Eee Box leak: "finally" a Mac mini rival
updated 03:55 pm EDT, Fri May 30, 2008
ASUS Eee Box Leak
ASUS' Eee Box (alternately labeled the EBOX) is the first system to truly meet the design standards of the Mac mini, Anandtech claims after receiving a sample of the desktop ahead of its projected June 3rd unveiling date. The site confirms that the system uses a 1.6GHz Atom and that this is instrumental to a small design: while helped by the lack of an optical drive, the size and cool nature of the Intel chip shrink the Eee Box to a size "quite similar" to the Apple TV while still serving as a full computer, according to the report.
"Ever since the release of the Mac mini I've yet to see a PC maker really come close to introducing a competitor," says Anand Lal Shimpi. "But ASUS has finally done it with this thing."
The mini computer is also characterized as having a similar level of connectivity with 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and gigabit Ethernet. In contrast to the Mac, however, the Eee Box will have a near-instant pre-boot environment: the Linux-based ExpressGate from some other ASUS mainboards will let users browse photos or the web, make Skype calls, and handle instant messages through Pidgin without starting up into the full desktop operating system.
Early testing also shows the Atom to be surprisingly quick given its low-end focus, with the inexpensive chip still capable of playing 720p HD video in H.264 and higher for less intensive formats like DivX.
ASUS outfits the Eee Box with 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and DVI out. The price and release date are still unavailable despite the leak, though the site notes that there will be three different trim levels in black and white colors. Most observers now plan for a sub-$300 starting price tag.
Listen closely!
05/30, 04:21pm (1 reply) reply
If it doesn't run Mac OS X, it's not a Mac "rival," "killer," etc. Having a case that looks kinda, sorta like a Mac isn't what it's about. The same applies to the iPhone and iPod.
jimothy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2000
No Optical Drive?
05/30, 04:38pm (1 reply) reply
Apple's MacBook Air has a solution for loading data and applications from a disc despite the lack of an optical drive.
What is the solution for this POS? Does Linux support this? Will this?
Smell you later Eee Box or EBOX... choose one name only... stop confuing people.
jhawk95
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2006
wow
05/30, 05:26pm (2 replies) reply
man, you guys are childish...
theiliad
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Apr 2001
Dear oh dear
05/30, 05:50pm reply
you sound scared or something. Checked out Ubuntu lately?
Me, I'm thinking, ooh, mythbuntu. :-) Or at least a cheap and chearful ubuntu box, and that can be real pretty these days. Seriously, I am thinking it, and I'm a proud and happy owner of two new-ish macs...
(I really hate it when I accurately type in the captcha and it says i didn't...)
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
yes, it can run mac os
05/31, 12:42pm reply
The EeePC (I have one) is capable of running Mac OS X, thanks to OSX86. This is important to me, as I cannot justify spending the $ for Apple's hardware anymore and this machine would fit my price range and connect to my HD TV with the DVI cable.
Design wise, it is the only competitor. When comparing computers the OS is rarely a factor, it is hardware and design of the hardware. This is the first mini PC to come out that is actually on-par with the design of the Mac Mini.
You people who seem to think that anything that Apple didnt slap their logo on is junk, are the same morons who give me $70 an hour to fix your broken Mac.
Ubuntu is nice, but really look at gOS Spaces (thinkgos.com), which will make ANY Mac user think twice about badmouthing Linux since it practically duplicated the OS X look and feel (in fact the icon designer was one who worked for Apple back during the OS X dev days).
Apple and its users are quickly becoming very Microsoft like. I am glad to be a part of the real open source community (Linux).
ibugv4
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2003
Wha -- ?
05/31, 04:48pm reply
I thought the MacBook Air haters had taught me that no optical drive = completely unusable computer! Now I'm all confused ...
You people flip-flop more than John McCain. Lower the price enough and you'll accept a computer made of rock that runs the Flintstone OS. Feh.
chas_m
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Wow
06/02, 12:32pm reply
It only took 4 years to copy the mini! What will they do next? Tune back in three years (their copying process is probably going to get incrementally better).
loudpedal
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 1999
Asushipnotized man
06/02, 12:56pm reply
I want it, NOW!
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
Not a MacMini Threat
06/02, 09:44pm (1 reply) reply
Nope, this isn't a direct competitor to the MacMini. It is much closer to a competitor to the AppleTV. I would seriously consider buying this to run XBMC. I have tons of videos in DivX and other common formats not supported by AppleTV.
Even so, I think that most potential AppleTV users would stick to AppleTV for simplicity. Also, AppleTV is not a money maker for Apple anyway.
Salsa
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2003