New Asus Eee Keyboard

[heil]

The new upcoming keyboard by Asus is based on a pretty cool idea. Check out the video below (its a demonstration though background explanation is in mandarin)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbavA6DWEp8

"Engadget Chinese got some footage of the Eee Keyboard in action, and judging from the video, the touchscreen-endowed keyboard looks like it has some promise. The secret behind its mojo? It runs a standalone version of Windows XP.

The keyboard houses an entire Atom chipset inside its body which is separate from the touchpanel. But the touchpanel also uses the XP power to run Skype and MSN and serve as a media remote, among other things. Engadget Chinese said it worked pretty well, and if the video is any indication, the 5-inch, 800x480 screen uses a capacitive panel. The keyboard is rumored to launch sometime in June, in either wired or wireless-UWB models, but little is known beyond that."

[Source: http://gizmodo.com/5279630/asus-eee-keyboard-with-pc-and-touchscreen-caught-looking-great-on-video?autoplay=true ]

For a more hands-on review on the keyboard check out the article below:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/677

[chimera15]

Pretty awesome.  More use than a number pad. lol  The question is does it cost more than my computer though. lol

[huha]

I saw it at Cebit. Couldn't type on it, though, as the guy who showed it around (to press, possibly, but I didn't care and just joined in) was already anxious to let me hold it (it was an engineering sample, but functional). It's quite lightweight, so it could be promising as a media center.

Still, I don't really see the point. It's a nice tech demo, but ultimately, it's too expensive to use it as a keyboard with an external monitor attached and too big to use as a multimedia controller. It shows quite well what they are capable of, but in my opinion, there's no real application for something like that. It will be too expensive for "basic" tasks and too expensive and bulky for everything else.

-huha

[IBI]

Still, I don't really see the point. It's a nice tech demo, but ultimately, it's too expensive to use it as a keyboard with an external monitor attached and too big to use as a multimedia controller. It shows quite well what they are capable of, but in my opinion, there's no real application for something like that. It will be too expensive for "basic" tasks and too expensive and bulky for everything else.

It would make an excellent troubleshooting tool if they added keyboard outputs, monitor inputs and maybe some externally accessible bootable storage.

[Manyak]

It turns out that its just a full computer-in-a-keyboard, Commodore 64 style. So if you're debating on using one of these as a peripheral, forget about it!

It won't be that good as an HTPC either. The Intel Atom can't play 1080p video without a good GPU to offload the processing onto, and so far no word on what sort of GPU this thing has. So until further notice it's safe to assume it will be an Intel GMA950 which doesn't do anywhere near enough.

I really would like to see this sort of thing be released as an actual peripheral though - kind of like a G15 on steroids. I'd buy one in a heartbeat!

[huha]

It turns out that its just a full computer-in-a-keyboard, Commodore 64 style. So if you're debating on using one of these as a peripheral, forget about it!

Wasn't this known already?

It won't be that good as an HTPC either. The Intel Atom can't play 1080p video without a good GPU to offload the processing onto, and so far no word on what sort of GPU this thing has. So until further notice it's safe to assume it will be an Intel GMA950 which doesn't do anywhere near enough.

I think it'll be able to play 720p and 1080i (not sure about the latter, though), but seeing it doesn't have an optical drive, it's more of a streaming client, so the data rate of 1080p would be a problem anyway. I don't think Asus poise it as a HTPC for high-end users, because they can't be satisfied easily anyway. I think the concept is actually quite nice, but it's just too expensive to be worthwile for the average user. Building the PC in the keyboard is possible and quite nice, but this means there'll be lots of technical problems to be solved and none of them can be solved inexpensively. In order to get video from the keyboard to the TV, you'll need to have high-bandwidth RF transmission, which is accomplished by using ultra-wide band technology. You'll also need a battery, which adds to the cost even more. As nice as the idea might sound, but it just won't be competitive for the price they will have to charge.
Except maybe if they decide to specifically modify it to launch it in Europe, where there are still not many easy-to-use HTPCs. (But also, HDTV pervasion is somewhat low)

I really would like to see this sort of thing be released as an actual peripheral though - kind of like a G15 on steroids. I'd buy one in a heartbeat!

I wouldn't. Judging from the looks, it's just a horrible Apple-knockoff chicklet keyboard. Go on, nothing to see here ...

-huha

[IBI]

You'll also need a battery, which adds to the cost even more. As nice as the idea might sound, but it just won't be competitive for the price they will have to charge.

It already has a battery.

[huha]

It already has a battery.

Yes, but this will just drive up the price. There's no real sense in carrying your streaming client around the living room except for being cool, but merely being cool will not sell many units[1]--it's the price that counts and by including everything in a portable unit instead of relying on remote controls to accomplish your stuff, the price will just be unreasonably high for what's offered. Lots of expensive technology needs to be included just to make it work, whereas having a desktop computer and remote doesn't require anything like UWB transceivers, batteries etc., which will invariably influence the price for the worse.

-huha

[1] If you don't happen to be in the lifestyle market, as currently only one computer manufacturer has accomplished. Incidentally, they changed their name to reflect this by dropping "computer," but that's another story.

[Manyak]

Wasn't this known already?

Yeah but the OP kept calling it a keyboard

I think it'll be able to play 720p and 1080i (not sure about the latter, though), but seeing it doesn't have an optical drive, it's more of a streaming client, so the data rate of 1080p would be a problem anyway. I don't think Asus poise it as a HTPC for high-end users, because they can't be satisfied easily anyway. I think the concept is actually quite nice, but it's just too expensive to be worthwile for the average user. Building the PC in the keyboard is possible and quite nice, but this means there'll be lots of technical problems to be solved and none of them can be solved inexpensively. In order to get video from the keyboard to the TV, you'll need to have high-bandwidth RF transmission, which is accomplished by using ultra-wide band technology. You'll also need a battery, which adds to the cost even more. As nice as the idea might sound, but it just won't be competitive for the price they will have to charge.
Except maybe if they decide to specifically modify it to launch it in Europe, where there are still not many easy-to-use HTPCs. (But also, HDTV pervasion is somewhat low)

720p yeah, but I doubt it'll do 1080i. I mean, it's got an HDMI connection not YPbPr out, and 99% of the TVs with that connector can do 720p. Besides, have you ever tried using a PC on an interlaced display? You're basically limited to media center and video games.

But yeah you're right, half the problem is with the price. For half of it you can buy/put together an actual computer that does full HD and has a TV tuner to use as a DVR, and then just get a wireless keyboard w/ a touchpad to go with it. And as a desktop, well, you're better off buying an old Pentium 4 for $50-$100.

I wouldn't. Judging from the looks, it's just a horrible Apple-knockoff chicklet keyboard. Go on, nothing to see here ...

-huha

You think I'd use it the way it is now? Hell no. I'd take the screen and controller out and mod it into a mechanical board. Take the number pad out, resize the space for the screen with a dremel and some sandpaper, and maybe even make a bezel for it out of acrylic. Then modify the keyboard's matrix to match the Asus's by cutting the traces on the PCB and soldering some wires to it. It would take a while, but it would be worth it