ASUS' 9-inch Eee PC, now with living pixels!

We showed you quite a bit of the 9-inch Eee PC from ASUS yesterday, but they wouldn't let us turn it on. Now that CeBIT has officially begun, however, ASUS is lighting up those pixels loud and proud. ASUS tells us the screen is 1024 x 600, and it looks to be almost the exact same pixel density as the 7-inch version. The computer was being shown in both Linux and Windows XP versions, so it looks like you'll be able to have your choice of OS when the 9-incher is released later this year.

Gallery: ASUS' 9-inch Eee PC, now with living pixels!

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[Liam @ Mar 4th 2008 6:31AM]

Magic. The screen was the most offputting thing for me, but this one looks more usable for things like browsing the internet.

Wish this had been around October last year, when I was looking for a laptop for uni. Plumped for a Macbook instead.

[Mike Cerm @ Mar 4th 2008 7:19AM]

It's like they took the only thing wrong with the EeePC, listened to their would-be customers, and fixed it! It's nice to see a company that actually gives people what they want (unlike what Apple did with the MBA).

...and I think you mean "plunked".

[YoYoYo @ Mar 4th 2008 8:05AM]

Dunno. I'm now officially "tempted" but the low resolution is still a little offputting. Similar sized displays from Fuji can hit 1280/are much, much sharper. Still, might be usable with Opera's scaling zoom.

[Velik @ Mar 4th 2008 8:20AM]

yoyo -> the screen resolution is very appropriate given the screen dimensions. I dont know if your used to seeing screens of this size, but Im thinking that, unless a very cheaply build lcd was used, that the image will be as clear as any.

[Liam @ Mar 4th 2008 8:26AM]

I meant plumped. Oh, and yoyo, I'm sure that any more pixel density would be difficult for some users, unless all the apps were reworked.

[Mike Cerm @ Mar 4th 2008 9:22AM]

My apologies - I had no idea that "plump" could be used interchangeably with "plunk" as a verb. However, in this context, I do believe plunk is more common.

[sinjinn @ Mar 4th 2008 10:41AM]

no , i think plumped is more common.

to plump=to choose e.g. i plumped for a macbook.

to plunk=to add e.g. i plunked a 50gb harddrive into my pc

[geniusiknowit @ Mar 4th 2008 12:50PM]

In the states, we would say plunked or plopped. 'Plunk' is the sound of dropping something in the toilet, such as your money being spent on an overhyped, overpriced laptop; 'plop' is the sound of dropping your ass onto the salvaged vinyl couch in your mom's basement. 'Plump' isn't a sound at all, it's what happens to your body from spending all day in front of the computer.

[Harry @ Mar 4th 2008 2:14PM]

I'm curious where Liam and sinjinn are from cuz I've never heard "plumped" here in the US (California).

[nomoreshakes @ Mar 4th 2008 4:05PM]

it's a british term...at least...

[Daniel Tull @ Mar 5th 2008 6:47PM]

Yeah, in Britain we say "plump for something".

[ArcticFox @ Mar 4th 2008 6:33AM]

What processor does this thing have, is it the same as the previous EEE?

Have they beefed up the graphics at all?

[Deez @ Mar 4th 2008 6:33AM]

Awesome. Now...this, or XPS 1330? I know, totally different, but both small enough for Uni use. I could play TF2 on XPS...but I'm also paying around £300 extra for that privilege. Doh :(

[Liam @ Mar 4th 2008 6:47AM]

I expect the specs will be similar to the old one, except the GMA 950 might have been swapped out for an X3100. A little better. Again, this was an upgrade the macs got just after I bought mine. Not that big a deal.

[Liam @ Mar 4th 2008 10:51AM]

Clicked on the wrong reply box. My response is below. Sorry.

[Liam @ Mar 4th 2008 10:54AM]

Okay, third try. If this goes wrong again, it's the comments system, not me.

Right. "replying to ArcticFox". Good. I think I clicked the wrong button, my reply is below.

[Liam @ Mar 4th 2008 10:55AM]

DEAR GOD WHY??

[Leoedin @ Mar 4th 2008 8:38AM]

The XPS is a fully fledged computer you can use as your main computer while at uni. The eee, despite the larger screen, is still a secondary light-weight web-browsing computer. It's perfect for my sister at uni - all she does is use openoffice, surf the web, listen to music and chat on MSN. If you only store your music on an MP3 player, then you only need 8GB of SSD. I'd find it too limiting for anything particularly techy (photo processing, downloading files etc). Each to their own, but because you're posting on engadget, I'd recommend an XPS1330.

[nfreema1 @ Mar 4th 2008 10:02PM]

Neither; Asus W7S.

[Jagannath A @ Mar 4th 2008 6:37AM]

holy crap!! now this is sexy :)

and thank god on the screen resolution....

[Deez @ Mar 4th 2008 12:28PM]

LOL @ Liam

[Deez @ Mar 4th 2008 12:29PM]

Dammit

[Homeboy @ Mar 4th 2008 6:38AM]

I'm surprised by how more beautiful and high-end it looks without the ugly black border around the screen. Thankfully Asus has also upped the resolution, this is such an instant buy. Any idea when it hits the retailers in the UK??

[Jagannath A @ Mar 5th 2008 1:07AM]

LOL @ Deez

[Jagannath A @ Mar 5th 2008 1:08AM]

grrrrrrrr

[Craig @ Mar 4th 2008 6:39AM]

Fantastic! Now we're talking. 1024x600 is good enough for proper browsing and you still get all the original Eee love (tiny form-factor, decent battery life, no moving parts, etc.). And being able to pre-order it with XP makes it just that much more available to folks who are daunted by mucking with the OS.

Well done, Asus...kudos!

[nojak @ Mar 4th 2008 6:43AM]

wonder what the price is gonna be on this bad boy...

[Homeboy @ Mar 4th 2008 6:53AM]

$399/€399

[Deez @ Mar 4th 2008 6:57AM]

In squids (£)?

[Homeboy @ Mar 4th 2008 7:00AM]

€399 = £305.5

[Lance @ Mar 4th 2008 7:01AM]

Deez, it will most likely be between £225 and £275

[Zach @ Mar 4th 2008 3:39PM]

@Lance

ORLY? where you hear that from?
everyone and their mother knows asus saying 399 euro = roughly 600 (god please. no.)

if its 600, i ain't shelling the money. don't get greedy now asus or i'll start calling you jackasus

[Zach @ Mar 4th 2008 3:51PM]

399 pounds? or is it euro

if pounds, then 600$ (could swear it was, but everyone says something different.)
if euros, ehh.. its 1.25$ roughly per euro so.. bout 500$?
if so, like i said, a bunch of jackasus if you ask me.

[Hung @ Mar 4th 2008 6:24PM]

@ Deez
Squids. Lawl.


Yes, I know you mean quids. I only trade in beaver pelts, though. Conversion rate is something like $1 = PB 5. Inflation's a bitch.

[buu700 @ Mar 5th 2008 4:52PM]

@Zach

Err... I don't quite know how to say this... but... €399 is actually more than $600...

http://www.google.com/search?q=399+euro+to+usd

[tim @ Mar 4th 2008 6:44AM]

If this thing can run WoW...*slobber*

[Rhys @ Mar 4th 2008 9:12AM]

With a bit of work, the 7 inch one can run WoW. Not very well, of course, but it looked playable for soloing.

[Hax Or @ Mar 5th 2008 12:13PM]

just remember to stay out of Shattrah and IF

[jgreenaway @ Mar 4th 2008 6:44AM]

I'll be getting one of these straight away!

[Shawn @ Mar 4th 2008 6:48AM]

I'll have to wait for more info to come out on the HP 2133 before I decide on which one to get.

[jonouk @ Mar 4th 2008 6:52AM]

if its still £200 ($400) like the eeepc then i'll buy

[Baz @ Mar 4th 2008 7:02AM]

Nice.
But, if as reported earlier by Engadget, its cost will be closer to $600, its priced itself well outside of the 'sweet spot' that the original 4G enjoys.
Closer in price to a 'real' notebook, but with the limited specs expected in the eeePC, the 9" seems to be relying less on its capabilities and more on the enthusiasm of those already with an eeePC to upgrade.

ASUS would do better to spend their time and money not on 're-designing the wheel' but rather, to better develop their Support and the software available of the current eeePC, which has been seriously lacking so far.

[technophobe @ Mar 4th 2008 7:49AM]

who is gonna upgrade a computer they only bought a couple of months ago?

[Baz @ Mar 4th 2008 8:06AM]

Ask any Apple'ite.

;-)

Meanwhile, if this isn't due out till mid-2008, that's means the original will be nearly 9 months old. Practically geriatric in tech time....

[zervin @ Mar 4th 2008 8:30AM]

I'm with you here, I am in the market for a new ultraportable right now, and I have been looking at pickup up a used X32/X41. However, if this guy is like the original $399, its a wrap. If they start pushing the price up closer to the $500-600 range, I will have to bow out and go for a used Xseries.

Would love to have one, but I have to be a bit more practivaly about something I will used daily for pecking on blogs and browsing.

[pixel @ Mar 4th 2008 7:02AM]

The only reason I never got the 7 incher was the resolution - it's the same as my nokia n800 and a damned sight less portable. With the bump to 1024 I'll definitely be getting one (bank balance depending). The fact that it's less fugly is even better :)

[Eric @ Mar 4th 2008 7:26AM]

I believe engadget previously said it was going to be $399 for the 12gig version. I might have read that wrong. Either way, I would pay around $500 for a 12gig 9" in a heartbeat.

[Baz @ Mar 4th 2008 7:58AM]

Actually, they quoted €399, not $399 - so that's in excess of $600.

And yeah, 12GB + 1GB RAM + 9" screen is nice - but collectively, not worth the $200 premium. Especially, as I said, the default remains largely unsupported by ASUS. And swapping it out for XP (you remember XP - its the OS everyone hated before Vista and Leopard came along) will cost you more bucks.

With falling costs of hardware and building costs, the 4G should cost $299, the 8G (if you can find it) $350 and this 9 incher - maybe $425.

[Leoedin @ Mar 4th 2008 8:51AM]

The dollar isn't what it used to be. At some point, prices in the US will have to rise. The cost in dollars of making a laptop in asia has gone up as the dollar has fallen. What seems expensive to you is fairly reasonable for europeans..

[Cal @ Mar 4th 2008 12:25PM]

The price won't convert as the exchange rates make it look, you tend to get everything cheaper so I'd guess it will be about $500-550