ASUS EEE PC Blog

Hands-on with the 9-inch Eee PC

2008-03-03T09:14:00.000-08:00

If you hadn't guessed from the headline, and as rumored just an hour ago, there's 9-inches of LCD on this thing. Actually, 8.9, but who's counting? We found out that and a few other little tidbits about this Eee PC "New Generation" at the ASUS booth just now, but for the most part the 9-inch Eee PC is quite similar to its 7-inch forebearer. Anything past that ASUS is saving for tomorrow's press event when this laptop will become officially official, but whatever they end up calling it (Eee PC 900 is rumored), it's certainly for real. The battery impact of the new display is said to be "negligible," with 2.5 to 3 hours of battery quoted. ASUS wouldn't let us turn it on since it's all so very secret at the moment, but they did confirm some release details. The 9-inch Eee will hit in the "middle" of 2008, with that €399 pricetag for the 12GB version, but other capacities available (we saw an 8GB on display). No word yet on US pricing, but we're trying to pry it out of them.

From : Engadget.com

Asus Eee PC: Could Steal the Show at the CeBIT

2008-02-29T14:55:00.000-08:00

Fans of the Eee PC from Asus have definitely been excitingly awaiting the German electronics conference, the CeBIT. It has long been expected that the manufacturer would use the occasion to introduce innovations to their successful mini-PC. Now we know from a press conference that representatives of Microsoft and T-Mobile will be present as well. Many fans and journalists have put two and two together and are now pretty sure what the huge innovations will entail.

The simple equation goes as follows: Microsoft equals Windows, T-Mobile equals UMTS. In bold letters: The Eees were previously delivered with a Linux system and could not get online over the mobile network by themselves. It makes sense, that the makers of the most successful operating system and support for fast, mobile internet would then find a place on the small computers. Eee fans have especially long awaited support for standard HSDPA, which enables broadband speeds while mobile. We will know more on March 4th when the CeBIT begins.

Everex CloudBook First Thoughts Review

2008-02-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

The Everex CloudBook marks the latest entry to the expanding world of UMPC-type subnotebooks at affordable prices. With a 7-inch display, 1.2GHz processor, and 30GB hard drive, the CloudBook certainly doesn't make a very good desktop replacement computer, but it does look like one impressive little road warrior. What did we think of the CloudBook after one day in our office? The answers may surprise you.

[tabletpcreview.com]

Why Are PC Manufacturers so Afraid of the Asus Eee?

2008-02-28T11:36:00.000-08:00

At the Sony Open House, Mike Abary (SVP of Information Technology Products Division) shared his view on the Asus Eee and used the expression “race to the bottom” (in terms of pricing) to describe what would happen if consumers would go for ultra-cheap PCs massively. It is an interesting subject, and here is what we think of it at Ubergizmo: given the success of the Eee, it’s not hard to imagine why PC manufacturers keep an eye on the issue.

“Good enough” is a danger for PC Makers

High-end laptops are not going away but $400 laptops like the Eee could put the other sub-$999 laptops in danger, and the volume is huge in this segment. It is interesting to understand why consumers like the Asus Eee (and the likes) to see why there is a potential for a “race to the bottom”. We call it the “good enough” effect.

“Good enough” is the single scariest thing for all technology companies. They maintain their average selling prices (ASP) by improving functionalities (speed, storage…). Now, what if users’ needs do not evolve as quickly as the hardware? Average selling prices (ASP) would spiral down.

Software innovation is the key

To create more “needs” for the masses, the industry has to create new compelling and mainstream applications (like a new, slow OS with exciting features?) Unfortunately, PC makers have no control over that – software developers do. Additionally, many consumers are now using web-based applications, and the speed of these programs is often limited by the web – not by the PC. That’s one less reason to go for a fancier computer.

The Asus Eee is uber-popular because it addresses a strong demand: it is a light, small, cute and its performance is deemed “good enough” by buyers.

It would naive to think that ultra-cheap PCs are not a real danger for the gross margins of established PC makers: the market pressure is extremely strong: manufacturers are flocking to build these cheap PCs. Even HP is working on a small, but slightly more expensive one. Is Sony in danger? Not in the short term. Should they be worried? Certainly.

Linpus rolls out Linux-based OS aimed at low-cost laptops / UMPCs

2008-02-28T11:35:00.000-08:00

While its claim of being the "first" to offer an OS specifically designed for the latest crop of low-cost laptops and UMPCs may be a little dubious, the unfortunately-named Linpus is at least pretty quick to jump on the bandwagon. To that end, the company's just let loose its Linpus Linux Lite OS, which it says will run just fine on laptops like the Eee PC and Cloudbook, or any other system with as little as a 500MHz CPU, 128MB of RAM and 512MB of storage. Just as importantly, the OS is also apparently designed with low-res 7-inch screens in mind, although as CLUMPC points out, it doesn't go so far as to include support for little things like built-in WiFi out of the box. Still, if you want to give it a shot, you can grab it now in the form of a Live CD direct from Linpus.

HP so confident in the UMPC 2133 it's building 2m units?

2008-02-28T11:33:00.000-08:00

HP apparently wasn't kidding when it said it expected people to buy that hot new UMPC 2133 sub-notebook "without a thought": DigiTimes is now reporting that the company has contracted Wistron to crank out two million units this year. That's an astonishingly high number -- almost 10 percent of HP's worldwide laptop sales last year -- and even wilder compared to the EeePC, which completely blew away expectations by selling 350,000 units worldwide last quarter, or Samsung's Q1, which has only moved a couple hundred thousand in two years on the market. Sure, the 2133 looks sexy as hell, but at a rumored $630, HP's going to have to put some serious sales muscle behind this guy to move that many -- it's just slightly too expensive to be an accessory, and probably way too underpowered to be your primary machine. On the other hand, while this is just a rumor and could be totally wrong, we'd actually like to think HP has a product so good it's going to roll the dice a little. Guess we'll find out soon enough, eh?

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Eee PC hacked to accommodate 1.2GHz Pentium M processor

2008-02-28T11:31:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't noticed, the Eee PC has quickly become a favorite among folks that like to, shall we say, customize things, and it now looks like you can chalk up another big modification to the list of operations the laptop has gone under. This latest come to us from one "guryhwa," who managed to cram a 1.2GHz Pentium M processor into the laptop, giving it a bit of boost of the stock Celeron. Needless to this, this particular hack involves some soldering and a good deal of guts, but you apparently at least don't have to make any modifications to the BIOS. Without any changes, however, the processor only runs at 840MHz, although guryhwa's apparently working to improve that.

[Via Eee Site]

Everex CloudBook Finally Available at Wal-Mart

2008-02-28T11:27:00.000-08:00

If you've been having a tough time getting your hands on an Asus Eee PC, you can now waltz over to the Wal-Mart online store and get its closest competitor, the Everex CloudBook. As you recall, this sub-notebook was delayed on several occasions due to some unnamed software issue, but I guess the guys at Everex managed to overcome this hurdle now.

Initial review units were littered with all sorts of problems -- like a setup process that hides the next/OK button from users -- but there is a distinct possibility that Everex and the gOS crew were able to address these issues for the retail version. Then again, these retail units could be littered with the same problems, so until we get official word from some early adopters, it's probably better that you tread a little carefully.

The Everex CloudBook 7-inch CE1200V Ultra-Portable Laptop with Via C7-M processor retails for $399.

Low cost PCs to hit 13 million units in 2008

2008-02-28T11:26:00.001-08:00

Acer, HP and Asus' new devices expected to drive sales Taiwanese OEMs are expecting orders for low-cost notebooks, such Asus' Eee PC, to reach the 13 million unit mark as more vendors prepare to launch their own models.

Both Wistron and Quanta are expected to expect to benefit this year after Acer and HP placed orders between one and two million with the OEMs for low cost PCs, sources told Digitimes.

The Eee PC 2G Surf, not nearly as nice as the 4G

2008-02-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

In a little twist from the usual Eee PC coverage, where for the most part we have seen praise towards anything related to the Eee, this time we have found a little frustration which comes courtesy of the Eee PC 2G Surf edition. The frustration has lead to the return of the notebook and given us a list of ”10 reasons not to buy the Asus Eee PC 2G Surf.”

Performance: The 2G Surf has an 800MHz CPU underclocked to run at 571MHz, as opposed to the 900MHz Intel Celeron M processors underclocked to 633MHz found in the other Eee PC’s.
Available Storage: Has a 2GB flash drive with only about 360MB available.
Fewer Applications: The 2G is missing the eBook, World Clock, Mail, Notes, Science, Sound Recorder, Webcam, Sudoku, Crack Attack, LTris and Voice Command applications.
Soldered RAM: The RAM in the 2G model is soldered in and cannot be changed or upgraded. The 4G has easy access to the RAM with the ability to easily upgrade it to 1GB.
Battery Life: The 2G offers up to 2.8 hours as compared to the 3.5 hours on the 4G. Of course in real world use we can assume both of these to be lower.

The next few reasons are fairly similar between the 4G and 2G models, as I have had my own issues with the 4G. They deal with the space bar, hard to use touchpad and hard to use mouse buttons which are due in part to their small size. Moving on from that we have the boot time, which could be a little better, but most important is the overall price.

Basically, the value of the Eee PC models comes down to the $50 difference between the 2G and 4G models. The 4G Eee PC retails for $349, while the 2G Eee PC retails for $299 and it seems that little price difference makes up for a good number of lost features. In short is seems that you should save the extra $50 and just purchase the 4G model.

Read [Pocketables] Via [UMPC Portal]

Asus Eee PC with Windows XP launches in Korea

2008-02-28T11:19:00.000-08:00

Asus launched the Eee PC 4G in Korea. Like in Japan the Eee PC is shipping with Windows XP only.

The Asus Eee PC 4G sells for 499,000 Won (~$526) in Korea. Pretty expensive compared to what the Eee 4G with Linux sells for in the U.S.

Asus has still not released the Windows XP Asus Eee in the U.S. and Europe. I am actually not waiting for it. The Linux OS works just perfectly on that machine and I do not miss a thing. The boot time of XP on a 1GB RAM equipped Asus Eee is twice as long as with Linux according to IT Week. That is already a total turn-off for me. The instant on is very important for me on my daily use of the Asus Eee. It is actually still a bit too long with Linux as the connection to Wi-Fi takes its time after booting or wake-up.

The Windows XP Asus Eee is said to arrive still this quarter. Asus Eee PCs sell on NewEgg.

Eee PC Has A Kindle Mode?

2008-02-08T20:21:00.001-08:00

Got a desire for the sold out Amazon Kindle? If you do your probably out of luck on actually getting one anytime soon. The next best thing might actually be an Eee PC in "Kindle" mode. By using FBReader in fullscreen and portrait mode, an Eeeph forum member turned his Eee into a Kindle imitator. Since FBReader is a free e-book reader for Unix and Windows computers this little Kindle tweak shouldn't be too hard to get you a multi-function e-reader out the popular Eee PC. [Eeeph via EeeUser]

Factory-fresh ASUS Eee PC vulnerable to hackers

2008-02-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

Everybody's ritual when they get a new computer is different: some people start installing their favorite programs, some people set their desktop picture to Pushing Daisies (not us, other people... who aren't us), and others check for vulnerable processes that might allow hackers to gain root access. RISE Security falls into that latter category, and spotted a vulnerable version of Samba on a virgin Xandros Eee PC. They ran a pre-built exploit they had for just an occasion, and found that they can indeed root the system through ill-gotten means. No word if there's an update available to patch this hole, but in the interim keep an eye out for scruffy-looking men wearing skull and crossbone paraphernalia snooping around your network.

Asus Eee PC on a Plane to Japan With 16GB and Possibly Windows

2007-12-18T21:56:00.001-08:00

Asus Japan has announced that their beloved little lappie, the Eee PC, is heading to Japan. Normally we don't care too much about one of our toys touching down over there, but they're also getting a new 16G(B) model, whereas our rainbow of options ends at 8G. Also, it's rumored they're getting Windows XP as a pre-install option.

You can pretty much add whatever OS you want, but so far only the Fresno school system has gotten Eee PCs pre-loaded with Windows XP and Microsoft apps, per a specific arrangement. The hardware and (probable) price are a good fit for the general Japanese computer market, but not having Windows might prove to be an entry barrier, so it'd make sense for Asus to have it at bat for people looking for a work notebook. We wouldn't mind having the extra choice (or the 16G model) over here, either.

Vista Running on Eee PC

2007-12-14T21:21:00.000-08:00

Asus Eee PC is, as expected, getting hacked every which way, and Brit Paul O'Brien has managed to squeeze the bloated Windows Vista onto the little Linux laptop. Using vLite, a tool to customize a Vista install before actually installing it, Paul shrunk Vista Home Premium and put the custom disk image onto a USB stick.

He then booted the Eee from the thumb drive, installed and – here's the clever bit – shifted the gigabyte-gobbling Side by Side (SxS) directory off the main drive and onto an 8GB SD card.

The big surprise is how fast it seems to run. In the video, Vista seems nice and snappy, despite the Eee PC's 900MHz Celeron processor. We now issue the ultimate challenge: An Eee running a virtualized Vista inside Mac OS X. Can it be done?

eeeXubuntu: Ubuntu distilled for your Eee

2007-12-13T11:55:00.000-08:00

For all you Eee users out there who've been trying to squeeze Ubuntu into the little white box, some help is on the way. A kind and enterprising Linux enthusiast has used their precious time and energy to put together an Eee-customized build of the much-loved OS, which includes fully-integrated hardware support, native wireless drivers, functioning Ethernet support, tweaks for low-resolution desktop environments, and a bunch of other little enhancements that will make using Canonical's powerhouse a lot more pleasant on your tiny laptop. Word on the street is that development and refinement continues on the build, so expect improvements as time wears on. Now, if only someone could perfect that Amiga OS build for the Eee...
http://wiki.eeeuser.com/ubuntu:eeexubuntu:home

Asus Eee PC's sales success drawing a crowd

2007-12-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

Sales of Asustek Computer's Eee PC have soared in its first few months on the market, but success may be its undoing. Rivals are already developing products to compete with the low-cost laptop PC, market researcher Gartner says.

Asus sold out of the 5,000 Eee PCs made available for a consumer trade show in Taipei last week quickly, the company said, typical of the welcome the device has received. A spokesman for the company reiterated its target to sell 3.8 million units next year, and at least 400,000 by the end of this year.

The attraction to the laptop is its size, simplicity and cost. The Eee PC weighs less than a kilogram, has a 7-inch LCD screen, a solid state hard disk and can connect to the internet wirelessly. The Eee PC currently sells for $599 in New Zealand but Asus plans to push down the price soon.

But anything that attracts attention also invites competition from rivals, and market researcher Gartner says the Eee PC is in for trouble.

The Eee PC has attracted so much attention worldwide that other vendors, including China's Hasee Computer, want to grab a share of the market, Gartner says in its Semiconductor DQ Monday Report this week. The difference is that these companies plan to make low-cost laptops at standard sizes and with better functionality, so they're easier to use.

Hasee plans to launch a low-cost laptop soon, but with a bigger display than the Eee PC, a more powerful processor and much more storage, Gartner says. The Q540X laptop will carry an Intel Celeron 540 processor, an 80GB hard drive, a 13.3-inch display, weigh 2.19 kilograms and cost just 2,999 Chinese renminbi ($525), Gartner says.

Hasee couldn't be reached for comment.

The Eee PC itself was built as an alternative to the first low-cost laptop of a similar vein, the XO laptop developed by the One Laptop Per Child Project (OLPC). OLPC hopes to someday whittle down the price of its laptop design to US$100 from around double that currently. Intel has created a similar device in the Classmate PC, which costs around $285, but Intel hopes to lower the price tag to $200.

These devices were made for kids in developing countries, where cost is the main concern and computers are hard to find.

Asus: Breaking Eee warranty seal doesn't void warranty

2007-12-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

When the Asus Eee PC first hit the market, enthusiasts expressed frustration with a small yellow sticker on the bottom of the device which informed owners that their warranties would be void if they opened the bottom panel, which provides access to the laptop's memory slot. It appeared as though Asus was attempting to prevent Eee owners from upgrading the memory in the product.

After receiving many complaints from consumers, some of whom pointed out that a warranty policy of that nature is unlawful in certain countries, Asus has issued a formal statement affirming that Eee owners can break the seal and that it won't void their warranties. Asus has also decided to change several policies and rewrite portions of the warranty itself so that it is clear to Eee owners that unauthorized servicing isn't prohibited. Asus will also start using a different sticker, which will simply inform Eee owners that Asus is not responsible for damage caused by hardware modifications.

"ASUS wishes to assure its customers that merely breaking or removing this kind of seal will not void the ASUS Limited Warranty," Asus said in a statement. "Although ASUS recommends that customers use ASUS-approved service facilities and components, ASUS is committed to honoring the terms of its Limited Warranty and making sure that its customers are free to make appropriate hardware and software modifications and upgrades, regardless of whether the service is performed by an approved facility, a non-approved service provider, or by the customers themselves."

Asus has been extremely quick to respond to concerns expressed by Eee consumers and the open source software community. When Asus was criticized for failing to comply with the GPL and obscuring changes made to specific kernel modules, the company quickly resolved the issue by releasing the relevant source code.

Australia's cheapest laptop sells out

2007-12-06T12:09:00.001-08:00

Taiwan computer maker Asus might have underestimated the local demand for its diminutive Eee PC, as the $499 laptop is now virtually sold out in Australia.

Neither Asus nor the exclusive retailer, Myer, will say how many units were sold, but an Asus spokeswoman said more stock would be shipped to Myer at the end of this week.

The Eee PC, Australia's cheapest laptop, went on sale in Myer stores nationwide on Sunday and by close of business on Monday all the capital city stores were sold out. The Asus spokeswoman said other metro stores might have a small amount of stock left.

"The number of units has not yet been determined for the next shipment to Australia as there is a high demand for the product worldwide," she said.

"Asus in Australia is trying to get as much allocation as possible from its headquarters."

Neil Merola, Myer's national business manager for electrical products, said the retail chain had sold "thousands" of Eee PCs, but he would not be more specific than that.

"We've had customers coming in buying two or three units for the family - the mix of customer has been probably novices more than the tech types," he said.

"We've had a lot of schools coming in making multiple purchases."

In the US, Asus said it sold out of 10,000 units within two weeks and planned to sell 350,000 by the end of the year.

Originally pitched as a basic, low-cost machine for children, the Eee PC appears to have generated mainstream appeal.

Typically, ultra-portable laptops offering similar dimensions to the Eee PC - 225 x 165 x 35mm and a weight of 920 grams - have sold for far more, but tend to also be significantly more powerful.

Pre-installed on the laptop is the geek operating system darling, Linux, but it is compatible with Windows as well.

With 4GB of storage space, wireless and wired home networking support, a built-in webcam and integrated microphone, the Eee PC has found a new niche as a viable secondary computer.

Merola said the Eee PC's combination of a low price and basic system specifications could spark an entirely new computer category.

"What we've also found in the first five days is it hasn't impacted at all on our Apple or Toshiba or Hewlett-Packard sales, [which are] at far higher price points."

Herald technology reviewer David Flynn found the Eee PC was powerful enough to perform most day-to-day tasks such as web browsing, email, playing music and videos, online chat and word processing, but its small size and seven-inch screen took some getting used to.

Even technology enthusiasts, who would typically shy away from such a low-powered computer, have jumped on the Eee PC bandwagon. A community site, eeeuser.com, has been created and users are already trading tips on how to tweak the laptop for optimal performance.

"Certainly with the Labor Government and the means-tested rebate for PCs, we're seeing that the whole category is going to further ignite as that rolls out," Merola said.

Compact UMPC: 8GB Asus Eee PC in US for $500

2007-12-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

You got to love UMPC’s, they are small and compact and great for when you are on the move, although you do need small hands to type comfortably.

The good news for the U.S. is that the 8GB Asus Eee PC is coming States side of the Atlantic for just $500 later this month.

This should be enough time for many UMPC lovers to get one under the tree in time for Christmas, well as long as there are enough to go around.

Two rumors we are hearing are: if you add more RAM you could void your warranty and this new version may not feature the larger screen that the earlier models had.

Have you been eagerly awaiting the 8GB upgraded to the Asus Eee PC?

ASUS Eee PC most wanted gift this holiday season

2007-11-24T07:54:00.000-08:00

According to C-Net and the sales from Amazon, the ASUS Eee is the must have gadget of the year. Not the iPod Touch, not the iPhone, the Asus Eee.

In fact, its pretty much sold out everywhere you go. Even school corporations are buying them for use in the classroom, which they are perfect for, they don’t have hardware that’s powerful enough to allow the teachers or the students to FUBAR things, but they have just enough hardware for it to act a lot like a portable thin client if you wanted.

They are small, compact, cheap, and easy to replace, so they really are the perfect solution for any environment where you’ll be letting others use the machines. As long as the person has a cursory knowledge of computers they shouldn’t have an issue with the uber simplistic OS either. So, good luck finding one if that is what you seek this holiday season.

ASUS Eee PC billed as America’s most wanted Christmas gift! [via fareastgizmos]

Is this the greatest laptop ever made?

2007-11-24T07:53:00.000-08:00

IT'S not often I get so excited about a gadget delivery that I keep my eyes peeled for the postman.

But when I heard an ASUS EEE PC was on the way, I was desperate to get my hands on it and start tapping away.

This mini laptop went on sale last week and stores stocking it in London's technology heartland of Tottenham Court Road sold out within a couple of days.

So what's so special about it, I hear you ask. Well, where do I start?

Could it be the fact it weighs less than 1KG making it ultra-portable or that by sporting a seven inch screen it is so tiny you can slip it into a little bag.

Perhaps it's the built-in webcam or the fact that the white version looks so stylish and could be mistaken for an Apple iBook.

Nope, it's none of those, the greatest thing about this machine is the price, just £219. Yes, that's right, £219.

It's no wonder that schools are jumping on the bandwagon both here and in America to give them to their pupils. It's one of the best machines I've ever seen for kids to get to grips with their schoolwork and still have a bit of fun at the same time.

The crucial thing about the Eee is rather than running on Windows, it uses a Linux operating system. Now I'm a Microsoft man through and through, I've never been able to face switching from XP or Vista to the likes of OS X on an Apple. There's safety in what you know.

I'd certainly never consider running Linux on my home PC but by slimming down the software on this gadget, it allows it to have a much longer battery life - crucial for a product designed to be used on the move. It will also run faster and has instant on and off.

Asus have been clever because the programs are grouped together with easy-to-follow icons. They are split into sections for work, leisure and Internet and the WiFi on board takes care of connecting to the web. Mine found a signal in seconds. And a new version incorporating a 3G module is also in the works using a SIM-card style method of connecting.

Now Linux isn't for everyone, it doesn't have the bells and whistles of Windows and of course, you won't be able to run your whole multimedia set-up on here. For a start, there is no CD or DVD drive, but three USB ports (more than on many laptops) mean you can connect up a portable one.

It's also only got a 4GB flash drive rather than massive hard drive but again, that just speeds things up and there is a memory card slot plus you can increase storage with a USB dongle.

You won't find Microsoft Office on here but there is Open Office which works just as well as is compatible with MS documents and spreadsheets, and there's Firefox for browsing rather than Internet Explorer. But again, there's a few million people who would find that a massive pro rather than a con.

It also has great shortcuts to Wikipedia and Skype, again aiming it at a younger audience to use for research and chatting to their mates via VoIP.

But while it's perfect for students, it is also a must for anyone who just wants a small, easy-to-carry device they can surf and do business from. It's far more powerful than a PDA but not that much more cumbersome when you consider all the extra uses and the fact it will boot up immediately and runs for about 3.5 hours.

I'm also very impressed by the charging system. Laptops normally have massive power cables but this one uses a plug like you'd have to juice-up your mobile, again meaning it won't weigh you down.

I've struggled to find any negatives with this - even the 512MB of RAM seems more than enough to keep things chugging along without any lag - although a 1GB machine has been mentioned for the future incorporating Windows Vista. Now that would blow the mainstream laptop market wide open even if it was £100 or so more costly.

My main gripes would be having to hunt around for Linux-based programmes when I am a complete novice because there will be a lot of complex kit that won't work with it - like my USB modem - and also the seven inch screen does need a lot of scrolling. Bluetooth would also have been handy.

And any new version would be far better to have the speakers at the front to make more room for a bigger display in the same svelte body.

At this price, it's one of the bargains of the decade and certainly one of the best pieces of techno-kit in any genre. Whoever said the best things come in small packages, must have been talking about the Asus Eee PC.

Asus Eee PC in Black Now Available, Dubbed Galaxy

2007-11-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

Up until now, every Asus Eee PC that you've encountered is likely wrapped up in an Apple-like glossy white finish. Asus promised more colors down the pipeline and here is one the first: Galaxy Black. Better still, you don't have to wait around for the dark wonder to drop, because the Galaxy Black Asus Eee PC is available right now through Newegg.

Unlike their Apple counterparts, however, the black Asus Eee PC does not come at a premium over its white-shelled brother. The specs are identical for the $399 unit, meaning that you get 4GB of internal solid state memory, 512MB RAM, and a 7-inch color display that'll show off that beautifully efficient build of Linux.

If you want to save a few more bucks, you may consider buying the Asus Eee PC in Galaxy Black from the guys at Buy.com, because they're offering free shipping. What color do you want next? Paris Hilton Pink? Swarovski-encrusted Silver? Barney Purple?

Run Mac OS X On Your Asus Eee PC

2007-11-15T19:22:00.000-08:00

As if the comparisons between the glossy white Asus Eee PC and a MacBook weren't obvious enough already, you can now hack the former to run the latter's operating system. Some guy named Dan has managed to install Mac OS X on the Asus Eee PC, opening up the doors for all sorts of Apple-flavored love.

Naturally, this hack falls into a legally gray area, so you'll want to proceed with extreme caution. You also have to bear in mind that the build of Mac OS X floating around on BitTorrent isn't exactly legal either, although the PC-patched copy makes for a "moderately easy install." Based on the specs on the Asus Eee Pc, you'll probably want to stick with Tiger rather than Leopard.

With all this hacking and modding, you've got to wonder why Apple hasn't created a more compact version of the MacBook to compete against this beautiful UMPC. Call it the MacBook Nano and it'd sell like hotcakes.

Asus 10-inch Eee PC Rumors are False

2007-11-14T21:23:00.000-08:00

This is not a 10" screen Asus Eee PC, nor will there be one anytime soon -- says Asus

There has been a lot of discussion going around the web today that Asus is going to ship a 10-inch screen Eee PC at the beginning of 2008. Having just reviewed the Asus Eee PC 4G 7-inch screen notebook we decided to reach out to our contacts at Asus and ask why they wouldn't have told us about this upcoming version. Our queston to Asus was:

NotebookReview.com: "Several different sites are picking up on the following story following story and running with it. We don't recall hearing anything about a 10-inch Eee PC at that press event on Monday.

Apparently, a German Asus PR rep said that the 8G is going to have a 10-inch screen. If this is true, that's news to us. The last "official" word we received was that the 8G will be available in late November with a 7-inch screen just like the 4G.

Please let us know if Asus is indeed planning to launch a 10-inch version of the Eee PC and please keep us informed about other news from Asus."

The response we got from our contact at Asus in California was:

Asus: "I have just spoken to our product manager for the Eee PC and he said so far there has been no plan to introduce the Eee pc with another screen size for the North American market. I don't think other regions will have them either. As you know the demand for the existing Eee PC is already overwhelming, they can't make them fast enough."

Asus is usually not shy about telling the world what they have coming, so the fact they're denying these rumors and pretty much acting clueless as to what it's about is a probable sign we won't see a 10" screen Asus Eee PC anytime soon.

Asus: 10-inch Eee PC due next year

2007-11-14T12:34:00.000-08:00

When we reviewed the Asus Eee PC 4G a couple weeks ago, our chief complaints of this otherwise excellent and affordable laptop had to do with its small, low-resolution display, miniscule hard drive, and cramped keyboard. The 7-inch screen with its 800x480 resolution means horizontal scrolling on most Web pages, the 4GB flash drive (of which only 1.3GB is available) means keeping an external drive on hand, and the tiny keys mean adjusting your typing style or suffering more than the occasional typo. Looks like next year's model will address two or our three gripes.

A German spokesman for Asus stated recently (in German) that the company plans to release a 10-inch, 8GB model next year. It'll reportedly use the same chassis as the current model, however, which offers no relief for the fat-fingered among us. I'd happily trade the thick screen bezel on the current model, however, for 3 more inches of display while remaining at or near the trim 2-pound weight. Thing is, I bet others would, too. Curious that Asus would make this announcement so soon after the Eee PC's initial release. Why give people a reason to hold off buying the 7-inch model? How about you, dear Crave reader, would you postpone purchase plans for a 7-inch Eee PC for the promise of a larger screen next year? Or would you wait for the 8GB hard drive to get added to the 7-inch model? While we're on the topic, any interest in the rumored Eee desktop?

[Via I4U News]

Black Asus Eee ships November 16th

2007-11-14T12:32:00.000-08:00

We reported last week that a black Asus Eee PC 4G is coming. Online retailer J & R is taking pre-orders for the black Eee and states a shipping date of November 16th (this Friday).

I for my part prefer the white Asus Eee, but if you must go for the black one.

The black Asus Eee PC sells for the same $399.99 price the white one does on J & R.

Asus will also launch the Asus Eee PC in more colors next year.

Asus Eee PC On Sale At Best Buy

2007-11-13T20:53:00.000-08:00

Wait! Don't go running out to your local Best Buy store just yet, because you won't find the Asus Eee PC there just yet. Well, not exactly anyways. It seems that the ultra compact Linux-powered laptop is available on the Best Buy website, but it appears to be an online deal only. This means that the 7-inch wonder is not (yet) shipping to brick and mortar stores.

In terms of the specs and features of the Asus Eee PC found at Best Buy, it seems to be the base configuration that everyone seems to be getting. It's an Intel 900 MHz Celeron-M processor running the show, although "it appears that the CPU is only running at 630MHz." You also get 4GB of flash memory (1.3GB usable), a seven-inch 800x480 non-touchscreen display, Xandros Linux, three USB ports, 3MP webcam, integrated mic, 802.11b/g WiFi, and a 5200 mAh battery for 3.5 hours of life. No Bluetooth.

The price is right where you expect it to be too. $399. Too bad there appears to be a 1-2 week backorder.

10-Year-Old Reviews the Asus Eee PC (Video)

2007-11-13T20:52:00.000-08:00

Now that the Asus Eee PC is on sale at Best Buy, more of the general public will be exposed to the tiny laptop companion. It will never replace your home computer, but it certainly makes mobile blogging, web browsing, and other basic computer functions a heck of a lot more convenient.

One complaint that people have about the Asus Eee PC is that it is too small, making the keyboard a tad uncomfortable. But how does this complaint pan out for someone with smaller hands? Say, a 10-year-old boy?

Well, Tyler here says that he likes the Asus Eee PC. The operating system isn't quite as pretty as OS X Leopard, but it's definitely easy to use and he immediately thought of Apple when he saw the glossy white finish. To get his full impressions, check the video below. Note that this is his first time on camera! It's a 12-minute video, so grab some popcorn.

Asus works on Desktop Version of the Eee PC

2007-11-13T20:51:00.000-08:00

Asustek Computer has announced that they are developing a desktop version of the Eee PC. However, this computer will not be bundled with a monitor, whereas other specifications are still on the working stage.

Apparently, the desktop version will utilize the same system as that of Eee PC laptops as well as incorporated components such as CPU.

According to DigiTimes, “Jonathan Tseng - President of marketing at Asustek said that Eee PC has already begun to slow and that return rates for the product are above industry averages. Tseng pointed out that the Eee PC’s return and malfunction rates are both below 1%, according to internal data, while weekly shipments are around 5,800 units, and total worldwide shipments have already reached 100,000 units. With the launch of a Windows XP version Eee PC in December, the goal of 300,000 units is expected to be achieved by the end of this year.”

The company is expected to roll out the Eee Desktop PC by early 2008.

ASUS Eee PC Video Review - PC Magazine

2007-11-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

PROS:
Amazing bargain. Designed like a high-end laptop. Integrated webcam. Three USB ports. Good speakers. Xandros Linux is speedy and solid. Comprehensive selection of software.

CONS:
Only 4GB of storage. Not powerful enough to stream audio and video from an external optical drive. Cramped keyboard.

BOTTOM LINE:
Despite its minor annoyances, the ASUS Eee PC 4G—a 2-pound ultraportable—is sleek, versatile, and well worth the $400.

FULL REVIEW:
When you're finished watching the video, read our full review of ASUS Eee PC 4G.

Asus Eee PC 8G to have 10 inch Display

2007-11-13T20:47:00.000-08:00

During the announcements of the Asus Eee PC in Germany and Austria last week the German Asus press representative Holger Schmidt made a statement to a press agency called pressetext that the Asus 8G would come with a larger 10 inch display.

The dimensions of the Asus 8G with a 10 inch display would stay the same. The Asus Eee PC measures 225x165x35mm (8.8x6.49x1.37inch). A 10 inch screen can fit easily in there. The maximum diagonal is 10.9inch.
If this turns out to be true, I am even more motivated to wait until the Asus Eee 8G will be available. I already considered getting me an Asus Eee 4G upgraded to 1GB RAM.
The specifications published by Asus initially state also a 7 inch display for the 8G.
More details on Der Standard (Austrian). Via Eee-PC (German).

ASUS EEE PC boot Windows XP in least than 30 seconds

2007-11-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

According to this video, the ASUS EEE PC can boot Windows XP in least than 30 seconds.
Faster than a Toshiba

Source : NotebookReview.com

ASUS EEE PC for 399.99$ in Canada

2007-11-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

The Source by Circuit City are selling the small white laptop for 399.99 : Link
The price is the same in US, so Canadians should say a thank you to there dollar.

Source Blogeee.net

Asus Eee PC 701 Review - laptopmag.com

2007-10-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

by Mark Spoonauer
Date Posted: 10/25/2007

This past weekend a circular advertised a Vista-powered laptop equipped with a Celeron processor, 14.1-inch display, an 80GB hard drive, and a DVD drive for only $399. For the same price, the Asus Eee PC (see the photo gallery) offers the same amount of RAM and Celeron processor but a smaller seven-inch display, a measly 4GB of storage space, and no DVD drive. And yet there's no way we would give up this two-pound wonder for a "regular" notebook. The Eee PC may be designed to appeal to children and older customers, but it should also tempt anyone looking for a lightweight budget PC that weighs next to nothing and connects to the Internet easily. It's ten times simpler to use than any Windows machine, starts up twice as fast (no crapware!), and is only about a fifth of the cost of other systems in its weight class. It's a little rough around the edges, but the Eee PC is a remarkably versatile machine for the price.

Refreshing Interface
The reason why the Eee PC should appeal to kids and grandparents alike is the streamlined, tab-based interface that offers only six easy-to-understand options: Internet, Work, Learn, Play, Settings, and Favorites. In some cases the Asus-designed menu (which runs on top of Linux) merely offers links to sites that Web-savvy users have already bookmarked, like Yahoo e-mail or Google Docs, but these choices are welcome for a target audience that may not be able to find these resources easily. We also appreciated the option of using these quick shortcuts, as opposed to opening the browser first. Users will love having a clutter-free desktop for day-to-day use and will likely find navigating the various options refreshingly simple compared with XP or Vista, as well as with Mac OS X.

Small, But Not Too Small
We found the small seven-inch, 800 x 480-pixel display pretty easy on the eyes, especially when compared with Ultra-Mobile PCs like the OQO model 02 (5 inches) and FlipStart 1.0 (5.6 inches), but most users don't have that point of reference. A three-year-old accustomed to a 14-inch LCD didn't mind the screen while she was having fun with Mickey and friends on Playhousedisney.com. On the other hand, we don't see many people above the age of 50 using this device as their primary computer unless they hook it up to a bigger external LCD, which start at about $170.

Overall, the Eee PC's design is fairly solid and incredibly travel-friendly for the price. Our white model (black and other colors will come later) features an SD Card slot, two USB ports, and a VGA port on the right. An extra USB port, Ethernet and modem connections, and headphone and mic jacks line the left side. The keyboard is cramped but is just big enough to touch-type on; the biggest annoyance is the proximity of the Up arrow key and right Shift key; we accidentally moved up a line on several occasions while trying to capitalize a letter. And although we didn't mind the unified, slightly chintzy-feeling touchpad button that you can left- or right-click on, our kid tester found it confusing at first.

Chock-full of Useful Apps
So what can you do with this mini notebook? Practically anything you would do with a Windows-powered one. Teens and adults will likely spend the most time in the Internet area, where you can launch the Firefox browser, Wikipedia, Skype (for making cheap calls), and the instant messaging program (which includes clients for AOL, Google Talk, MSN, and Yahoo).

In fact, the Eee PC is the perfect device for households that fight over the primary PC (and its Internet connection). Why waste money on a two-trick pony like the ZipIt 2 Communicator (which offers only IMing and MP3 playback) when you can get a featherlight PC that does those things and surfs the whole Web, too? And that's not all the Eee PC can do. Under Learn, for example, you can launch word games like Hangman and math games like Tux of Math Command (starring the Linux penguin), which gives flash-card-style math questions the space-shooter treatment.

Under the Work menu you'll find quick links to OpenOffice.org 2.0's various Microsoft Office-compatible apps, including Documents, Spreadsheets, and Presentations. These programs took more than ten seconds to load the first time but only eight seconds after that, and we had no problem composing a Word document on the Eee PC, saving our work to a memory key and then continuing to work on that file on a Windows laptop. Asus also includes a file-manager utility, a PDF reader, the Thunderbird e-mail client, and a Notes app.

No, the Eee PC doesn't do iTunes, but the preloaded Media Player and decent-sounding speakers get the job done. The device played MP3s and WMAs stored on a memory card while we surfed the Web, and the built-in mic performed admirably when making Skype calls. The Eee PC also did a nice job handling MPEG-4 videos captured by a 720p Sanyo Xacti camcorder and stored on an SD Card; the video looked surprisingly smooth on the seven-inch display. The Photo Manager took its sweet time loading large image files, however. Overall, the Media Player app looks positively crude compared to Windows Media Center and Apple's Front Row, so a makeover is certainly in order.

Good Performance and Peripheral Support
Getting online with the Eee PC 701 via Wi-Fi was pretty painless; once you set up a profile and enter the encryption key, the notebook will automatically connect to that network the next time you boot up. Although surfing wasn't quite as zippy as it is on our ThinkPad, it was still plenty fast. The device had no problems handling Web 2.0 sites powered by Ajax technology (like Netvibes) or Flash (YouTube). We encountered a screen-resolution issue with the new Yahoo Mail, but we still got it to work.

Overall performance was pretty snappy, even though this machine uses a Celeron processor. Most apps loaded quickly, and the 512MB of RAM is more than sufficient for an operating system with such little overhead. A mere 4GB of storage space tells you that the Eee PC isn't going to be your primary digital media vault out of the box, but you can easily augment that capacity with an external drive. Plus, that 4GB solid state drive can withstand being dropped by Junior.

Speaking of external devices, the Eee PC did an excellent job recognizing all sorts of peripherals, from a Kingston USB drive to a USB dongle for a Logitech wireless mouse. When we plugged in a Casio Exilim camera, the Eee PC asked us if we wanted to open the images in the File Manager or Photo Manager. Not surprisingly, the device wouldn't load music from our iPhone, but the Eee PC did charge it.

Eee PC owners will be pleasantly surprised with how well this tiny machine can double as a desktop replacement. We connected the device to a 20-inch ViewSonic monitor and used the built-in utility to scale the resolution up to 1024 x 768 pixels, and the resulting picture was nice and sharp. The Eee PC also instantly recognized a full-sized Dell USB keyboard and a wired Logitech USB mouse.

This notebook lasted the rated 3.5 hours of battery life on our tests. That's not nearly as good as the five-plus hours of endurance offered by the best ultraportable notebooks. Those machines tend to cost $2,000, however. Bonus: The Eee PC's power adapter is even smaller than what most notebooks in this weight class ship with; it's not much bigger than a cell phone charger.

Room for Improvement
Although there's a lot to like about the Eee PC, there are some telltale signs here that the device may have been rushed to market. Take the webcam, which is launched under the Play menu. We were able to record footage from within the webcam app, but couldn't get it to work with either the preloaded Skype program or Pidgin instant messaging program, and with good reason: Asus is still working on drivers for the webcam, which it says will be released early next year.

Finding and adding applications could also be more intuitive. When we attempted to update Skype after being asked if we wanted to do just that from within the app, the Skype icon ceased to work from the main menu. Turns out you're supposed to update software from within the dedicated Add/Remove Software utility, located under Settings. Also, we didn't see any new applications we could add, although Asus promises to certify applications as they become available and make them available to users via software updates. The intrepid can install applications themselves, but you'll have to dig into the File Manager and launch them manually each time.

We have one other major complaint. Menu screens dipped below the taskbar occasionally, making it difficult to click Next or OK. This happened when we were attempting to set up an e-mail account from within the PIM application. We couldn't move the window in question up high enough or shrink it down enough to move to the next screen, which was quite frustrating. You're supposed to click the Alt button while moving the window with the mouse.

We'd also like to see Asus make the Eee PC mobile-broadband friendly--so you can surf beyond hotspot range--either by adding Bluetooth support (using a 3G cell phone as a modem) or by adding support for USB-powered modems.

Is the Eee PC for You?
Asus is forging a new class of device with the Eee PC. Yes, you can get a laptop with a bigger screen and better specs for the same amount of money, but this machine wasn't designed to go toe-to-toe with bargain-basement Windows laptops. It's an excellent secondary computer for households with children, and it's a very good primary computer for novice PC users who never had the time or patience to master an operating system.

In many ways, too, the Eee PC is a new-and-improved version of the Internet appliance concept, as its easy-to-tote, easy-to-use design makes it simple for anyone to get online.

When it comes to road warriors, the Eee PC runs circles around UMPCs powered by Vista and XP in terms of performance, price, and ease of use, but not application support. Despite a few issues, such as a webcam not yet optimized for online video chats, the Eee PC is also a worthy alternative to devices like the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet. The Nokia is more pocket-friendly, is Bluetooth-enabled for using a cell phone as a modem, and has a built-in GPS receiver, but the Asus sports a better keyboard, can be connected to a big-screen monitor, and is $80 cheaper.

As for that other famous low-cost notebook: The $188 OLPC XO laptop is a far more ambitious product in that its purpose is to educate children in developing nations. But that doesn't mean the Eee PC isn't a breakthrough in its own right. It brings affordable computing to everyone else, and without a learning curve.

Asus Eee PC Initial Hands On and Video Review - NotebookReview.com

2007-10-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

by Jerry Jackson, Kevin O'Brien and Andrew Baxter

The Asus Eee PC 701 4G is the new affordable ultraportable notebook that's bound to be on many consumers' Christmas wishlists this year. Retailing for somewhere between $299 and $399, the Eee PC isn't exactly a workhorse, but it will do just about every basic task you'd need from a laptop. Our initial hands-on actually proves it does more than we expected.

First, the specs for the review unit we have on hand, which is the Eee PC 701 4G:

Processor: Intel Celeron M ULV 900MHz
Storage: 4GB of Flash based storage (SSD)
Memory: 512MB of RAM
OS: Linux (Asus customized)
Screen: 7-inch screen with 800 x 480 resolution
Ports: 3 USB, 1 monitor, headphone jack, microphone input, SD card reader (SDHC compatible), Kensington lock slot, Ethernet 10/100
Webcam (0.3 MP)
Battery: 4-cell 5200 mA (rated at 3.5 hours)
Wireless: 802.11b/g Atheros
Input: Keyboard and Touchpad

We've only had the Asus Eee PC for a few hours at the time of this writing, but wanted to share a few thoughts and some video before we do a more complete review next week.

Looks

The Asus Eee PC isn't half bad looking. It's all white, which in the long term might not do so well with showing dirt, but while it's pristine and clean in the first few hours, it sure looks nice:

(view large image)

Size Comparison

The Asus Eee PC is small, very small. It weighs only 2lbs, if you include the power adapter then it still weighs under 2.5lbs. That's great for travelling. If you're on the go and want a cheap device to take with you but still do some work or have some fun, this could be it:

Screen:

The screen is 7-inches diagonally and has a resolution of 800 x 480. For the sake of a reference, here's what you can see when you pull up the homepage of the site you are on right now:

(view large image)

As you'll see from some of the videos in this article, it's no Sony XBrite display that offers jump off the screen contrast, but for your web surfing (Firefox is pre-loaded) and Open Office (also pre-installed) work needs you won't really care. We even found the colors serviceable for You Tube video watching needs (more on that soon).

Below is a screenshot we took on the Asus Eee PC of the YouTube.com homepage, this is a good example of what you'll see using the Eee PC screen resolution and size:

(view large image)

Keyboard and Input:

Okay, so the keyboard is far from being a ThinkPad keyboard, but it's not (quite) the worst keyboard we've ever experienced on a notebook. That said, we have to be honest and say it's a real challenge to get used to this keyboard if what you want to do is fast touch type input. Some of the keys are a little wobbly, most of them are undersized and your fingers will most definitely strike the wrong keys as you get used to the weird size and positioning of the keys.

(view large image)

The Asus Eee PC likes the Apple iPod

Pleasant surprise number one. We plugged in an iPod to the Eee PC and braced ourselves for nothing to happen. But it did. Upon plugging in the iPod the Eee PC launched the built-in music playing application. It took about a minute for this to happen, but once the application was open we could see all of our playlists on the iPod and could play them through the Eee PC. That called for playing some AC DC "Back in Black" to celebrate:

The Asus Eee PC works with USB devices flawlessly

We were concerned that all of the normal devices we use with Windows would flake out and not work on the Eee PC. We were wrong again. We plugged in a Logitech wireless mouse and it right away worked with the Eee PC. Even the scroll wheel worked without issue, scrolling through FireFox was a breeze. An external keyboard worked along with any thumb drive we plugged in. Now don't go expecting your USB based TV card tuner to work out of the box with the Asus Eee PC, but it seems that most common peripherals will instantly have a happy relationship.

Voice prompt capability

One little fun thing about the Eee PC is that it has a built-in microphone and basic voice recognition software. A built-in application that you can enable makes it so you call out to the Eee PC to open applications. For instance, say "Computer Web" and it will chirp back "Web" and open FireFox. Or say "Computer Clock" and it repeats back "Clock" and then pops up the time. While neat, we found that after a while it started being a bit too good. Jerry said "Sony" out loud in the room and the Asus Eee PC decided to open the "Movie" player. Well, here's an example of when it works how it should:

Outputting to a larger monitor

We tested outputting to a monitor at 1280 x 1024 resolution. The output was fine, but for video playback things began to choke a bit. When opening up other applications at the same time as playing a video the sound and audio went out of synch and things got choppy. The good news is that the built-in game PlanetPenguin Racer (based on Tux Racer) worked at a whopping 5 frames per second on the large monitor at max resolution. It worked at 15 fps on the regular old 7-inch screen.

Video playback

Again we were pleasantly surprised. It seems that any MPEG4 based video will play back on the Eee PC. DivX and xVid videos play without issue. And yes, if you want to watch You Tube within your Fire Fox browser on the Eee PC that's completely doable. In fact, here's a You Tube video of a You Tube video playing on the Eee PC to prove it (that hurts to think about):

Web cam

The Asus Eee PC comes with a built-in 0.3 megapixel web camera that works quite well. Once you enable it that is. For whatever reason the camera was by default turned off in the BIOS and we had to go in and enable it for the camera to work. For something that dubs itself as "Easy to work, Easy to play, Easy to learn" that's not exactly something you'd expect. We don't think grandma will figure that part out on her own.

Below is an example shot we took using the Eee PC webcam, it's a picture of the box it came in. Not the greatest, but certainly not bad.

Updating the OS and Software

It turns out that all updates are done internally, including everything from Skype to the BIOS. All you have to do is click on "Add Remove Programs" in the Settings area and it will check to see if any updates are needed to the system. It will download any updates, apply them and restart itself. So far this has worked flawlessly in our testing.

So far, so good

While this is in no way a comprehensive review, we just wanted to get some of this video out there and some first real hands on thoughts. We'll have a more honest and in depth formal review in the days ahead once the Asus Eee PC has stood the test of time for more than just a few hours with us.

A note on Availability

The caveat we have to throw out there is that we know the Eee PC is going to be hard to get for some time. Supplies are short at the moment (for various reasons) and because of the price and expected high demand the Asus Eee PC is going to be another one of those gadgets that gets sold for a much higher price on eBay than it does at Best Buy. Asus tells us the Eee PC should hit U.S. store shelves within weeks. Keep your eyes open, because even if you blink it might be gone not long after it has touched those shelves.