The Asus Eee Box B206 is expected to begin shipping in Italy before the end of the month. The B206 looks just like the original Asus Eee Box B202. But while that model had a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor and Intel GMA 950 graphics, the B206 has more powerful ATI Radeon HD 3400 graphics.
The mini-desktop computer also has an HDMI port, so not only can it play 1080p HD video, but it can also crank out video to a high definition TV or monitor. This model also has Bluetooth, a feature which I’d heard was only going to show up in the Eee Box B204.
The price will reportedly be around 379 Euros, which seems pretty high for a nettop. But that’s what happens when you start putting high quality discrete graphics chips in otherwise low cost computers.
via Netbook News.de
With a Radeon 3400 and HDMI, that little thing will make an amazing HTPC box. Sure it has no optical drive, but for people like me who have an HTPC connected to a home server with all our DVD’s and Blu-Ray discs, it’s a great option.
I may still hold out for a model with a dual-core Atom and an nVidia 9300 chipset, but it’s nice to see nettop makers start to consider hardware needs of HTPC users. I’d love to ditch the full-ATX HTPC box in my living room for something the size of my Wii. [=^D
The price says “IVA inclusa” which means it inludes the 20% VAT tax in Italy. So the price is about 310 Euro without the tax which is about $US 410. That seems reasonable, a black B202 with XP here in the USA runs about $320 before any sales tax or shipping.
You can get a normal desktop computer for less then that. =/
I agree the price is a bit high. How about a deal with Boxee for these nettops?