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ASUS Eee Box EB1501P- small nettop with built in DVD drive

Mark — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 07:42:56 +0000

The ASUS Eee Box EB1501P is another entry in Asus’s line of nettops, which are form factor computers aimed at customers looking for a Home Theater solution. What’s surprising and great about this particular model is that it comes with an optical disk drive, something you rarely see on a computer this small.

Usually, people have to connect an external disk drive via USB if they want to see a movie from a DVD on this type of device, but with the EB1501P, Asus eliminated the “middle man” and delivers a complete entertainment solution for your living room. The computer, like other nettops out there, is small, makes almost no noise and can be mounted on the back of a TV or everywhere you can find some free space.

The EB1501P has a dual core, Intel Atom D525 processor, with a clock speed of 1.8 GHZ. The CPU is designed to waste as little energy as possible, with the circuitry having a tweaked architecture that eliminates power wastes. Also, the processor has above the line graphics capabilities, in comparison with other Intel Atom processors.

The nettop comes with a built in DVD drive

The system has 2 GB of DDR3 RAM and a 320 GB hard disk drive. The system can support up to 4 GB of RAM, but the nettop has only one slot, so you’ll have to buy a 4 GB module if you want to upgrade. Also, there’s the NVIDIA ION graphics card with 512 MB of dedicated VRAM. The video card is good enough for full HD, 1080p playback and some light gaming. It comes with full support for Direct X 10.1 and Flash 10.1, which are two technologies widely used by game manufacturers and website developers for newer and visually richer applications.

The EB1501P also has a DVD drive, which is great if you just want to relax and pop in a DVD in the drive. This is a strange addition on a computer this size, considering that most manufacturers try to design computers to be as small as possible. But Asus decided to squeeze a disk drive in and this was made with users in mind. People don’t want to connect additional devices to a nettop and fill their living rooms with cables and stuff.

The nettop also has two USB 3.0 ports, which allows for transfer speeds ten times faster than on USB 2.0 drives. You’ll be able to watch a 1080p video directly from a USB drive or transfer a big file in no time. Other ports include a 5 in 1 card reader, with support for SD, SDHC, MS, MS Pro, MMC, a HDMI port for connecting the nettop to a big screen TV, 4 USB 2.0 ports, mic, headphone jack and a D-sub port.

The EB1501P has 2 USB 3.0 ports for high speed transfers

The computer is the size of a paper back novel and can be setup on the back of a HDTV, as it comes with a VESA stand for a very easy setup. The computer has a Green Star 5.0 label, which means that it requires with up to 70% less energy to function than a normal desktop PC. For connecting to the internet, there’s WiFi, so no blue tooth or 3G.

The EB1501P costs $504 on Amazon and is a very good solution for watching HD movies, browsing the web and enjoying pictures on a large HD TV with family and friends. More, you’ve got an incorporated DVD drive, so it will be very easy to enjoy all your favorite movies on a single Home Theater PC. Finally, for maximum comfort and enjoyment, Asus throws in the mix a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as a remote control.

ASUS Eee Box EB1012P- small nettop with astonishing HD capabilities

Mark — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:50:27 +0000

The ASUS Eee Box EB1012P is a very affordable and capable nettop for day to day use. Nettops are small and energy efficient desktop replacements, that can deliver good performance without the hassle of a big, tower desktop computer. Nettops such as the EB1012P are usually as big as a book and can be installed on the back of a TV or kept on a small desk or commode.

Nettops are usually very quiet and don’t produce too much heat in comparison with bigger computers. But you should know that a nettop doesn’t offer the same type of performance as a normal PC. As users tend to split their digital needs on several devices (consoles for gaming, tablets for communication, laptops for working), nettops are usually aimed at offering a good Home Theater experience and overall be an entertainment center for casual users.

The nettop is slim and compact, being the size of a book

It’s also the case with the EB1012P, which is good enough for watching videos and browsing the web, but couldn’t really deal with HD gaming and demanding multitasking. But let’s take it slow. The EB1012P is black and is as big as a router, just to give a reasonable comparison. It has a bunch of ports in front, while on the back it has a wireless antenna and the rest of the ports.

The nettop comes with its own stand, but you can easily set it up on the back of a big TV or anywhere you can find some free space. Also, Asus threw in the mix a wireless keyboard and mouse combo, so setting up the mini computer will be a breeze and you won’t have to buy any additional accessories for it. Inside, the EB1012P is powered by a Intel Atom dual core D510 processor, which we usually see on netbooks or some notebooks.

Nevertheless, the CPU is able to deliver very good video performance and you will be able to watch 1080p videos without a problem. Actually, for this you’ll have to bow more to the NVIDIA ION graphics chip, that comes with 512 MB of dedicated VRAM and that delivers above average nettop video performance. In terms of system memory, you get 2 GB of RAM, which is also the maximum amount you can install on it.

Part of the ports and power button are in front

The dual core processor and dedicated video card form a pretty decent entertainment machine and that will rarely get jammed…well, if you don’t feed it too many things at once. Also, there’s a 320 GB hard disk drive, that should be enough for keeping your videos and photos in one place, as well as saving your favourite TV shows in HD format.

The nettop comes, of course, with a HDMI connector for linking the machine with a HD capable TV, but you also get a VGA port for setting it up with a more standard display. There are a couple of USB 3.0 ports, which have speeds 10 times higher than USB 2.0, so watching a high bit rate movie directly from a USB drive is very easy. Sure, you still get traditional USB 2.0 ports, which are very useful if you want to connect an external optical drive (as the EB1012P doesn’t have one) or other peripherals.

When it comes to connectivity, you have both WiFi and Ethernet, so unfortunate no 3G- but maybe that would have been too much on a computer that it’s not dealing mainly with video playback and (very) light gaming. The EB1012P is now available from Amazon for just $382.20, and for that price you get also the wireless mouse and keyboard, as well as the VESA mount for easy install on a TV.

most of the connectors and ports are on the back

The machine runs on Windows 7 Home Premium and can have more than one uses in your living room. Besides streaming content, you can use it as a server, as one happy Amazon customer stated. You can leave it on at all times, as in sleep mode, the nettop will consume so little power and let it synch and download content for your entire home network.

Asus 1005PR EEE PC – HD capable 10 inch netbook

Andrew — Thu, 06 May 2010 14:17:04 +0000

Netbooks these days are known for their portability and huge battery life, but not so much for performance. Standard versions will do fine with your daily applications and will be en0ugh for listening to music, surfing the web, chatting with friends, writing texts, etc . Bot won’t be able to face HD content.

HD capable Asus 1005PR

And here’s where the Asus EEE PC 1005PR comes into the scene, a device very much similar to the most popular Asus series of the moment, the 1005PE, but with some extra goodies, including a HD display and HD content playing abilities, with the help of a Broadcom accelerator card. This is an extension chip connected on the mini PCI-e slot and is able to enhance the graphic performances of the standard PineTrail platform.

However, improvements are only visible in terms of video playing and not on games, as the chip provides H.264 decoding capabilities. As a result, the Asus EEE PC 1005PR can play up to 1080p self-stored clips and 720p flash videos. 1080p Flash might work or not, according to the bitrate of each individual clip.

Playing HD content on a 10 inch 1024 x 600 px display wouldn’t have been much of an improvement, thus Asus equipped the 1005PR EEE PC with a HD ready 10 inch 1366 x 768 px screen. On the bright side, this translates in a bigger working area. But, having a bigger resolution will also translate in a bigger weight on the shoulders of the PineTrail hardware, which we already know ain’t the best in terms of performances. Thus, the 1005PR might be somewhat more sluggish than a standard Asus 10 incher in everyday tasks.

Also, everything will be smaller on a 10 inch HD display and you might have problems using it for a longer period of time, as it might cause pain to your eyes, not to mention headaches (just because reading smaller texts is uncomfortable). So, you’d better have this in mind when looking for such a device.

All in all though, the Asus EEE PC 1005PR is an improvement. Although not a complete fan of the HD screen, the HD abilities are definitely welcomed and make it more versatile as a multimedia travel companion. The textured carbon-like exterior, like the one on the Asus EEE PC 1001P, also helps, allowing better grip and protecting it from scratches and smudges. Too bad for the glossy display and palm rest are though.

The good part is that the gadget is not that expensive. It is available for $399 in the states, with Free Shipping included. And that’s quite fair in my eyes.

Asus EEE PC 1005PR - all the goodies, plus HD display and HD playing abilities

Pros:

classic Seashell looks and solid build quality
standard hardware: N450 + GMA 3150 + 1 GB of RAM + 250 GB hard-drive
Broadcom Crystal accelerator included, making it able to run almost all kind of HD content, both Flash or self-stored
10.1 inch LED back-lit HD ready display, 1366 x 768 px resolution
6 Cell battery – up to 11 hours of life on paper, more like 8 in practice
Wi-Fi N connectivity + Bluetooth
casing comes with a matte carbon-fiber-like finish, less prone to fingerprints and smudges
ergonomic chiclet keyboard + multi-touch trackpad
price is very good for the features

Cons:

screen and palm-rest area are glossy, thus you will have to deal with scratches and smudges, plus you won’t be able to easily use it in strong light conditions
HD display on such a small screen is a plus, but also a con, making it difficult to read content and possibly causing you headaches (this happened to me but not to others, so I guess it’s a pretty subjective observation). Also, because the Atom hardware is not very powerful, the computer might get more sluggish than a standard 10 incher sometimes, because it has to display more content on the screen.

All in one the Asus EEE PC 1005PR is definitely a good pick if you want a 10 inch netbook with better multimedia performances and a HD display. In fact, it’s one of your best choices right now in the 10 inch class, at least until we’ll see Nvidia ION 10 inchers on the market, but that won’t happen sooner than a couple of months.

Asus Eee Box EB1501 nettop gets official, is gorgeous

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:30:53 +0000

Asus Eee Box EB1501 Nettop

Asus is announcing yet another member of the Eee family. The Eee Box EB1501 nettop. It will sport a dual core Intel Atom 330 processor and NVIDIA ION for enhanced graphics and video. This new nettop support up to 4 GB RAM (2GB DDR x 2) and will come with 250GB SATA hard drive. Of course, the HDMI capability is also included. Two things that definitely sets this apart from previous models are slot-in DVD RW and of course, its new look. The EB1501 is said to be available after Windows 7 officially hits the market in October. No final word on pricing yet but Slashgear says it will start at

Asus EeeBox B208 out in June (not official)

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:19:46 +0000

The Asus EeeBox B208 is rumored to be out in the wild in June, though no official statement coming from Asus yet. The B208 has been announced and intro’d to the public since ice age. It isn’t the first nettop by Asus but the first to have special video features that could handle high quality format graphics with the help of the dedicated ATI Radeon HD 4350 graphics card. It’s also the first to bring the power of Intel Atom 330 Dual Core. The said nettop will sport an HDMI port that will maximize the use of its high quality graphics card. It could be ported to an HDTV, coupled with a remote control and it will serve as your media player in the living room.

Rundown of Specs

OS	Genuine Windows

Clevo Netbook, Eee Box B208, Atom Z530 vs Atom N270

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:54:51 +0000

Clevo M810L Netbook

The Inquirer shows pictures of the upcoming Clevo M810L Netbook. It has standard specs of 1.6Ghz Intel Atom N270, 10″ screen at 1024 x 576 plus RAM and other network capabilities. Clevo is one of the companies that make laptops and allow other companies to rebrand their products.

The Asus Eee Box B208 HD

Meanwhile, Asus also launched the Eee Box B208 which is not just your typical light-weight desktop, but a living room decor that plays HD format movies. It comes with an 1.6Ghz Intel Atom 330, which is a dual core and significantly powerful than its elder siblings. It has 1GB RAM, 160 GB – 250GB – 320GB HDD options, plus the standard specs. It also comes with a remote control and a built in battery that could provide extra power to at least save everything you need to save when power interrupts.

Intel Atom Z530 vs Intel Atom N270

Curious about how the Z530 and N270 performs against each other? Yugatech shows its own comparison from Super Pi and the N270 comes winning in terms of power. While the Z530 is a tad slower, it may advance in coolness and battery consumption. Z530 is used by the VAIO P, while the N270 is commonly used by other netbooks.

Eee Box B204/B206 = Excellent Home Computing and Entertainment

Andrew — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:07:45 +0000

The original Eee Box B202 is roughly just a half-year old, while Mother Asus is about to give birth again for a new twin. The twins B204 and B206 are very much identical to their older sibling, having same processors and network features, etc., except that they also acquired an extra gene from their new father which makes them grow an HDMI port from their rear. ATI Radeon HD 3400 series with 256MB DDR2 memory will also enhance their media decoding ability which also makes them capable of playing High Definition Videos in higher quality on High Definition TV. Apparently, the B204 inherits another gene from someone else which gives it a built-in battery which will keep it alive for a period of time when power is cut-off.

Computingwise, this might still not be the best option for a desktop alternative, but will surely satisfy your normal computing needs. And entertainmentwise, this might not be as good as dedicated home entertainment system, but will surely keep your eyes happily awake watching your favorite movies. They will also come along with a remote control, which will help you instruct them to do things they are supposed to without even landing a single finger on them.

Price and birth date is not yet confirmed, but I’m sure it wouldn’t take long. And oh, there’s also a new technology called Newborn Screening, and we hope that the new Asus babies undergo this process to prevent them from inheriting the virus their older sibling once have.

Eee Box with Virus roots from China-based OEM

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:09:12 +0000

Reported by Digitimes, AsusTek puts blame on China-based OEM for Virus infected Eee Box. The unnamed OEM is said to be responsible for the manufacturing units for Japan market. Somehow it is confirmed that it’s OEM’s fault.

Due to lapses on quality measures on the said OEM, the incident happened, and AsusTek is considering to transfer future order of Eee Box to Foxconn Electronics or other OEM.

Lesson learned, in anything we provide to others, consider the best quality, because it’s what we all want.

Alert! Virus Found!

Andrew — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:06:38 +0000

Always happens when you least expect it, some Eee Box B202 delivered in Japan (we assume it’s Windows XP version) were reported to have “recycle.exe” virus, as a bonus perk for their new owners. AsusTek Japan has accepted this lapse and said that the virus spreads to drives including external drives once the folder is opened.

As of the moment, there were no reports regarding Eee Box delivered to other countries. But be warned.

via eeepc.net via NetworkWorld

Asus Eee Box Official Site

Andrew — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:43:59 +0000

How could I miss that there’s an official page for Asus Eee Box which is pretty attractive in terms of design? Of course its main purpose is to market the Eee Box so all you will see on the page are seducing descriptions of the product and sweet overviews of what the product offers.