though we are told that a non-metallic iteration is in the works for those who hate awesome things.
posted Nov 4th 2009 3:02PM
Eee everything!
Of course it makes more sense. Resistive screens are only used in Nokia's flagshit products. Don't ruin your products by following in Nokia's footsteps.
....why, man? Why?
*sobs in corner*
I'm still having trouble understanding the point of this product...
Haha you beat my post by seconds..
The same people that want net tops. Anyone that wants a computer thats not big, not a laptop, and just need a minimal computer. I could see having this on the desk in my kitchen.
Off the top of my head i can see this being handy for college students. Easy to move in and out of dorms etc.
The more I think about it the more I think it would be easier just to have a small nettop and a wireless keyboard. If you need something you can take with you to your friend's house, grab your laptop.
Cyberdeck! CYBERDECK!
As sexy as this keyboard seems I just can't really find the practicality. I guess time will tell though.
it's a computer... not just a keyboard... and now it has an even-more-awesome touchscreen built right in. there, that should clarify things a bit.
I was aware
sooo, you knew it was a complete machine but still called it a keyboard and have no idea how it could be useful to anyone?
for an example of a person that might want a complete computer taking up no more than the space a keyboard, with a nice touchscreen, for netbook prices:
college students, soccer moms, teens, young children, older individuals..... anyone that needs a low-power consumption, low-footprint, relatively inexpensive secondary machine.... the list goes on.
it's a small computer built into a keyboard. there are many uses. stop being dense.
What is it with keyboard manufacturers - why no more 10key for numeric entry. I have a bunch of clients who want BT wireless keyboards - preferably with charging docking stations and the new "in" thing for keyboards is put something useless on the side like a touchpad and remove the 10 key. It would be great to have a choice - 10key for those who want it and a touch pad, mirror, dip holder, display or whatever other gadget for those who don't use keyboards for work.
@boe
How would you feel if one of the touchscreen's app was a numeric pad?
I'm not saying it is, but it certainly could be, and I think would eliminate that problem.
@Endejas
U try to enter data with a touchscreen 10key numeric pad even 1/4 as fast as you can with a standard 10 key, and get back to me. With a normal 10 key, you can feel the keys and know where your fingers are at. With a touchscreen, not so much.
I'm not putting you down for an innovative use of the display but I think people could probably use the numeric keys at the top of the keyboard faster than a tactileless keyboard - otherwise I think people would want just screens for keybpads and do away with physical screens. 10key is a very fast, efficient way of entering numeric data.
Oh great idea, use that 60" 1080P TV for data entry. 10 keys FTW.
I somehow doubt many offices would be buying these things for use with data entry so..
That's kind of the point - all the newest keyboards are useless for general business or even most home use. They seem strictly for gaming. It is fine logitech and others are coming out with cool gaming keyboards - unfrotunately they forgot to keep releasing general purpose wireless keyboards as well.
Sorry I thought you were joking when you complaint about the 10 keys wasn't part of the design because it's not suppose to. Even though it looks like a keyboard, it's not exactly a keyboard. It's a computer WITHIN a keyboard. From the feature list, I gather this will be a complete replacement for htpc. These are the key feature any htpc user would want, Wireless HDMI, 1080p, 802.11n (G doesn't have the bandwidth to handle HD), caseless design (you see those expensive small form factor computer case that needs low profile cards? That's what people are using it for because they will do anything to hide it from plain sight). I don't think this product can compete with the same market as laptop nor netbook due to the monitor-less design. But for an entertainment system, this thing have every key feature that they would want.
Sorry I thought you were joking when you complaint about the 10 keys wasn't part of the design. Even though it looks like a keyboard, it's not exactly a keyboard. It's a computer WITHIN a keyboard. From the feature list, I gather this will be a complete replacement for htpc. These are the key feature any htpc user would want, Wireless HDMI, 1080p, 802.11N (G doesn't have the bandwidth to handle HD), caseless design (you see those expensive small form factor computer case that needs low profile cards? That's what people are using it for because they will do anything to hide it from plain sight). I don't think this product can compete with the same market as laptop nor netbook due to the monitor-less design. For an entertainment system, this thing have every key feature that they would want.
This is a really cool idea............. but I'm still wondering why me or anyone else would buy this. Any ideas?
You know this thing will be close to $1000 and it only has the performance of a nettop.
with all the gadgets, engadget makes me drool all the day
You know drool is bad for most gadgets, right?
Question: Are chiclet keyboards (wired or wireless) available for a desktop? I have only seem them on laptops before and wondered if they were available in something other than this eee keyboard.
Uh, Apple Keyboard?
@Uncontrol: Sorry, PC user here.
Apple do a BT and wired chicklet, but they are going to cost you.
Also, you may miss that windows key...
Sony Vaio. I think they were the first to do this.
@Oli D: I was reading that it wasnt compatible with Windows. Says it requires the Mac OS.
@N900: Indeed, Sony did first put a chiclet keyboard into a laptop. I have been searching their site and it seems like there is a bluetooth keyboard, the VGP-BKB1, that Sony put on their SonyStyle.com website recently.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666005675&tab=featuresTab#additionalImage1%22
Actually, the Apple Keyboard is compatible with Windows.
I'm using the smaller, numpad-less version right now plugged into my laptop which is running Windows 7.
And Oli D, the "command" key on the Apple Keyboard functions as the Windows key on a Windows machine.
@matt - I've used the apple keyboard for months now on my windows machine and I love it. Just use the program "Key Tweak" to map any of your favorite windows keys that are missing (like Print Screen).
@ Snapdarty, yeah but it doesn't have the nice little picture :)
Anyone who had a C64 or Acorn must feel the pull of nostalgia to this
Nah the motivating crucial thing in those was the BASIC that was always there when you switched it on, and nothing else.
A thing running a modern GUI'ed OS without out-of-the-box simple programming forced upon you can't compare.
The OLPC is more reminiscent of those old computers I think.
I think the major crucial motivational thing about 8bit all-in-one computers was actually there was no alternative for the home market at the time, and the "nothing" else" would actually be you loading a game from cassette, which most of the time was why you turned the thing on in the first place.
I imagine in theory you could install MSDOS on this and then add qbasic in the autoexec.bat, but why?
@Oli D: I was reading that it wasnt compatible with Windows. Says it requires the Mac OS.
@N900: Indeed, Sony did first put a chiclet keyboard into a laptop. I have been searching their site and it seems like there is a bluetooth keyboard, the VGP-BKB1, that Sony put on their SonyStyle.com website recently.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666005675&tab=featuresTab#additionalImage1%22
The life cycle of Engadget comments on the Eee Keyboard.
1) Concept stage: "That's awesome! Asus had better get this out as soon as possible, or my head will explode!"
2) Production stage:
=a= "Can it output 720p?"
=b= "Resistive touchscreen blah blah iPhone blah."
3) Release announcement: "And the point of this is what?" "That's stupid." "Something about OSX."
Well yeah, but it's not the same people saying all of these is it?
Also: Can I use it as a BT keyboard for my iphone?
(Just kidding, I don't have an iphone)
You missed out the 10 separate comments about the Commodore 64.
You misspelled 'hell' again
It's a 1.0 product. Guaranteed that keyboards (minus the computer) will go this way, it has to be if multi-touch is going to take off. No one wants to have to reach out and touch the display screen. I still think Wacom is in a great spot here, they make a tablet that allows multi-touch by hand, stylus drawing, and mousing and they win. They have all the bits, just not in one smart package.
I'd buy this in a heartbeat if it were just a keyboard and multi-touch panel and ~$100.
Is it still moblin?
It was always XP.
..except when it was running Moblin.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/video-asus-eee-keyboard-running-moblin/
Yeah, except that time, yeah.
re: comments that this would be ideal for a college student (easy to move). A netbook or standard laptop would be easier to move and have a larger screen in an ergonomic position. And, it would be much cheaper. This is a product with no venue.
No, this is for around the house. It has wireless HDMI, you can connect it to your TV.
For the love of God, somebody please 10/GUI this puppy up.
This seems clunky to me.
You can't use it on your HDTV in your living room, because you'll need to have an HDMI cable tethered from your keyboard/computer to the flat panel.
You really gain nothing in terms of space on your desktop, because you'll need to get external drives to make this thing fully functional. And again, lots of cables between this and the drives and display.
Really, the only use for this thing is if you want the power of a netbook with a full-size desktop monitor. I remember the TI-99/4A, Commodore 64/128, Amiga 600 days, and let me tell you: It wasn't really that great having the keyboard built onto the desktop computer. All that meant was that when your keyboard broke or got cruddy, you had to send the whole computer in for repair/cleaning instead of just buying a new damned keyboard.
And I won't even mention the details of people spilling drinks on their keyboards and what it could mean for this thing. I love ASUS, but this seems pointless.
Wait... WIRELESS HDMI?!?!
Does that exist? Is that a real thing? `Never heard of it. Seems like it would be crap.
Yes, it's real, and from what I've seen on a few other gadgets, it's awesome.
That little detail might have perhaps changed your opinion of the niche this is going into?
hey guys, we did a hands on video of this new version some 2 weeks ago. unfortunately it never got covered by engadget ;)
http://www.netbooknews.com/1029/eee-keyboard-demoed-in-the-asus-eee-home/
Really hope they do something with an ion platform on this, otherwise I could care less about it. Although I love the idea of hiding a computer in the keyboard. I'm all about slim and concealed devices, just not when they are based on atom processors -.- It'd also be nice if they made a matching line of flat screen monitors that were extra slim to go with this? Perhaps even monitors that could pick up the video/keyboard signals wirelessly. I know sony has some new premium wireless TV's. It'd be nice to see others pick up on this for monitors as well. Being able to hide a desktop or whatever, and have it wirelessly stream 1080 or higher resolution would be sexy as hell.
Everytime this product comes up, the same negative comments are always made.
What I think people are missing, is this thing can do wireless HDMI. You don't need a monitor, you can use your existing HDTV.
I think most casual computer users would like this Keyboard. You don't need a computer desk, or a full fledged computer and monitor. Netbooks are great, but they are also small.
This is a computer built inside a keyboard. You power it on, and turn your 42" TV to another input to use it as its monitor. Perfect for folks who just browse the internet and do e-mail. You can do it all from your couch. During commercials during CSI you can switch over and check your e-mail real quick. =)
I grew up with a C64, so this warms the old dentures
I'll buy this thing if only to act out my own Gibsonian cyberpunk fantasies. As one poster said, "CYBERDECK! CYBERDECK!"
I wonder if you could gut the innards and really get some horse power behind those keys... Ono-Sendai Cyberspace 7, anyone?
For the love of all things good - this piece of gadget should not cost more than a netbook - $200 MAX
Is it feasible in the near future that the processing power of the mobile/cellphone will replace the netbook or notebook as the standard day-to-day portable computer? It would use Wireless HDMI to transmit the phone's desktop screen to a larger screen (e.g. an OLED photo-frame), and Bluetooth to transmit to a keyboard, as at present?