ASUS officially announces Eee Box details

Rich Brown | Jun 03, 2008

Word got out a little early this morning regarding ASUS' small Eee Box, so we can share what we saw in a preview in our offices a few weeks back. The small, Wii-looking PC will hit the US via online retailers (and perhaps a few specialty brick-and-mortar shops) later this year.

The listed dimensions of the unit are 8.5-inches high, 1-inch wide, and 7-inches deep, standing upright on its included stand. It can also lie down flat.

Official specs are as follows:

Operating system: Linux System/ Hardware Compatible with Windows XP
CPU: Intel Atom N270 (1.6 GHz, FSB 533)
Memory: 1 GB / 2 GB DDR2
Hard drive: 80GB / 160GB 5,400 rpm
Chipset: Intel 945GSE + ICH7M
Integrated graphics chip: Intel GMA 950
Networking: 10/100/1,000Mbps LAN, 802.11n WLAN, Bluetooth optional
Media card reader supporting: SD, SDHC, miniSD, (microSD through adapter); MMC, MMC plus, MMC4.x, RS MMC, RSMMC4.x (MMC mobile through adapter); MS, MS PRO

For its rear ports you get two USB 2.0, one Gigabit LAN, a DVI output, left and right audio line-out with S/PDIF, and an input for a Wi-Fi antenna. There is no optical drive, but the Eee Box does feature a user removable hard drive to simplify upgrades and repairs.

ASUS is selling a variety of other Eee Box configurations around the world, but it will have three available in the US. One for US$269 comes with 1GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and an unspecified version of Linux. Another Linux-based model comes with 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive for US$299. Finally, a Windows XP-based version with 1GB or RAM and an 80GB hard drive will sell for US$299.

When it comes out later this June to September period, the Eee Box will complement ASUS' much-talked about KPC K-4500 Linux desktop. While none of those systems are exactly mainstream, they're all known for low prices and a surprising amount of features for the dollar.

Via Crave CNET

Filed under: PC & Peripherals
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