Asus EeeBox PC B206

In recent months, netbooks have become the new sensation in computer hardware. These handy, cut-down laptops are designed to be the ultimate traveller’s companion, offering a lighter set of tools on a smaller hardware platform, at a lower price and with significantly better energy performance to keep you going longer. Asus was one of the first to take advantage of the lighter laptop concept with its Eee PC. Now it’s gone a step further, bringing the netbook ethic to the home computer, with the EeeBox PC.

Features:
Taking a lead from Apple’s Mac Mini, the EeeBox PC comes with minimal accoutrements – you’ll need to add your own keyboard, mouse and screen. It’s been specifically designed to integrate with modern flat-screen TVs, so you’ll need a TV with a spare HDMI socket to plug it into. This means that it’s easy to set up and you don’t need to worry about sound – it’s all handled by the HDMI cable and the TV’s own speakers.

Like most netbooks, the PC comes pre-loaded with Windows XP, which is lighter on system resources than Vista. Asus also provides its own software to give you Media Center-style software for playing any videos, music and slideshows you have stored on the PC. All this is simple to operate via the supplied remote control.

There are four USB ports and both Wi-Fi and Ethernet are included, so you can easily hook it up to your existing network.

Performance:
Because the EeeBox PC is based on a netbook specification and runs Windows XP, it’s not going to win any prizes for performance. This therefore knocks out any cutting-edge gaming, which would otherwise have tied in quite nicely with a large screen.

But, on the positive side, because the device focuses on web browsing and viewing your media with no extraneous bells and whistles, it’s extremely energy efficient when compared with a standard desktop-style PC. It’s also very quiet – the specifications claim it gives out 26 decibels and we could barely hear it.

Ease of use:
Using a PC from a distance on a large screen isn’t quite the same as sitting at a desk or with a laptop on your knee, and the result is that the general PC experience feels a little watered down. The supplied media-viewing software is fine (it’s been specially designed for a big screen) and websites like YouTube are increasingly catering for a large screens viewed from a distance – check out www.youtube.com/xl. But the Windows interface isn’t really geared up for use on a screen like this and you’ll either find yourself struggling to see your emails or sitting ridiculously close to your TV in order to use it.

Value for money:
With a netbook-style price, you can afford to bring an EeeBox PC into your home-entertainment den. Ditching the screen also helps to keep the price down but remember that you’ll also need to buy a keyboard and mouse – wireless models can cost from around £30.