ASUS’ Eee Box was out in America a few months back, and now the company is already pushing out a pair of successors. Both the Eee Box B204 and B206 retain the same overall design and processor (1.6GHz Intel Atom N270), but you will find a 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3400 GPU to complement the 1GB of RAM, 160GB SATA II hard drive, multicard reader, 802.11n WiFi, Windows XP Home, 10GB of online Eee Storage, gigabit Ethernet, four USB 2.0 ports, DVI connector and the freshly added HDMI socket. The B204 trumps the B206 (weird, right?) with the inclusion of Bluetooth and a built-in battery that acts as a UPS in case of power failure. We’ve already seen just how decently the B202 could handle 1080p playback; it’s just that much easier with a dedicated HDMI port. As is par for the course with ASUS, there’s no word regarding price and availability.
Asus Box’s Eee B204/b206 features:
- Operating system : Microsoft Windows XP home
- CPU: 1,6- GHz Intel atom Of n270
- Video : ATI radeon HD 3400, 256 MB. Sound: Realtek ALC662 azalia
- Memory: DDR2 SO-DIMM, 1 GB
- HDD: SATA II, 160 GB + 10 GB eee storage
- Card reader : SD/SDHC/MS/MS pro/MMC
- Support bluetooth: yes/no
- Network: 802.11n + LAN 10/100/1000 Mbit/s
- USB: USB 2.0 x 4
- HDMI x1/DVI- D/S/PDIF
- Energy consumption: 36 W
- Noise Level : 26 DBA
Press Release:
ASUS Introduces World’s Smallest Desktop PCs with HD Capability :
ASUS today unveiled HD versions of its popular Eee Box—a tiny 1L-sized desktop PC—that it launched in June 2008. With the new Eee Box B204 and B206, users will be able to enjoy viewing hardware-accelerated HD content on LCD TVs, monitors and projectors via an HDMI output—making them ideal for families seeking a simple, space-saving home entertainment solution. The Eee Box B204 and B206 are also preinstalled with Eee Cinema, a full-featured media player that enables users to play high definition content easily. Eee Cinema offers superior format compatibility and extensive media library management options. To help users navigate Eee Cinema’s comprehensive features speedily, both the Eee Box B204 and B206 come with a convenient remote control.
Built-in Video Decoder for High Definition Entertainment
The Eee Box B204 and B206 deliver crisp and fluid high definition pictures straight out of the box. They are equipped with a discrete graphics card that features a high definition hardware video decoder, vastly improving the quality of video and freeing the Eee Box’s processor to tackle other tasks. Ensuring quick and hassle-free connectivity to LCD TVs, monitors, projectors and home theater receivers is an easily-accessible HDMI output on the Eee Box B204 and B206’s rear I/O panel.
Exclusive Remote Control for Easy and Convenient Media Playback
The Eee Box B204 and B206 come with an exclusive remote control that enables users to easily browse, manage and play their media from a distance. The remote control works seamlessly with Eee Cinema, a user-friendly, all-in-one media player that supports all popular music, video and photo formats—transforming the Eee Box B204 and B206 into complete digital home entertainment centers.
The Smallest PCs in the World
A mere 1L in size, the Eee Box B204 and B206 are delightfully sleek. They are as slim as paperback novels, allowing users to reclaim the desk space previously lost to bulkier, more intrusive desktop systems. If necessary, the Eee Box B204 and B206 can even be placed in such a way that does not require an inch of desktop space—they can be mounted to any VESA75/VESA100 LCD display. Given how small and light they are, the Eee Box B204 and B206 can be ported around the house effortlessly, allowing users to enjoy high definition entertainment in whichever room they desire.
Annual Savings of US$156* from Reduced Power Consumption
The Eee Box B204 and B206 are designed and manufactured according to stringent Green ASUS guidelines. They are made with earth-friendly materials and fully comply with RoHS and WEEE. The Eee Box B204 and B206 also consume only around 20 watts of power, reducing the user’s carbon footprint by up to 90% as compared to full-sized desktop PCs**. Eee Box B204 and B206 users will benefit on the monetary front as well; those who leave their computers on 24 hours a day stand to save approximately US$156 a year*.
Packed with Uncompromising Features
Belying their small size, the Eee Box B204 and B206 are packed with a wealth of outstanding features. They support the latest Wi-Fi 802.11n wireless standard, providing up to eight times faster speeds than the previous 802.11b/g wireless standard. In addition, the Eee Box B204 features Bluetooth® for quick and hassle-free connectivity to other Bluetooth® devices. Both models also come with 10GB of online Eee Storage, allowing users to access their documents and media no matter where they are. Furthermore, they feature an exclusive Easy Mode within Windows® that provides users with convenient access to commonly-used applications via an incredibly intuitive interface. Adding to their ease of use is Eee Bar, a fully-configurable application bar on the Windows® desktop that allows users to launch programs with a click.
Another innovation present in the Eee Box B204 and B206 is ASUS Tranquiller Technology that integrates an optimized system air flow design, intelligent fan speed control and a unique heat dissipation material in order to allow them to operate coolly at an extremely quiet 26 dB*** for comfortable home computing. Moreover, the Eee Box B204 has a built-in battery that performs an Uninterruptible Power Supply (U.P.S.) function, enabling it to stay running for a period of time when main power is lost.
* According to www.taipower.com.tw. Actual savings will differ from region to region.
** Full-sized desktop PCs consume approximately 200W ~ 300W of power.
*** In idle mode. As a point of reference, the Eee Box B204 and B206 run at 26dB, virtually as quiet as unoccupied broadcast studios (20dB).