The week of Computex 2008 has begun, and you'd probably know just by checking out the onslaught of ASUS news here lately. Up next is the hotly-debated Eee Box B202, which we now know the final specifications for -- reportedly, at least. HotHardware has it that the mini desktop will exhibit a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, a 80/120/160/250GB hard drive, GMA 950 integrated graphics set, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, optional Bluetooth, a multicard reader, 512MB/1GB/2GB of DDR2 RAM and an Azalia ALC888 audio chip; you'll also find a pair of USB 2.0 ports, DVI out and a headphone jack, but an optical drive is altogether missing. We're hearing that US configurations will range from $269 to $299 with your choice of Linux or Windows XP, with availability in mid-July.

Okay, so this isn't the finalized SKU or anything (it's an "early sample," if you must know), but it's close enough to the real deal to warrant a dissection. The model shown here came sporting a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB Seagate hard drive and built-in gigabit Ethernet / WiFi / Bluetooth. Best of all, you'll see more than flashes of EBOX PCB when you step into the read link below -- you'll get a lengthy list of initial impressions too (hint: it's rather impressive). Go on, get!

[Thanks, Charlie]

What we have been calling the Asus Eee Box looks to finally have an official name. Based on unnamed sources, the Inquirer is reporting that the desktop PC will be called the Asus EBOX. As already speculated, they are saying it will be revealed on June 3 at Computex. Specs also look to be what we've been told already: 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM, and a Linux OS. Nothing much more to see here, but we're hoping Asus will give this thing a competitive price for those looking to tinker with a slick open-source box.

It's not clear how much of this is optimistic name-dropping and how much is real, but Australian video retailer Video Ezy (they just bought Blockbuster Australia) has announced that it's in talks with Apple, as well as several other supppliers, on a kiosk-style movie delivery system that would allow customers to download up to 40 movies onto an iPod and then pay as they watch. The system, called eBox, would still require you to actually visit a retail location, a compromise Video Ezy says is required because broadband speeds still aren't high enough to support a pure download model. We can see why Apple would be an attractive partner -- download on your iPod, watch on your Apple TV certainly seems feasible -- but true to form, Apple Australia refused to comment. Looks like we won't know the truth until eBox launches in the second quarter of next year.

Ever since we saw "Who Killed the Electric Car?" we've wondered when even more companies would get inspired to bring back this fantastic ride. Enter AC Propulsion, a California-based company that just debuted its eBox, a converted Toyota Scion xB with an electric engine. After you bring your own Scion, AC Propulsion will do the deed for $55,000. So what're the specs on the eBox? We're glad you asked: 180 mile range, top speed of 95 mph, and you can get a full charge in five hours right from your garage's wall outlet. Sure, that sounds like a lot for a car that's ordinarily pretty freakin' cheap (~ $18,000), but when you think that you'll never have to buy gas again over the life of the car, it just might be worth it.

[Via AutoblogGreen]