Eee PC with 9-inch touchscreen in the works?

Details of future generation Eee PCs from ASUS have been trickling out even before the first generation shipped. Now that sewing circle of Taiwanese component makers have whispered a few secrets in the direction of DigiTimes. We already heard directly from ASUS at CES that 7-, 8-, and 8.9-inch models are in the works. Now DigiTimes claims a "9-inch" (we'll assume that's just the 8.9-incher rounded up) and new 10-inch version is also on the way. Notably, the 9-inch versions will feature "four-wire resistive" touch-panels. Great, right? Sure, at first blush what's not to like about an Eee with a touchscreen. However, a good chunk of the Eee's appeal is its low cost even though it never quite delivered on that early $200 promise. Adding bigger displays and now, a touch-screen, is just going to drive the price higher until there's no difference between an Eee and a Wal-mart Inspiron. Still, adding touch-panel functionality is expected to add just $15 to the manufacturing cost of the device. We only hope that ASUS can refrain from milking the Eee's success dry... RAZR anyone?

[Via jkkmobile]

[BrianB @ Jan 18th 2008 5:20AM]

Makes sense to me. Only $15 more for a touch screen. I assume the OS will improve to match as well.

[David Hamby @ Jan 18th 2008 6:48AM]

Makes sense only if they keep and improve the voice recognition

[Jason @ Jan 18th 2008 9:27AM]

$15 at the start of the value chain. By the time it reaches NewEgg that $15 is $80-$100.

[lunacy @ Jan 18th 2008 5:30AM]

Why not just make a 23 cm touchscreen tablet and get on with it already, no need for the a keyboard just stick it on the screen.

[Juaquin @ Jan 18th 2008 12:58PM]

Are you kidding? You want me to type full-time on a surface with no tactile feedback?

[Liam @ Jan 18th 2008 5:58AM]

Touch must be cheap these days, or else it wouldn't have ended up in the DS.

[BobTurbo @ Jan 18th 2008 6:16AM]

The keyboard acts as a stand though, so you can get the device on a convenient angle without having to hold it up in the air.

[L @ Jan 18th 2008 7:34AM]

They could use some sort of integrated stand, kinda like Nokia does with the N800/N810, or Samsung/B&O with the Serenata...

[Craig @ Jan 18th 2008 6:31AM]

I can see ASUS doing exactly the RAZR thing. Too many models, too high a price, confusing for the consumer. They have to do an Apple style product range, a limited number of options at different price points. They should keep a cheap 7" EEE, a more expensive 9" EEE and then a grand daddy 10" touchscreen EEE.

[Blackster @ Jan 18th 2008 6:42AM]

and the apple-prices?
i hope not!

i'm all in for the 10'-version :)

[Brendan @ Jan 19th 2008 9:55PM]

We will rue the day there is a 10' screen on a laptop...

[gvr4wd @ Jan 18th 2008 6:55AM]

I received an email from Newegg selling one for $299. Specs.... ASUS Eee PC 2G Surf - Galaxy Black Eee PC Intel processor 7" Wide VGA 512MB 2GB Integrated Graphics. link:: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220266&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL011708&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL011708-_-LaptopsNotebooks-_-E0-_-34220266

[ManekiNeko @ Jan 18th 2008 6:58AM]

I'd love an EEE with a touchscreen. After years with a Nintendo DS and a MobilePro 770 (kind of my pre-EEE), I've been spoiled on the technology. It's a more intuitive and convenient way to control the cursor on handheld devices than a touchpad or those accursed eraser heads.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks "EEE" should be pronounced the way Stimpy says it? You know, the dumb cat on the old Nickelodeon cartoon... oh, never mind!

[JAmerican @ Jan 18th 2008 8:05AM]

I wish these 9" UMPCs were coming out this month. Everex talking about a 9" UMPC in June/July. Now ASUS releasing one in April. I need one now and the 7" models will be outdated in a few months. Really annoying :(.

JAmerican

[Jacob N @ Jan 18th 2008 8:21AM]

Yeah, frankly I think Asus would have done better to confine the EEE to one or two models. Already we have the 2G, 4G and 8G, 2G and 4G Surf, and now they're adding 8, 9 and 10 inchers with various other features, not to mention the Everex machines, no doubt in various sizes and configurations themselves. I love these pcs, and especially the idea behind them, but I can see how people would be very confused about what to get. Personally, I think I'll wait for next Christmas.

Also, touchscreens kick ass.

[AJ @ Jan 18th 2008 8:25AM]

Have they sorted out the power issues in standby yet though?

[Macha88 @ Jan 18th 2008 9:17AM]

the Teee PC?
ill have that with my biscuits plz.

[webon @ Jan 18th 2008 9:23AM]

so much better a choice from That Air thang from that certain company.

I know that has nothing to do with this but its just that Im so disappointed I had to let it out
sorry

[dvdivx @ Jan 18th 2008 9:27AM]

I wish they would just focus on the basics. Add a 8.9 screen with decent resolution ASAP and ideally a 16gb SSD. Bluetooth would be the only thing they should add. I think it would be more useful than a touch screen.

[Nathaniel Meyer @ Jan 19th 2008 9:23PM]

I completely agree. At the moment, the only thing keeping me from buying one is lack of Bluetooth, the terrible resolution, and a screen that's just 2-3 inches too small. Add those, hell even make it $500, and I'd buy. I, like others in these posts, require a ultraportable for taking notes in class, using the internet outside of my room, and writing papers in a more comfortable setting. The EEE is getting closer and closer to that perfect mix of what I need and what I want, but a touchscreen? No word yet on resolution changes? I guess I'll have to wait and hope...

[revaaron @ Jan 18th 2008 10:02AM]

his will need a 30GB chunk of storage and the ability to get net off my PPC6800 and then it would win.

[Organic_Shadow @ Jan 18th 2008 10:03AM]

Once these are officially announced, priced, and dated, and Acer shows us what they have up their sleeve, THEN I will decide which one to get. I don't really need a fully blown laptop that's just going to break or start a fire.

[Mark @ Jan 18th 2008 10:55AM]

"there's no difference between an Eee and a Wal-mart Inspiron"

One BIG difference: no stinkin' Windows!

[Psychav @ Jan 18th 2008 11:02AM]

The trick is to improve the hardware as the technology becomes more affordable and economies of scale from it's own success allow ASUS to keep the price the same. (example: Ipod)

[McLogic @ Jan 18th 2008 2:47PM]

"We only hope that ASUS can refrain from milking the Eee's success dry..."

Too late. It was exciting at $200, at $400 it is a fool's buy when an Acer is $525.00

[ManekiNeko @ Jan 18th 2008 2:59PM]

This fool has an EEE coming to him in a matter of hours, because his budget laptop is much too heavy to carry with him to his classes. Maybe you don't see the practicality of a truly portable computer, but many of us do.

[Mark @ Jan 18th 2008 6:27PM]

Add a transformer hinge and I'd get two.

[The_Steven @ Jan 19th 2008 12:07AM]

As long as I can shoe-horn Ubuntu into it, I'll take it!

[Tim @ Jan 19th 2008 2:07AM]

The plan was to upgrade the Intel chip and remove the fan. This would improve battery life and reduce noise. Are they still on plan or have things changed.

[bob cobb @ Jan 19th 2008 8:00PM]

Make a 10" EEE and I just might buy it. Anything with a smaller screen is worthless to me. Anything much bigger wont be an ultraportable.

[pattman247 @ Jan 19th 2008 8:31PM]

The eee pc really excites me. If I didn't have a macbook I would totally jump on this instead. Just the fact of not caring if I put my bag down too rough or any other annoyances that I endure daily, such as theft, would be soo worth it. What I would love is a linux distro that has an app similar to time machine for the eee. Wow that would be amazing, just imagine coming home and the eee automatically syncs all new information to a time-capsule similar device.
I would never use books in school again, plus its not as multi-taskable so I wouldn't be going on the internet with my spare screen real-estate to look at facebook during class :P
that brings a new question: how good is the keyboard on the eee?

[kr @ Jan 20th 2008 12:43AM]

good enough to type this comment in the dark with no errors. Also, my glasses snapped in half yesterday.

[mcgillnicholas @ Jan 20th 2008 12:51AM]

Awesome! I'm glad I held out!!!
This is a college student's necessity.

[skulldriveshaft @ Jan 21st 2008 3:11AM]

BOOM!

[Sabba @ Feb 27th 2008 2:22AM]

i waant one!!