Roundup: All-In-One PCs : Asus Eee Top
2. Asus Eee Top
Display
The only interesting aspect of this 15-inch display is its touchscreen capability. According to the maker, its fingertip operation makes it easy to use for all members of the family. The LCD panel is a poor-quality TN type. That means poor viewing angles - especially from above and below -, so-so response times, a low contrast ratio of 178:1 (white at 185 nits and a very washed-out black at 1.01 nits), and colors that aren’t true, with a strong tendency toward blue. All these problems are regularly associated with notebook computers, too, and the panel used here seems to be similarly sourced.
Asus unveils its Eee concept
Asus’s Eee concept is embodied in three products: Eee PC (netbooks), Eee Box, and Eee Top. The Eee Top is what we’re interested in today. This product is intended to complement another computer for semi-portable use (from one room to another in the house). It uses modest components similar to those used in other products in the Eee line, including the Intel Atom processor. Its main selling point is its 15.6-inch HD Ready (1366x768 pixels) touchscreen.
First impressions, design
We’re a far cry from the quality of the materials used in the Apple iMac. But that’s understandable, since after all this unit sells for half the price. The shell is a mix of white and transparent plastics with a nice finish. The rear metal stand lets you adjust the angle of the computer and extends to form a handle for easy carrying. We recommend that you keep it at only a slight angle to the desk or table, because the vertical viewing angle of the TN panel is very poor. The more you tilt the display, the blacker the image becomes.
No DVD drive
We should call your attention to the fact that the Eee Top has no DVD drive. If you absolutely want one, you’ll have to buy an external unit.
No keyboard???
A keyboard and mouse are supposed to ship with the unit. But we were only able to test the mouse because there was no keyboard in the box. The compact mouse harmonizes well with the unit as a whole, and will be okay for occasional use.
Webcam: Not very sharp
We found the webcam responsive, but it lacked sharpness. But we were pleased to see that the redness that usually plagues Asus netbooks is gone; the image was more neutral. The sound we recorded using the onboard microphone was a little muffled.
Quiet
The unit is quiet. It was almost impossible to hear it during our calculation tests - even the heaviest ones. Discretion is a highly appreciated quality.
Connectivity
The Eee Top has the following connectors: 6 USB, 1 RJ45, and 3 mini-jack. That's a little stingy. We'd like to have seen a video output for connecting a second display, and maybe some other interfaces - like FireWire, e-SATA or an Express Card port.
Calculation tests
This nettop's scores were just about identical to the results we logged with the 1000HE netbook. In other words, compared to an iMac or to other computers using the Intel Core 2 Duo platform, calculation times will be 3 to 6 times longer depending on the task - file compression, photo retouching, etc.
Blu-Ray won't play
But this nettop can handle just about any task - though you'll need a lot of patience. Stick to office tasks, Web surfing, and playing video - but not HD or heavily encoded sources. Blu-Ray video just won't play on this type of box; there just isn't enough processing power.
Power consumption
This machines total power consumption was between about 30 and 35 Watts, depending on what we used it for.
Games
At a resolution of 1024x600 pixels, we began having problems running recent game titles with modest 3D processing requirements. Increase the pixel count by 70% (to 1366x768) and you run up against a shortage of processing power with many games. To make sure whether this box could run a simple game, we loaded up World of Warcraft. And surprisingly, with the details set to the minimum and in native definition, it was ugly but it ran. As with netbooks, there's a need for testing to see just which games are and aren't playable on this type of machine.
Audio
You shouldn't expect acoustic wonders from the Eee Top, with its aging Realtek HD audio chip. The mediocre built-in speakers confirm that. They'll do in a pinch, but we strongly recommend you use an external set. As for the inputs and outputs, one headphone/line out jack and one line in is pretty lightweight. Still, the sound was fairly clean, and that scores a few extra points.
Touchscreen
The key feature of this computer is its touch-sensitive display. Without it, the Eee Top wouldn't have much going for it. But with the touchscreen, Asus wants to open the way for all members of the family, from kids to grandparents, to use this computer. To accentuate that aspect, Asus has developed a software overlay called Easy Mode (which can be disabled) that separates computer use into six clearly defined categories via tabs, with applications represented by big icons. But is it really useful, or just a gimmick?
So far, we lean towards the latter opinion, due to a lack of applications that are really designed from the ground up to be touchscreen friendly. But the future may prove us wrong once Windows 7 takes over.
| Asus Eee Top | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cons |
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All-in-one, tactile, and semi-portable (from one room to another): If those three key features of the Eee Top aren't essential to you, I'd advise you to look at a more traditional type of computer for - among other things - better performance than the Intel Atom processor can provide.
| Processor | Intel Atom NV270 1.6 GHz |
| Memory | 2 GB |
| Graphics chipset | Intel 945 GSE |
| Display | 15.6" (1366x768) |
| Hard disk | 160 GB |
| Optical drive | none |
| Dimensions | NC |
| Weight | 9.5 pounds |
Interesting that you chose the higher spec'd Apple then gave it the higher rating. Well...duh! Perhaps the HP IQ800 series with similar size screen and the same 9400M graphics (available with a Blue Ray player, even) would have been a better fit. Or compare the 20" Apple with it's lower resolution, comparable to the HP.
And why is the HP noted to be difficult to move around, but the same comment is not made about the 24" screen Apple?
Since you were demonstrating an array of products, the rating should have reflected price. If one only has $800 to spend, it doesn't make any difference how good the Apple is, you can only compare the Atom machines.
Frankly, these machines serve different purposes. The Atom machines are what netbooks are to the laptop world. They are not intended for the power user, and that should be considered in their rating. My mother would be well served by a simple machine that does email and a few simple tasks well, without taking up much space or cost.
But I have no use for such a basic machine. The HP and Apple are desktop alternatives, and really cannot be directly compared to the Atom machines, because they are not marketed to the same user. But, they do have to compete for my dollars with a full desktop, and they fail miserably, even compared to my current machine with its 8800GTS 320 graphics. I'm looking at upgrading my machine, and I can upgrade my box to I7 920, GTX260, 6GB (and a smattering of other stuff) for about $800 (I roll my own, in an aluminum case that's seen about 3 MBs so far).
This article reeks of Apple favoritism.
The iMac is applauded for its low power consumption, while the Asus uses only 1/4 as much power. The Asus and MSI are criticized for a lack of ports, but the iMac has the same shortcomings. Every "con" for the HP is true for the iMac as well, so how did Apple earn that extra star?
It sounds like the only thing the iMac does better is look pretty on a desk, and pack a little more power for twice the cost.
"...but only recently have they become PCs."
Oh really? I can remember playing around with a Compaq 486SX integrated with a 14" color SVGA display in the early 1990s (a 1993 model it was, I think).
On the other hand, the Macintosh name actually started with an all-in-one in 1984...
When was this article written? August 3rd? Seriously?
You could only manage to find a measely four All-in-Ones? What about Dell's Studio One? Or Avaretec's 22" D1005 or budget-minded D1100? How about Lenovo's Idea Centre A600? These are major competitors, and deserve attention.
I wanted an article that could help me discern the possible uses and values of each of these All-in-Ones so I could weigh the merits of each and make logical assessments. I have been eagerly awaiting such even-handed benchmarking from TomsHardware...
Instead, I got a poorly written iMac ad.
Fanboy = Fail.
Mac > PC = True
Don't forget that the first mass selling all-in-one was the Commodore PET.
since all the others have touchscreen as a plus, shouldn't apple having no touch screen be a con?
I've always thought the huge bulky PC towers that people like myself love so much will be on their way out of the mainstream very soon. In fact, most people I know own micro-towers or laptops now. Even I haven't turned my own tower on in weeks, as my laptop works as a desktop replacement box.
Still though, not sure if I like the AIO PC concept, I'm gonna stick with my laptop.
There are quiet a few calls of Apple bias and on the surface it seems to be correct. There needs to be a weighing system that is clearly defined before hand so in the readers mind the comparison are oranges to oranges. Cause it is somewhat unfair to compare an atom and core duo on the same scale with out some de-rating concept as they really are two different types of CPU