14 DAY TRIAL // We have already managed to get a few close-up shots at ASUS' RoG Crosshair IV motherboards, the company's Bamboo notebooks and even the possible introduction of an e-reader. Now, closing the circle is its latest all-in-one desktop computer concept, known as the EeeTop MUSE. This device is the representation of the hardware and PC maker's vision of an advanced desktop that fuses the convenience of AiO compactness with the versatility of an overclockable desktop.
MUSE stands for the four main features that the concept device integrates, namely multimedia (M), upgradeability (U), speed (S) and ease of use (E). Of course, all companies are striving to integrate convenience and aesthetics inside a machine, besides just raw performance, but ASUS seems to have also come up with a means of doing so while not making any compromises. Namely, the manufacturer intends to combine the latest Intel Core CPUs with a large, multitouch screen and Full HD media playback capabilities.
The M stands for multimedia, including not just Full HD but also 3D video playback. Such content will be displayed in rich images on the large, 23.6-inch multitouch screen. A Blu-ray disk player will act as the means to add new content, while sound capabilities will be provided by a home theater speaker system. Furthermore, the ASUS Splendid video intelligence technology will improve the overall multimedia experience.
Another feature of the EeeTop MUSE is the memory's upgradeability. Having the possibility to improve their system's memory capacity, end-users will be able to keep it in line with the needs of newer, more demanding video formats. To aid in this goal, ASUS will also build an overclocking feature into the device, which will boost the CPU's speed by 12% to 30%. Moreover, speed enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that the all-in-one will also come with USB 3.0, for high-speed storage.
Finally, for convenience, the EeeTop MUSE will have an ergonomic design and a VESA mount. Unfortunately, there is no knowing when, if ever, this product will make it to the market, or the kind of price it will bear. Live report by Traian Teglet from CeBIT 2010 in Hanover, Germany.