Asus Intros Windows 8-Ready 27-inch AIO Desktop

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Asus reports that its upcoming ET2701 AIO desktop will be ready for Windows 8.

On Tuesday Asus introduced the 27-inch ET2701 all-in-one desktop PC, packed with a frameless, 10-point capacitive touch screen, SonicMaster Technology, and the latest Intel Core processors. Even more, it will be ready to lead consumers into a new touch-based era with full support for the upcoming release of Windows 8.

Asus said the crisp 27-inch LED backlit screen will sport a default resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Full HD), and a high contrast ratio. Its VA panel will eliminate color shift and deliver a wide-view 178° angle on both horizontal and vertical planes "to ensure stunning visuals from most angles." HDMI input will allow users to connect their game consoles or other gadgets, and the USB 3.0 connection will enable compatible external drives to quickly pipe in movies and TV shows. Asus will also offer an optional TV tuner to turn the AIO into a 27-inch HDTV.

According to the specs, the upcoming AIO will arrive in various configurations, depending on your budget. On the CPU front, Asus will include the Intel Core i7-3770S (8 MB Cache, 3.10 GHz, TBD: Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz), the Core i5-3450 (6 MB Cache, 3.10 GHz, TBD: Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz) , the Core i5-3330, or the Core i3-3220. The selection of GPUs will be minimal: Nvidia's GeForce GT 640M or Intel HD Graphics.

The new Asus AIO will also feature up to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM at 1600 MHz, and up to 2 TB of storage via a SATA HDD. Optical drive options will consist of a tray-in Blue-ray combo, a tray-in Super Multi DVD drive, and a tray-in Blu-ray writer. Additional ports will include a 3-in-1 SD card reader, USB 3.0, and an e-SATA/USB 2.0 combo port.

"The ET2701 features built in SonicMaster technology optimized by audio experts," the company said. "It features a finely-tuned digital signal processor that produces every note in pristine clarity with near-zero distortion. Also onboard is DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC ll audio technology, which delivers the most realistic, three-dimensional sensation of being completely surrounded by sound."

The ET2701 will come with an external subwoofer with a 580cc resonance chamber dedicated to low-range frequency audio signals, providing a rich bass response, Asus added. The specs also reveal that the AIO will have 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and a 2MP camera.

"The ET2701 comes with a slew of convenient features that make it easy to surf the web, browse through movies and music libraries, or edit photos. The capacitive 10-point touch screen gives users precise fingertip control; giving them the ability to manipulate and navigate touch-optimized apps through intuitive pinch-zoom, swipe, scroll, or rotate gestures," Asus said.

Asus did not provide pricing and availability, so stay tuned.

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Kevin Parrish
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • halcyon
    Frameless? Really? Really? Is frameless anything with less than a 2' border?
    Reply
  • alexand3r1
    halcyonFrameless? Really? Really? Is frameless anything with less than a 2' border?
    I'm pretty sure that all this frameless jargon just means that there is edge-to-edge glass on the front.
    Reply
  • beardguy
    I've always loved Asus, but they seem to be losing quality. Hopefully this thing will be better quality than the Nexus 7.

    I'm curious if this will lay flat? I can't imagine using the touch for extended periods of time with the monitor standing up like that. The picture shows no mouse/keyboard which is very unrealistic. Guess we will see how this technology pans out, I suspect we will see a flood of touch-screen configurations come out with the launch of Windows 8.
    Reply
  • ohim
    Laptop grade hardware into a non-movable PC ... no thanks , you get more profit from actually buying a laptop and a separate screen for it at home and you have the mobility also. AIO PCs will get profitable when they will be able to fit inside them full desktop hardware not laptops with 24-27" screens.
    Reply
  • spentshells
    beardguyI've always loved Asus, but they seem to be losing quality. Hopefully this thing will be better quality than the Nexus 7. I'm curious if this will lay flat? I can't imagine using the touch for extended periods of time with the monitor standing up like that. The picture shows no mouse/keyboard which is very unrealistic. Guess we will see how this technology pans out, I suspect we will see a flood of touch-screen configurations come out with the launch of Windows 8.
    Agreed bout asus but... The stuff they put out is still better.
    Reply
  • beardguy
    spentshellsAgreed bout asus but... The stuff they put out is still better.
    Yeah, I'm still rocking an Asus motherboard in my gaming rig :)
    Reply
  • lpedraja2002
    beardguyI've always loved Asus, but they seem to be losing quality. Hopefully this thing will be better quality than the Nexus 7. I'm curious if this will lay flat? I can't imagine using the touch for extended periods of time with the monitor standing up like that...
    Exactly! I can't believe industries lack so much common sense as to not design a special base that will allow the monitor to extend forward at an angle comfortable enough for one to use the touch screen if desired, it will make it so that is ergonomic and will allow for longer hours of use.

    I would like to apply for a job in the common sense department.
    Reply
  • Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer
    "Crisp?" "Crisp"? 82ppi is not crisp! :fou:
    Reply
  • Zetto
    lpedraja2002Exactly! I can't believe industries lack so much common sense as to not design a special base that will allow the monitor to extend forward at an angle comfortable enough for one to use the touch screen if desired, it will make it so that is ergonomic and will allow for longer hours of use.I would like to apply for a job in the common sense department.
    Agreed, vertical desktop touch is just a non starter except for occasional use. Desktops need gesture control to be Win 8 compatible, or like you say, drop it to more horizontal so your forearms can rest on it.
    Reply
  • tpi2007
    As Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer said, 1080p on a 27" is not the definition of crisp, much the contrary, that kind of resolution on a 27" screen is for budget screens, anybody who has used one (I have) will tell you that. 24" should be the max screen size for a quality 1080p desktop experience. The fact that this screen in particular is not even IPS, is also telling they don't have many hopes for it. Better than TN, though. A 27" TN panel with a 1080p resolution is horrible because the viewing angles change a lot depending on how you sit on the chair and TN can't keep up with such a large screen.

    Having said that, the fact this is a touch screen is also just a gimmick. One thing is having a smartphone that you can hold with one hand at a convenient angle, thereby giving you a comfortable experience, another is having a 27" behemoth where you have to raise your arm each time you want to interact with it. People will just get tired of it and go back to the keyboard and mouse. And, also contrary to a smartphone whose screen you can quickly wipe clean with a your T-shirt, shirt, or a cloth, you can't easily do that to a 27" screen.

    I just wish this gimmicky stuff would stop being fashionable even before the fact. It just doesn't make sense.
    Reply