By Alma Anonas-Carpio

Taiwan-based consumer electronics manufacturer ASUS entered the "nettop" space of Internet-centric desktop computers as it launched the Eee Box Tuesday.

The Eee Box is a compact computer console set that combines
functionality for beginning computer and Internet users with a small, power-saving and environment-friendly product footprint. It comes bundled with a 16-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, keyboard and mouse, as well as a Windows XP Home operating system (OS).

Slim as a paperback novel, the Eee Box central processing unit (CPU) enables users to reclaim desk space previously lost to larger desktop computers. The small CPU even mounts behind VESA LCD displays to allow users to save even more space. An touch sensor button and vertical placement gives the CPU a seamless and futuristic look and its corners are smoothly curved.

The new ASUS nettop computer comes with ASUS' exclusive Express Gate – an innovative, fast boot technology that took ASUS six months to develop. With Express gate, users can quickly access the Internet, manage pictures or communicate using instant messaging and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology within five to seven seconds after
booting the computer up.

The Eee Box also supports the latest WiFi 802.11n wireless standard – providing up to eight times faster connectivity than the earlier generation 802.11b/g wireless connection. Users can download a 30-minute video in 44 seconds – minimizing the wait and allowing time for twice as many movies.

Moving with the information technology (IT) trend towards greener technology, the Eee Box has a thermal solution that integrates a unique heat dissipation module with the AI fan – allowing quiet and comfortable computing that is only 26 decibels loud. The Eee Box also uses the 1.6 gigahertz Intel Atom N270 processor and chipset, the world smallest processor chip, which consumes less energy and generates less heat.

Compared to full-sized desktop solutions, the Eee Box reduces power consumption by up to 90 percent. It also utilizes green design and is made solely out of earth-friendly materials to reduce he machine's carbon dioxide emissions and conforms to stringent Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) standards.

The Eeee Box comes with an 80 gigabyte hard drive, one gigabyte of memory and an SD/SDHC/MS/MS Pro/MMC card reader. ASUS pegged the nettop's suggested retail price at P24,999.