Official: ASUS 8.9-inch Eee PC will include touchscreen, possibly GPS
By Thomas Ricker 
posted March 26th 2008 3:04AM
posted March 26th 2008 3:04AM
posted March 26th 2008 3:04AM
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Interresting. Now the screen takes all the black part of the previous version. Now with a nice little wide screen but I wonder where are the speakers.
Not to be the bearer of bad news, but this doesn't even make sense and I don't know why anyone would take these comments seriously.
Having a touch screen on a traditional notebook display (i.e. one that doesn't swivel and fold flat like a tablet) makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. It defeats the purpose of having a touch screen.
And where are they going to put the stylus? Are they going to redesign the menu system to make icons/text bigger to accommodate a finger touch instead of a mouse cursor -- especially with the rather dense 8.9", 1024x600 display.
I'm sorry, but I think that something got lost in translation when the original story was created b/c this sounds stupid.
If Asus is going to be adding GPS to this thing then a touch screen will be a godsend. You'll be able to mount it in the car and use it like a regular GPS with touch screen. If you don't consider the touch screen an enhancement then fine. No-one's going to force you to buy one.
You're wrong. I had a B-Series Fujitsu in the same form factor and it was useful.
That is pretty sweet. I wish I had more cash...
I am really considering getting an EEE for my next laptop, the smaller $200 ones, but I am not sure if it is too small. In fact, the 9" may be too small.
I plan on using it with my linux server at home, since X natively allows you to use remote applications and they will run on that computer. I won't need raw power as long as I can connect to my server.
That is the one and only reason I haven't purchased it. I keep looking at the tablet form.
Uhm, this is a resistive touchscreen, not a digitizer. The disadvantage is that the position sensing on the screen isn't as accurate, but the advantage is that the image quality on the screen shouldn't be any lower just because of the presence of the touchscreen.
Don't care about Touch Screen, but the larger size is nice. Ditch the touch and give me back my $50.
I'd love to use the touch screen model as a way to enable video and music jukebox capabilities! The size and form factor would make this a nice item on a bedroom dresser or kitchen buffet table. Just walk over and fire up your tunes with a touchh screen UI interface. VERY COOL.
Couldn't agree more!
well im out
really was just waiting for a slightly bigger screen around the same price point, regular notebooks are coming out with no moving parts and for this price might as well have a dvd burner in it
may still get after some price drops
OK ASUS, you win....heres my money...
It's end of March and the unit likely ships in May and he can't tell us whether it includes GPS????
test
Didn't read all the posts so I apologize in advance for possibly double-posting, but E-DT link takes me right back to this site, not a site related to the Eee desktop. Also, HP is currently working on a UMPC whose specs are downright tasty, and the price is supposedly going to be as low as $600ish. Of course the best laid plans of mice and men and all that, but here's hoping that HP keeps the specs nice and the price low.
I don't have any money, but I could go into little more dept... I'll take one in black.
Price, price, price - Seems like everyone wants more features but this drives up the cost. The original concept was what got people wanting this thing - what was it $100? still even now they are selling and the only major thing people seemed to want was a larger screen to fill the black bars where the speakers are. Moving the price to the $500 area this is where it disconnects - even for its size a regular laptop seems better value.
Not a bad portable laptop for $500 with GPS and touchscreen.
I wish I have $$$ to get one.
Man I don't get this. I want my GPS small and portable(in my pocket). Why do I need a touch screen if it dosen't rotate? So when the "screen touchy" people start poking my screen, something actually happens? Sound annoying.
I just want a higher rez display, 8GB min and the lowest price possible.
test
How will this work with linux, or any other os? I agree without swivel its pointless. I hope its optional, i am looking forward to the 8.9 inch Eee, like the last model , but with a bigger screen
I think the Eee concept is losing its way. The original intent was great - a highly portable device with no moving parts that was lower in cost due to its lower specifications. It fit nicely into what appeared to be a gap in the portable computing market. The product was a perfect second computer. I have a Macbook and I'm planning on buying a 2G or 4G Eee PC because I really could use a more portable computer that fits easily in my bag and it would come in handy on the road or at impromptu business meetings.
Now Asus is just leveraging the rapid rise in Eee brand awareness without thinking very far ahead. First, they're introducing new model with additional specifications and costs, which places it outside of the original market gap and into existing and well-populated product categories. Second, they're slapping the Eee brand on unrelated products.
They're trying to grow the brand too quickly. It's not as strong a brand as they think - it's still new and honestly, it has a horrible name - and they'll likely dilute it. It had a cheap geek cool factor on a mini laptop, but I think it's going to fall apart applied to cheap desktops and cheap TVs. Asus isn't exactly known for their marketing and branding expertise. They're trying to be an Apple or Sony but they don't have the marketing department or the advertising agency to back it up.
Well populated category? This new EEE is still only a 2lb computer with a 9" screen, and it's still only $500. Show me another computer that fits in at that price point with similar features.
Considering the popularity of the EEE so far, I think all ASUS is doing, is listening to the consumer. There are people like me out there who would have already bought an EEE if it only had a little higher resolution screen and a little more internal storage. This is the perfect answer to that request, and it's even better that they have managed to toss in a touch screen and still keep the price as low as they have.
Also, how are they slapping the EEE brand on an unrelated product? EEE doesn't mean laptop, none of those letters stand for laptop.
eee is finding its way to success. It is now only more practical. Asus did listen to what we wanted and fixed the things we didn't like... They made the trackpad bigger and multitouch, more memory, they fixed the screen, and the touchscreen just makes it kickass. I am going to buy one for sure. $500 bucks for a great little laptop is way better than a $400 one with flaws.
so is the battery life still shite?
and what's the point of touch screen if its not tabletable? err, tablet-able.
Eh, didn't they say April or May earlier? Hope this doesn't drag out... next month we'll see June or July, with an MSRP of $600 lol.
I used to have a Fujitsu B series which was a touch screen in notebook form only. It worked fine, it was nice to use the screen instead of a mouse (though it could get tiring for long sessions) or for drawing/alternative UIs. I'm very glad to see this feature coming to the Eee, though a higher screen res (XGA minimum) is also important.
That's just one implementation of a touchscreen. My Fujitsu b-series had a shiny, non grainy screen.
Will it be as fast as the 7" eee? More resolution requires more video processing power. They should skip the via processor and go strait for the intel, though im not sure if that is much better... is it?
I've regretted being an early adopter before, but never this much
I have never seen a second generation product fix nearly every problem with the first generation
And its only $100 more
$500? Not likely. Fool me once Asus...
The current 8GB model sells for that much on Newegg.
I am sold.