Eee-Box: Mini Desktop Doubles RAM in its Linux Version

Sep 23, 2008

Eee manufacturer Asus has expanded its sub-notebook series with a desktop version. The Eee Box with the Intel Atom processor is available in Linux and Windows XP.

The enclosure, at 8.5" x 7" x 1", is reminiscent of a thin client; Asus calls its mini desktop a "one-liter device."

The Eee Box B202, with an Intel Atom N270 CPU at 1.6 GHz, is available at around $300 for the Windows XP version with 1 GByte RAM and an 80-Gbyte hard drive. The Linux/Easy OS version, for about the same price, has twice the power at 2 Gbyte RAM and a 160-Gbyte drive.

The box weighs 6.6 lbs, comes in black or white, and can be placed on a small stand or tucked behind the monitor. An Intel 945GSE graphics chipset is inside. The device is specified to emit no more than 26 db and comes with 65-Watt power adapter.

Eee Box B202
Eee Box B202 -- extra RAM for Linux users.

Networking is over WLAN 802.11b/g/n and Gigabit Ethernet. Front ports include two USBs and a card reader for countless external formats. Rear ports include a digital video interface, analog and S/PIDF audio line-out, and another two USBs. Keyboard and mouse are optional.

The device is available since July in the US, the European market has to wait until October.

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Comments

  • Not wholly true

    160GB Hard Drive Installed - yes. 2GB RAM Installed - No

    Maybe you strictly-Linux users have to wait longer.

  • Not a rumour

    Available at various places on-line, e.g.:

    http://www.valleyseek.com/product.action?itemID=121612
    http://www.lagoom.com/ASUS_...-E0002/partinfo-id-584843.html
    http://www.newegg.com/Produ...us+eee+box+linux&x=&y=

  • asus eee box

    Don't know where you got this info, but Aus shows no such product on their web site nor do any of the retailers shown on the Asus site have this product. Looks like just another rumor.

  • Where to get it

    We can not recommend a store, but I'd try the ASUS-website and pick a store:
    http://usa.asus.com/wheretobuy.aspx
    For UK:
    http://uk.asus.com/products...;modelmenu=0&share=txt/256

    If the stores offer only the Windows version, I'd get on their nerves and ask for the Linux version. That's one way to get Linux into their minds, so they'll realize that there are people out there who'd like to have choice.

  • Hiding the price of the OS

    Here we go again. ASUS could cut their inventory of parts, streamlining operations, by using the same configuration for XP as GNU/Linux but they went out of their way to help their buddy hide the price of the OS.

  • Where can you buy a linux version???

    I would seriously consider buying the device, but after all my searches, the less equipped xp version it the only one for sale. Gimme a link to someone who actually shows and sells (in the US) the linux version.
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