Asus Digital Home FrontLinker

A karaoke mic port, WTF? The retractable iPod cable is quite a nice idea, but personally, I'd rather have a cheaper, simpler 3.5" card reader with a couple of USB ports and one firewire, the like of which is already widely available.

EDIT: oh, and as you say, it's criminal not to have a headphone port on this device. Binning the mic port and adding a nice gold plated audiophile style jack port with a mini-jack adaptor would go a long way to justify the cost of this thing. Couldn't you just use the mic port as a headphone port and plug it into the output rather than the input of your sound hardware?

Unfortunately, that is one of the ugliest such devices I've ever seen. I could never put it in the front of my PC. I use a card reader that matches my case and is in a spare 3 1/2 bay. I have front mouted usb ports on my case, and I have a mini usb cable in a rear port, with the end of the lead concealed near the front of my pc, should I wish to plug in camera/mp3 player etc.

Not having 3.5mm headphone and mic ports seems strange to me, same with the "magic cables", why not just have extra USB ports? If you have an iPod, you'd have the cable, I don't have an ipod, so it's a completely wasted feature on my, as is the mic port.

It's a good idea, badly put in shape. They could have thought of a better way to open the door (ie. retractable, or someting else) but the eSata is a nice addition for those without a real eSATA port on the back.

I'd be interested to see how well they've engineered the reeling mechanisms on those retractable cables (assuming that's what they're using), as they'll most likely be the parts that fail first; either the mech or the cables.

With a 5/10 build quality rating, I wouldn't be too hopeful.

It'd look better on a silver case imo - that silver outline on it's bezel looks a bit weird between black.

I think I'd rather get a Front-X and have the ports I really want and a seperate card reader.

I'd rather have kept on borrowing Eds card reader. That or just get someone to put the extra USB ports back in my case.

Originally Posted by CardJoe
I'd rather have kept on borrowing Eds card reader. That or just get someone to put the extra USB ports back in my case.

They're in one of my drawers somewhere :D

Originally Posted by Tim S
They're in one of my drawers somewhere :D

The one with the laser-electric death booby trap set on it..

Originally Posted by Tim S
They're in one of my drawers somewhere :D

Is that an invitation for having Joe put his hands down your pants?

I need an invitation now?!

I'm going home before this gets out of hand...

/leaves

Buy a bigger screen, mine has a Card reader on it.

Originally Posted by DougEdey
Buy a bigger screen, mine has a Card reader on it.

You're forgetting that I'm the office n00b. I'm coping on hand-me-down pieces right now. In fact, I posted this entire article on a typewriter.

EDIT: My Ports have been returned! All your USBs are belong to meee!

They upgraded to Type writers?

http://www.bit-tech.net/content_images/ASUS_Digital_Home_FrontLinker/bayofbit-tech.jpg

Someone had to...

Originally Posted by Veles
Not having 3.5mm headphone and mic ports seems strange to me, same with the "magic cables", why not just have extra USB ports? If you have an iPod, you'd have the cable, I don't have an ipod, so it's a completely wasted feature on my, as is the mic port.

My thoughts exactly

Originally Posted by CardJoe
You're forgetting that I'm the office n00b. I'm coping on hand-me-down pieces right now. ...

Judging from the specs I've seen the others display I think you "hand-me-down pieces" are better than many peoples current systems.

Originally Posted by Blademrk
I think I'd rather get a Front-X and have the ports I really want and a seperate card reader.

I've seen that before but haven't looked for Canadian supplier yet - Off to the net I go.

Couldn't you just plug the microphone port into the line out, then connect a 1/4" jack to the "Karaoke" mic input with some cans on it? Alright it's not strictly the way you should do it, but it'd work (I think).

What I would also like is a front panel that has only an SD reader, most other cards are pointless now, and those multiple card readers don't half look ugly.

This one looks pretty good, got pretty much everything you'd need.

I considered Front X, but I'm not really sure where to get it from. Gonna have to have a look around the intarwebs

Originally Posted by Veles
What I would also like is a front panel that has only an SD reader, most other cards are pointless now, and those multiple card readers don't half look ugly.

I agree that the multi-card readers look fugly, but would argue that SD isn't the only card format in popular use; CF being one that still has widespread appeal (most likely due to Canon still hanging their hat on it with certain models).

Originally Posted by Veles
What I would also like is a front panel that has only an SD reader, most other cards are pointless now, and those multiple card readers don't half look ugly.

This one looks pretty good, got pretty much everything you'd need.

I considered Front X, but I'm not really sure where to get it from. Gonna have to have a look around the intarwebs

bought mine from the site I linked. haven't had a chance to fit it yet.

Originally Posted by konsta
Unfortunately, that is one of the ugliest such devices I've ever seen. I could never put it in the front of my PC.

I have to agree, said in the review it was elegant :)

Originally Posted by ỒĊBłůē
I agree that the multi-card readers look fugly, but would argue that SD isn't the only card format in popular use; CF being one that still has widespread appeal (most likely due to Canon still hanging their hat on it with certain models).

Yeah there are a few others that are useful too like XD for people with Kodak cameras, and my phone has an MMC card in it, would be nice if someone could figure out a way to have one port for all cards. Perhaps similar to a CD tray, pull it out, stick your card on the tray in the appropriate place, close the tray, would look a lot cleaner.

Originally Posted by BladeMRK
bought mine from the site I linked. haven't had a chance to fit it yet.

Sweet didn't realise they shipped to the UK, looks a bit pricey, but I suppose it is highly customisable.

EDIT: Looking through that page, it seems that the only thing I'd actually find useful is a mic and headphones socket :p

Originally Posted by ỒĊBłůē
CF being one that still has widespread appeal (most likely due to Canon still hanging their hat on it with certain models).

Or the fact most dSLRs use them. The only card reader I'm after is a FireWire CF reader, but even then I'm not sure how much I would use it. Also I might be upgrading to a 1Ds MkII so that would render the reader useless.