Taiwan's ASUSTek, one of the world's leading vendors of computer hardware and computer systems, is expected to introduce a new home server, dubbed TS Mini. The new solution will be designed to accommodate the storage and performance requirements of SOHO users. The drive combines a large-capacity hard drive with a power-efficient Intel processor to provide end-users with a fast and convenient way to backup data and personal files.

Although the unit is yet to get its formal introduction from the Taiwanese manufacturer, the TS Mini Home Server has been announced by Microsoft on one of its blog pages. According to the information provided by the software giant, the TS Mini will be powered by an Intel Atom processor, running at 1.66GHz and will operate on the Windows Home Server. The storage device is already available for pre-order in two models, featuring 500GB and 1TB of storage space.

Additional features of the sleek, black TS Mini include the 6 USB ports, coupled with an eSATA port, two options that enable consumers to increase the unit's total storage capacity, by adding other external storage devices. To further sweeten the offer, ASUS will also enable consumers to take advantage of the free, one-year subscription for 500GB of online storage, a feature that will automatically synchronize the files stored on the TS Mini with external drives. The device also comes with a real-time system monitoring tool, according to the aforementioned blog.

Price-wise, this solution is already available for pre-order through Amazon and Newegg, for a MSRP of US$349 and US$529, respectively. ASUS also claims that, in addition to all of the aforementioned features, the unit is certified as “Energy 5.0” Compliant and that it consumes an average of only 24.5W, making it an ideal choice for use around the house.