Asus Eee keyboard opens CES
Keyboard, display, PC, kitchen sink
CES Asus has kicked off this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with a sneak preview of the upcoming Eee keyboard-cum-PC, which features an integrated display.
Asus' Eee keyboard was spied at CES
Images courtesy of Gizmodo
Described as a fully functional PC with inset Qwerty key arrangement, the keyboard has a 5in touch screen that displays a suite of bespoke media controls or a Windows desktop, according to a report by Stuff.
The keyboard is powered by Intel’s Atom processor and incorporates a selection of USB and video ports around the back. it has solid state storage and, of course, Wi-Fi connectivity.
Ports-a-plenty
The device also features an Ultra-Wideband Wireless HDMI port, which could, theoretically, be used for streaming films from the keyboard to your HD TV.
The keyboard features a 5in touchscreen
An optical drive hasn’t been crammed into the keyboard, but Asus told press at the company's pre-CES conference that a range of themed peripherals will be launched following the keyboard’s official release.
The keyboard is still a prototype and so its battery only lasts for around 90 minutes, but Asus expects the keyboard to run for about three hours when it hits the shops.
And when can you expect to be able to buy this funky Asus Eee keyboard? September, apparently. A price hasn’t been confirmed yet. ®
COMMENTS
sidescreen
@lego
I saw a recent review (in PCPro IIRC) of a monitor with a small adjustable secondary "mini-me" panel peeking over it's shoulder for that purpose.
Chuffing daft idea
It's like having a small machine behind your screen and a wireless keyboard. Except:
1) It'll cook your legs and/or sound like a hair drier.
2) It'll suck all the wireless bandwidth in the area (I'll keep mine for networking, ta).
3) Its battery will go flat much faster.
4) It'll weigh much more.
5) It increases the likelihood of someone snooping your screen.
6) You don't get to choose your preferred style of keyboard.
7) It's size-limited when it comes to adding hardware.
If people really care so much about having a cable running from a computer to
their screen that they want to use wireless video, best of luck to them. I'd rather
stream everything that's *not* the high bandwidth uncompressed video signal.
Seconded about the projector, though.
perfect :)
just right for small offices or thin client applications... enough grunt for word, outlook and internet explorer, but no noise, no desk clutter and minimal wires...
i just hope the pricing is along the ethos of the eeeee range... if so, i can see myself replacing a few mid sized optiplexes :)
The missing bit
To get the tone back to a suitable level, where's the gorgeous model to hold the unit?
I guess none of them wanted to be in a photograph with a caption advertising a 5" display.
