ASUS Eee Box EB1501-B0167 Nettop PC - Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Now that I've had the EB1501 integrated into my home theater for a few weeks, I thought I would update my review of it.
I have this connected via HDMI to receiver, surround sound and a 52" HDTV. Due to the limitations of my setup (not the EB1501), I do not use HDMI for sound, so I will not say anything about the box's ability to carry both signals properly. If you use S/PDIF for audio, you are going to appreciate the included adapter (works great). I was going to use Boxee or XBMC, but I don't like the hassle of setting up and integrating Tv tuners into those, so I am using Windows 7's Media Center.
The EB1501 is EVERYTHING I have been looking for in a HTPC. It runs (very) cool and (very) quiet. It's barely noticeable yet attractive enough to not have to hide - which makes it easier to get to the DVD drive, power, ports, etc... The computer is stable and a workhorse for this task.
With the Atom processor, I wouldn't recommend trying to do too much gaming or heavy multitasking. As a component in a home theater, this thing runs circles around the almost useless Media Center Extender I was using before.

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Full HD Entertainment in a Box - ASUS EeeBox EB1501 Watch movies and videos in full high-definition clarity and experience home cinema like never before with the EeeBox PC EB1501 by ASUS. With the EeeBox EB1501, you can easily stream, playback, and/or download your favorite multimedia entertainment right in the comfort of your living room. Complete with HDMI (Full HD video and audio output via just one port) connectivity, the versatile ASUS EeeBox EB1501 delivers big HD entertainment in a small size with theIntel Atom N330 dual core processor and NVIDIA ION graphics. Its tilt-up "ballerina-inspired" design has a slot-in DVD drive to easily load and play the latest blockbuster movies and music CDs. Plus, the EeeBox EB1501 is mountable to any VESA-compatible monitor or TV for a clutter-free setup, perfect for the living room or tight spaces like a dorm room. Discover the power in connections with a multitude of ports that sync up to displays and other components to deliver premium multimedia and fast data transfers. High-speed wireless N technology (@2.4 GHz) gives you the latest and fastest in wireless technology for surfing the web or sharing media files. Featuring Windows 7 Home Premium, experience immersive multimedia and up to 70-percent power savings compared to the average desktop PC. Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music to and from all of the PCs in your network with the EeeBox EB1501. By combining the included multimedia remote control with Windows 7 Home Premium's Media Center, you can quickly access and manage your library of digital content wirelessly. The EeeBox EB1501 also features 2GB of system RAM (upgradeable to 4GB), Gigabit LAN, 250GB hard drive, S/PDIF audio out port, six USB ports, 5-in-1 card reader, eSATA port, wireless keyboard and mouse and more. Sit back and enjoy HD and the Internet the way it was meant to be, in the convenience and comfort of your living room with the EeeBox PC EB1501.


Key Features

Ultra compact Home Entertainment PC that is smaller than a magazine (Learn more)
VESA-display mountable for a minimized footprint(Learn more)
NVIDIA ION graphics for full 1080p HD cinematic playback in stunning clarity (Learn more)
HDMI connectivity for Full HD video and audio on HDTVs and HDMI monitors (Learn more)
Ultra-compact "ballerina-inspired" design that fits into your home decor (Learn more)
Slot-loading Super Multi DVD drive lets you enjoy your favorite movies and music (Learn more)
Intel AtomN330 dual core processor for a seamless multimedia and Home Theater PC experience (Learn more)
High-speed Wi-Fi networking (802.11 b/g/n @2.4GHz) for wireless streaming of your digital entertainment library (Learn more)
Intelligent green design consumes up to 70-percent less powercompared to generic desktop PCs (Learn more)
Convenient 250GB hard drive to store your treasured documents and media files
S/PDIF and HDMI delivers crystal clear digital surround sound for lossless audio enjoyment (Learn more)
Gigabit LAN, eSATA port, and six USB 2.0 ports enable a full range of high-speed data connections (Learn more)
5-in-1 Card Reader (SD/SDHC/MS/MS Pro/MMC) for quick access to your digital camera's memory cards (Learn more)
Wireless keyboard, mouse, and remote control included for the most convenient and user-friendly HTPC experience (Learn more)

Learn More
The Complete Home Theatre Power Package
Mountable Compact Design
Cost-Saving Green Efficiency
Unrestricted Wireless Control
Power in Connections
EeeBox with Windows 7 –Life Made Easier
The Ever-Evolving EeeBox
Warranty One of the industry\'s most complete customer care packages offers a level of coverage that adds to the price of competing products:
1 Year Global Warranty
Two way free shipping
24/7 tech support

What's in the Box
EeeBox PC EB1501
Quick Start Guide
AC Adaptor
Power Cord
Stylish Stand
VESA-Mount Kit
S/PDIF Adapter
Wireless Keyboard
Wireless Mouse
Remote Control
Warranty Information Card
Specifications
Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
CPU: Intel Atom N330 dual core processor (1.6GHz)
Graphics: NVIDIA ION graphics
Wireless Data Network: 802.11 b/g/n (@2.4 GHz)
Network: Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mbps
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD+/-RW
Memory: 2GB DDRII RAM, 2 x 1GB (up to 4GB)
Storage: 250GB 5400RPM hard drive
Card Reader: 5-in-1 Card Reader (SD/SDHC/MS/MS Pro/MMC)
Front I/O Port: USB 2.0 x 2, Headphone Jack x 1, Microphone x 1
Rear I/O Port: Wi-Fi built-in antenna x 1, USB 2.0 x 4, D-Sub x 1, HDMI out x 1, eSATA x 1, S/PDIF x 1, Gigabit LAN x 1
Dimensions: 7.6 x 7.6 x 1.54 –inches
Weight: 2.6 lbs
Color: Black All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models.Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in images.

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ASUS Internal 4x Blu-Ray Reader SATA Optical Drive BR-04B2T (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're shopping around for BD-ROM drives, you should be aware that the software required to play bluray movies can cost as much as the drive itself. It's therefore pretty crucial to find a drive which includes some software if you're on a budget. Keywords in the product description like "BULK" or "OEM" can indicate that software may not be included, so bear that in mind when choosing. The amazon page for this product does not give details on the included software, so I took a chance.
I'm relieved to report that this drive comes in a retail box which includes four screws and PowerDVD 9 software. I had been tracking prices of BD-ROMs on this and other sites for about a year, and at the time of purchase this was the least expensive option for a BD-ROM with software that I had ever seen.
As for the quality of the PowerDVD 9 software, I'm sure you can get an earful from its product page. For my purposes, it is able to play blurays, and I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. A notable difference between PowerDVD 9 and 10 is that only 10 will support 3D movies. If you're interested in watching 3D movies with this drive, know that you'll have to shell out some extra money for the upgraded software. Of course, if you're a 3D movie enthusiast, you're probably used to shelling out extra money.
Please note that a SATA cable is NOT included. Go ahead and add it to your cart now; you won't want to wait another week for amazon to ship it, nor will you want to shell out twenty bucks at Best Buy for one. I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but also make sure your power supply has available SATA power cables and your motherboard has available SATA slots.
I can't really review the comparative performance of this drive verses other drives. I expect higher speeds are more useful when it comes to ripping blurays or using data BDs, but the 4x speed is sufficient to play movies. The mild imperfections I observe when watching movies (more to the sound than the video) I'm more willing to attribute to my modest supporting cast (a 1.8 GHz Core2Duo, Radeon HD 3450, for reference).
Anyway, five stars for meeting my expectations of the drive, coming with software, and VALUE!

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ASUS BR-04B2T - Enjoy High Definition Movie Playback. BR-04B2T is a Blu-Ray disk drive capable of high definition playback. It provides you with a superior read quality of BD-ROM (SL/DL), BD-R (SL/DL), and BD-RE (SL/DL) discs as well as a wide range of CD and DVD formats.

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