Asus R50 UMPC release gets firm, like coagulating jello

We haven't heard much about ASUS' R50/R50a UMPC since its debut at CES in January. Oh sure, it was on display at CeBIT but only to be overshadowed (literally) by its imposing 7-inch, R70 bro. With Intel properly official with Atom, Asus now tells us to expect the 5.6-inch R50 to rollout before June in both Linux and Vista flavors with a price above $500. Really, Asus, "above" $500, so is that $501, $1,000 or $1,500? A little bit more specificity please when you announce the expected November availability of the next R50 with keyboard, ok?

[mushrooshi @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:34AM]

Do people really like finger print scanners/

[Jimmy @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:44AM]

i wonder how long it will take some company to realize that there is a demand for sub $400 dollar handheld umpcs for real-world applications. i would expect ASUS of all companies to respect the power of a low price tag! maybe later this year... one can always dream.

[adam @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:02AM]

I just got a dell XPS that has one. I don't think I will buy another laptop without one. No more saved passwords on webpages, all done through the scanner. Very easy to use and great (with the right software)

[huh @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:39AM]

I just disabled the finger printer feature on my x60. It's faster and more reliable to use the keyboard, and I prefer to remember my passwords than have something remember them for me. (Plus fast user switching doesn't work with the fingerprint feature enabled).

But they do make sense on keyboard-less devices.

[Earl Jr. @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:55PM]

I am using an x61t, and the fingerprint reader is invaluable when in tablet mode.

[FRZ @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:00AM]

It does look pretty.

[DeadPixel @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:02AM]

wait.. so how do you type?

[Alexkass @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:51AM]

vista TIP rulz ;)

[Hax Or @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:51AM]

That doesn't look like it fits in a pocket...

[Velik @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:58AM]

omg, it doesnt need to fit it a pocket, some ppl prefer to actually be able to view more than 3 words at a time on a screen.

[Hax Or @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:57AM]

If it doesn't fit in the pocket, then why not get a notebook like the Macbook Air?

[Jake @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:08AM]

Because the Air is an overpriced POS?

-jp

[Hax Or @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:22PM]

In that case I dub this the "Ghetto Air".

[y3k.nik @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:59AM]

looks like they removed joysticks and added more buttons on the psp...

does it have a mini cd drive in the back instead of umd?

[Valgas @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:52AM]

PSP2!!?? Oh... just another Asus product that will make people shit a little when they find out how much the thing costs.

[Ubuntu 7.10 WindowsXP @ Apr 3rd 2008 1:04PM]

ASUS did not need to join the Cell Phone market. Hell, half the people in the cell phone market should leave it.

[chris @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:21PM]

This thing is too big - if it can't fit into my coat pocket I'd rather have a Samsung Q35 and spend the extra money.