Asus intros £449 all-in-one desktop Eee

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

3rd November 2008 14:58 GMT

Asus unveiled its touchscreen desktop Eee PC, the Top 1602, late last week, touting the all-in-one box's "powerful multimedia capabilities".

What, with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor and the chip giant's GMA 950 integrated graphics on board? "I think you overestimate their chances."

Asus' Eee Top: slimline media centre, anyone?

Still, that hasn't stopped Asus build some decent speakerage - Denon 4W stereo boys, according to the pictures - under the 15.6in, 16:10-ratio display. Asus didn't specify the Top's display resolution - we hope it's not the Small, Cheap Computer-standard 1024 x 600. The sound sub-system is an SRS Premium.

Other specs include Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11n Wi-Fi for networking; a 160GB, 5400rpm 3Gb/s SATA hard drive and SDHC card reader for storage; two USB 2.0 ports; and 5.1-channel output through the re-configurable audio jacks.

Topping

To make use of the display's touch-sensitivity, Asus is bundling SoftStylus for on-screen finger-writing. It's also including a touch-controlled version of Opera, and Eee Cinema, its version of Microsoft Media Center. Speaking of MS, the Top 1602 comes with Windows XP. There's no word yet on a Linux version.

However, Linux is includeded, by way of SplashBox's ExpressGate quick-start mini OS, which gives you access to the net after 12 seconds or so.

Available shortly, the Eee Top 1602 will cost £449.

Asus Eee Box desktop PC review