Asus Reveals the Eee Keyboard

El Lobo writes "Asus' success with its Eee line of netbooks might have come as a surprise, but the company is now determined to expand the Eee brand into every possible niche and form factor. Case in point: the insanely cool Eee Keyboard, which will surely bring a smile on the faces of those who remember the glory days of the home computer. Described as a fully functional PC with inset Qwerty key arrangement, the keyboard has a 5in touch screen that displays a suite of bespoke media controls or a Windows desktop."

Comments

Fond memories

[Naatach]

Ahh. Atari 600, I pine for thee.

Re:Fond memories

[Anonymous Coward]

Ah FecalTrollMatter I pine for thee...

Re:Fond memories

[3chuck3]

OMFG!!!!!!! ASUS REMADE A VIC-20!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!PONIES!?!!!!

Re:Fond memories

[PalmKiller]

I don't remember a straight 600 model, just 400 and 800 in the non XL/XE models. I had a 600XL (which I upgraded the ram in) then a 130XE (and someone gave me a defunct 800XL and several working peripherals), when I start missing them I go find an emulator and play awhile until the urge passes.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

He may have been thinking of the Atari with the chiclet keyboard. The 400. Yuck. That's what this eee PC reminds me of, and probably just as unfriendly to type on.

>>>"Plug in a small box at the back of your TV, and connect to it wirelessly"

This is what I want for my PC. Eliminate the need for a special monitor, same as my Commodore 64 and other gaming consoles.

Re:Fond memories

[Profane MuthaFucka]

You're thinking of the Atari Vic-20. All those models you named were Commodore models.

Re:Fond memories

[LWATCDR]

huhhh.....
The VIC-20 was a Commodore and it had a full sized keyboard.
And the 400, 600, 800, 800Xl and on and on where Ataris.

Re:Fond memories

[powerlord]

Whippersnapper. ;)

The 600 replaced the 500 which had the same footprint/form-factor and came out ~4 years before it.

Of course I still miss my A1000. It was so great having a computer for work processing, but all my teachers insisted I hand in my assignments instead of giving them dot-matrix printouts. :)

Re:Fond memories

[Anonymous Coward]

Where Atari's what?

Re:Fond memories

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

When someone can play a digitized version of Michael Jackson's Beat It by just vibrating the floppy disc head at different speeds, let me know...

Re:Fond memories

[Hatta]

You can already hook your PC up to a TV with a dirt cheap video out card. Most video cards have svideo out these days. Problem is, it's going to look like crap at any workable resolution. If you just want to emulate your c64, it'll do great. If you want to surf the web, it's going to suck pretty bad.

If you wanted to do it wirelessly, you can do that too.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

My Nvidia Geforce4 Ti4200 (with AGP8X) has an S-video output but I can't figure out how to activate it. I connected it to my TV and it displayed nothing.

As for quality, all I want it to watch downloaded movies on the large screen set.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

>>>You're thinking of the Atari Vic-20. All those models you named were Commodore models.

I always find it amusing when somebody tries to correct somebody else, but fraks it up. Atari VIC-20. Ha! The original poster was correct with his listing of Atari computers. The key models (not an exhaustive list) from that era were:

Commodore PET, VIC-20, 64, and Amiga (1000 was the first, followed by 500 and 2000)
Atari 400, 800, 400XL, 800XL, and the ST. Also the 2600, 5200, and 7800 which were videogame consoles.
Apple II, IIc, IIe, and Macintosh
IBM PC, XT, PCjr, and PS/2

It's a shame that Atari and Commodore are no longer around. It was fun watching all the various formats compete with one another for dominance. Commodore's Amiga line could do things neither Macintosh nor the PCs can do, even today.

Re:Fond memories

[Profane MuthaFucka]

No, the full sized keyboard was on the Texas Instruments computer.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

Such things also destroyed the $300 floppy drive. I'm perfectly happy to avoid destroying my irreplaceable 1541 drive, and instead reminiscence with the High Voltage SID Collection:

www.hvsc.c64.org
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_High_Voltage_SID_Collection

Who needs gigabyte drives??? The Commodore=64 can squeeze an entire song into just 30 kilobytes (minus vocals).

Re:Fond memories

[Apple Acolyte]

Uh, like what? And please don't say Video Toaster.

Re:Fond memories

[Hatta]

If you boot with the TV connected and nothing else, it should just work. If you want both at once, you have to set it up just like a dual head configuration. When I did this, that required some involved edits to the xorg.conf. But apparently now you can just do it with nvidia-settings.

It's well worth doing. Movies are an ideal application, and emulators are great too.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

No of course not. Today's PCs and Macs can do Video Toaster like effects. Anyway....

The original Commodore Amiga 1000 could do preemptive multitasking with only 256 kilobytes of RAM. It was and still is very efficient with memory.

It is not limited to just one screen like a Mac or PC. The Amiga can do multiple screens with independent resolutions. So for example you could have a 720x480 screen for a DVD movie, a 320x200 screen to emulate an old Super Nintendo console, and a 1600x1200 screen for surfing the web. Being able to give each program its own full screen instead of being confined to windows is a much better computing environment.

It doesn't use a Microsoft OS. ;-)

Re:Fond memories

[uglyduckling]

Well, run AmigaDOS/Workbench natively, I should think.

Re:Fond memories

[Kent Recal]

Whippersnappers indeed.
You're thinking of the Amiga. A1000, A2000/A500, A3000, A500+/A600, A1200/A4000.

Re:Fond memories

[oasisbob]

Uh, like what? And please don't say Video Toaster.

Actually, I'm gonna have to say Video Toaster.

The last time I saw an Amiga in production usage was 2002, it was running Video Toaster for live production CG -- broadcast graphics, titles, etc.

I scratched my head, but I was told that it was one of the only cost-effective products out there for low-budget productions. The few hardware CGs I used at the time I found to be extremely confining, and I ended up liking Video Toaster more.

Re:Fond memories

[CmSpuD]

Why didn't Asus call it the Eeeboard? I should be some kind of marketing pro with ideas like this. I'm a goddamn genius!

Re:Fond memories

[Anonymous Coward]

No the TI was the one that introduced the mouse and the GUI. You're thinking of the Sinclair.

----
lulz

Re:Fond memories

[Naatach]

It was the Atari 600XL. Thank you for correcting my faulty memory. It seems that I, like the 600XL, only have 16K of RAM at my disposal. Perhaps if you POKE me, you can get some interesting results.

Re:Fond memories

[master5o1]

Don't you mean Atareee?

Re:Fond memories

[DiLLeMaN]

Off-topic, but about your sig... there's several ISPs in .nl that offer 20MBit/s, and I'm pretty sure that there's at least one Scandinavian country that offers more than that, or at least as much.

Re:Fond memories

[Daengbo]

Your TV needs to be on and connected without a monitor. I set up MythTV this way a few times.

Oh, and the Eee Keyboard reminds me of my old Tandy Model I, but I remember the Ataris and Commodores, too (though I didn't have them).

Re:Fond memories

[anss123]

Arguably you can have different fullscreen resolutions on DOS/Windows/Linux too. What the Amiga had over them was the ability to show multiple screens at the same time, but since only the horizontal resolution could change you would not be able to use this for 320x200 and 720x480.

1440x480 and 720x480 works, 640x200 and 320x200 works, but not 320x480 and 320x200.

This limitation comes from CRT monitors. They have to resynch to change vertical resolution, this because images are drawn from top to bottom in a series of lines going from left to right. The end of a line is technically ended by a synch signal, so to change vertical resolution (the amount of lines) you have to change this synch signal - which cause the monitor to go 'boink' as it resynchs to the new synch signal.

Horizontal resolution is, OTOH, simply a product of how fast the Amiga can change its color output - which tops out at something like 1280 pixels.

Re:Fond memories

[Anonymous Coward]

Not only that, it could display the different resolutions simultaneously.

Re:Fond memories

[wwwillem]

And doesn't Reykjavik have Fiber Optics networking into each and every home?

http://www.networkworld.com/research/2004/0607iceland.html

Re:Fond memories

[ukemike]

Arguably? There ain't no "arguably" or "theoretically" about it. I have a 30" sony trinitron monitor hooked up to my pc set at 730x480. My desktop is extended onto the TV screen and I'm watching Arrested Development on it right now as I type this on my monitor which is set at 1024x768. I don't know much about re-syncing or any of that stuff. It just works. And while my pc isn't nearly as old as an amiga, it is 8 years old now. See the real strength of the pc platform is wide availability and support of different innovative parts and components, if you can imagine it you can probably build it.

Re:Fond memories

[Ihmhi]

It's a nice idea, but I just can't stand those little laptop-style keys. If my keys aren't at least a quarter-inch tall and go "clickity-clack" loud enough to wake people up, typing just doesn't feel right.

Related: what was that keyboard by IBM that people absolutely obsess over as one of the best keyboards ever? I'm in the market for a new board and I'm thinking about getting one.

Re:Fond memories

[anss123]

Arguably? There ain't no "arguably" or "theoretically" about it.

On the Amiga an application can have a screen all to itself (in memory), while on Windows XP and downwards there's a single screen shared by all applications. Since only one full screen application can be shown at a time it hardly matters.

If you wanted to switch between full screen applications quickly - or show multiple full screen applications at the same time - the Amiga has the advantage. Like how changing between multiple desktops in Linux is much quicker than in Windows - since each Linux desktop has its own screen while the Windows desktop shares the same screen.

Re:Fond memories

[Anonymous Coward]

There should be a setting in the Nvidia control panel to turn on/off tv-out. Note that if you have one of the 4200 cards with a single VGA out an a tv out they will probably be tied to the same output (not dual head) and TV-out is limited to 1024x768 (and even that is scaled down to the tv's 640x480), so if you run a desktop at 1280x1024 or something the drivers may have turned off the TV.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

Yes, but my numbers are listing the *average* speeds which not only include people with 20 megabit connections, but also those with 700k DSL, or 50k dialup.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

>>Arguably? There ain't no "arguably" or "theoretically" about it. I have a 30" sony trinitron monitor hooked up to my pc set at 730x480. My desktop is extended onto the TV screen and I'm watching Arrested Development on it right now
>>>

Yes but you need two separate monitors. The Amiga could do the same task with just ONE monitor, such that you could be surfing the net on Screen 1, while the DVD plays on Screen 2, and you could flip between them with a simple stroke of the Windows key. I'm not sure how useful that would be, so instead I'll give you an example of what I used to do:

Screen 1 - Desktop
Screen 2 - C++ Compiler
Screen 3 - Web

Having three dedicated screens was far more elegant than having a bunch of windows overlapping and competing for space on just One single screen. Perhaps one of these days Macintosh will "innovate" and produce a similar function.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

TRIVIA:

Babylon 5, seaQuest, and a few of the 1990-era Disney movies used Amigas plus Video Toasters to create their graphics. For B5 the computer-based effects were chosen because they couldn't afford the model effects that Star Trek was using.

However since the Amiga topped-off at around 100 megahertz, eventually these productions moved to Macintosh or PC-based CGI.

Re:Fond memories

[hazydave]

You could certainly mix and match screens at different horizontal and vertical resolutions. The key to understand this was realizing that Amiga Amiga video was always based on a ~35ns pixel clock, and could deliver pixels of one, two, or four clocks per pixel.. thus your (nominally) 1280, 640, or 320 pixels per scanline (a bit more using the overscan region of the screen).

Vertical resolution was always the same, 480 lines (NTSC, no overscan... more in PAL, naturally). However, you could set up a 240 line mode that just automatically scan-doubled.

Those limits, and the fact you had the Copper (video coprocessor) available to automatically change all those display registers at any scanline, made the Amiga's screens concept easy.

It wouldn't work on a modern computer graphics card, though. On modern systems, any given screen setup has independent control of the pixel clock time... that's ultimately how you can set refresh rate independently of resolution. The pixel clock is generated using a phase-locked loop, which will typically take a short period of time to lock to a new rate.... possible a whole video frame's worth of time (that's why modern PC screens "jump" when you change resolution). You monitor may or may not need its own resync, but the graphics card is the first problem here.

The Advanced Amiga Architecture (never finished) has some crazy bits to allow sliding screens at different resolutions. It allowed four different pixel clocks to be present at the same time (alas, it didn't generate these, they were left as an exercise for the systems engineer), and there was a double line-buffer as well, which could do pixel duplication and line multiplying. So, along with clever software, it would have been reasonable to support multiple sliding screens at multiple resolutions.

Re:Fond memories

[hazydave]

I'd love to see an Amiga at 100MHz... the fastest units from Commodore, ever, were 25MHz. You had some add-on boards with 68040s or 68060s, but those topped out at around 60MHz. There were also some crazy PowerPC add-ins at higher speeds, but they were never supported by Lightwave.

Most of the early Toaster houses kept their Amiga/Toaster rigs around for awhile. But since Lightwave had been ported to Windows NT, it was pretty common to use Alpha-based NT machines for rendering (Lightwave 3D 5.0 was supported on Intel and Alpha NT systems as a stand-alone application in 1995)... I think that's what they used after the first or second season on B5, for example.

Re:Fond memories

[inflex]

The one you're thinking of perhaps is the IBM Model "M" keyboard with buckling-spring keys.

Typing this one one of them... and my wife is churning out her next novel on another, there's just no replacing these beasts :)

Re:Fond memories

[Anonymous Coward]

My A1200 still can do 1440 pixels on one line.
Notice that this is 720 x 2.
I can display 200/240/400/480/540 lines screens all at the same time.
Notice that the pixels are not square.

Re:Fond memories

[hcdejong]

Your example consists of three screens that all benefit from having the highest possible resolution available, so in practice you wouldn't use resolution switching for this.
The two examples you mention in your OP (DVD playing and emulators) are a bit more valid, but only if you use a CRT display. LCDs can't do resolution switching, you you'd have to rely on the software to provide interpolation anyway. So the type of screen switching you want is only relevant for obsolete hardware.

Having three dedicated screens was far more elegant than having a bunch of windows overlapping and competing for space on just One single screen. Perhaps one of these days Macintosh will "innovate" and produce a similar function.

Already done with Spaces on OS X, and Unix has long known similar options. It's a matter of preference though, I prefer having all my applications in a single space so I can easily interact with >1 application at once (drag&drop is impossible when you segregate apps into separate spaces). If you want to minimise distractions, there's always the Maximise/Zoom option.

And the entity's name is Apple, not Macintosh.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

In my example Screens 1 and 3 were typically at a high resolution, while Screen 2 was lower (to make it easier to read), so yes there were multiple resolutions.

>>>LCDs can't do resolution switching,

Which is why I don't like LCDs. Give me a CRT that can do any resolution you feed it, from 240p to 480i to 720p and up. I prefer flexibility. CRTs also have a better image, especially when viewing older technologies like VHS. I use LCDs at work and despise being stuck with just one resolution.

>>>And the entity's name is Apple, not Macintosh.

Thanks but no correction needed. I was specifying the Macintosh platform, as opposed to an Apple II or Ipod or Iphone platform.

Re:Fond memories

[Anonymous Coward]

hmm. I plugged it in. right clicked my desktop, clicked on the second monitor and told it to extend my desktop to the secondary display and clicked apply. once I saw it I clicked ok to keep the config and then dragged the icon to its relative position and hit apply. It worked pretty easy...... Oh, you're using linux. then you'll need to spend a few hours researching how to edit a half dozen conf files, then offer the sacrifice of a penguin on the later of Linus and pray for guidance.

Re:Fond memories

[commodore64_love]

I'd like to see an Amiga running on a DualCore Intel, same way that Macintosh does today. But unfortunately there's nobody with enough resources to support such an upgrsde, and even if they did there's no longer a market for the platform.

Commodore was the #1-selling computer company of the 1980s (30 million C=64s and 10 million Amigas), and they just threw it away. Stupid. With better management they could have been a major player during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Re:Fond memories

[hcdejong]

In my example Screens 1 and 3 were typically at a high resolution, while Screen 2 was lower (to make it easier to read), so yes there were multiple resolutions.

"making things easier to read" starts with selecting the highest resolution possible, then zooming in or selecting a larger font in your application. A lower resolution makes things larger but also grainier, which impedes, not helps, legibility.

Now I grant this isn't always as easy as it should be (we still don't have true resolution independence in the major OSes), but it's a whole lot better than having to live with low resolutions.

Re:Fond memories

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm amused at how fast this turned into a which-computer-is-better pissing match that has nothing whatsofuckingever to do with the Asus EEE keyboard.

Re:Fond memories

[Richy_T]

What's your address? I have three I need to get rid of.

Re:Fond memories

[Anonymous Coward]

*gasp*

For anyone unaware of who the parent poster is... Google his name in association with Amiga. Dave here knows what he's talking about (and I didn't even know he posted to slashdot, despite having been here for a long time myself)

Re:Fond memories

[Profane MuthaFucka]

Nonsense, the PET was from Acorn, and the computers you attribute to Atari were all well-known Timex-Sinclair models.

Re:Fond memories

[Profane MuthaFucka]

Yes, you're right of course. The Sinclair had the keyboards that Northgate copied. Awesome - they must have been 10 pounds each.

Re:Fond memories

[Profane MuthaFucka]

Your trivia is wrong. The Video Toaster was an early application, along with Flight Simulator I, to run on the IBM PS/1 computers - i.e. the grandaddy of them all.

The Amiga was a silly computer released by a British company. I think the nickname was the "Beeb" or something.

Re:Fond memories

[DaVince21]

Um, isn't Atari still around? They're just not doing hardware anymore.

Re:Fond memories

[Profane MuthaFucka]

No, it was the Atari Amiga ST. It came in 512K versions and later it had 1024K.

Re:Fond memories

[TClevenger]

Atari 400, 800, 400XL, 800XL, and the ST. Also the 2600, 5200, and 7800 which were videogame consoles.

So close. 400, 800, 600XL, 800XL, 1200XL, 65XE, 130XE, XEGS (65XE in a game console-looking chassis) and the ST series. The 1400XL and 1450XLD were announced, but I don't think any actually shipped.

Re:Fond memories

[pixie.pt]

Actually the switch between 320x256, 640x512, 1280x512 happen to work just fine...

Re:Fond memories

[anss123]

Dave Haynie said in a post above yours:

Vertical resolution was always the same, 480 lines (NTSC, no overscan... more in PAL, naturally). However, you could set up a 240 line mode that just automatically scan-doubled.

So in your examples the vertical synch stays the same since the Amiga doubles the line output on *x256 resolutions. When you change to *x512 resolution the Amiga stops doubeling the resolution, but to the monitor there is no difference as it gets *x512 lines either way.

Try showing a PAL (512 lines) and NTSC (480 lines) screen at the same time. It would force the monitor to resynch every frame, possibly destroying the monitor because it's not built for such use.

Re:Fond memories

[anss123]

Thanks for the clarification. Duly educated. So you have a line doubler in there that makes x256 resolutions into x512 resolutions.

Once upon a time I thought the Amiga could display multiple resolutions unrestricted. I was a little disappointed when I learned that you can only show multiple resolutions by dividing the screen horizontally. You can't split it vertically or "box" it in so that a small window on the desktop has a different resolution from the rest.

I looked into how monitors worked and learned the Amiga can't split the screen vertically due to lack of interrupts triggering in the middle of lines, whilst while the screen can be changed across a horizontal split of 8 lines one can't change the vertical resolution as that causes monitors to flicker for a second as they need to reacquire the synch (making such a feature unusable).

Thanks

Re:Fond memories

[Ihmhi]

Thank you so much! I'm going to try and find one. Hell, I should buy a few extras. If there's an apocalypse, I want to at least be able to type on a robust keyboard.

Re:Fond memories

[PalmKiller]

No, I never owned a commodore vic-20, I did have a commodore 64 though I never used it. I used my ataris.

Re:Fond memories

[PalmKiller]

Oh your talking about the newer model stuff, like the ST line, you are the whippersnapper it seems :). Wait a minute, the A600 and A1000 are commodore amigas...not an atari at all...

Re:Fond memories

[PalmKiller]

Yep 16K was the stock, but you could use two 4bitx64K memory chips to replace the two 4bitx16K chips for like $15.00 back then, lift the highest address pin on them (to avoid a conflict with the rom/ram bank) and tie that to the bank switch with a short piece of wire at the proper pin (which the bank switch I think was in the same pio chip as the joystick/paddle control). So my 600XL had the same 64K memory as an 800XL...those were fun times. POKE and PEEK were definitely your friends...thanks and that stirred up memories of changing your video output page to the various memory pages, and I think stack and even to the video co-processor code list page and watching or changing values on the fly until it locked up...I found lots of hidden features and capabilities that way :). I only remember the specifics of that cause that was my very first memory upgrade I ever did...and it was much for nerve racking and therefore more fun than today's upgrades. I also upgraded my 128K atari 130xe to a whopping 1M using a single 1Mx8 sim (or perhaps it was a sip...either way it was lots of soldering involved)...but you had to bank switch it in by 16K pages, much like ems memory on an ibm pc (and the upper 16K on an XL) so only third party dos's could take advantage of it. They did have some 3rd party dos that would allow you to switch between several virtual machines with all that ram, so it was very useful for that.

Re:Fond memories

[Profane MuthaFucka]

Oh you people are killing me. It was Atari Vic-20. And it was a Sinclair ZX-64. And if you use the Atari, then it would have been the Atari-99/4A.

Next up.

[AltGrendel]

A wireless 3D mouse.

Oh wait, that's been done.

ZX Spectrum

[Anonymous Coward]

Didn't know Clive Sinclair was still around and working for Asus ?

Re:ZX Spectrum

[Petersson]

Didn't know Clive Sinclair was still around and working for Asus ?
Maybe he does. The Keeeboard keys quite similar to old rubber keyboard of the original ZX Spectrum:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Sinclair_ZX_Spectrum.jpg.

cool

[grumpyman]

This is comparable to a mini pc tucked under the TV with a wireless keyboard and/or a harmony control. The battery life and software UI on the touchpad will be critical to the success of this product.

Re:cool

[Rene S. Hollan]

This is comparable to a mini pc tucked under the TV with a wireless keyboard and/or a harmony control. The battery life and software UI on the touchpad will be critical to the success of this product.

My thoughts exactly.

Though I do like the idea of separating the control UI display from the media display. Somehow, "on screen" just looks clunky to me in a media room. With the control having an independent display, and being an independent computer in it's own right (I've often thought of using a laptop, but that's a bit too big, and currently lean toward a WiFi cell-phone with browser for this purpose), it makes for a great remote.

Not sure about UWB HDMI though: a control does not need much horsepower (though more is always betterer :-)), nore should it have to have the capability to stream HD to a remote display. Sounds like a waste of battery to me. I guess there are times when it is handy.

Re:cool

[Dan541]

it's a plug in keyboard.

Re:cool

[earlymon]

This is comparable to a mini pc tucked under the TV with a wireless keyboard and/or a harmony control.

I agree. And speaking as someone using a Mac mini connected to my HDTV and to my DirecTV DVR via EyeConnect and their hardware (USB->TV->PC) for my DVD storage of favorite shows, and interacting with all of that with fancy remotes and a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, I feel well-qualified to say exactly what's wrong with that whole model.

What I'd really like is a bluetooth laptop keyboard - with trackpad. The EEE keyboard is like the one I use - too big for entertainment-just-put-it-on-your-lap and mousing is still a separate issue. I've even tried pressing an old iBook into laptop service for that - too little battery life (BT keyboard and mouse batteries last *months*!).

I get close with the mini and its little tiny remote and Front Row for a lot of music playing, etc. And I know (and have recommended Sofa Control and Remote Buddy) that it can do more - but there's no substitute for grabbing that keyboard/mouse, surfing over to youtube and playing the Clash's Rocking The Casbah (they have an "HD" version on youtube that looks and sounds great!) or over to http://www.hulu.com/ and watching Muppets in Space (select 480p option, full-screen) - again, looks and sounds great. And I'm sorry, but I can't accept that hacking an AppleTV - and still doing it all via a tiny remote - is as good as a dedicated home theater PC (HTPC). My pref is the Mac mini, but an equivalent Windows model exists in features, price and form factor (if anyone asks, I'll look it up again, link not handy right now) and I'm not an OS snob so I see no reason why the same model won't hold true for Linux with MythTV or whatever.

BUT!!! - From across the room, it's all about the user interface - and in this case, just like the TV remote, it's the little piece of hardware - that I can't find anywhere - that is the missing interface.

I'd love nothing more than somebuddy here at /. to call me a bonehead and send me the links to where I can already buy one - because I haven't found it yet. Standard small laptop keyboard with trackpad, works mac or pc, bluetooth - nothing more or less.

Re:cool

[Anonymous Coward]

Click This

Re:cool

[earlymon]

Preview before Submit is your friend.

Re:cool

[Molochi]

http://gizmodo.com/340027/westinghouse-goes-wireless-with-ultrawideband-pulse+link-hdtv

The link refers to an HDTV with built in wireless ultrawideband also being introduced at CES. This would seem to be an ideal companion to one of these sitting on the wall in your livingroom.

Frankly, I'd prefer cheaper with no battery. I generally use my notebook at home plugged in. If it came with a classy looking charger stand to sit with the other av gear remotes and offered 3+ hours of on-battery use, that would be cool too.

Re:cool

[Molochi]

Not really what you're asking for, but here's an idea for you to chew on.

I currently use an older laptop with my HTPC via Synergy a software based virtual "KVM" (though it's a little different than that). The downside is the quality of a notebook's keyboard (I'm happy with the one I use). I don't have experience with the OSX version, but it's there for you to play with and free.

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

Upsides are it works just fine over 802.11 and works with multiple computer screens. I assign the HTPC's HDTV to the top of my notebook screen, and use between the two is pretty seamless.

Re:cool

[earlymon]

Many thanks for the tip - sincerely.

Sounds like better paths than what I was trying via my iBook (a small G3 laptop) - but I was less happy with its lower battery performance in this application.

That being said, I can already feel myself starting to click that link in your post....

Re:cool

[Anonymous Coward]

It's also comparable to my sony vaio laptop, but then with much less of a screen and a much slower cpu...

Look how very similar the keyboard is:

http://www.sanalmarketim.com/_prod/_img/l/43b88bf7fe_SONY_WGN-FW11.jpg

To my own surprise, I find that I like it more than the 'regular laptop keyboard' of my old laptop... Not the same as a good desktop keyboard, but much better than I had expected.

I think this k-eee-yboard looks kind of nice. I'm not exactly sure where/how I would use one. If the price is right, I'm sure I'll find a place, even if it's just to hook up to the hdtv for big-screen 'random PC stuff' (looks like the htpc will have to stay for the video stuff, the atom isn't up for that)...

It's definitely nice to see ASUS continuing to innovate.

Re:cool

[Chosen Reject]

Is this what you are looking for? Small, keyboard and mouse in one, backlit, and bluetooth.

Re:cool

[earlymon]

Many thanks! Don't know how I missed that one - evidently, it's been out for a year.

That just might do it - it's definitely close enough (I wouldn't mind something just a tad bigger for the old eyes :) but we've no trouble thumbing along sms on our phones, so this is definitely considerable).

Re:cool

[Chosen Reject]

If it's full size you want, they have that, too.

Re:cool

[earlymon]

Many thanks - I was aware of those - it's full-size that I don't want - laptop form factor would be ideal, but the mini denovo is closer to the mark. (Others may prefer full-size. In my experience, you want coffee table easy and pass it over to a pal easy ("That was cool! Can I use your keyboard a second? I want to show you....").

5" screen?

[Tired and Emotional]

I am glad I kept my Osborne 1 disks - I can now run those programs in full screen mode under cpem80.

Re:5" screen?

[XPeter]

Look at the bright side. At least you could play crysis on that screen with an average video card.

Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fun..

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Kind of like the EEE itself, actually. You've been able to get computers built into keyboards from specialist suppliers for ages now(not to mention the pantheon of fondly-remembered early systems in the form factor) but they aren't inexpensive and tend toward slightly dull, legacy heavy designs, which is appropriate given the usual customers for such things; but not really exciting.

This little guy, if it ever makes it to market, should be great fun to play around with(particularly if the secondary screen widget is reasonably open to hackers and third party devs). Good looking, probably fairly cheap, no doubt fairly basic specs; but enough for many purposes. I like it.

It is the new 64.

[LWATCDR]

Humm. Now they need to add a USB hard drive that also has a USB Hub in it so that I can add a second USB hard drive and the a printer :)

Re:It is the new 64.

[sexconker]

Yo dawg we heard you like usb hard drives so we put a usb port on your usb hard drive so you can use a usb hard drive on your usb hard drive.

Re:It is the new 64.

[LWATCDR]

You never used a C64 with a 1541 drive did you?
The old C64 used a serial version of the IEE-488 bus to connect drives and printers. It allowed dasy chaining of one drive to another and usually ended with a printer if you had one.

Re:It is the new 64.

[Anonymous Coward]

he's also a rastopede

Re:It is the new 64.

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=Yo+dawg+we+heard+you+like

Re:It is the new 64.

[qoncept]

http://www.newertech.com/products/ministackv2_5.php

Unfortunately it matches the wrong tiny computer.

Re:It is the new 64.

[mmkkbb]

At least some of the Apple IIs could do this too, with disks at least.

Re:It is the new 64.

[v1]

The apple disc controller was for discs only. My //c had an internal 5.25, and an external 5.25, and chained through that was an external 3.5". (800k) It had a chain-through as well and I could have added another I think.

Re:It is the new 64.

[LWATCDR]

So could the Atari. It was pretty common back then. It would be so tempting to put Linux and C128 emulator on one of these :)

Re:It is the new 64.

[pdabbadabba]

Yeah. Anyone who went to a public school in the early 90's should be very familiar with this arrangement. *Sigh*

Re:It is the new 64.

[BK425]

Western digital combo.

Re:It is the new 64.

[MBGMorden]

Yep. Public school attendee cira 87-99 and I can definitely say that we had tons of those old Apple IIe's in the classroom when I was in middle school. That was mostly the individual classrooms though. The "computer lab" where they taught typing had IBM PC's (I think they were old XT models though - the monitor and computer was built together as one unit).

A few other places had IBM's too. I had an "Industrial Technology" class where we actually had a robotic arm controller to play with. Those were all running on 386's I think. Still remember the admin password to the software in there. Good old "gmite". (I'm sure they've stopped using it by now I don't think I'm causing any security breaches :)).

Still, those Apple II's did have some good Algebra software that we ended up using in my Algebra class in the 8th grade. Even back then we could tell that the machines were antiquated but they still were useful to some degree.

Re:It is the new 64.

[sexconker]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

Re:It is the new 64.

[PalmKiller]

We unfortunately had Tandy TRS-80 (trash 80) model IIIs (and couple of model 1s) and I think we eventually got two model 4s in the early mid 80s, I got to play with some apple II/II Plus and a few IIIs I think during the computer camp at the local college I think it was in 82 (color and so much better graphics) but our high school was supplied by the local radio shack I guess. Right after computer camp I asked for a computer and got a 600XL for Christmas and that sucker still worked until I presented it to the landfill in 2003 or so.

Re:It is the new 64.

[MBGMorden]

and got a 600XL for Christmas and that sucker still worked until I presented it to the landfill in 2003 or so.

Probably should have tried ebay first. A lot of people still collect older computers like that.

Re:It is the new 64.

[mzs]

There was also an edge style connector out the back that was used as a parallel port for the printer we had. I seem to recall that was the faster option.

Re:It is the new 64.

[LWATCDR]

Maybe.. but a Pimp my ride reference doesn't do over one's head, it goes whoosh under one's butt.

Re:It is the new 64.

[mabhatter654]

the first "network" I remember being on back in 92-93 was at my community college. They had rows of Mac SEs daisy-chained with Apple serial bus to hard drives at the end controlled by something bigger. It was quite slick for it's time...

Re:It is the new 64.

[Anonymous Coward]

http://garyc.mooo.com:3232/fun/dawg3.swf

Re:It is the new 64.

[mmkkbb]

Yeah right, the only time I ever saw an Apple II with more than one disk drive was a DuoDisk :)

Channeling Steve Jobs....

[argent]

Everyone's channeling Steve Jobs' these days.

The computer packs the usual Intel Atom internals, and puts them in a thin metal case with a built-in keyboard with Apple-style individually inset keys...

So now you have a lousy keyboard you can't replace with a decent one. It's bad enough on my laptop, but at least there's an excuse for lowering the form factor of the keys way too far... here, there's simply no logical reason for it other than style.

Yep, it's Apple style all right. If it doesn't come with OS X, why put up with the abuse?

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[Myopic]

Apple keyboards are fine.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[Anonymous Coward]

The bad part is if they use a membrane keyboard instead of contact switches. Latter would be a pain but ARE fixable, the former, good luck finding a replacement.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[Anonymous Coward]

Ubuntu with XMBC comes to mind

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[Amouth]

actualy there is a logical reason other thanstyle for a product like this.. given it's size and the goal of being light weight.. by spacing the keys out and allowing the upper frame to be solid accross the mid secion of the device allows the surface to he structural - there for allowing the bottom of it to be thiner and allowing the whole device to be thinner as you don't have to make room under the keyboard for support and you don't need heavy materials around the edges for support - caluse as soon as it flexes watch it die.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[sketerpot]

Your keyboard milage may vary. Personally, I have trouble using any other kind of keyboard these days. It's just easier on the hands.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[pavon]

So now you have a lousy keyboard you can't replace with a decent one.

Sure you can, it has USB ports. Cue the dueling typists. Heck, the built-in keyboard is probably a USB device internally so you could take it apart and have some nice form-factor circuit boards to build a Model-M computer if you wanted. I know you do :)

Seriously though, at least this makes more sense to me than the current iMac. I don't mind throwing out a keyboard when I need to get a new computer, but throwing out a monitor is ridiculous. And while I don't love the chicklet keyboard, if the touchpad works well and it's priced right I may very well get one for my livingroom.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[argent]

Apple keyboards are great if you want to really hammer your RSI. I can't work intensively on my laptop for more than 10 or 15 minutes without significant pain.

If it wasn't for OS X you wouldn't find an Apple product released post-1997 in my house - their design is full of stylish crap like this. I'd probably still have my old "Beige G4" for running my Scanjet, but otherwise... it's all about the software.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[argent]

Ever use a really good keyboard, one with microswitch keys? The frame the keys are set in is totally solid. You can't make them all that thin, but this thing has even less reason for thinness than a laptop. The only reason to make it thin is style, and compromising ergonomics for style is exactly the problem I'm talking about.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[argent]

Been there, done that, got the crippling pain. You can keep 'em.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[Amouth]

i agree.. but if the released this - and it was the size and weight of a c64 they would only sell a handfull where as going thin and lite they will sell alot more - its a function of trying to make something that fills the void they are wanting to fill.. if being small and lite is what they need then they will do it that way.. i was just noting that using the "apple" style keyboard can be explained in a way to make it sturdy not just to look stylish.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[morgan_greywolf]

Hint: You can plug any USB keyboard into any Mac (including MacBooks) with a USB port.

I recommend this one, which has 2 downstream USB ports on it, but YMMV.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[argent]

Indeed. They're making a product to sell to people who value style over everything, so of course it's going to ignore everything but style. I understand why channeling Jobs is profitable, I just don't give a damn for the products that result.

And it's not the details of the design. Apple's laptop keyboards without that *specific* design were just as painful, even if they were fractionally thicker.

There are thin keyboards that are far superior. They (and Apple) need to get some IBM Thinkpad DNA in their products, or get in bed with Logitech if that's too scary. Logitech seems to be able to make thin keyboards that feel more like a Thinkpad than a Macbook.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[Auroch]

apple style? No. sony style, originally!

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[argent]

You can plug any USB keyboard into any Mac (including MacBooks) with a USB port.

That's what I do at home, but...

1. That would pretty much eliminate this product, no?

2. That gets to be a hassle with laptops. My boss thought I was really weird carrying around a keyboard with my Macbook... until I explained the problem.

3. I bought a Happy Hacking keyboard, some time back, on the advice of some slashdot geek like you. Complete waste of money. I think I gave it to one of my kids' friends. The keys themselves are nice, but it tries to be TOO small. It needs at least another row and column of full sized keys to eliminate the need for the damn Fn key and let them make the arrow keys full-sized.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[argent]

Summary: learn how to not fucking pound the keys, and the Apple keyboard will work just fine.

I'll take that up with my physical therapist, but I don't think her advice is going to change.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[nobodyman]

So now you have a lousy keyboard you can't replace with a decent one.

No worries there, friend. It's got USB ports, so you could easily plug a keyboard into your keyboard. I sense a "yo dawg" joke coming on.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[teh kurisu]

Is it just Apple keyboards, or all standard keyboards that you have problems with? It surprises me that you could have crippling pain with one keyboard, but no problems with another with different construction but the same basic layout.

I actually find Mac keyboards more comfortable to use, but not because of the hardware. OS X's use of the Command key rather than Ctrl for shortcuts means that I use my thumb and index/middle fingers for most shortcuts, as opposed to twisting my hand round in Windows/Linux to hit the Ctrl key with my pinkie.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[argent]

It's not the layout, it's the construction, length of the keystroke, key pressure curve, shape of keys, stability of keytops, and so on.

I actually find Mac keyboards more comfortable to use, but not because of the hardware. OS X's use of the Command key rather than Ctrl for shortcuts [...]

That works just fine on this Microsoft keyboard I have plugged into my Mac. :)

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[jamstar7]

I don't mind the keyboard design of my old T22, it works just fine for me in the field. My problem is with the nudger IBM decided to use instead of a strokepad mouse. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

As far as a desktop keyboard goes, I use an old Micron RTS5158 that's lasted a helluva lot longer than other keyboards I've tried, including some 70 & 80 buck Microsofts. The feel is perfect for me, and I love the feedback. And yes, I type on it several hours every day.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[NekoXP]

> I can't work intensively on my laptop for more than 10 or 15 minutes without significant pain.

You're doing it wrong.

Actually individually inset keys, if done right, are ergonomically better. They also confer several advantages if you're basically willing to give up the EXPERIENCE of a keyboard with a huge travel on the keys - keys are spaced better, so it's easier to hit the key you want, and they're all at the same height, on a flat base, meaning you're basically not lifting your wrists and therefore completely cutting out the need for wrist rests.

Some people don't like them - me included at one point - because they're DIFFERENT, and it takes a while to adjust your posture and typing style to suit the keys, but once you do (and quit lumbering at it like a gorilla, bashing keys with your knuckles) it gets a whole lot better and productivity goes up.

As for the pain, I have to live through every day with some kind of arthritic pain anyway, a bit of discomfort on a keyboard is something I experience with every kind, it actually got better with the Apple.

I have yet to see an actual ergonomic study that shows that Apple keyboards (or Vaio keyboards or this keyboard) is actually bad for you, in any way that any other keyboard is bad for you.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[mollymoo]

Apple keyboards are great if you want to really hammer your RSI. I can't work intensively on my laptop for more than 10 or 15 minutes without significant pain.

I ask this in all seriousness - what's wrong with them? The keys are similarly spaced to a normal keyboard; the metal between the keys is just taking up the space the taper on typewriter-style keys would take up. There are no indentations on the keys, which I found odd at first while touch-typing, but I don't see how that would fsck up your hand position. The desktop Apple keyboards are flat, but not flatter than a typical laptop keyboard. I'm genuinely curious about what's ergonomically unsound about Apple keyboards compared to normal keyboards. I can accept both are worse than "weirdly" shaped ergonomic keyboards, but you don't get those on any laptop anyway, and you did single out Apple keyboards and mention a laptop.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[Spit]

The last time console-computers were the rage, this style of keyboard was referred to as "chiclet" and was derided far and wide. What next, rubber chiclet?

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[PvtVoid]

actualy there is a logical reason other thanstyle for a product like this.. given it's size and the goal of being light weight.. by spacing the keys out and allowing the upper frame to be solid accross the mid secion of the device allows the surface to he structural - there for allowing the bottom of it to be thiner and allowing the whole device to be thinner as you don't have to make room under the keyboard for support and you don't need heavy materials around the edges for support - caluse as soon as it flexes watch it die.

Yours evidently has a malfunctioning "Shift" key...

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[Anonymous Coward]

You mean Sony Style.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[PReDiToR]

I'm using a T22 to type on now. I use it as a (semi)thin client to NX into my desktop.

I learned to touch type on this thing and I adore the keyboard. One of the reasons that I like it so much.
I find the nipple easy to use too. Once I got to grips with it I preferred it over the track pads on my other laptops.
Saying that, I use an upside down mouse on my desktop so ordinary rodents aren't exactly my preference.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[Anonymous Coward]

I switched to the Apple chicklet keyboard from a UniComp clickety-clack keyboard and never looked back. My pain reduced significantly.

I believe it's more a matter of what you've used before and switching to something else than one being better than the other...

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[argent]

I'm not a huge fan of trackpoint either, but I have to say I would ALMOST rather have a two-button trackpoint to a one-button touchpad. :)

My favorite desktop keyboard is no longer made. It was an Adesso brand 85-key compact keyboard that managed to get all they keys I needed into a device maybe 30% larger than a "happy hacking" keyboard without that never-to-be-sufficiently-damned Fn key.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[NekoXP]

Thanks for sticking up.

Moving from one of those ergonomic Microsoft Natural keyboards to an Apple keyboard - that is something that might hurt for a bit.

But moving from an ordinary $20 USB keyboard to the Apple one? The Apple one is far superior.

Most people simply have very poor posture, and carry it over to the Apple where it just makes their life worse. If only they typed properly like you and I, they would not be having any problems, and in fact, might actually feel better.

I feel most people here saying that these styles of keyboards suck, basically have no idea what they're talking about. If they really were a problem, Apple (and Sony and now Asus) would have been called on it for selling dangerous products which cause serious, dehabilitating injury to people. Now, while I see Apple being sued for selling 6-bit-per-colour monitors and advertising "millions of colours", and sometimes selling a laptop which randomly dies, or having a shitty battery exchange program, I have yet to see the class action suit against Apple for selling a bad keyboard.

Re:Channeling Steve Jobs....

[jamstar7]

The nudger kills my hand. Course, I'm 54 now, that could have something to do with it. And the fact that I use a conventional mouse 95% of the time on my desktop machine.

eee Keyboard + iMac = ?

[Anonymous Coward]

eee Keyboard + iMac = ?

Re:eee Keyboard + iMac = ?

[Tetsujin]

two computers.

The Osborne 1 returns!

[Anonymous Coward]

That think looks like a re-make of the Osborne 1 with modern technology.

But seriously, who would want that chicklet keyboard?

Not cool any more?

[Gary]

"...much like many home computers from the days Back To The Future was cool".

Oh geez! I missed the memo. Back to the Future isn't cool any more? Man I'm getting old!

Re:Not cool any more?

[morgan_greywolf]

You might also want to take note that mullets and parachute pants are no longer cool.

Re:Not cool any more?

[Bromskloss]

Man I'm getting old!

Or is it the other way around?

Re:Not cool any more?

[BobNET]

Back to the Future isn't cool any more?

Not cool? This is heavy, Doc...

Re:Not cool any more?

[teh kurisu]

Man I'm getting old!

Thank god you still have your hair!

(...what on earth's that thing you're wearing?)

Re:Not cool any more?

[Registered Coward v2]

"...much like many home computers from the days Back To The Future was cool".

Oh geez! I missed the memo. Back to the Future isn't cool any more? Man I'm getting old!

That's ok, just set the Delorean to 1985,or 1955, or 1885 or 2015 and you'll be cool again. Just don't take any Roosevelt Dimes...

Re:Not cool any more?

[jamstar7]

Dammit, I gotta redo my wardrobe. And get a haircut...

Re:Not cool any more?

[Anonymous Coward]

Nope. Still cool. And it's gonna be that way for awhile.

Re:Not cool any more?

[derblack]

I think it is the coolest time travelling film ever (I&II)...
except Kirk's 17 temporal violations which... were... probably... also.....pretty... cool..

Oh, and nice Keyboard. The idea isn't that bad, longer battery life and I would buy one... (if it's around 350$)

Re:Not cool any more?

[sootman]

You know how old BTTF is? We're almost there--it's 2009, and the future in the movie was 2015. Just six more years... too bad Universal Orlando just closed the ride. (And replaced it with The Simpsons, which is coming into its 20th year. MAN it's scary how fast time goes by as you get older! Remember when The Simpsons was new and edgy?)

Re:Not cool any more?

[soupforare]

Remember when The Simpsons was new and edgy?

Nope, can't say that I do.

Re:Not cool any more?

[VanessaE]

Tell that to the casino that opened near me just this past December. I'm not sure how old they are, but two of the slots there are based around the first movie of the BttF series. Everything old is new again, it seems.

Eee Keyboard

[clinko]

Anyone else read the headline and think

"Finally, a new/good keyboard for the EEE netbook."

Re:Eee Keyboard

[metrometro]

Yes, totally. Although the 10-incher on my 1000H isn't all that bad. The trackpad, on the other hand...

Re:Eee Keyboard

[travdaddy]

No I thought, "I understand QWERTY and even DVORAK keyboards, but why the hell would anyone want three E keys?"

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Anonymous Coward]

look at the samsung nc10, just simply rocks for a keyboard on a 10" device.

Re:Eee Keyboard

[bentcd]

No I thought, "I understand QWERTY and even DVORAK keyboards, but why the hell would anyone want three E keys?"

Obviously you need e, E and €.

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Endo13]

Because E is the most used letter in the English alphabet!! Duh!!

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Chris Burke]

No I thought, "I understand QWERTY and even DVORAK keyboards, but why the hell would anyone want three E keys?"

Don't be silly, it's not three 'E' keys, that's just the name.

It's got 101 'E' keys!

I guess it's for some species of monkeys.

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Junior J. Junior III]

I did. I'm now contemplating a wireless eee cluster. Imagine, a beowulf cluster of tiny computers interconnected via bluetooth or 802.11. I'll get an eeePC, an eeeKeyboard, an eeeMouse, an eeeMonitor, maybe even an eeePrinter, and for the hour of battery life that I get out of them, I'll have a mobile cloud with the processing power of a 4-core workstation powered by Atom! Well, the Intel Atom, not U-238. But still, that's pretty cool!

Re:Eee Keyboard

[afidel]

Trackpads universally suck IMHO, give me trackpoint any day.

Re:Eee Keyboard

[X0563511]

Why don't they call use the "e3" instead? It's easier to say and even looks "cooler!"

* Dammit, the 3 is supposed to be a superscript. Why would slashdot filter "vertical-align:super" or ?

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Erikderzweite]

no, you also need to oook occasionally

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Prof.Phreak]

Yes. It's not just EEE, I've noticed other netbooks have the horrible horrible placement of right shift key right next to up arrow key. Not buying anymore EEEs until they fix that.

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Anonymous Coward]

At first, I thought they took the Eee netbook keyboard and made it into a stand-alone desktop keyboard.

Granted, it'd be a great space saver ...

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes. The keys on my eee pc are not nice, and even fail to detect fully pressed keys when not pressed hard enough. This in sharp contrast with the keys on my old Sony picturebook, that has keys that have the same size and thickness, but feel solid, like a desktop keyboard, and always detects key presses.
(other than that, my Linux eee-pc900 runs circles around my desktop)

These are the last people I would buy a keyboard from.

Re:Eee Keyboard

[XDirtypunkX]

Not to mention type out the complete works of Shakespeare!

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Anonymous Coward]

éeèt éeès for théeè French - they have thréeè different éeès. and now you know why they sound so funny when they try to speak English - they just have trouble working out which éeè should be used...

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Monsieur_F]

Héhéhé, tha problaim is none of thaim works in Inglish...

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Narishma]

You forgot à and Ã.

Re:Eee Keyboard

[bettega]

Not everyone is english, your intensitive cloud!

Re:Eee Keyboard

[Anonymous Coward]

>Because E is the most used letter in the English alphabet!! Duh!!

Yes, but in personnal computing it's WASD.

Re:Eee Keyboard

[TheThiefMaster]

Those would be "A"s.

Try again, in ASCII this time instead of Unicode so Slashdot doesn't mangle it...

Re:Eee Keyboard

[shish]

That might actually be a good idea... a while ago on slashdot some people were discussing how dvorak was better because alternating hands was the fastest keyboard movement, and "grep ([lefthandkeys][righthandkeys])+ /usr/share/dict/words" came out with a list 10 times as long when lefthandkeys and righthandkeys are defined as used in dvorak; I wonder how much each layout would improve if e was placed somewhere that the both hands could get at it?

Back to the past

[gmuslera]

The first computer that come to my mind seeing that photos was the ZX Spectrum, the keys are similar, and the concept (minus the actual machine specs, power source and the side touchscreen) are somewhat similar too. Too bad no movie (that i remember, at least) used that kind of computers with some cosmetics to represent the computers of the future... could had a major hit in accuracy.

Seems great for media PCs

[SuperKendall]

What would be really cool is to have the small screen show you an alternate display, so you could watch one video feed and keep an eye on another... or just alternate controls.

Cool idea, I'm going to look at getting one of those myself.

I already own several similar models.

[serviscope_minor]

I already own a computer of a similar form factor. It's kitted out with a state of the art CMOS 6502 processor running at 2 MHz and a unified graphics architecture with 32K of main memory and 32K of PROM based storeage (UV erasable in about 20 minutes or so). Not only that, but it has every expansion port you might expect: parallel, TTL, composite and UHF video, RS-423, analogue, the CPU bus (just for good measure), econet (TM) networking and the innovative Tube(r) interface. Not only that but it also comes with builtin support for both audio tape and *double sided* 5.25 inch floppy disks.

Programs are available for download every night, for free, over the air with a compatible teletext input interface.

Frankly, there's no contest.

Funny anecdote: I remember reading a news story about a burglary at a school which had recently upgraded to the new, shiny Archimedes, replacing their old BBCs. The theives broke in and stole all the keyboards, not realising that the computer was now in a separate box.

Re:I already own several similar models.

[Dogtanian]

Programs are available for download every night, for free, over the air with a compatible teletext input interface.

Mmm... I suspect that they *aren't* any more. Though that would have been so cool at the time. :'-(

Funny anecdote: I remember reading a news story about a burglary at a school which had recently upgraded to the new, shiny Archimedes, replacing their old BBCs. The theives broke in and stole all the keyboards, not realising that the computer was now in a separate box.

Speaking of that Arch incident, I read that the Master Compact variant of the original BBC had a separate "base unit" and keyboard like those newfangled PCs... except that most of that computer *was* in the "keyboard" unit!

Kind of ironic that the BBC micro most resembling an expandable PC supposedly flopped (I've never seen one in the flesh) because it was less expandable and lacked half the interfaces that made the other versions so popular.

Tech Support Hell

[Arthur Grumbine]

I can only imagine the confusion this will bring to non-Asus tech support around the world:
Tech: How can I help you today, ma'am?
Little Old Lady: Well, I haven't been able to print my letter using the printer I purchased from you, although I can print other documents just fine. I turned my keyboard off and then back on, just like my son taught me...
Tech: You mean your computer, ma'am? You turned your computer off and then back on?
Little Old Lady: Isn't that what I said?! Well, anyways, I'm looking but I can't seem to find my letter, now.
Tech: Ma'am can you please describe what the screen looks like?
Little Old Lady: Which one? There's a copy of the letter that I haven't been able to print on the keyboard right now. And there's just a blank document open on the monitor.
Tech: There's a copy on the keyboard but you haven't been able to print it?!! How did it get onto the keyboard, ma'am?
etc...

Finally,

[Daswolfen]

Something to run my C64 emulator on to make it feel authentic :)

Re:Finally,

[unhooked]

All you need is a cassette tape drive and 40 minute load times to complete the feeling.

Re:Finally,

[Tetsujin]

All you need is a cassette tape drive and 40 minute load times to complete the feeling.

Bah! You didn't need the tape drive for a 40-minute load time - in some cases you could get that from the C64 floppy, too...

Dumb dur-heads, crippling the peripheral bus to keep it VIC-20-compatible...

Re:Finally,

[_Sprocket_]

BUT the 1541 could play Bicycle Built for Two! You couldn't do THAT with a cassette tape.

(Wait... what? Oh. Yeah...)

Re:Finally,

[Daswolfen]

well, I could hook up that USB cassette deck and put Vista on it....

Suggestion...

[RyanFenton]

Suggestion to Asus: Lose the LCD on the end of the keyboard.

It defeats a lot of the purpose of such a device - this looks like something I'd chuck in a backpack, so when I got there, I'd just plug it into an LCD and go. Having an LCD built on the side could give some status information, but at the cost of messing up the center of gravity on the device (important for a lot of situations), and having a scratch hazard on an otherwise casual item. Losing the LCD would also make the unit fewer parts to power and go bad.

As another suggestion, try and make a wireless (perhaps bluetooth) DVI/VGA plug that will allow the device to run completely disconnected from the monitor. Add in an application for quickly setting up and managing external wireless storage and backup, and you've got a nice ultralight system.

Ryan Fenton

Re:Suggestion...

[Anonymous Coward]

While I agree that making the second screen modular or just not there at all would be nice, TFA said they have wireless HDMI.

Re:Suggestion...

[larry bagina]

it already does wireless display -- ultra wideband wireless HDMI.

Re:Suggestion...

[Anonymous Coward]

All the messageboards commenting on the keyboard are discussing the issue - and most everyone realizes that they tend to move keyboards from machine to machine over the years, or at least are forced to reinstall windows enough that a 3 install limit is FAR too limited a deal. Oh, and uninstalling the software anecdotally does NOT appear to give you 'back' installs of the driver software so far.

I've worked making software protection schemes on occasion - from encrypted dongles with 'click counters' to sequentially mutating upgrade codes linked to custom hardware to send customers to extend licenses, all to make sure software was limited in terms of what users could do with it under license. This is one limit that really is too far for honorable customers.

The biggest suspicion is that all this was done to minimize the chance and value of the reselling the game. I can see that perspective... but if it's at the cost of actually selling the game in the first place, or of pissing off future customers, they've made a terrible mistake.

Re:Suggestion...

[Anonymous Coward]

All the messageboards commenting on the keyboard are discussing the issue - and most everyone realizes that they tend to move keyboards from machine to machine over the years, or at least are forced to reinstall windows enough that a 3 install limit is FAR too limited a deal. Oh, and uninstalling the software anecdotally does NOT appear to give you 'back' installs of the driver software so far.

Makes you wonder how many of them have ever used the reinstallation discs that come with most PCs these days. It's fairly rare to encounter reinstall discs that don't already contain a pre-activated license key on them. You don't even need to key in the license key from the side of the box (or bottom of the keyboard in this case).

Re:Suggestion...

[Auroch]

Yes! Make it a laptop with NO screen!

Re:Suggestion...

[afidel]

Um, did you RTFA? It has ultra wideband DVI for working untethered from the display.

Re:Suggestion...

[Shados]

I'd be guessing its to be used as a Sideshow device. Would be more useful if the OS on the computer supported it (it doesn't), but if you used the keyboard with a real computer when you're at your desk, you could use the the LCD screen to view extra info, which is pretty cool.

Re:Suggestion...

[chill]

That LCD is perfect for a quick round of NetHack.

Re:Suggestion...

[vertinox]

Suggestion to Asus: Lose the LCD on the end of the keyboard.

I dunno. If it was a touch pad screen then it would be cool as heck, but I'm too tired to read the article beyond to pictures to find out if that is the case.

Re:Suggestion...

[gbjbaanb]

Lose the touch screen LCD at the side?!?!!?! No way, its gotta be the ideal customisable addon to the keyboard. Not just to be used as a system 'monitor' for diagnostics and boot and so on, but while you're using the keyboard (plugged into your TV through its wireless HDMI box) you can have the side bit as a numeric keypad, mousepad (I'm not sure of the sensitivity of it though), or - as they have in TFA - a calendar. I'm sure you can think of good stuff to put on there.

Re:Suggestion...

[spice guru]

I'm picturing an XKCD type histogram showing all the design feedback comments. I think "Center of gravity" would be an outlier.

Specs

[burnfury]

Specs as reported here and here.

• Self-contained PC / keyboard combo with integrated 5-inch touchscreen display
• OS: Windows XP Home Edition
• 1.6GHz Intel Atom microprocessor
• 1GB of DDR2 DRAM
• 16GB or 32GB SSD
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Ultra Wideband HDMI
• USB 2.0 x2, VGA, HDMI, headphone and mic ports
• Weight: 2 lbs

But in the good old days,

[gzipped_tar]

The modifier keys (esp. ctrl) were in the right places!

Re:But in the good old days,

[morgan_greywolf]

Here you go.

nice!

[gEvil (beta)]

It's got USB ports, so you can easily add a second keyboard for some marathon sessions of two-player Notepad!

Re:nice!

[Spyder]

Isn't IRC multiplayer notepad?

typical traffic down up to 30%, 3 months running

[Anonymous Coward]

that would be on the 300 or so sites that we watch.

Re:Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fu

[Anonymous Coward]

It'll also be the world's greatest remote.

UNNNGGGHHHHHH!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

oh yeah baby

Seen this form factor years ago

[Gizzmonic]

I remember seeing these at the bank a few years back (2003) when applying for an auto loan. The loan officer was typing on a keyboard that looked a little wide. Upon closer inspection I noticed it had a VGA and a couple of USB ports. It was one of these self-contained keyboard computers!

I asked about it but of course the loan officer wasn't interested in technological minutia. I never remembered about it until I saw this thread!

And in case you were worried, I got the loan! And I'm about to pay it off (I'm a contributing member of society)!!!!

anyone remember the Compaq luggable?

[Clover_Kicker]

http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/compaq/

Looks like the screen is about the same size...

Arrrgrh!!!

[pondermaster]

I sometimes hit the keyboard hard when I have to track down nasty bugs in my Awk code. This would escalate my rage into a costly problem.

Chicklet keys??

[nurb432]

80's flashback.

Retro!

[Bloater]

I've still got my spectrum... Will this thing support my kempston joystick?

I'm confused

[jmorris42]

Ok, it looks hella cool, and as someone who owned a Tandy CoCo and a Commodore 64 the retro factor is good fun. But what is it for?

Is it intended as a glorious remote control? If so what the heck are we paying a Windows license fee for? Is it a computer? Then what are we paying for wireless hdmi for again? With that dinky screen or a TV across the room general purpose computing will be hard. A media center? Doing video decode on an Atom will be pain, literally as the damned thing will burn yer nuts. And not much room for storing media and a tuner is right out.

This thing looks like the sort of impractical but camera hogging stuff Detroit trots out every year as 'concept' cars. So if they are mugging for the camera/blogs why didn't they just make the whole front surface a display with touchscreen and totally pwn the Optimus Keyboard. Bet they could have arranged some sort of permanently attached clear overlay to give about as much tactile feedback as the lame me too apple retro looking keyboard they went with.

Re:I'm confused

[Knara]

The specs here suggest to me that it may very well be quite hackable. Not a powerhouse, but fun.

Re:I'm confused

[westlake]

Is it intended as a glorious remote control? If so what the heck are we paying a Windows license fee for? Is it a computer? Then what are we paying for wireless hdmi for again? With that dinky screen or a TV across the room general purpose computing will be hard.

The display across the room is a 1080p HDTV with a 40" - 75" screen.

The audio is 5.1 surround at 50 - 150 watts per channel.

The keyboard-PC can't store much of anything, but you can shop Amazon.com. do the IM video chat thing, stream radio from Live365 or Netflix video, and embarass your kids with the baby photos you slip into your homemade USB slide-shows. just as grandad did when he brought out the Kodak projector.

Re:I'm confused

[jmorris42]

> The display across the room is a 1080p HDTV with a 40" - 75" screen.

Yea and if you generate much 1080p video on that little thing you won't have nuts. And you still will have problems reading text from across the room, even with a 75" screen.

> The keyboard-PC can't store much of anything, but you can shop Amazon.com. do the IM video chat thing,
> stream radio from Live365 or Netflix video, and embarass your kids with the baby photos you slip into
> your homemade USB slide-shows. just as grandad did when he brought out the Kodak projector.

Which of those things could you not do with a MythTV (Or a Windows Media Center if yer bent like that) sitting connected to the TV and a thirty dollar wireless keyboard in your lap? Which will cost less and be more practical? The prototype is barely getting an hour of battery life, push it up to six and it still isn't very practical. A wireless keyboard will typically run months. So where is the benefit from moving the computing out from beside the display where it belongs (wired network and display, AC power, easy addition of storage as needed, etc.) and into the keyboard.

No, much better if you do the wireless display the other way and let the settop box drive the small screen. If you assume a wireless link with enough speed for hdmi you could also keep the USB and audio ports on the thing and slave them via wireless.

Memories

[MBGMorden]

This brings up fond memories of back when the keyboard WAS the computer. I remember being a REALLY young kid (probably 7 or 8), and seeing a regular IBM/PC keyboard in the store for $35. Since the only computers I'd ever seen back then were Commodores, TI-99/4a's, Apple's, and Tandys, I perceived this as a great deal since I thought that that keyboard was a whole computer. I remember begging my mom to buy it for me since I wanted a computer so bad and it was only $35. Thankfully, she didn't get it. Man I'd have been disappointed if I'd have gotten that thing home and tried to connect it to a TV :).

Not much later I ended up getting a Commodore 64 :).

Re:Memories

[dangitman]

Since the only computers I'd ever seen back then were Commodores, TI-99/4a's, Apple's, and Tandys, I perceived this as a great deal since I thought that that keyboard was a whole computer.

It seems that to many IBM Model M enthusiasts, that's still the case.

You kids.

[idontgno]

You have no idea.

I've used a TI 99/4. I've actually tried typing programs into an original IBM PCjr. I used extensively, and almost bought, an Atari 400.

What do they have in common with each other, and this keyboard?

Crappy, short throw, lousy-feedback keys.

If you think you're seeing an old-timer smiling in nostalgic pleasure at this thing, you've mis-identified a grimace of remembered pain.

Re:You kids.

[lbbros]

I think the Sinclair up to the Spectrum 48K were worse. I mean, flat keys first, then *rubber*! I can't even remember how could I *type* on those...

Re:You kids.

[jcr]

The best and the worst keyboards I ever used were both around that time. The PCjr's chicklets were the worst. The best was on an HP 9840 terminal. These days, I'm using a NeXT ADB keyboard, which is my all-time favorite for key layout, and second best for quality of the keyswitches.

One of these years, I'm going to see how much of a market there is for the ultimate keyboard: ebony keys, switches that will last for decades, proper steel springs...

-jcr

Re:You kids.

[Anonymous Coward]

Commodore PET anyone? Now there's a keyboard to forget.

Re:You kids.

[mzs]

I second the HP terminal keyboard as one of the best ever. I visited an HP salesman at the time when I had a CoCo II and that thing was was fantastic. The keyboard of the Coco II was very good for it's time as well. What I miss is that back then you had to hit the key just right for it to register. I am using a spongy Dell keyboard right now. And when I had to capitalize the W two sentences back my hand shifted a bit and I got 'QW' instead of just W. There was no way back then to hit a key on the side and have it register back then.

Re:You kids.

[jcr]

I second the HP terminal keyboard as one of the best ever.

Back when a keyboard cost upwards of a grand, they could really afford to pull out all the stops, quality-wise.

-jcr

Re:You kids.

[je ne sais quoi]

For some reason that I don't fully understand, I just bought one of these new Apple keyboards that this EEE PC is modeled after (my other option was a unicomp model M remake). For the apple, I had to make some adjustments to my chair height and throw out my wrist rest because of the low height, but so far... I have to say the keyboard isn't bad. My reasoning for buying it was thus (which may be completely wrong): I imagined that short-throw keys would stress your fingers less, because you would need less force for each keypress. However you also need to have unambiguous tactile feedback that, A) you've started pressing a key and B) you've pressed it all the way to the stop. I think the trick is that it's easier to make a long-throw key switch that does both these than a short-throw switch, but it shouldn't be impossible to make a good short-throw one. I typed for about 20 minutes on the Apple one in the store before I was satisfied that I the key switches were sufficient quality to do that and since I've gotten it home, I haven't run into any problems. I make about just as many mistakes and type about as fast as I do on a regular keyboard, but YMMV.

Re:You kids.

[salesgeek]

I used to use a Heath|Zenith Z-29 a lot. It was designed to have a very selectric feel to it. I have never used an uglier keyboard, but man it was fast.

Re:You kids.

[Anne Honime]

I totaly agree ; mine was a Tangerine Oric 1. I had the dubious chance to try many of the mid-80's computers at friends' homes, and the Oric came only 2nd to the Spectrum wrt keyboard crappiness. But all those computers really sucked in the keyboard department. Even the much famed Apple ][ had to be insanely hammered to produce something useful. A real carpal tunnel syndrom enhancer.
Those were the days. I finally managed to put my hands on a decent M68K based cp/m computer (I salvaged a supposedly dead kit, I wouldn't have dreamed to have the cash), and never looked back toward toys again. There was no middle ground ; the Sord M68 keyboard was of exceptional quality, far better than anything I can lay my hands on today.

Not quite what I would want

[Dr. Spork]

If this is intended to control a media center, why does it force the user to get up and to the screen give the media center input?

Wouldn't it be better if the media center itself were a plain, small and silent box (like the Apple TV) to which this neat keyboard could be connected wirelessly? The screen on it would be ideal for browsing through a music collection on the network, when you're in no mood to fire up the big screen in the living room. Communication between the keyboard and the box with the processor could happen by bluetooth or wifi.

An added benefit would be that the keyboard would have much longer battery life.

Re:Not quite what I would want

[ErkDemon]

Wouldn't it be better if the media center itself were a plain, small and silent box (like the Apple TV) to which this neat keyboard could be connected wirelessly?

They already do one!

The Eee Box is a small, plain, (almost) silent PC with wifi that comes with a mounting bracket so you can bolt it to the back of your flat monitor or TV via the four VESA mount holes.

Just let me know

[BronsCon]

when and where I can get the EeePhone and the EeePod Touch.

Freakin' caps lock key.

[jcr]

Why in the hell do all the keyboards made today have the caps lock key where the control key belongs?

-jcr

Re:Freakin' caps lock key.

[Culture20]

Because very few people ever used a Sun keyboard. Other IBM keyboards from ancient days use the current setup. For evil fun, use rubbing alcohol on a Sun keyboard intended for a newbie, and watch the confusion as attempts to stop a program become CcCcCc.

Re:Freakin' caps lock key.

[ickoonite]

Interestingly, Japanese Mac keyboards still use that very layout. Though the addition of a couple of extra buttons either side of the space bar for switching between English and Japanese might put you off a bit...

:)

Re:Freakin' caps lock key.

[jcr]

Interestingly, Japanese Mac keyboards still use that very layout.

Yeah, I've got one of those around here somewhere. I prefer my NeXT keyboard because of the command bar, though.

-jcr

Lack of optical drive

[Naito]

Seriously, why is this listed as a fault these days? Optical discs are big, slow, have lots of DRM and are easily damaged. Give me something that I can plug a big ESATA drive or USB key into and play movies directly off of and I'm happy. I don't want to waste space and battery life on an optical drive.

Re:Lack of optical drive

[MichaelSmith]

Seriously, why is this listed as a fault these days?

I agree with you but if I go to a shop where a lot of computers are sold I often see salesmen trying to sell eepc or mac air type machines and being asked how you play a dvd on it.

My wife loves watching chinese dvds or vcds on her hp laptop. It is probably her main use for the machine, apart from tetris.

Re:Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fu

[mollymoo]

It doesn't look like much use as a laptop due to the tiny screen in an awkward place and lack of cover for the keyboard. A three hour battery life means it's not much use as a wireless keyboard. I suppose as a desktop PC it would be OK, but then why have the tiny additional screen and battery? They just make it larger and more expensive than it needs to be. Ditch the screen and battery and it might make for a cheap, compact desktop PC, but as it is I just don't see the point. On the other hand there are plenty of things I don't see the point of that are hugely popular, so what do I know?

I know I'm new here, but...

[tyroneking]

... why is it OK to just quote the top paragraph from the source article?

"Asus' success with its Eee line of netbooks might have come as a surprise, but the company is now determined to expand the Eee brand into every possible niche and form factor. Case in point: the insanely cool Eee Keyboard, which will surely bring a smile on the faces of those who remember the glory days of the home computer." is lifted directly from the article linked in the story.

No funny / inappropriate / factually incorrect comments from the editor either...in fact Timothy hasn't posted any editorial comments in the last few stories he's posted. I want Cmdr Taco back :)

This is not a sexual comment!

[Auroch]

I happen to love the trackpad.

I usually hate them, but I love the super sensitivity! It makes it such a pleasure to use. Just a quick touch, and such a big response.

Although, historically, I prefer the IBM/lenovo touch point / mouse stick ... and trackballs are even more fun to play with...

Re:This is not a sexual comment!

[X0563511]

And this, gentlemen, is why you want to get your woman excited before you go down on her. Spend some time away from the target first!

Re:This is not a sexual comment!

[X0563511]

... sorry. I couldn't resist. Please shame me for it.

I'll even post this logged in, so you can nail me twice for it!

Re:This is not a sexual comment!

[MichaelSmith]

The only trouble I have had with the track pad on my eeepc was when I ran it from a cheap inverter in my van. The noise which got through the power supply made the track pad unusable.

The eee computer I would like to see is my 701 without keyboard or screen in a hand sized package. I have lots of screens and input devices where I work so there is no rreason to carry them.

Re:This is not a sexual comment!

[aldwin]

Although, historically, I prefer the IBM/lenovo touch point / mouse stick

A lot of people I know refer to those as a "clitoris"

... and trackballs are even more fun to play with...

must ... not ... make ... joke!

Ah yeah now wer' talkin'!

[McNihil]

Oh and BTW where is the Run/Stop and Restore buttons...

Long live SYS 64738!!!

Re:Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fu

[Broken scope]

Did you read the article?

"If you think this isn't already cool enough (which I cannot imagine), then you should know that it comes with Ultra-Wideband Wireless HDMI buit-in. Plug in a small box at the back of your TV, and connect to it wirelessly, and send the display signal over the airwaves. It comes with the usual wireless options and ports as well, of course. "

More like VIC-TV

[JoeCommodore]

It's more like the VIC-TV, a 1983 Commodore CES prototype. Picture at Secret Weapons of Commodore pages:
http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/supervic.html

Appropriate use of technology?

[Locke2005]

Let me see if I got this straight: this box has no DVD drive or large hard drive, so the "killer" app for this toy is to stream video over wireless to the keyboard, decode it, then stream it again to another box connected to your television??? I'm no system engineer, but wouldn't it make a lot more sense to put all the brains in the box connected to the television (and the power outlet), and just use a cheap remote control (with much better battery life) to control it?

Or maybe you could use it to play games on... in which case wouldn't you be better served by any of the current game consoles equipped with a wireless controller? One more thing... if you've got a built-in wireless HDMI for streaming video to a largescreen TV... what the fsck do you need a crappy 5" LCD screen for??? Sure, this is a cute toy, but what does it enable the average user to actually do better than what they are using now?

Re:Appropriate use of technology?

[Anonymous Coward]

The mini-lcd is also multi-touch compatible, dingus. It's a mouse.

Re:Appropriate use of technology?

[Locke2005]

Right... so I'm sure it's a lot more cost-effective to buy this keyboard PC than to buy software that would let me use my iPhone to control that box connected to the TV. Then that box connected to the TV would need WiFi to talk to the iPhone, which has got to be a lot cheaper than what it needs to stream HDMI video. Again, this looks like a solution in search of a problem to me; what can you do with this device that you couldn't do before? (Other than hit smart-asses like me over the head with it, thus doing a lot more damage than your existing phone or remote control.)

Re:Appropriate use of technology?

[tknd]

I'm no system engineer, but wouldn't it make a lot more sense to put all the brains in the box connected to the television (and the power outlet), and just use a cheap remote control (with much better battery life) to control it?

But then if I have a nifty USB thumb drive or SD card with pictures, I have to walk up to the TV, plug it in, and walk by to my keyboard. Sure, the "remote" could have usb and a card reader but now it isn't much of a cheap remote?

if you've got a built-in wireless HDMI for streaming video to a largescreen TV... what the fsck do you need a crappy 5" LCD screen for???

It probably doubles as a trackpad and/or troubleshooting display should your hdmi connection have problems. If they can keep the price down I'm all for lcd displays on keyboards. A killer feature I've always dreamed of is an lcd display above the "F" keys which would allow you to remap or give special programming to these keys. Sounds like the optimus keyboard but a much cheaper version.

I'd say the killer app for this is a desktop that shares some of the benefits of a notebook. Current notebooks are a pain to hookup to other devices, this device is supposedly going to make it easy to hook up to monitors, tvs, and such. That means rather than buy a pc for the living room and the home office, you buy this keyboard and just drag it to the room where you need to work. The difference would be you don't need a dock like a laptop and you'd want to use a better display device like a monitor or hdtv.

The killer app will probably be just youtube and email in the living room and/or bedroom. Sure the Wii and other consoles can do youtube, but you're not about to drag your Wii, Xbox, or PS3 with you to every room with a TV.

People also tend to like devices that seem to "just work" even if it only fits a single purpose. For example most people do think HTPCs are cool but most people don't feel comfortable setting up a PC to work with their TV. At minimum, you'd have to have a PC and wireless keyboard/mouse and hook everything up correctly (hdmi, sound cables, wireless kb/mouse connection). With this device you'd probably just plug in the wireless HDMI adapter to the tv and you're done. Sure, the implementation from an engineering standpoint doesn't make sense, but the user doesn't care. They only care that it fits the use case they envision.

Re:Appropriate use of technology?

[Anonymous Coward]

> what the fsck do you need a crappy 5" LCD screen for???

It's a touchscreen. Presumably no sane person will be using it as the main display.

Please...

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, those computers really did suck. But shame on you for not doing your research and ponying up for a Commodore or Apple. Those really did have good keyboards. The smiling people were Commodore users. Sorry you couldn't afford the $200.

Re:Please...

[idontgno]

Meh. Surely you don't mean the original PET 2001, with the cheap-calculator-keypad-on-growth-hormones keyboard? I might agree with your comment if you're talking about the -N versions or the 4000 family.

And Apple? Yeah, good keyboards. Outrageously expensive though.

BTW, I don't know where you came up with $200. In the words of Wikipedia, [Citation Needed].

My actual purchase was a TRS-80. Not a "Model I"; this was when there was only one model, thank you. The keyboard on that? Mushy touch, good keythrow... and the worst kkkkkkeybounce EVAR. I religiously loaded the "debounce" software from cassette every programming session. For all of that aggravation, I never got RSI from it.

Re:Please...

[Dogtanian]

But shame on you for not doing your research and ponying up for a Commodore or Apple. Those really did have good keyboards. The smiling people were Commodore users.

I haven't used a C64 that much (Spectrum was much more popular in the UK and I personally had a real-keyboard Atari 800XL). But from the few times that I did use it, I have to say that it was one of my least favourite "real" keyboards. Way too "deep" and "spongy/springy" if I remember correctly.

Yeah, still better than the Speccy's rubber keys, but then no-one expected too much from that keyboard.

Sorry you couldn't afford the $200.

Perhaps he got his computer in the early days, when the C64 was much more expensive. Or perhaps he lived in another country (like I do) where the C64 was never sold as cheaply as it was in the US.

Re:Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fu

[ErkDemon]

Does it have IR?

A "universal remote control" app that runs on the little screen could be fun. Hold it end-on, tell the screen display to rotate 90 degrees, put little stickers over the columns of keys for your fifty favourite tv channels ...

A remote control that you'd never lose!

RTFA

[dangitman]

FTA:

... then you should know that it comes with Ultra-Wideband Wireless HDMI buit-in. Plug in a small box at the back of your TV, and connect to it wirelessly, and send the display signal over the airwaves. It comes with the usual wireless options and ports as well, of course.

I love my EEE

[JeanBaptiste]

and looking forward to buying a N10 model. but now they have this.

man asus comes up with some cool stuff at a reasonable price. i'm starting to like asus the way the hippies like apple =)

Re:I love my EEE

[mjwx]

and looking forward to buying a N10 model. but now they have this.

man asus comes up with some cool stuff at a reasonable price. i'm starting to like asus the way the hippies like apple =)

Hippies != hipsters. Now go apologise to that unkempt bearded man over there and he might share his joint with you.

Re:Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fu

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

I'm guessing that IR is a no(though they really should consider it); but with the row of USB ports on the back of the case, right were they would point at the TV while in use, a little low profile IR plug would be just the thing.

Bam! Power Supply

[KalvinB]

problem solved.

Seriously unless you plan on using this thing on the go there's no reason to rely on a battery. And it's not much of a system for on the go computing.

The only reason I don't like laptops is because if the screen goes out you're screwed. My wife's laptop is perfectly functional minus the screen. Fortunatly it has a TV out so it's used to watch Netflix on the TV. This keyboard PC is something that for the right price may be worth getting to replace the old and busted laptop to serve that purpose and be useful for other things as well.

I don't really want to pay $99 for a dedicated Netflix box but if it could be used as a regular PC as well then that's more reasonable.

Re:Bam! Power Supply

[fm6]

Seriously unless you plan on using this thing on the go there's no reason to rely on a battery.

Did you miss the part about it connecting wirelessly to your TV? That's the utility of having it run off battery. No product that requires power outlets in your couch is going to fly.

I don't really want to pay $99 for a dedicated Netflix box but if it could be used as a regular PC as well then that's more reasonable.

Again, you seem to have overlooked the clutter factor. If you want to watch Netflix streams on your TV, a dedicated box is a lot less hassle than connecting a PC. A hundred bucks (one should always round off these prices) is not a lot to pay for that kind of convenience factor. And the actual cost is offset by the fact that you don't have to buy the adapter hardware to connect your PC to your TV (or buy a PC with said hardware built in).

Let me guess, you refuse to buy a dedicated router, because you have an old PC running Linux that does the job just as well, right?

Re:Bam! Power Supply

[gbjbaanb]

I think you're being a tad harsh there.

A device that requires a power outlet near the couch is pretty useful. If you can disconnect it to go wander, that's fine too. I know lots of people who use their laptop whilst its plugged in. The 'mobile' factor is that you can take it where you want, not that it can be run without a plug.

His laptop might well be being used as a netflix box, its quiet and cheap after all, if you had a half-bust laptop, it'd be perfect for such a task.

Re:Bam! Power Supply

[hey!]

Well, I have a few laptops like that where I've removed the LCD. Bingo: keyboard computer. I mainly use them as printer servers and the like; you just lug a small LCD panel over when you need a screen, or use VNC.

In any case, if it's the backlight gone, chances are its the inverter board. This provides voltage to the LCD panel, but usually sits at the top edge of the keyboard part. Its usually integrated on a small board about the size of an old fashioned memory SIMM that usually has a few model specific LEDs or maybe switches. It's fairly easy to replace; you can get a new part for around $70, used parts taken from junker computers go from $5 to $10. If you've done it before for a certain model, the repair takes less than ten minutes; it might take several times that if you have to Google a guide for taking apart your laptop. It's pretty much the easiest repair there is, that users are not expected to be able to do.

Re:Bam! Power Supply

[Dan541]

You do know you can replace laptop screens don't you?

Re:Bam! Power Supply

[Anonymous Coward]

For whatever it's worth, the netflix box is a pretty good deal. Cheap. Nice UI. Lots of outputs. Wired or wireless. Hackable. Just works, etc.

Re:Bam! Power Supply

[JustKidding]

This device seems almost completely useless to me for on-the-go anything, unless you also bring along a seperate LCD, which ofcourse needs power, because of the placement of the touchscreen.

I can only imagine the neck strain from looking at the far right of the keyboard to see what I'm typing. If the screen was in the center, or detachable (and re-attachable at the top) it just might be useful.

Re:Bam! Power Supply

[HardCase]

You're right, it is completely useless for on-the-go anything. Which is reasonable because that's not what it was made for. Read the article. No, I mean read it.

Re:Bam! Power Supply

[Just Some Guy]

Seriously unless you plan on using this thing on the go there's no reason to rely on a battery. And it's not much of a system for on the go computing.

Tell that to any of the people toting around TRS-80 laptops for word processing. Seriously, can't you see this taking off among compulsive bloggers, Twitterers, or Facebookers?

The Nintendo DS has two screens

[tepples]

but then why have the tiny additional screen and battery?

The additional screen could have similar uses as the GBA screens in some GameCube games (e.g. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures) or the touch screen on a DS. The battery is just a built-in UPS.

Re:The Nintendo DS has two screens

[LWATCDR]

Actually I was thinking that you could use the mini screen for an IM client. Add BlueTooth and you could use a headset with it as well.
Could also use it for a remote as well or for a VOIP phone.

The keys look awful

[thetoadwarrior]

I love my EEE but the worst thing about it is the keyboard for the shape, size and layout of the key board. It looks like they're trying to bring that to the desktop. They can take it back too.

Gaming...

[Kral_Blbec]

It would be nice if they would make this as an actual keyboard with a display instead of a computer. I am really impatient for someone to come along and one up the G15.

Spill proof?

[bit0mike]

The first person to spill a drink on one of these things will realize why that form factor disappeared over the years... replacing a $15 keyboard is a lot cheaper :)

Re:Spill proof?

[hey!]

Well, even if you don't spill, the problem with this is that in a carefully used laptop, one of the first things to fail is the keyboard. I used Thinkpads for years ... amazing build quality. Worth every penny. I used to wear through the palm plastic and wear off all the letters on the keys. The first two things to go on them were keys on the keyboard, and the inverter board for the LCD.

I think keyboards are probably one of the hardest things to make cheap and good. As Moore's law gives us tiny computers with vast amounts of processing power and memory, those computers have keyboards which are mechanically far inferior to the old PC XT keyboards, which had rows of discrete and individually replaceable mechanical switches.

Re:Spill proof?

[toddestan]

The first person to spill a drink on one of these things will realize why that form factor disappeared over the years... replacing a $15 keyboard is a lot cheaper :)

Actually, the form factor is extremely common if you consider a laptop nothing other than a variation where the screen is attached.

cut and paste; I want my eee Box

[bcrowell]

The article linked to in the slashdot summary barely rises above the level of cut and paste. The photos came from here, and the content is just a paraphrase of what the register and some blogs also have.

None of the nearly identical articles tell me anything useful about what the heck the eee keyboard is supposed to be good for. It doesn't look like something you want to lug around in a briefcase or backpack, unless it comes with some kind of protective cover. The screen is too small for real websurfing. Is it basically supposed to be like a PDA for people who hate typing on anything less than a full-size keyboard? But why would you want a PDA that leaves out the "P?"

Asus has to do whatever they've got to do to make a profit, but personally I'm less excited about new products like this than I would be about better pricing and availability of previously announced products. They originally claimed they were going to price the eee Box at $269, but the suggested retail price seems to be $320-ish, with Amazon selling it for $300. For what you're getting, I think the right price is actually more like $150, and at that price I would have bought several. At $300, it's just not compelling, unless you really have a strong need for the tiny form factor. The quantities available also seem to be small, and I don't know if that's because they're having trouble meeting demand, or if they just decided not to produce very many.

Re:cut and paste; I want my eee Box

[ErkDemon]

A few weeks ago I needed a simple cheap-as-possible WinXP PC in a hurry, so I ordered an Eee Box, and it turned up the next day. A few UK retailers seemed to have plenty of stock. There don't seem to be any supply problems in the UK, but then again, hardly anyone in the UK seems to know that it exists. I didn't - I only found out about it by accident via Wikipedia, so I was really surprised to find that it was already buyable.

Price was slightly less than the lowest prices at the time for a Linux Eee PC 900 netbook.

Re:cut and paste; I want my eee Box

[petermgreen]

And now you have it what do you think of it? and what kind of applications do you use it for?

So...

[EkriirkE]

A laptop without the (hinged) screen?

Hmmm

[EEPROMS]

I had to think what you would use this for then hai bingo a media centre. Small enough to fit in a small shelf space, use it to access your media files on your home file server. Now I wonder if XBMC will work on it.

Cybernet PC's

[Schnapple]

This is interesting seeing as how for over a decade in PC Magazine (maybe in their last issue too, I don't have it handy) some company called Cybernet has been marketing "zero footprint" PC's in the classified ads in the back of the magazine.

Similar to the Craftmatic Adjustable Bed and most of the things Billy Mays pimps on television, it's one of those things I've seen advertised to death but I've never known anyone who has owned one, nor have I seen one in use, ever.

So given that this is not a new idea at all I'm curious to see how Asus will fare with this thing...

Re:Cybernet PC's

[sensei moreh]

I've been reading PC Mag since the early 80's. Not sure when those ads from Cybernet first started appearing, but I'd swear it was more than 20 years ago

Re:URRR DURRR It is touch screen.

[vertinox]

Says so in the first paragraph. So much for my laziness.

Hook up an external monitor and this thing is sweet.

Reminds me of a deck from Shadowrun.

work

[DaveGod]

If this thing can reasonably run XP and Excel, it would be ideal for me when visiting clients for work. I use Open Office personally but it's not an option at work.

I generally use laptops but they tend to either have unproductive small screens or be heavy. Or are particularly expensive and fragile.

Clients can often make a PC available, but then you have, for example:
- software availability/version compatibility
- hassle with logins
- the client's data privacy (they may have confidential data)
- my data privacy (other client's files on that USB stick plugged into the client's networked PC)
- no email
- risk of forgetting to copy the updated file back over to your USB stick

Being able to carry around a ultra light PC which I can simply connect to a monitor and power outlet would be ideal. I'd prefer if it could run from a power cable with batteries removed. Even better if there's an encryption chip so all the data can be safe with minimal performance hit.

However they'd need good keys, and to dump the touchscreen in favour of a numpad. It'd need to be cheap enough and have sufficient encryption that nobody would care even if it was left on a train.

Re:work

[petermgreen]

I would think if there was a monitor handy there would probablly also be a keyboard and mouse handy.

Given that how about something like the ASUS EEE box or the mac mini (depending on your budget and performance needs) and if some of your clients haven't moved into the world of USB get a USB to PS2 adaptor.

Re:work

[wikinerd]

it would be ideal for me when visiting clients for work.

Even better is a virtualised server accessible through the internet or vpn. In this way you can access your work and show it to your clients everywhere there is an internet connection.

Up to 3 hours!

[memco]

Wow, talk about amazing battery life. Currently, it gets one, and they hope to bump it to three! This thing would make a horrible keyboard, remote, etc. However, this could make a nice email checker (not sure for who though because my grandmother uses her computer constantly).

Surely it should be called...

[almost_lunchtime]

the EeeBoard ? I'll get my coat.

And it's still...

[Hurricane78]

... non-ergonomic.

I'm sorry, but we live in two-thousand-fuckin'-nine! Give me a real keyboard, or at least the closest affordable thing. (Now unfortunately defunct.):

'Nuff said...

Re:And it's still...

[kiwijapan]

You know, I've been using computer keyboards since the mid-1980's, starting with the Amstrad CPC 64 and I still get along fine typing using just one finger on each hand...

Mind not be as fast as you younguns, but I make way more typing mistakes.

strike three

[whohou]

'Dammit' is probably "so 1980s," too; - You should look it up or check it out just to be sure (and on the safe side.)

Little use coming out half-assed, after all.

Re:strike three

[Killjoy_NL]

Frak you ;)

I was there, too..

[itomato]

First Computer was the 99/4A. Horrible, flimsy keyboard. Not much fun when entering pages of BASIC. You could sense the disconnect between the elements of a key.

Second, the Apple II. Required much effort and concentration for an eight year-old to hit the keycaps effectively. Made it feel "serious".

Third, the Commodore 64. I would argue that this keyboard is one of the better models of our time. Larger, slightly more concave key surface made it easier to focus on the screen, or what C= key combo to hit.

For my money, the modern Apple Keyboard is the best overall combination of action (rivaling the Model M), tactile response, key spacing, and key surface area. The action so good, I put up with exchanging 'clear' for 'NumLock', and the overwhelming filth that milky-white plastic attracts.

The down side is that they have figured out how to make such an ethereal typing contraption, that it succumbs to the scars of regular use so completely, that they cannot endure an appreciable percentage of abuse that the early ADB Extended Keyboard, the Model M, or the NeXT Non-ADB keyboard can.

If you beef up this minimalist chassis by putting a logic board, battery, and storage inside, you almost have what those early machines were.

A few layers of plastics and metals is not enough. That's the problem with the 'Chiclet' keyboard design, and those of 'toy' computers like the Adam. They weren't and aren't meant for aggressive or long-term usage.

Yes !

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, same way as my desk supports my monitor

I'm waiting for the retro version

[recharged95]

Someone is going to take this device and retro fit it to a C64 cover/chassis. It will truly be killer.

acer one blew eepc away

[luther349]

the acer one is cheaper and more powerful then eepc. the eepc fad is over you can pick them up on ebay for next to nothing by buddy got one for 100$. the acer one is just the better machine. so why try to keep a dead fad going. acer is the top player now. ause needs to relese a eepc at the acer price and have the same or better specks.

Wow that's great but...

[Vexorian]

...will it still consume 10% of battery life per hour when turned off?

Hmnn on further look, the keyboard sucks great time. They replaced the eee's home icon with that biased windows key, guess they will put Linux on the fridge.

Re:Wow that's great but...

[Anne Honime]

This is hardly true now. My 701 used to suck his battery while off, but my new 900A (atom based) is completely cold when off. No drain anymore.

Silly.

[GiMP]

If this is cheap enough, I can see it being somewhat useful as a desktop computer. I can even see such a keyboard/computer being useful for a portable gaming rig if it had a faster processor and a decent video adapter. However, they instead seem to be marketing it for the HTPC market in which area I expect it to be an utter flop. My HTPC is great because I can throw my keyboard, replace the batteries once a year, etc. This unit will have to be charged daily, handled very carefully (don't have kids!) and otherwise be a nuisance in the living room.

Finally, I can see this also being a neat, useful item if it was a standard keyboard with the screen controlled by the host computer via a USB video adapter. Again, something this won't do but would make it a great and marketable product.

There are some great ideas and use-cases here, but they're picking all the wrong ones!

Way to cool.....

[Allnighterking]

I want .... really I do....

Wrist wreckers

[argent]

meaning you're basically not lifting your wrists and therefore completely cutting out the need for wrist rests.

Nobody needs wrist rests. Those things should be called "wrist wreckers".

You should NEVER rest your wrists on ANYTHING (a wrist rest, a tabletop, the forward part of your laptop, a folded newspaper or magazine, your bulging belly, or a dirty dishrag) while you are typing. If Apple keyboards are designed to be flat so you can use your tabletop as a "wrist rest", they're doubly damaging.

I have yet to see an actual ergonomic study that shows that Apple keyboards (or Vaio keyboards or this keyboard) is actually bad for you, in any way that any other keyboard is bad for you.

Studies? You can make studies say anything you want. I'm listening to the burning pain running from my elbow to my little finger, thanks.

Re:Wrist wreckers

[NekoXP]

> You should NEVER rest your wrists on ANYTHING

The idea is to keep your wrists straight - holding them like a hawk to type is bad. Wrist wrests are badly named - you should be resting the butt of your hand on them, not your wrist. Type with your fingers out, not bunched up.

> If Apple keyboards are designed to be flat

They're not - but they're on a flat base. Nearly all Apple keyboards have an ergonomic tilt, because of the USB ports on the back.

Compare standard keyboards which have those flimsy stilts on the back, where all the keys are progressively slightly "higher" than the last (because the keyboard is slanted forward yet the keys are perpendicular to the desk, at least on every keyboard I have here). This, in my experience, gives a very poor posture for typing and makes you continually flex your hand to move around keys. It's exactly this that is the cause of RSI.

Like I said, no studies have ever shown Apple keyboards or inset keys to be bad for you in any way. What I see a lot of, is whiners on Slashdot going on and on about how "terrible" these keyboards are for them.

If you're suffering from carpal tunnel you shouldn't be using any keyboard at all, and if you are, go get a wrist brace, it'll help. It's not the Apple keyboard burning it's hatred and bad vibes into your wrist.

Re:Wrist wreckers

[argent]

you should be resting the butt of your hand on them, not your wrist.

You shouldn't be resting any part of your hand on them. If you can't hold your hand level in the plane of the keyboard using your arm muscles, without straining them, you need to get more exercise. And no, you're not "still pumped from using the mouse".

If you're suffering from carpal tunnel [...]

No, I have ulnar nerve damage. There are many kinds of RSI, CTS is only one of them... and other forms of RSI are often misdiagnosed at CTS.

Getting old here

[SupremoMan]

I didn't even realize what they were talking about till I thought about it some more. Indeed my first computer, a Commodore 64, was like this, but only about 5x thicker :) Ahhh the good old days of cassette tapes. And of course the ease of copying software in the family stereo.

Themed peripherals you say?

[LoRdTAW]

As long as it comes with a cassette drive I am set.

Another User Interface Revolution

[crf00]

I can expect that once this eeeKeyboard comes out, it will bring one step closer to the touch screen interface for desktop computer.

With this small touch screen added to keyboard, an application may have another dimension of interface available to interact with user. By referring to iPhone, we can see that the potential is unlimited.

In the most basic form, the screen can default to be a numpad for normal usage. It may also become a touchpad when no mouse is available.

We can see this as a keyboard+iPhone to control the computer. I don't know if there is iPhone apps to act as interface to other computer, but eeeKeyboard is exactly a keyboard + iphone screen with this apps.

Genius

[YourExperiment]

Plug in a small box at the back of your TV, and connect to it wirelessly, and send the display signal over the airwaves

Alternatively, plug in a small box (called a "computer") at the back of your TV, then connect to it wirelessly (using a "wireless keyboard"). All the fun of the fair, without the useless 3 hour battery life.

No no no, build me one of these, please

[anyaristow]

Would someone please build me a keyboard with integrated track pad, like this: Vengeance Studio Keyboard

One step further...

[uncledrax]

One thing come to mind when looking at this sucker:

Prototype Cyber-deck

Now I need to get one, weather proof it alittle, set it up on a cowboy (neal?) sling, and get some display googles and I'm golden.

Re:Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fu

[andrewd18]

A remote control that you'd never lose!

Unfortunately, by turning it into a remote control, it inherits the traits of a remote control, and will be lost anyway.

Layouts, without the "ay"

[Merovign]

Just what the computer world needs - another keyboard layout.

Back in the old days, it was bad enough that PCs had one (and then two) layouts, and Apple another, and then the smaller makes... then some non-savant idiot came up with the L-shaped enter key and relocated the backslash, and now we have some insane number of keyboard layouts, like 20-30 last time I looked.

Especially when you move from one computer to another, it's just insane. I'm all for people "doing their own thing," but there are places for standards, and the interface is one of those places.

It's too late now, of course. But I went looking for an illuminated keybaord a while back and couldn't find a single one in the layout I'm used to - about 9 other layouts, of course.

At least with "separate box" PCs I can choose my keyboard. I prefer to leave the C64 as a "fond memory" instead of trying to go back to one.

There's even more up Asus's sleeve.

[walter_f]

Like the Eee D200, a nearly "all singin' all dancin'" new kind of multi-functional device:

ASUS' Eee D200 with touchscreen display sneaks out in Taiwan ... up to 2TB of RAID storage, 5-channel HD audio out, and slot loading DVD writer targeting the home network. The inclusion of an 802.11n access point...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/asus-eee-d200-with-touchscreen-display-sneaks-out-in-taiwan/

The Eee D200 might be presented at CeBIT in the first week of March, see the following article in german language:

Eee PC D200: Multifunktions-Nettop mit Touchscreen
http://www.einfach-eee.de/eee-pc-d200/eee-pc-d200-multifunktions-nettop-mit-touchscreen/

Re:Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fu

[Anonymous Coward]

If the TV implements it, theoretically, the wireless HDMI should be able to relay two-way remote control info. So even without an infrared port, it should work fine.

Funny

[gluliverk]

Funny hardware :)

re: the Eee Box

[ErkDemon]

Well, right now, I'm using it to read SlashDot. :)

I usually keep two main PC's hooked up to a KVM switcher - a slow (very quiet) one for email, webbrowsing, wordprocessing etc, and a more powerful (noisy) one for occasional more high-powered stuff like video editing and rendering. The more powerful one usually doesn't get allowed near the internet. My "quiet" machine used to be an old Sony laptop, half-opened and propped up like a letter "A", with external monitor and keyboard, but that's getting a bit iffy, so the EeeBox has replaced it.

Possible Eee Box criticisms:

• When you switch it to standby (e.g., when you want to call it a night and you have unsaved files and webpages open), its very bright blue power light flashes, which is a distraction if it's in a bedroom and you're trying to sleep. In those situations, I hang a sock over it.
• I'm not sure how much use the SplashTop thing is. I thought that it might be handy for adjusting XP's partition sizes, but the HD partitions are formatted as NTFS, which SplashTop doesn't read. So for the XP machine, Splashtop's file manager can access external media, but not the onboard HD unless you do some reformatting. Oh well, call it a security feature.
  I didn't realise that it had SplashTop 'til I took it out of the box, so I can't really complain. Maybe it's handy for Skype users.
• My main backup drives are Firewire, so it's a shame (for me) that the EeeBox doesn't have 1394, and that there's no obvious way to retrofit it. But I can still connect those drives on the other PC(s) and access them over the network.
• The supplied default formatting on mine was forty gig NTFS for the c: WinXP partition, about three gig for a hidden recovery partition, and the remaining ~110 gig as a single NTFS d: partition. I quickly replaced d:. I've seen one user complain that 40Gig is too small for a c: partition ... it suits me just fine, but I tend not to install many huge programs (no big games), and I like to keep my data files off c: anyway.

Those are about the only negatives I can think of. I haven't tried running HD video on it, and I haven't tried it with a digital USB TV stick, so I can't comment on how good it might (or might not) be for serious video. I also haven't played any serious games on it. I loved the fact that it came with the VESA bracket. Haven't used the supplied stand.

Some people might be disappointed that it has an HDMI socket rather than VGA - it comes with the required VGA adaptor, but this makes the resulting monitor cable assembly stick out further than you might expect, making the thing require more room than its dimensions suggest if you're using it with a VGA monitor. Not an issue for me (my "box" is bolted to the back of a 17" monitor), but might be a disappointment for someone wanting to sit it facing forwards on a narrow bookshelf.

Other than that it's difficult to fault. Mic input but no separate line input. Runs surprisingly cool, and is very quiet (so far). Every now and then it gives a little quiet sigh, and that's about all I hear from it. WiFi and LAN work fine. Graphics can rotate the screen into portrait mode, if you want to work on large single pages. The (mostly) convective cooling design expects the box to be mounted vertically, which probably limits some of the more creative mounting possibilities.

What I haven't yet gotten around to working out is (a) whether I can stop that dratted flashing LED in standby mode, and (b) why XP SP3's Task Manager shows two CPU graphs, side by side with slightly different activities, even though it's supposed to be a single-core machine.

So for me, no nasty surprises and a few nice ones (the VESA bracket is seriously heavy!). But a lot of people will be interested in how well it copes with more demanding "media centre" jobs (like displaying and transcoding incoming DTV signals live, to something like mpeg4), and I'm afraid I haven't tried anything like that on it yet.

Re: the Eee Box

[ErkDemon]

... oh, and obviously, because it has no optical drive of its own, many Eee Box users are going to need either an external USB drive, or access to their CD/DVD data over a network, or some sort of USB transfer medium. I installed a couple of apps from CDR by telling my (old, misbehaving) laptop to share its DVD drive over the network, and then using the laptop as a glorified external optical drive.

Programs often don't care too much where you install them from, but I guess there may be exceptions.