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Eee Keyboard Details Released
Details on the new Eee keyboard, previously held secret during the FCC filing, have now been made available. You can now take a look at the innards and a full spec sheet detailing exactly what is being promised. "Beneath the 5-inch, 800 x 480 pixel touch panel (with stylus) we'll be getting Windows XP Home running on an Intel Atom N270, 945GSE / ICH7-M chipset with Broadcom AV-VD905 video decoder, 1GB of DDR2 memory, either 16GB or 32GB of flash storage, 4-hour battery, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, HDMI and VGA outputs, integrated stereo speakers and mic, 3x USB, headphone and mic jacks, and external WiFi / UWB antenna. The Eee Keyboard's on-board Ultra-Wideband (UWB) throws 720p content to your TV within a 5-meter range (10-meters for non-video transmissions) via a UWB receiver packing 2x USB ports, another mini-USB port, audio out, and HDMI."
There will be no linux driver for it.
Just when you thought releasing another "Eee" branded product would be like flogging the skeleton of a dead horse
How hard would it be to build a cheaper version to teach kids programming?
Does this remind anyone of the Shadowrunner decks?
Maybe if I get this, Vuzix Wrap Eyewear, a neon green mohawk, and leather jacket I can start calling myself a "Decker" ;)
"I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
-Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
Thought the days of keyboard integrated computers were long gone, primarily because of how exposed the keyboard is.... But apparently some companies prefer to not learn these lessons. Who is the target market?
My very first computer was a TRS-80 Color Computer 2. It was basically a computer in a keyboard that I connected to the TV. Now, decades later, I will soon be able to buy a computer built into a keyboard that will display on my TV.
"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV)
Of course, if this can handle "HD" YouTube, Netflix streaming, and other online sources, it might actually be worth looking into as an alternative to building my own low-power box for the TV. At least worth keeping an eye open, I suppose.
Sorry, my creativity is running a little dry here. Why would I want this? Is the idea to keep this by the couch and use it as my living room computer, and run video off it to my TV wirelessly with UWB?
My very first computer was a TRS-80 Color Computer 2. It was basically a computer in a keyboard that I connected to the TV.
Presumably an SDTV, over RF or composite cable.
Now, decades later, I will soon be able to buy a computer built into a keyboard that will display on my TV.
Perhaps your TV is an HDTV and will work with one of the video outputs (VGA, HDMI) on the computer. But a lot of the U.S. market still uses SDTV, and in order to connect the VGA output to an SDTV, you need a special $40 cable that I don't think is included.
So, if it's not sending a video signal, I presume that I'm getting audio only? And this would be useful how...
Okay, I just RTFA. Unlike the "cool" option of actually transmitting low power ATSC on an (unused) channel, which would make this potentially useful, it requires a hardwired dongle (UWB receiver) at any TV you want to connect. So the "any TV" just turned into "any TV you decide you want to buy a dongle for and manually wire up to receive the proprietary signal." An, of course, that's where the 10m comes in, since the UWB receiver has USB ports on it (for those who are cool enough to have one of these, and so antiquated that the have a wired printer).
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
Just the other day there was a story about how MS was refusing to patch a vulnerability in XP's ssh implementation (ISTR it was particularly bad for paypal users). Plus we've all heard the crowing about 7 being good to go on netbooks (though as someone who's been testing the RC for work, I do find that one a bit hard to believe -- it's still bloaty and takes more resources than the average netbook can provide). Yet MS is going to continue to push XP for the EEE? I'm confused... Is this their acknowledgement that win7 is not fit for netbooks? Then shouldn't they be patching the problems in XP, if they're going to keep pushing it?
Caveat Utilitor
WHY ARE WE STILL USING KEYBOARDS?!! die die die die die death to all keyboards!
No one escapes the commodore amiga/64/128 form factor all in one.
No one.
meh
The computer should just be a small non-descript box in the entertainment center rack. The keyboard/touchpad should operate without cables, on commodity AA rechargeable batteries. I know this thing has some wireless capabilities but the ports on there are pretty useless to me. Put the expensive stuff in the rack, and let me have a cheap disposable keyboard/pointer on the table where it's likely to have beer or coffee spilled on it from guests.
I don't know about you, but my HTPC's wireless keyboard gets beat around and dropped quite a bit. I wouldn't want to subject an HDD to that.
My personal feelings... I question the usefulness of this over a dedicated Ion box with a wireless keyboard.
they should have called it the KeeeyPC
--
How is this different from WebTV?
holy cow, they still need a fan on those things? Can't wait to hear these things rattling around after a couple of years when the bearings start going out. They should release an ARM version IMO.
LoB
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
Dude, if this keeps up, screens will soon have the height and width ratios of freakin' banner ads.
Just saying.
I'm not really a web designer, I just play one on the Internet.
I'm back in the 80's!!!
http://www.geekwithlaptop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/radio-shack-trs-80-model-100-mobile-computer.jpg
http://www.phys.uwosh.edu/mike/calcs/pc1.html
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Sharp-PC1500-IMG_0306.JPG
All they need with that thing is a thermal printer and someone with frizzy hair!
~~ Behold the flying cow with a rail gun! ~~
This is built for people who are right handed. That vast majority of people that matter to me are left-handed.
Any chance there will be a version sold at the Leftorium?
... does it run Linux?
I like the idea of the keyboard only form factor PC like 80's boxes wired to TVs, but do you think they could do the Amiga like thing and put in a 1GB kick butt graphics card into it... :-)
This is my sig.
I always wanted an IBM PCjr. keyboard with a touchscreen and a way to hook it up to your TV.
I mean, I know the 80's retro look is in, but do they have to bring back all the crappy stuff from the 80's too?
This sentence no verb.
I was excited until I read Windows XP Home.
Look, I know a bunch of people run Windows. But on an Atom CPU, 1GB memory, 16GB (smallest) flash drive, I just don't see Windows being that great. I'm sure Windows will run, but how well?
Ah well, I suppose I can easily wipe this and put Fedora on it ... I just wish Eee put a Linux option on more of their gear, installed out-of-the-box. Even if I wipe whatever Linux they give me and put another distro on it, I'd love to send a message by buying the Linux option.
To compare, I'm running an older Dell subnotebook with 1GB memory, booting Fedora 11 from an 8GB consumer flash drive. Works great, very fast!
It's a netbook that has to be plugged in. Atom NT270 + Intel 945G Maybe the broadcom chip helps things along, but the specs seem a bit underwhelming. Does it struggle to maintain framerate at 720p?
Compared to some of the PDAs I have owned over the years, this is pretty darn competitive.
My Zaurus (5500) runs linux, and has a tiny but workable keyboard, but battery life sucks at just over an hour.
My Sony Clie had better battery life, and a funky keyboard, but was PALM OS, and had SONY own design for connectors.
My Windows CE PDA taught me that 'just cause it uses the word "Windows" does not mean it works that same or runs anything you have'.
So this has a good keyboard (not just for thumbs!), runs a real version of Windows. Has a touch screen. Even has connectors you can plug things into you might actually want to anyway. Has 4 hours battery life (umm.. maybe), and can work with your TV.
This is like the PDA dream come true.
Heck, they haven't been 'pocket sized' for quite some time. So this ones a little bigger. So?
Hmmm.. If you can convince your library to setup some wireless HDMI TVs, then all they need is the WIFI network (they probably already setup) and you can bring your own computer!
Who needs laptops now? :-)
Also Hmmm... Who will write the first USB slave app that turns this into a real keyboard (HID device) for another computer and lets you do two things at once like a KVM does?
They want their PC back. If only it would play Summer Games.
When you have toy like this or somesuch, then you do not need a regular screen. A screenless laptop plus wearable display seems to me a nice solution for mobile computing. Of course the laptop should have a battery life of 8h then. Which should actually be easy, because I would expect those display goggles to use less power than a regular screen.
As a side note: for tall people like me this would be kind of ideal for computing in an airplane. Unless I'm in an exit row or bulk head seat there is no way I can see my regular laptop screen. With display goggles that problem is completely solved.
Windows is the easy option BUT MS puts all sorts of restrictions on it, it is the reason Intel is pushing Moblin, so that powerfull netbooks can be made without the cost of Vista/7
The incentive is that 90% (statistic pulled out of my ass) of the customers just want something they are familiar with.
A shop isn't going to stock 1 linux netbook for 9 windows netbooks, unsure of wether it will ever sell it. It is just simpler to ship 100% windows boxes knowing that large group of Linux fans will simply wipe windows because they are used to it.
We can only hope that MS shoots itself in the foot with its insane restrictions on netbooks forcing manufacturers that want to push the envolope to either pay the premium for Vista/7 or be out performed by companies that do dare to go linux.
Google linux netbooks, those companies are out there. The few and the brave. Buy from them, it is a called voting with your dollars.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Mac mini, bluetooth keyboard and mouse. It is small, doesn't look ugly under your TV, has a super quiet fan, and you can get plenty of video adapters for whatever TV you have. It also has a DVD drive, so you can toss your DVD player. You can even get an EyeTV USB-stick add-on for DVR capability and export capability to your iPod/PMP. If you really want, you can even run a long USB extension cable to your couch so you can plug in a joystick and play video games. Likewise, you can also set it up as a home media server and/or remote access gateway when you're out and about.
Basically, you can do just about anything with one box.
... for the follow-on version with improved artificial intelligence; the AIeee!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882339047
And it's only that high because I'm too lazy to look at other sources.
Can you be Even More Awesome?!
I AM a naturally-bred man-bear-pig, you insensitive clod! Reset your scale to a measurement more appropriate!
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go feed my mother..
Here's to hot beer, cold women, and Glaswegian kisses for all.
The AUD-2350 cable is called a "dumb cable". It does no scan conversion; instead, it's for those few video chipsets that can already output composite or S-Video over the VGA connector. (The reviews at the right side of the page on NewEgg show that not all video chipsets can do this.) Until people actually buy this Eee Keyboard and see whether its video chipset supports the cable, I'd recommend the Sewell scan converter for someone who wants a cable that Just Works.
Well.. is obvious that will continue pushing XP, since you can't fit Windows 7 in a netbook with 2GB of RAM. Once netbooks get powerfull and cheap enough to have 4GB and a +2GHz CPU, then will stop pushing XP, let it die, and push very hard Windows 7.
I have a eepc 701, and I am very happy with my eebuntu. I have tried Windows 7 in my desktop computer trough vmware, and W7 is garbage. Also, my eepc has 4 GB of disk. I don't see how Windows 7 would install on my netbook at all, since seems Windows 7 OS takes 10GB of the hard disk.
-Woof woof woof!
And I want a 20 pounds keyboard running an 8 year old windos version for what, exactly? So I can watch YouTube on a tiny, cheap screen instead of a good display?
I dig an OLED keyboard with software-reprogrammable keys. Cool thing - switching to a foreign language or Dvorak in software.
But a screen in the keyboard just eludes me. Why would I want to look at the keyboard - again, after spending a few years learning to touch-type?
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
So we are back in those times where the computer was the keyboard, or the keyboard was the computer? And we can look at it on the TV. I miss my 12'' Junosty brand russian B&W set I used with my ZX Spectrum and Commodore later on.
There was a break-in a few years ago in a Hungarian computer lab, and the geniuses thought they were in that era by the way. So they stole all the computers ... well, that is what they thought while taking all the keyboards instead..
I may just have found you a buddy
This post contains no rudeness or derision of any kind. All arguments are friendly. Terms and exclusions may apply.
Why, with all that space in the keyboard, do they need a huge wireless antennae adapter to hang out and get broken...
Can I use this as a keyboard?
It would be an awesome input device, I could use the little screen as a tray or notifier or task switcher or extended clipboard or whatever, for the purpose of controlling a *real* computer.
Somehow I suspect I'd have to hack some kind of VNC or whatever in there instead of the simple expedient of plugging it into a USB port to get the actual keyboard part.
I think my blind geek friend would dig this. I've seen him several times on his laptop, with his screen completely blank, except for backlight, and I'm thinking, if they only made laptops without screens, you could totally save on weight and power. But, I thought, there's no market for blind people, so nobody's going to make a laptop without a screen. Well, this has a small screen, but it still has me excited. Too bad it uses Windows, but he can always install gentoo.
The Atari 800XL/130XE
The Atari ST
The Amiga 500
The Commodore 64/128
The Spectrum
etc....etc....
I actually kinda miss that sort of compact form factor for computers with everything integrated under the keyboard. It really does make good sense for a machine designed to be unexpandable. If this takes off I'm going to kick myself for not trying to market my similar hack with a mini-ITX board (no LCD however).
If it's cheap enough, I'd buy one. My kids would love it.
"I'm baaaaack!!"
The old computer-in-keyboard idea that Commodore, Atari, Tandy etc had was a pretty good one. Glad to see a return.
This is just an evil ploy to sell you a keyboard which doesn't work with the computer *you* want to be able to plug it into.
Don't buy from Logitech:
http://www.bbb.org/greater-san-francisco/business-reviews/internet-shopping/spotlife-in-fremont-ca-71823