Ultra Stylish and Affordable Eee Box Gets Pricing Details
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Posts with tag EeePC
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Hands-On: Asus' Atom-based Eee PC 901
by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 2nd 2008 at 8:50AM
Atom-Based Eee PC 901 Out on June 3rd with Bluetooth for $650
June's shaping up to be a pretty special month 'round here. In addition to whatever Apple's got up its sleeve and all the new gear set to announce at Computex, Asus will be launching its Atom-based Eee PC 901 just like we heard. June 3rd is the date for "a price below" $650. We assume that means $649.99. DigiTimes' reliable market channel sources claim the 8.9-inch 901 will also feature Bluetooth for the first time (you know, without a hack) while the rest of the tech specs remain the same. That's $250 more than the 10-inch, Atom-based, MSI Wind running Linux and launching on the same day. Oh ASUS, what have you done?Update: To be fair, it could be that the $650 Eee PC 901 model runs XP and the Linux-based Eee PC 901 will sell for (a lot) less -- the XP-flavor of the MSI Wind costs between $500 and $549. [Source: Digitimes]
Which Is the Best Mini-Notebook for Typing?
by Terrence O'Brien, posted May 7th 2008 at 3:42PM
The clear winner was the HP 2133 Mini-note, which all three testers were able to average a full 10 WPM (words per minute) faster on than the ASUS Eee and CTL 2Go PC (Classmate) which both came in within half a WPM of each other at 44.75 WPM and 44.25 WPM respectively. [Source: Laptop Magazine]
Asus Rumored to Be Spinning Off EeePC Brand With 11-Inch Model
Information doesn't get much more twisted than this so you'd best tread lightly with it. We've got a DigiTimes rumor whose message appears modified in translation. Engadget Chinese tells us that the original DigiTimes article (in Chinese) states that Asus is planning an Eee PC "sub-corporation." In other words, an ASUS spin-off that would include more than just low-cost ultra-portables. The rumor is attributed to DigiTimes' proven ASUS sources. However, DigiTimes' own English translation simply calls the move an Eee "sub-brand" which was already obvious with ASUS' announced plans for additional Eee branded products including the E-DT desktop, E-TV television, and 19- to 21-inch E-Monitor all-in-one said to be due in Q3. DigiTimes' sources also claim that ASUS will slap a 1001 model number on its 10.6-inch Eee PC and then -- perhaps supporting the spin-off claim -- says that there will be a premium 11-inch Eee PC before the end of the year as well.
Originally, Jerry Shen, ASUS CEO, said the Eee PC would never exceed 10-inches so that it wouldn't cut into ASUS' laptop offerings. A spinoff would presumably give the Eee brand more freedom to compete.
[Via Engadget Chinese]
Read -- DigiTimes (Chinese)
Read -- DigiTimes (English)
ASUS Replacing Eee PC 900 Batteries With Longer Lasting Versions
HP Debuts Super Small Sub-$500 Laptop
by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 9th 2008 at 7:49AM
The latest entry into this field is the Hewlett Packard 2133 Mini-Note PC. The Mini-Note starts at $499, for the entry level model with 512 megabytes of RAM, 4-gigabytes of storage, a 1-gigahertz VIA processor, and Linux. At the top of the heap is a $749 model loaded with Vista Business, 2-gigabytes of RAM, and a 1.6 gigahertz VIA processor. The $749 model also comes with a 120-gigabyte hard drive that spins at 7,200 RPM for super fast data access. Many full-sized notebooks only come with 5,400 RPM drives, and most ultra-portables are saddled with a 4,200 RPM drive.
The first batch of reviews are in, and they're all pretty positive. Some complain about the lack of power due to the VIA processor, and the awkwardness of the side-mounted touch pad buttons, but most are blown away by the full-sized keyboard and the 8.9-inch screen that at a resolution of 1280x768 can display a full Web page without any horizontal scrolling, unlike the ASUS Eee.
The Mini-Note sounds like a strong competitor to the Eee and other cheap compact notebooks, but the price does sound a little high. An Eee PC similarly equipped to the lower end Mini-Note costs about $100 less, and for the $749 asking price of the high end model, you could buy a much more powerful laptop, though one not nearly as small.
From Engadget
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$399 Windows Eee PC Now Available at Best Buy
Wal-Mart seems to think that consumers don't want to buy cheap computers (earlier this eyar, the retailer pulled the $199 Everex gPC from store shelves and forcing consumers to go dig through its Web site to order one). Fellow big-box retailer Best Buy, however, has a different opinion. The home electronics powerhouse has just made picked up the recently released Windows XP version of the $399 Eee PC, which is now available both via its website and for in-store pickup.
We've reported on the low-cost Eee PC many times before, including word just last week that this XP flavored version was coming. That was good news for many who were looking for a cheap ultra-portable but wanted the familiarity of Windows. When we reviewed the laptop in February we found it to be capable and compact, if not quite a powerhouse. (What do you expect for $400?) The addition of Windows XP to the device should make it an even more appealing -- though slower -- option for many, though the faster version with a larger screen coming later this summer may be an even better choice ...
From Engadget
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Microsoft Extends XP's Life Again -- For Low Cost PCs Only
by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 7th 2008 at 9:17AM
If you're thinking this sounds too good to be true, you're right. There is a catch. Windows XP will only be available and approved for so-called Ultra Low Cost PCs (ULCPC), such as the Eee or Classmate. Microsoft is giving manufacturers the option of using XP Home or Vista Home Basic on its ULCPC devices. But even in its most stripped down form, Vista is often more than these machines can handle and makes them operate more slowly.
This seems more or less like an admission that Vista has been a disappointment for Microsoft. The OS was geared at high powered desktops with dedicated graphics cards. Unfortunately for Mr. Gates and crew, the computer industry took an unexpected turn towards smaller and cheaper computers. Small form factor desktops, home theater PCs, and ultra-portable laptops are the hot markets right now, places where low power components are necessary to keep components cool, quiet, and lasting hours on a single battery charge.
We don't doubt Microsoft did its best, but Vista was not long for this world.
From Cnet
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Windows XP Version of Asus EeePC Out Next Week
As of April 9, you'll be able to pick up the same exact Eee PC with a Intel Celeron processor, 512 megabytes of RAM, 7-inch screen, and 4 gigabytes of solid state storage, but with Windows XP installed instead of Linux. Best of all, it'll cost the same $400 it costs for the Linux version. Keep this in mind, however: Windows XP is a lot more resource-hungry than Linux, so don't expect the EeePC with Windows to be all that fast. In fact, it could be a whole lot slower than the Linux version, but at least you'll be able to get your Microsoft Outlook on!
We've covered the advantages and disadvantages of each before, so if you're in the market for an Eee take a look at our Laptop Guide before deciding on Windows or Linux.
From Engadget
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Eee PC to Run Windows XP
At this year's CeBIT conference in Germany, Asus debuted a new version of its popular multi-colored sub-notebook, the Eee PC, with a larger screen (8.9 inches), more memory, and a larger hard drive for storage. Significantly, Asus' updates to the line now enable the laptops to run Windows XP -- the Eee PC formerly ran only Xandrox, a Linux-based operating system -- and Asus predicts that over two thirds of the new line will ship as Windows systems.
Analysts said that the demand for Windows is extremely strong, so despite impressive sales and high demand and enthusiasm for the older, Linux-based Eee PC -- over 300,000 sold in one quarter last year -- Asus decided to offer consumers the choice of either Windows or Linux on these new models.
One thing's for sure, the Windows-based EeePC's are likely to run a lot slower than the Linux-based ones -- Windows is much more resource-hungry.
From Beta News
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Tiny Asus eeePC Gets Tiny Add-Ons
Asus has never been a high visibility company in the world of laptops or PCs -- until recently, that is. With the release of the tiny EeePC, Asus became an instant celebrity in the computer world.
The PC maker is now trying to milk its hit ultraportable for all it's worth. At this year's CeBIT (a large technology trade show) in Germany, Asus is showing off a collection of Eee-themed accessories. The add-ons aren't anything revolutionary, but they do give even more regular-computer functionality to the nicely-priced mini-PC.
The new eeePC peripherals include a VOIP (Voice Over IP) USB handset for Internet calling, a Wi-Fi access point, a slim external DVD-RW drive (since the eeePC doesn't come with a built-in one), a confusingly large USB HSDPA cellular modem (for getting online anywhere there's a cell phone signal), a TV tuner, USB mice, and headphones -- all made to match the toy-like white (or black) plastic of the Eee.
Pricing or availability haven't been announced, but we'll be sure to keep you posted.
From Engadget
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