If you trace the roots of the Asus EeeKeyboard all the way back to CES 2009, and the convoluted trail of announcements and redesigns that followed, you probably suspected this would turn out to be little more than Vaporware. We had our doubts as well, but Asus has proved us wrong by actually launching the long awaiting keyboard PC, and the final product actually appears to be somewhat compelling.
The all-in-one EeeKeyboard PC features an Intel Atom N270 processor, an integrated 480x800 capacitive touchscreen, and built in speakers along with Windows XP on a 16 or 32GB SSD. Best of all users can choose to use either the built in display, connect to an external monitor via (HDMI/VGA), or wirelessly stream to a TV using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) that carries both the audio and video. We haven't had a chance to benchmark one or put it through the paces just yet, but it looks like a pretty interesting new form factor for PC users with very basic needs, or for the burgeoning HTPC market.
The UWB is by far the most interesting feature, but the fact that it is limited to 720p with a 5-meter range definitely restricts some of its usefulness. This is either a limitation of the UWB implementation, or the Intel Integrated graphics. Future implementations will hopefully add in an Nvidia ION, and maybe even boost the 4 hours of battery life a touch, but overall this looks like a pretty decent first attempt.
Click the jump to checkout a video of the EeeKeyboard in action, or to let us know what you think of the new form factor.
Comments are closed on this article
Trooper_One
May 03, 2010 at 12:50pm
My neck is sore just by thinking of looking at the screen on the right of my keyboard. maybe they should've split the keyboard and centre the screen in the middle of it.
Trooper_One
May 03, 2010 at 12:45pm
My neck is sore just by thinking of looking at the screen on the right of my keyboard. maybe they should've split the keyboard and centre the screen in the middle of it.
Taz0
May 03, 2010 at 9:15am
I can't accurately estimate the size of this thing from a drawn hand, but this may be the first "netbook" to actually have a half-decent keyboard. But I guess we'll still have to wait for the first netbook to have half-decent performance.
B10H4Z4RD
May 02, 2010 at 9:28pm
Ok, if someone can mod this into a tower moniter [C [orG] PU temp/clockspeed, music player etc] then I would go for it. till then...have fun w/ your media
______________________________________________________________________
On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. Chuck Palahniuk, FIght Club.
Intel Q6600@3.2
ASUS P5N-D
Evga GTX 275 896
EricX2
May 02, 2010 at 8:43pm
I've always been confused by this thing. Is it a PC in a keyboard in the sense that it is a one piece device that requires no other equipment? Like a tiny notebook with a PDA screen and external monitor connector?
Or is it a keyboard that plugs into one computer that has a built in secondary computer in it that can provide information unrelated to the computer the keyboard is connected to?
PawBear
May 02, 2010 at 1:04pm
" Concept" it is, barely functional 'till they up the specs. Love the idea though.
RtDK
May 02, 2010 at 12:43pm
When are they going to shrink down the components of the PC (mobo, CPU, GPU, HDD, DVD drive etc.) into plugin-sized chips so that we can design our own all-in-one PC's or laptops?
I mean, really. With the rate tech is progressing, shouldn't it be that simple by now? Think about it. Just choose a shell-casing (laptop-shell, keyboard-shell, monitor-shell, etc.) choose your individual components to plug in, assemble, and go.
What's keeping us from making that big step forward?
Taz0
May 03, 2010 at 9:10am
- "When are they going to shrink down the components of the PC (mobo, CPU, GPU, HDD, DVD drive etc.) into plugin-sized chips"
They're called cell phones.
aviaggio
May 02, 2010 at 12:26pm
Are we still oooing and ahhhing over Atom processors? Let's face it, they are ridiculously slow and simply do not provide the extended battery life they promised. Why anyone would want a device with one of these overhyped turds is beyond me.
Ditto to ION.
B10H4Z4RD
May 02, 2010 at 9:26pm
AGREED! i must say I love my EEEPC however the underpoweredness of it is.... disappointing.
______________________________________________________________________
On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. Chuck Palahniuk, FIght Club.
Intel Q6600@3.2
ASUS P5N-D
Evga GTX 275 896
dethdeks
May 02, 2010 at 12:08pm
"but the fact that it is limited to 720p with a 5-meter range definitely
restricts some of its usefulness" if your sitting more then 5 meters from your tv and using this then your not even gonna notice the difference of 720p or even 1080p for that matter so why even bother complaining about something so stupid like this
Justin.Kerr
May 02, 2010 at 12:55pm
Range and resolution are two different issues, both of which are a bit of a buzz kill depending on how you plan on using this. You can be 2cm away and still not be able to use 1080p.
aviaggio
May 02, 2010 at 1:01pm
The further away from a monitor you sit the harder it becomes for the eye to perceive resolution. At 15 feet you'd need a REALLY big TV to distinguish between 720p and 1080p.
hades_2100
May 02, 2010 at 1:39pm
Yes, like my 94" projection screen where I sit 10meters away.
hades
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