Asus lets loose US pricing, launch details for Eee PC
By Donald Melanson 
posted October 29th 2007 4:58PM
posted October 29th 2007 4:58PM
It's been a long time coming, but it looks like Asus has finally settled down on pricing and release details for the US launch of its low-cost Eee PC. According to NotebookReview, a sales kit sent out to retailers by Asus confirms the $300 to $400 prices we heard about recently, with a $350 model squeezed in there as well. The same sales kit also reveals that the top-end $400 model, dubbed the Eee PC 4G, will be the first one available, with it set to drop on November 1st. While there's no firm details on the other two models, they'll apparently both also be available sometime before the end of the year. Conspicuously absent, however, is the much-touted $199 model, which we're guessing will be released around the same time as the $100 OLPC.[Via Electronista]
Eee? Wii!
Even if you potentially purchased the basic $300 model, you would still spend nearly $500 (for extra RAM, extra storage, Windows OS, etc..) just to make it worthwhile for most. So since this is still just a underpowered notebook, why not purchase a essentially better performing laptop at nearly the same price range.
Now if this was a UMPC (similar to the Fujitsu U810), then we would something to talk about. Asus should go ahead, in cram this into a 5.6" inched screen handtop (unlike the oversized R2H). With about 256MB-512MB RAM, 2GB-4GB SDD-Storage, include the same Linux-based OS + Intel CPU/GPU and you'll one killer pocket device (or future MID).
This IS a cheap UMPC and is quite functional for $400, even if not in the expected tablet format. If they did all you're suggesting, it would cost more than twice as much, would be competing in a fairly established category and would be nothing special.
If they get mobile broadband working this will truly be the "killer app" geeks have been looking for. You could easily VNC to your monster gaming rig and do real work anywhere your cell phone works. You don't need that much horsepower to remote into another box. As to the price it's obvious that the weakening US dollar is having an impact on the cost on anything US consumers buy abroad so why should this be any different?
> VNC to your monster gaming rig and do real work
Unless you're a game developer, consider me boggled.
People comparing this to the $500 14" laptops are out of their mind, this is not competing with that. This is an ultraportable for $400 which I think is still a great deal. Rather than thinking of this as a gimped laptop, it's more like a pocket PC on steroids.
A couple things to consider: on the 4gb 512mb model, the RAM is upgradeable. Also this machine does have a SDHC compatible slot meaning you could add a 16gb card and bring it up to 20gb total.
For university student looking for a cheap note taker, I think this is perfect.
canadian pricing and specs & pics of OS
http://www.ncix.com:80/products/index.php?sku=25905&vpn=90OA01A10112111U101Q&manufacture=ASUS
HEY everyone, I've been hanging out at eeeuser.com following this little beauty.
A couple users uploaded pictures of the interface on the Eee and I built a little Online Test Drive for the Eee.
Check it out at: http://www.honeypothack.com/eee/internet.htm
-Josh
HEY everyone, I've been hanging out at eeeuser.com following this little beauty.
A couple users uploaded pictures of the interface on the Eee and I built a little Online Test Drive for the Eee.
Check it out at: http://www.honeypothack.com/eee/internet.htm
-Josh
Oops.
iRobot, it's priced like the iPhone. It's early adoptors who are willing to pay the highest price, not parents who are tricked into feeling guilty by their manipulative brat kids.