Reviews - ASUS Eee Top ET1602: a glimpse of computers to come?

[HEXUS]

Netbooks have quickly become all the rage, so how about nettops? We take a look at the ASUS Eee Top.

Read more.

[Funkstar]

It's a shame you cannot remove the stand and attach a VESA monitor mount. Several people on the SlimDevices forums have been speculating at the use of these as a large wall mounted controller for their SqueezeBoxes.

[scaryjim]

I have to admit I spent most of the review thinking "I do hope you put Windows 7 on this to see if that gives a better experience" - pleased to hear that you did, and I look forward to reading that article

[digit]

It's a shame you cannot remove the stand and attach a VESA monitor mount. Several people on the SlimDevices forums have been speculating at the use of these as a large wall mounted controller for their SqueezeBoxes.

Would it not be cheaper to simply DIY for a net top? Old monitor, atom mobo and ITX case + bit of duck tape = sorted. I think you can get overlays that could provide the touch element as well?

[Funkstar]

Would it not be cheaper to simply DIY for a net top? Old monitor, atom mobo and ITX case + bit of duck tape = sorted. I think you can get overlays that could provide the touch element as well?

Perhaps. But then it's cheaper to build a regular PC than it is to buy a Thecus N5200Pro as a NAS/Server, and I bought two of them.

Sometimes a cheaper DIY solution (especially one that involves duct tape) is not the best way to do things.

As Parm said, it is a nice looking system.

[scaryjim]

Sometimes a cheaper DIY solution (especially one that involves duct tape) is not the best way to do things.

Not to mention that a touchscreen monitor on it's own costs over £300.

Although, out of interest, I did spec up a mini-itx box for comparison, and managed to put together a netbox with 1GB DDR2, 160GB hard drive, dual-core Atom 330 and a DVD-RW for £185. So you can't quite build a netbox and plug it into a 15" touchscreen cheaper, but it's definitely a viable alternative if you like the functionality but aren't too fussed about the all-in-one-ness

[nichomach]

FWIW, PC Pro have just reviewed THIS, and concluded that it spanked the Eee alternative.

[scaryjim]

FWIW, PC Pro have just reviewed THIS, and concluded that it spanked the Eee alternative.

Although it's probably worth nothing

It lacks the touchscreen of the Eee Top, but in most other areas it bests it

So, no touch screen, and it only bests it in most other areas. Plus, it's a box with a monitor attached on an arm, whereas the 'top is built into the monitor housing, so it's not even really an equivalent.

In fact, it's much closer to building your own mini-itx box then gaffer-taping a monitor to it, which I think we'd alredy concluded wasn't a good idea

[nichomach]

That's overstating the case a LOT, unless you conclude that most TFT monitor arms are the equivalent of gaffa tape... Seriously, though, if you want a touchscreen, then of course you get the Eee, but if you don't and actually want an all-in-one with a much better screen, and one that's got some ergonomic adjustment built in, you get the Advent.

[scaryjim]

That's overstating the case a LOT, unless you conclude that most TFT monitor arms are the equivalent of gaffa tape...

That I'll give you - I was dealing in hyperbole On the other hand, the Advent doesn't look particularly "carryable" (unlike the top), and I don't see any great advantage in it vs. a (cheaper) SFF desktop + monitor...

Seriously, though, if you want a touchscreen, then of course you get the Eee, but if you don't and actually want an all-in-one with a much better screen, and one that's got some ergonomic adjustment built in, you get the Advent.

Exactly; the touchscreen is the big differentiating point of the top. So comparing it to a non-touchscreen all-in-one seems moderately futile to me, as it's not aimed at the same market...

[maxwilson]

The Product-key on the COA label is visible. When you click for a larger image you cans see it clearly

[Pob255]

Only just seen this, shame about the no VESA monitor mount otherwise it would be perfect for work.
We been asked to look at a small touch screen system that would sit on the wall in reciption and run an interactive prospectus & copy of the website.

I do like the small size, it would near enough be possible to just sit in in your lap like a cheap tablet laptop (although still needs to be pluged in)

The review says it lacks the touchscreen fuctionality of xp tablet edition, could that be fixed by installing xp tablet edition?

[matty-hodgson]

Only just seen this, shame about the no VESA monitor mount otherwise it would be perfect for work.
We been asked to look at a small touch screen system that would sit on the wall in reciption and run an interactive prospectus & copy of the website.

I do like the small size, it would near enough be possible to just sit in in your lap like a cheap tablet laptop (although still needs to be pluged in)

The review says it lacks the touchscreen fuctionality of xp tablet edition, could that be fixed by installing xp tablet edition?

+

[Pob255]

good one however

+

=




On the Plus side apparently Asus also sell a VESA bracket, although it's a bit cheaky you have to buy a seperate bracket to make it VESA compliant.

[l33t-krew]

looking nice.

After my last "diy" project, i wont be doing anymore