CES 2006 Profile: Asus Computer

Asus' 2006 line up includes several new laptops, monitors, a digital media hub and a networked DVD player.

Asus Computer announced several new products at CES 2006 geared towards both computer and consumer electronics users. Among these new products are several laptop computers, a digital media hub, a networked DVD player and some monitors.

Asus Computer’s new 2006 laptops include the W2J, A7J, W5F, A6J and V6J. All are based upon Intel’s next generation dual core mobile platform. The most interesting of these is the W5F. Features of this compact model include a built-in 1.3 megapixel 180 degree swivel webcam, microphone, white carbon fiber casing, 12.1” WXGA LCD and up to 1536MB of DD2 memory at 533/667MHz.

Asus Computer’s new monitors are the widescreen PW series. 20” (PW201) and 19” (PW191) models will be available later this year and feature brushed aluminum bases, black bezels which can be rotated vertically to view extra long items and anti-reflection glare type panels. The PW201 also sports a built-in webcam.

In the consumer electronics realm, Asus’s new digital media hub and networked DVD player are expected to be available in February. The WL-700gE is their digital media hub and it sports a 160GB hard drive for storage of media files. It can wirelessly receive content such as songs or pictures from a PC or directly from the Internet. Content stored on this device can be wirelessly accessed throughout a home and it comes with three built-in USB ports to connect things like printers and speakers.

Asus’s new networked DVD player is the AS862. This device can play DVDs as well as download content from a WL-700gE or from cable. It can accept a variety of picture, sound and video formats and offers multiple interface options such as a built-in 4-in-1 card reader, four USB 2.0 ports and a 10/100 Ethernet connection.