e-Machine has just launched a new desktop in Japan called the EL1600, and it’s powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N230 processor with the 945GC Express Chipset. If looks could kill, it wouldn’t have any trouble slaughtering its plainly designed competitors, too. It comes with 1GB of RAM, 160GB of HDD, a DVD Super Multi drive, and Windows XP Home. Pricing starts at 35,000 Yen or about $356 USD. Not sure if it will be available outside Japan, though.

Via Akihabara News

All-in-one PCs, like the Asus Eee Top desktops, are expected to take off this year, and as such, the 19-24-inch LCD monitor market are likely to take a hit. Market sources are cited as saying that the market for 19-24-inch LCD monitors is expected to be undermined, because of all-in-one PCs becoming more popular and more models expected to come out in the second half of this year. Once most nettops hit the $400 mark, it’s not hard to imagine this happening. If your computer already comes with a large enough screen, why would you need an external monitor? Of course, all this will still largely depend on whether companies like Asus and other all-in-one PC makers fulfill their part of selling worthy electronics for people to buy.

Via Digitimes

ABI Research has conducted a survey in the US of over 1000 adult consumers. The survey focuses around how people view netbooks and MIDs.

From the survey, a huge 79% said that they viewed netbooks as an accompaniment to laptops or desktops. While only 11% said they would use a netbook as their primary device.

Shane from Ars Technica seems to agree with the results from the survey as he himself uses a desktop primarily. While his MSI Wind is used as his secondary device, it is noted that it has however, replaced his laptop. Personally, I would be amongst those 11% of consumers that use their netbook as their primary device – an MSI Wind clone replaced my laptop and is used more than my desktop computer, which is used for the only thing traditional netbooks can’t do – read or burn disks.

Would the survey results have been different if you’d answered the questions? Tell us if you use your netbook as your primary device and why or why not.

Looks like Asus is going to release a new version of their Eee PC for the desktop market known as the Eee Box. Here are some of the specifications:

• Runs on Windows XP Home
• 1.6GHz Atom processor
• 1GB RAM
• 80GB hard drive
• 2x USB ports
• 802.11n Wifi
• 1x PC card slot

It is also a size of a book (222 x 178 x 26.9 mm) and weighs only 1kg. But the most impressive thing about the Eee Box is the fast boot system known as the Express Gate which allows the Eee Box to be in internet ready mode only 8 seconds after you hit the power button!

The price? Only £199 which isn’t bad with for a computer like this.

Via [vnunet]

If you think that the Asus Eee PC can only run Linux OS and Windows XP, think again. It can also run another OS that goes by the name of Syllable Desktop. Syllable Desktop is OS optimized for desktop computers with east to use graphical work environment. It has high response speed to user input and start up fast.

By using an inventive method of installation since installing the Syllable Dekstop from a USB won’t work, Michael Saunders did an imaging of his Eee drive with a dd utility (from Linux) and installed Syllable using QEmu and then dd’ing the image back to the real drive. I know this may sound techy, but developers would definitely understand how the process work.

Saunders also reports that video, audio, touchpad, USB and battery of the Asus Eee PC after installing the Syllable Desktop, are working pretty fine. But widescreen video and network are not working yet.

So, if you’re looking for an alternative OS to play around with your Asus Eee PC, you may want to give Syllable Desktop a spin. More details here.

Via