Seems they missed a couple of tricks here, they could have made the unit detachable for nipping round your mates house, or even have a detachable netbook. But then I suppose you could just get a netbook and monitor, keyboard, etc....

Blimey I'm sure I can build a more capable machine than that for less. It may not be crammed into a pretty little box like that but to me this looks like a definite case of form over funtion....

is the comparison with a netbook completely fatuous?

"The biggest thing that sets it apart from a netbook, "

Is that it isn't one?

Am I over-estimating Reg readers in thinking that a quick look at the photo would be enough for them to conclude:

a) this ain't no netbook

b) it's unlikely to be a good substitute for one (hmmmm, thinks 'portability'?)

In fact, it seems to be called "a nettop".

More of the same:

"Compared to the Asus Eee Box - or indeed any netbook" I don't think Eee Box is a netbook - the Reg review refers to it as a "desktop mini PC"

"if portability isn't an issue it's the more sensible choice" Surely, buying a netbook when you don't need portability (or, in some cases, a very low price) is retarded?

I don't think Asus regard the their Eee range as exclusively comprised of netbooks - I mean, given the number of things they've slapped that moniker on, they can't really think that, can they?

More interesting and informative to compare it to other mini PC's/MacMini, maybe?

I've had one of these since January and it can play hi def videos (720p) just fine on my box. But I am also running Windows 7 beta so it might just be the codecs the reviewer used.

What is the point of this fugly PC ?

None of the advantages of a laptop

None of the advantages of a desktop

Put up with the loss of space and the wires and get a tower, that's my tip

My ideal "net-top" would be pretty much what the article describes, but with a slave USB and audio and video in ports. With a host on the USB, the machine would become a hub, serving the other five port + webcam. Then I could use the machine as any of:

A) standalone PC

B) docking station

C) terminal

I mean, think of the benefits to businesses.

You can split the office workforce into several general types of users:

1) administrators, secretaries, PAs.

Minimal IT requirements -- general office/desktop apps. Net-tops would be sufficient powerwise for them. (A)

2) specialists: eg designers, architects, engineer

Specialist processor-intensive software (eg AutoCAD) required. Perfect candidate for Citrix deployment. (C)

3) mobile workforce

Need laptops (B)

One fixed unit would provide a single hotdesk solution for all three.

'Tis the future, I tell thee.

The advantage of this over a desktop IS the lack of cables. Lots of families have a "Dinning Room" or "Kitchen Counter" PC for the kids to use where they can be properly supervised. Something that is damn-near cable free (I'd instantly replace the keyboard and mouse with a wireless combo that would also free up a USB port - leaving just the power cable) is a fantastic boon. At the moment, we have an old (as in 6.5 years) Dell laptop doing this job but the screen is very small and even lower than this would be. And Large-screened laptops cost a lot of money.

This is basically ideal for the school homework market.

I can't help but look at it and think of cheap, tacky, unreliable old Saisho products. Having seen one of these 'things' in the flesh, I can't understand why anyone would want it. It's been designed by the blind, for the blind

Saisho, for those who can't remember: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saisho

This (or something similar) is a candidate for replacing the old portable tv and dvd/cd player in my lounge. Using a laptop or big box desktop as a lounge tv & dvd/cd player replacement are not such appealing concepts, compared to a compact, capable and sleek(?) all-in-one such as this.

Imagine that. Someone with needs and wants different to yours. Try not to be so short sighted and presumptuous next time.

"Imagine that. Someone with needs and wants different to yours. Try not to be so short sighted and presumptuous next time."

you sir are correct

PERSONALLY I would never buy this for myself, but I can think of a couple of people I know that this setup would be ideal for. Even with the keyboard and mouse taking 2 USB ports up seeing to them all a computer does is load Ebay and Google and nothing else.