ASUS Preps Pair of EeeBox Nettops with USB 3.0

The past few months have seen the release of a significant number of new technologies, many of which are quite innovative and capable of significantly raising the standard of the IT industry as a whole.

Innovations consist of not just high-end graphics (DirectX 11), new processors (six-core CPUs) or markets (e-readers, tablets), but also of technologies that remove the limitations, which previously restricted the development of faster and more versatile devices. Obviously, the most representative of these are the SATA 6.0Gbps and the USB 3.0 interfaces, and ASUS is wasting no time implementing the latter in its nettop line.

Until recently, nettops did not have the same success as other devices, such as netbooks or e-readers, mainly because they have low performance capabilities and no portability, the only benefits being compactness and low price. By adding USB 3.0 functionality, however, such products would gain a significant performance and usability boost, increasing their appeal. This is most likely what ASUS is counting on now that it has reportedly listed the EeeBox PC EB1501U and EB1012U.

The new personal computers run on the power of the Intel Atom 330 dual-core central processing unit, which has a clock speed of 1.6 GHz. This processor is backed by 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive and a first-generation NVIDIA ION graphics. The PCs also feature multi card readers, D-Sub and HDMI outputs, Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11b/g/n WiFi.

What differentiates the two units is their weight and use of an optical device. The EB1501U boasts a slot-in DVD Writer and weighs 1.2kg, whereas the EB1012U comes without an optical unit, in return weighing only 1.1kg. Unfortunately, pricing and availability details are still unclear, but the two units should show up by April, at prices most likely lower than $500.