Otherwise the two nettops are functionally unchanged.  That means you get a slot-loading DVD burner on the Eee Box EB1501U, complete with gigabit ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, VGA and HDMI connectivity, while the Eee Box EB1012U lacks the optical drive but has the same ports and measures over 10mm thinner.

There’s also plenty of USB 2.0 ports along with eSATA and S/PDIF, a 250GB hard-drive and support for up to 4GB of RAM.  No word on pricing for each of the Windows 7 Home Premium systems, but the regular (i.e. non-USB 3.0) EB1501 and EB1012 are currently selling for $480 and $387 at Amazon.

[via Gadgetmix]

As for the rest of the specifications, they look generally unchanged.  That means you get 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard-drive, along with WiFi b/g/n and gigabit ethernet.  Other connectivity includes four USB 2.0 ports, a 4-in-1 memory card reader, audio in/out, S/PDIF and DVI.

According to one site, initial stock is expected on January 19th, with prices kicking off from €426.44 ($618).  That certainly makes it more expensive than a regular nettop, but we’re leaning toward forgiving the EB1601 what with its 1080p HD capabilities and frugal power requirements.

[via Netbook Italia]

The addition of that optical drive, plus the NVIDIA Ion graphics chipset and HMDI connector, are what makes us so excited about using the EB1501 as an HTPC.  It’ll support 1080p high definition video output, and ASUS include software for upscaling standard-definition DVDs to at least 720p; meanwhile there’s 5.1-channel surround sound support, with an S/PDIF digital audio output.

You can even mount the nettop behind your display, using a VESA mount, and ASUS reckon you’ll save 70-percent on your energy use compared to a regular desktop.  No indication on Amazon as to when the EB1501 will start shipping, however.

[via Netbooked]

Update: ASUS UK have been in touch to tell us that the EB1501 is indeed shipping today in the UK, and that they’ve been in contact with the retailers to ask them to update their listings.

Meanwhile Amazon UK are still listing the EB1501 as not shipping for another 1 to 2 months, and there’s no mention of the release date.  We’ve got a request for more information in with ASUS’ PR people in the UK, and will update when we get to the bottom of the confusion.

As for why the EB1501 is so interesting, it’s one of the first nettops from ASUS to include both NVIDIA’s Ion GPU – which promises 1080p High Definition video playback via an HDMI port – and an integrated optical drive, in this case a slot-loading DVD burner.  That makes it a very alluring HTPC; it’s being advertised for around £339 ($560) in both black and white.

There’s also up to 4GB of RAM supported, a 250GB 2.5-inch hard-drive, gigabit ethernet and WiFi b/g/n, while the drive is a slot-loading DVD burner and OS is Windows 7 Home Premium.  Connectivity includes six USB 2.0 ports, eSATA, HDMI, D-Sub, a multiformat card reader, audio in/out, S/PDIF and a WiFi antenna.

ASUS will also sell you a remote control or an optional keyboard/mouse set, and there’s a VESA mount in case you’d prefer to hide the EB1501 behind your flatscreen.  It’s expected to start from €399 ($581) with 2GB of RAM, but beyond waiting for Windows 7′s launch on October 22nd we’re not sure when exactly it will go on sale.

[via eeepc.it]

OS Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium
CPU Intel® Atom™ N330 Dual Core
Memory 2 x So-DIMM Slots, DDR2-800 2G (UP to 4G)
Storage SATA 2.5” 250GB
Chipset NVIDIA® MCP7A ION™
Graphics NVIDIA® MCP7A ION™
LAN 10/100/1000 Mbps
Wireless 802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz
Card Reader SD/SDHC/MS/MS Pro/MMC

Front Panel:
Card Reader x 1(SD/SDHC/MS/MS Pro/MMC)
USB x3
Headphone x 1
MIC x 1

Rear I/O:
Wi-Fi antenna x1 (built-in)
DC-in
USB 2.0 x2
Gigabit Lan x1
HDMI out x1
D-Sub
Audio out (S/PDIF out) jack x1

Upper I/O:
USB 2.0 x1
eSATA x 1

So we’ve got some standard stuff in there, but we are excited to see that there is HDMI out. ASUS is posed to release some interesting stuff, especially that Eee Keyboard, and the Eee Box isn’t any slouch either. If you’re trying to minimize space on your desk, this looks like it could be a great answer for that.

[via Eee PC]

The new Eee Top will have a 20-inch display and use Intel’s dual-core Atom 330 processor.  There’s no word on whether it will have the touchscreen panel of previous models, but it will apparently retail for around NT$22,000 (US$668).

As for the Eee Box, no hardware specifications beyond the Ion GPU have been revealed, but it seems reasonable to assume that it will use the same Atom 330 as its all-in-one sibling.  Having Ion will likely push ASUS to fit it with a 1080p-capable HDMI port, potentially making the Eee Box a suitable candidate for a HTPC media streamer.

ASUS are also tipped to introduce two new ultra-thin notebooks in its U/UX range, also expected in September.  They’ll go up against AMD Yukon based MSI ultra-thins, predicted to land in October, together with an AMD Tigris notebook later in the month.

Updated with comment from ASUS after the cut

Neither of these use the N270: the 1101HA adopts Intel’s Z520 CPU, while the 1005HA has the N280.  You’ll also need to have a particular model in order to be eligible: the 1101HA must be running Vista Home Premium, while the 1005HA must be running either XP Pro or Vista Business.  Considering most of these netbooks are bought with Windows XP Home, that doesn’t bode well for existing customers.

There are also a few Eee Top all-in-ones and the Eee Box EB1501 nettop, but it’s generally a poor showing for the company’s budget range.  Full list of eligible models in the gallery below; more details on the upgrade program here.

Update: ASUS’ John Swatton has been in touch to point out that the decision to limit Eee PC Windows 7 upgrades is, in fact, Microsoft’s doing rather than their own:

“ASUS have not chosen to restrict Windows 7 upgrade options for Eee PC customers – Microsoft are simply not offering netbook users a Windows 7 upgrade path. The decision has been taken out of our hands.” John Swatton, ASUS

Acer netbook rumors after the cut

As for Acer, it’s reportedly cutting manufacturing orders for its Aspire One 751, faced with unsatisfactory sales of the 11.6-inch netbook.  Industry sources are blaming cheaper 10-inch netbooks and competitive standard notebooks for the shortfall in demand, though we’d also point to poor performance from the machine’s Intel Atom Z520 processor.

The company is also tipped to announce its own Instant-On feature for Aspire One netbooks on June 2nd, collaborating with developer Insyde Software.  The system would presumably offer quick access to internet, media and messaging functionality, though both companies have declined to comment at present.

Other specs include 2GB of RAM in both nettops, plus the EB1002 is listed as using a 250GB hard-drive.  No drive details are given for the EB1006.  As you might expect, there’s a fair amount of power information given for each Eee Box, with the EB1002 using between 1.320 and 1.416W in sleep mode and between 0.971 and 1.062W in standby mode.  The EB1006 sees those figures climb to between 2.029 and 2.130W in sleep and 1.752 to 1.861W in standby.

No word on connectivity, whether wired or wireless, nor suggested prices.  The ASUS Eee Box EB1002 is listed as reaching the market on May 11th, while the ASUS Eee Box EB1006 is listed as coming on May 25th.

[via Netbook Italia]

The Register have been taking a look at the nettop, and in some ways the B206 does deliver.  Standard definition video runs with no problems, and DivX 720p files in Windows Media Player were also smooth; however, the B206 showed itself to be particularly picky about codecs.

The problem is that not all media player apps support DirectX Video Acceleration (DXVA), the technology which lets the Radeon HD 3450 GPU get its teeth into the video.  Without that, it’s up to the Atom N270 1.6GHz chip to keep things ticking over, and we already know that Intel’s CPU struggles with high-resolution media. 

It’s a situation reminiscent of the Acer AspireRevo, the nettop which combines an Atom processor with NVIDIA’s Ion graphics chipset.  That can play 1080p video with no problems, but only if they’re using codecs that the Ion GPU handles.  Other tasks – such as general processing – are left to the Atom chip, and that just can’t keep up.

In the end, the judgment is that the ASUS Eee Box B206 makes for a reasonable media PC for occasional playback, but you should check your existing content library for which codecs are used first.  The B206 is available now, priced at around £310 ($469).

Unlike most nettops, the B208 picks Windows Vista over XP, in this case either the Home Basic or Business editions, finishing them off with its own Eee Cinema media center front-end.  Other specs include four USB 2.0 ports, WiFi b/g/n, ethernet and a multiformat memory card reader, together with an infra-red remote (and receiver dongle).

Onboard storage choices range from 160GB through 250GB and top out at 320GB; there’s also an internal battery that functions as a UPS, allowing you to safely shut down the Eee Box B208 in a power-cut.  No word on price or availability as yet.

[via Liliputing]

As with other versions, the Eee Box 206 uses the Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor paired with Intel’s 945GSE chipset, 1GB of DDR2 memory and a 160GB 5,400rpm hard-drive.  Aside from the HDMI, connectivity includes audio in/out, a headphone socket, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth, though there’s no optical drive.

In the green column, ASUS are throwing in the Eee Box’s meager 20W power demands and its eco-friendly materials.  Perhaps of more interest in your living room is the low noise level: around 26dB, albeit when at idle.  ASUS preload the Eee Box 206 with their Eee Cinema media front-end, running on top of Windows XP Home.  The nettop is available now, in white or black, priced at around £310 ($438).

[via Register Hardware]

The main difference from the B203, then, is the switch to solid-state storage; the B203 comes in 80GB, 120GB or 160GB capacities.  Connectivity is still gigabit ethernet and WiFi b/g/n, together with four USB 2.0 ports, a DVI output, S/PDIF audio output and standard audio in/out.  There’s also a multiformat memory card reader and an external WiFi antenna.

As with the B203, the 1kg B201 has VESA mounting holes and can be fixed onto the back of a monitor or TV.  With only 16GB of storage it’s not much of a HTPC, but it would make for a capable media extender, with content stored elsewhere on your network. No sign of pricing or availability details as yet.

[via EeePC.IT]

Other specs for the nettop remain the same, which means a choice of 80GB, 120GB or 160GB hard-drives and up to 2GB of RAM.  Connectivity includes ethernet and WiFi, a DVI output, four USB 2.0 ports and a multi-format memory card reader. 

The B203 can be fixed to the back of a monitor, presumably via the VESA mounting holes, and is still quiet in operation; ASUS claim just 26dB.  Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but it’s likely to be cheaper than the original Atom-powered Eee Box models.

[via Liliputing]

Connectivity includes four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit ethernet, DVI via an adapter cable, multiformat card reader and audio in/out with S/PDIF output.  Both have WiFi draft-n, and the B204 adds Bluetooth and an integrated UPS battery.  ASUS include a remote control and stand, together with 10GB of online Eee Storage.

No word on availability or pricing, but we’d assume the two nettops will be coming sooner rather than later.  After all, ASUS have sales figures to meet.

Press Release:

ASUS Introduces World’s Smallest Desktop PCs with HD Capability

Eee Box B204 and B206 Boast Hardware Decoder and HDMI Output for Superb HD Home Entertainment

ASUS today unveiled HD versions of its popular Eee Box—a tiny 1L-sized desktop PC—that it launched in June 2008. With the new Eee Box B204 and B206, users will be able to enjoy viewing hardware-accelerated HD content on LCD TVs, monitors and projectors via an HDMI output—making them ideal for families seeking a simple, space-saving home entertainment solution. The Eee Box B204 and B206 are also preinstalled with Eee Cinema, a full-featured media player that enables users to play high definition content easily. Eee Cinema offers superior format compatibility and extensive media library management options. To help users navigate Eee Cinema’s comprehensive features speedily, both the Eee Box B204 and B206 come with a convenient remote control.

Built-in Video Decoder for High Definition Entertainment
The Eee Box B204 and B206 deliver crisp and fluid high definition pictures straight out of the box. They are equipped with a discrete graphics card that features a high definition hardware video decoder, vastly improving the quality of video and freeing the Eee Box’s processor to tackle other tasks. Ensuring quick and hassle-free connectivity to LCD TVs, monitors, projectors and home theater receivers is an easily-accessible HDMI output on the Eee Box B204 and B206’s rear I/O panel.

Exclusive Remote Control for Easy and Convenient Media Playback
The Eee Box B204 and B206 come with an exclusive remote control that enables users to easily browse, manage and play their media from a distance. The remote control works seamlessly with Eee Cinema, a user-friendly, all-in-one media player that supports all popular music, video and photo formats—transforming the Eee Box B204 and B206 into complete digital home entertainment centers.

The Smallest PCs in the World
A mere 1L in size, the Eee Box B204 and B206 are delightfully sleek. They are as slim as paperback novels, allowing users to reclaim the desk space previously lost to bulkier, more intrusive desktop systems. If necessary, the Eee Box B204 and B206 can even be placed in such a way that does not require an inch of desktop space—they can be mounted to any VESA75/VESA100 LCD display. Given how small and light they are, the Eee Box B204 and B206 can be ported around the house effortlessly, allowing users to enjoy high definition entertainment in whichever room they desire.

Annual Savings of US$156* from Reduced Power Consumption
The Eee Box B204 and B206 are designed and manufactured according to stringent Green ASUS guidelines. They are made with earth-friendly materials and fully comply with RoHS and WEEE. The Eee Box B204 and B206 also consume only around 20 watts of power, reducing the user’s carbon footprint by up to 90% as compared to full-sized desktop PCs**. Eee Box B204 and B206 users will benefit on the monetary front as well; those who leave their computers on 24 hours a day stand to save approximately US$156 a year*.

Packed with Uncompromising Features
Belying their small size, the Eee Box B204 and B206 are packed with a wealth of outstanding features. They support the latest Wi-Fi 802.11n wireless standard, providing up to eight times faster speeds than the previous 802.11b/g wireless standard. In addition, the Eee Box B204 features Bluetooth® for quick and hassle-free connectivity to other Bluetooth® devices. Both models also come with 10GB of online Eee Storage, allowing users to access their documents and media no matter where they are. Furthermore, they feature an exclusive Easy Mode within Windows® that provides users with convenient access to commonly-used applications via an incredibly intuitive interface. Adding to their ease of use is Eee Bar, a fully-configurable application bar on the Windows® desktop that allows users to launch programs with a click.

Another innovation present in the Eee Box B204 and B206 is ASUS Tranquiller Technology that integrates an optimized system air flow design, intelligent fan speed control and a unique heat dissipation material in order to allow them to operate coolly at an extremely quiet 26 dB*** for comfortable home computing. Moreover, the Eee Box B204 has a built-in battery that performs an Uninterruptible Power Supply (U.P.S.) function, enabling it to stay running for a period of time when main power is lost.

* According to www.taipower.com.tw. Actual savings will differ from region to region.
** Full-sized desktop PCs consume approximately 200W ~ 300W of power.
*** In idle mode. As a point of reference, the Eee Box B204 and B206 run at 26dB, virtually as quiet as unoccupied broadcast studios (20dB).

The new Eee Box will be based on a Celeron 220 processor running at 1.2GHz, paired with a 120GB hard-drive, and be available either on its own or together with a 19-inch LCD display.  That’s a slower CPU than the Atom version, but more storage; the original Eee Box has an 80GB hard-drive.

According to the latest pricing information, the new Celeron 220 Eee Box will be priced at NT$7,988 ($239) standalone or NT$11,900 ($355) with the 19-inch display.  The existing Atom N270 Eee Box, with 80GB storage, keyboard, mouse and Eee Stick wireless controller, remains at NT$9,999 ($299).  ASUS plan on shipping 100,000 to 200,000 Eee Box nettops this year, and in excess of one million in 2009.

In addition, Shen confirmed the launch of the Eee Top all-in-one touchscreen PC at the end of this month, while the Eee Stick controller – which is reminiscent of the Wiimote – should begin to be bundled with select Eee PC, Eee Box and Eee Top models “soon”.  It will also be available, in some markets, as a standalone accessory, priced between $50 and $100.

Faced with questions regarding the sheer size of ASUS’ Eee range, Shen rejected criticism that it might be confusing for customers.  Instead, he suggested, it offers flexibility of choice in a companion device.  Shen particularly highlighted the S101 as an example of consumer demand (in this case for a high-end “luxury” netbook) driving ASUS’ development.  However don’t expect an Eee PC with a display larger than 10-inches; Shen also flagged up the N10 as being a one-of-a-kind device (an Atom-powered ”proper” notebook, in ASUS’ eyes) as future notebooks will not dip between the 11-inch mark.

In software, Shen suggested that ASUS’ experience differs from that of MSI, who reported four times the number of Linux netbook returns compared to those running Windows XP.  In fact, rather than adding Windows-style complexity to Linux, ASUS are rolling out the Easy Mode interface seen on the Eee Top PC to other Windows-based Eee devices.

ASUS are yet to confirm exactly how the virus found its way onto the brand new machines, but given its apparent presence on all Eee Box PCs it could suggest an infected version of the imaging software the company uses to factory-install the OS.  Virus experts Symantec claim the virus is most likely the W32/Usbalex worm, which it rates low for damage level.

However UK site The Register has found a virus – in this case the W32/Taterf worm, which attempts to identify users’ gaming passwords – on their Eee Box review sample, on the test bench this week.  They are uncertain as to whether the virus was left on there from a previous reviewer or came from ASUS themselves.

“In some respects, when we think about what the capabilities of a $349 desktop system should be like, we can’t help but be impressed what Asus has achieved and the overall value of the Eee Box. What’s more impressive though is the Eee Box’s absolutely tiny form-factor and completely miserly power consumption. The original Eee PC notebook cultivated quite an enthusiastic following in the marketplace and we think the Eee Box is likely to as well” HotHardware

In the box is a wired keyboard and mouse, so all new buyers need supply is a monitor hooked up to the Eee Box’s DVI port (ASUS include a DVI-to-VGA adapter for older displays).  Upgrade possibilities are reasonable considering the size: the hard-drive slides out underneath, while the side cover pops off to show the Eee’s notebook RAM.

More interestingly, perhaps, is the Eee Box’s capabilities with high-definition media.  720p playback presented no problems, with CPU load ranging between 35-50%, although 1080p playback was juddery with dropped frames.

Still, HotHardware are impressed and I’m all the more keen to get my hands on an Eee Box of my own.  Add in truly frugal power consumption and you have a machine likely to get plenty of attention.

There’s plenty to look forward to, as well, with Intel confirming a refresh of their Classmate PC, a video showing Fujitsu’s upcoming Amilo Mini playing with interchangeable casings, and Lenovo tipped for a new netbook to be released in September.  If you can afford a bit more, and can’t wait until September, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X200 is a proper, grown-up ultraportable set to launch imminently; going by the first hands-on reports it looks to be a winner, with battery life getting particular credit.

Too bad the same can’t be said for the Willcom D4 UMPC, however, which has been impressing reviewers with its 5-inch rendition of Windows Vista before frustrating the heck out of them with a mere 1.5hrs battery life.  It just underscores the fact that fancy processors, clever graphics chips and ever-smaller solid-state drives aren’t much use if battery technology doesn’t keep up.

Apple was the subject of its fair share of rumors this week, with the ripples started during the last financial conference call still prompting speculation about what’s next from up the Cupertino sleeve.  Supposedly credible tips pointed to the upcoming MacBook and MacBook Pro refresh introducing glass multitouch trackpads and one-piece aluminium casings, while Apple themselves hinted at an imminent announcement by warning retailers to prepare for stock shortages.  New columnist Brenda joined me for the inaugural “He Said, She Said” editorial, where we argued the pros and cons of a MacBook tablet versus an Apple UMPC.

Elsewhere, Dell finally confirmed their Studio Hybrid desktop PC, complete with curvy casing and media-friendly connectivity, while ASUS’ Eee Box was unboxed.  I doubt I’m alone in looking forward to seeing those two go head-to-head.  Sanyo, meanwhile, rolled out their latest Xacti solid-state camcorder, the HD800, capable of shooting 720p footage with video quality apparently much improved over predecessors.  Perfect, you might say, to be showcased on LG’s new 47-inch 1080p HDTV, which uses its local-dimming LED backlight to muster a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Gaming was really all about Nintendo this week, as the company released its financial performance and sales stats for the past quarter.  Needless to say, with $3.92bn in sales (and rising) Nintendo has plenty to be pleased about; what surprised many, though, was the part that the Game Boy Advance, still on sale in Japan, had in raising that figure.  190,000 units sold in a single three-month period isn’t half bad, especially when you consider that its successor, the DS, is already topic of some replacement rumors.

Last week we gave Yahoo! Music the chumps of the week award for their about-turn attitude to their own DRM.  Responding to a huge volume of criticism, the company has now announced plans to give compensation vouchers to those music downloaders facing stranded tracks.  Yahoo! Music even managed to get a sly dig in at Microsoft, who kept their DRM servers running even after shutting down the MSN Music service: the Yahoo! spokesperson told reporters they were pulling all the plugs so as not to “prolong the inevitable”.

You may have noticed that we’ve added more editorial and opinion columns to our regular tech news and reviews coverage on SlashGear this week.  We enjoy hearing your thoughts and comments, so please do wade in whether you agree or not!  You can keep track of opinion pieces using the editorials tag.

Of course, what we’d really like to see is the Eee Box next to one of Dell’s new Studio Hybrid compact-desktops, which ostensibly might seem a direct rival.  Unlike the Dell, however, the Eee Box uses Intel’s Atom processor and is half the weight; it also includes WiFi as standard, whereas it’s an option on the Studio Hybrid.

The Eee Box will apparently be available in 4-5 weeks, priced at $269 for the Linux model and $299 for the Windows model.  Note that the prices mentioned on PC Authorities site are in Australian dollars, what with them being an Australian site.

[via Engadget]

Still, the specs are consistent and we now know that ASUS will be including Express Gate, the quick-loading secondary Linux-based OS that the company claims will have you working in just seven seconds.  Otherwise it’s a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 80GB hard drive, WiFi draft-n and gigabit ethernet.  No optical drive, but there’s a multicard reader for quickly loading photos from cameras, say.

Windows XP does duty as OS, but ASUS are more proud of their mini-PC’s environmentally-friendly credentials.  Power consumption is down by as much as 90-percent over traditional desktops, and to preserve your more immediate environment it only puts out 26db of noise.  No mention of release date, but a few weeks back they were saying mid-July.

According to Sean Maloney, executive vice president and general manager of Intel’s Sales and Marketing Group, it’s unexpectedly high-demand from Asustek and rivals that has prompted the shortage.  Maloney reassured press and manufacturers that Intel has “got four 300-millimeter fabs, so we can really hose this stuff out.”  “By September,” Maloney continued, ”there are going to be very, very high volumes.”

Unsurprisingly, chip production is being watched closely by other companies too.  Acer is reportedly in weekly talks with Intel regarding Atom supplies, although the company denied that the CPU shortages had, or would, affect the launch of the new Aspire One ultraportable.  This is the first time Intel have outlined their production schedule; ASUS had previously suggested the delay would continue until September.  The chip company is also rumored to be working on a dual-core version of the Atom, also scheduled for launch in Q3 2008.

The software giant has thrown another name into the nomenclature soup, suggesting “nettop” as the collective noun for “ultralow-cost desktop PCs”. Although the press release is cagey about referring specifically to XP, the term “worldwide extension of the availability of Windows” certainly indicates this is the OS that they’re talking about. It will come as a blow to Linux aficionados who thought that the unsuitability of Vista for low-power devices would force users to consider the open-source OS; however the cheaper “nettops” will likely always use Linux.

Microsoft’s OEM partners:

• Acer Inc.
• ASUSTek Computer Inc.
• BenQ Corp.
• Dell Inc.
• First International Computer Inc.
• Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd.
• HP
• Inventec Corp.
• Lenovo
• Medion AG
• Micro-Star International Co.
• Positivo Informatica
• Pegatron Corp.
• Quanta Computer Inc.
• Wistron Corp

Thankfully the photo of the Eee Box we saw last month looks to be a pre-production design; the B202 on show at Computex has the slick curved stand and relatively discrete side-panel graphics as seen in the original images.  Customisation includes a range of storage – from 80GB to 250GB – and RAM – from 512MB to 2GB – which should be happy running XP.  Already many are looking to the B202 as a potentially capable home media or TV streamer box.

ASUS expect to see the Eee Box B202 hit US shelves in mid-July.  It’ll also have competition from MSI’s Wind PC, the desktop version of the Wind budget ultraportable.

ASUS release:

Name and Model: Eee Box B202

OS: Linux System/ Hardware Compatible with Windows XP

Processor: Intel Atom N270 (1.6 GHz, FSB 533)

Memory: DDRII 512 MB / 1 GB / 2 GB (see US configs below)

Storage: 80 GB / 120 GB / 160 GB / 250 GB (see US configs below)

Chipset: 945GSE + ICH7M

VGA: On-board Intel GMA 950, 1600 x 1200 maximum resolution

Networking: 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN, 802.11n WLAN, Bluetooth optional

SD/MMC/MS slot: SD, SDHC, Mini SD, (Micro SD through adapter) ; MMC, MMC plus, MMC4.x, RS MMC, RSMMC4.x (MMC mobile through adapter);MS,MS PRO
Audio: Azalia ALC888 Audio Chip

Front Ports:
USB x 2
Card Reader x 1
Headphone-out jack (WO/SPDIF) x 1
MIC x 1

Rear Ports:
USB 2.0 x 2
Gigabit LAN x 1
DVI out x 1
Line-Out (L/R) with S/PDIF x 1
WiFi antenna

Accessories:
19Vdc, 4.74A, 65W power adaptor
Mouse (optional)
Keyboard (optional)
VESA mount (optional)
WiFi antenna
Stand

Dimensions: 8.5″ x 7″ x 1″
Net Weight: 2.2 lbs.
Gross Weight: 6.6 lbs.

US Configurations and MSRP:
$269 1GB memory + 80GB HDD Linux edition
$299 1GB memory + 80GB HDD XP edition
$299 2GB memory + 160GB HDD Linux edition

Availability: For the US, we’re expecting to hit the market Mid July. For French-speaking Canada, a French Linux version will be available the following month.

[via Gizmodo]

If it’s anything like the Eee notebooks it should be a pretty nice computer for an extremely low price. The only downside is that you’ll have to buy your own monitor, and possibly your own keyboard and mouse.

They could change their mind on the whole monitor thing though and decide to offer like a 7 or 8.9 inch desktop monitor with the Eee Box. I wouldn’t count on it though, until we know more, enjoy the picture.

[via the EeeBox]