Asustek Computer joined other NAS (network attached storage) device makers such as QNAP and Acer by showing off a new NAS that uses Intel's low-power, inexpensive Atom N270 microprocessor.

The EeeNAS joins Asustek's Eee family of devices that also have Atoms inside, such as Eee PC netbooks and nettop mini-desktops.

EeeNAS will launch within the next month at a price under US$1,000, an Asustek representative said.

The device provides data storage and backup for homes or small businesses. Its 5-litre case contains two 7200 rpm SATA hard disk drives offering a total of 1TB of storage.

A 3.5-inch touchscreen on the front of the device allows users to access data and perform other functions, such as burn DVDs on its slot-loading multi-drive.

EeeNAS has a Linux OS.

The storage device is designed for continuous operation, carries an uninterrupted power supply (UPS), and can act as a communication hub for wireless devices connected to a wired local network.

Full details of EeeNAS will be revealed at Computex in Taipei next week, the representative said.