The Portable Desktop

As you all know, I'm a big fan of the Asus Eee PC Mobile Internet Device (MID). I regularly use one of the (already-obsolete) original 700-series models, and, while I do plan to replace it shortly with a MID with a larger screen, I don't have any real complaints about the Eee. It's been usable, reliable, and functional enough to replace a traditional notebook when I travel.

So Asus is now shipping the Eee Box, which is basically the guts of one of their newer Atom-based MIDs packaged as a tiny desktop replacement. It's small enough to travel with, and one might think of it as a relocateble desktop PC perfect for some field applications. I'm not using that way (yet), but so far I'm impressed and very pleased with the Eee Box.

Apart from being tiny, and thus allowing placement almost anywhere, the Eee Box features a DVI connector (with included VGA adapter), a gig of RAM, an 80 GB hard drive, and a VESA mount for a monitor to get that thin-client look. A good-quality keyboard and mouse are included, as are a backup DVD and a restore image on a hidden partition, although an optical drive is not. But who cares? Get an external USB DVD and move it from machine to machine. Installation is quick and easy, and there's also an "Express Gate" function that allows quick access to a browser, Skype, and other functions only seconds after power-on. The model I bought runs XP Home; I got this version because LINUX is not yet available, and because I could run SlingPlayer (a primary media function here) without futzing with WINE. And all of this in a package consuming about 20 Watts for around US$350!

We've of course been hearing for some time that the laptop (as the Transportation Security Administration still calls them) will replace desktops for most users, and that's clearly the case. But there are many apps where desktops still make sense. Some folks need expansion slots, although I think these are largely doomed and will be limited to USB 3.0 in a few years. And some are just looking for décor-friendly, media-centric PCs for use in home theaters and similar environments. I have my Eee Box installed in Farpoint Group's Wireless Media Facility, where we test all things wireless and media. I've installed SlingPlayer 1.5 on it, and this app runs perfectly over the Eee Box's built-in .11n link. Some test results that I've seen show the Eee Box to be slower than other desktops, but it should be plenty fast for most typical apps. And while it wouldn't be my first choice for media creation, it should be fine for playback. Again, keep in mind the Eee Box consumes only 20 Watts, which is (a) really astonishing and (b) clearly good for the planet.

The laptop is indeed the future of the desktop, right down to its guts.