EeeBox PC: Could it be a mini HTPC?

[kizzav]

Hi,

I've been looking at the EeeBox PC's & thinking of places where they'd become quite handy. Eg, have one out in the family room as a mini HTPC.

They're small, compact, portable etc etc.

However, it then came to mind, if you wanted to use it as a recording device to record TV shows etc, you can't.... kind of.

Now, the question 1 is, are there decent USB digital tuners out there, that support HD channels &/or are able to capture from an external source (composite, component etc etc)?

Question 2, where the hell can you get these EeeBoxes?

The B206 looks good.

[Davo1111]

to be honest i dont think the graphics card is good enough to be an HTPC.
I bought the B202 with 2GB ram, and it can't play full HD music videos on a 24" screen

[Diesmile]

ya, prob not a hd content player

but since most tv shows are in avi, i am happily using it as a bt box / mirc / media player box.

[Davo1111]

Originally Posted by Diesmile

ya, prob not a hd content player

but since most tv shows are in avi, i am happily using it as a bt box / mirc / media player box.

yeah mine works as a cod4 server, chat hub, occasional file sharing, and a website server (as soon as i get it working)

[Diesmile]

i do hate the blue flashing hdd led, also they put mic socket in the front, so i can't close the front, since i run the audio cable to my tv.

might need to invest in some optical cables.

[Davo1111]

Originally Posted by Diesmile

i do hate the blue flashing hdd led, .

lol yep, that bugger is bright at night!

[shmity]

The eeebox would be a perfect HTPC if they released the 204/206 version or the just announced 208, since the 204/206 both have a HD3850 gpu onboard that will process the HD content for you taking the load off the cpu and the 208 has the new dual core atom cpu and a 4350 onboard. Im really hoping asus release at least one of these models here.

Edit:

The asus u3100 usb tv tuner is a great unit, does HD content with ease and at around 50 bucks i dont think you can really beat it.

[kizzav]

I just came across this CNet hands-on review, via a google search & they reckon that the B206 is going to cost £309 when it comes out in the UK, which will make it $637.52 AUD.

The issues with last year's Eee Box were its lack of dedicated graphics and no support for full HD video content, plus the hard drive was a measly 80GB. Asus has upped that to 160GB in this model and added ATI's dedicated graphics chipset, and it did indeed handle 720p HD video nicely, output over a single HDMI socket.

Well, it did as long as it was 720p DivX or Xvid HD — some H.264 720p decoding via VLC or QuickTime was poor, and 1080p video was a joke, and not one that earned it a single laugh. But it's an improvement.