Great Wall U310 packs an Ubuntu desktop PC into a keyboard

Ever wonder why you need a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and a PC case for a desktop computer? It turns out if the brains of the PC fit into a small enough space, you don’t.

All-in-one PCs generally combine most of the components into the display case. If you want to bring your own monitor, you can always try a PC that fits inside a keyboard case, like the Great Wall U310.

Newegg is selling this PC-in-a-keyboard for $260. Technically that’s the price for a refurbished model, but I don’t think anyone else is selling this computer in the US, refurbished or new.

Tucked into the keyboard case is a 1.8 GHz Intel Atom D525 dual core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive. The system uses Intel GMA 3150 graphics.

It also features 802.11b/g/n WiFi, and built into the sides and back of the keyboard you’ll find a VGA port, 5 USB ports, mic and headphone jacks. There are also built-in speakers.

Great Wall preloads the computer with Ubuntu Linux, but it should also be able to handle Windows XP, Windows 7, or Windows 8.

This isn’t the first keyboard PC we’ve seen recently. Asus put out an Eee Keyboard a few years ago, packing the guts of an Eee PC netbook into a keyboard-shaped case. And the other day we reported on a DIY project to create a keyboard PC by stuffing a Raspberry Pi inside a keyboard.

In fact, this isn’t even the first keyboard PC from Great Wall. Back in 2010, the company was showing off a model with an integrated touchscreen LCD called the Great Wall Cross PC U510.

Update: There’s a virtually identical keyboard called the Diablogtek U310 going for $239 at Amazon.

thanks Lee!