ASUS: 10-inch Eee PC coming this year, Atom in June

Jerry Shen, ASUS CEO, is casually twisting Eee PC fans into a tizzy this morning. At the launch of the 8.9-inch Eee PC 900 in Taiwan, he uttered the magical phrase "10-inch Eee PC" for the first time. Expected sometime later this year, Shen said that the 10-inch screen will be the biggest allowed on the Eee PC. Good for you Jerry, but we've got the feeling that you've completely forgotten about the original promise of a $200, 7-inch laptop. Surely we're due for a price drop now that the 900 is out, right?

Update: Asus also confirmed that an Atom-based Eee PC will launch at the Computex show just like we heard. No details about the screen size or any other specs were provided.

[JAmerican @ Apr 21st 2008 5:12AM]

LMFAO! When will it end. I bet the ATOM will be the 10-inch EEE :).

[E. Leigh @ Apr 21st 2008 6:48AM]

I absolutely agree....and certainly hope so. Tomorrow, we will hear about another feature - it's like toshiba changing their model numbers for each retailer when they are mainly the same or slightly different machine for each one.

Oh, do you have the Eee 900-6847?

No, I have the Eee 900-6878...they are releasing an Eee 900-7878 in...about...yes, 3 hours.

I want one though!

[Richard Lai @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:53PM]

When will it end? It's more about when did it start.

The 10" prototype had already showed up in Computex last year: http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news_pics/14057/ASUS_EEE_3.jpg

[jpxdude @ Apr 21st 2008 5:20AM]

This seem's obviously revealed now to shit on MSI's Wind.

[Wonderkid @ Apr 21st 2008 5:26AM]

As long as they keep the current form factor (looks like there is still space around the 9" LCD for it to be stretched to 10" without enlarging the casing) then it will be fine. but soon as they make the machine any larger, they are defeating the object of the eee pc in the first place. i think i have sold about 4 in the last 24 hours to people seeing me with it. humans heart small cute things! the eee is the puppy of 'lap'tops. how about calling it a kneetop?

[JAmerican @ Apr 21st 2008 5:42AM]

Yea! Many envy me with my touchscreen eee :)

[ItsTheOMGShow @ Apr 21st 2008 10:38AM]

@JAmerican: Why? The screen doesn't swivel. What the heck is the point of a touchscreen, you know, other than to 'impress' others.

[JAmerican @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:40AM]

You obviously didn't see my video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9q6b71B-kU

Also its better than using a USB mouse or the small trackpad.

[A.C.E.R. @ Apr 21st 2008 5:28AM]

Engadget will need to spawn a mini-notebook site soon...

[King Mook Mook @ Apr 21st 2008 5:28AM]

Yes, but will it play Crysis?

[RattusP @ Apr 21st 2008 5:37AM]

When I actually get to see and hold one of these god-damn things in Australia I will be happy. Engadget should do PR, because it is hyping UMPC's like Clinton did Bosnia.

[vrf @ Apr 21st 2008 5:37AM]

I swear to gawd I wish I could vote you down more than once.

[JAmerican @ Apr 21st 2008 5:44AM]

No but it plays GTA Vice City as well as Multi Theft Auto: Vice City extremely well :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EIMXODFdp0

[emailtabs @ Apr 21st 2008 8:24AM]

Also NFSMW, all ROMS and even the ultimate, TA !!!.

Whoop Whoop!

[m-p{3} @ Apr 21st 2008 10:48AM]

@vrf, there you go, I voted for you.

[rv @ Apr 21st 2008 12:27PM]

http://www.joystiq.com/profile/1863410/
All you do is ask if things can play crysis.believe me, there are better things in life to do. like your mom (sorry had to)

[jo3 @ Apr 21st 2008 5:54AM]

i like the images to the right of the text for the the three most recent posts. it makes the image and text into one bar.

this is vastly superior to the image above the text.

[tizo @ Apr 21st 2008 8:08PM]

Try viewing the site on a handheld, the picture offset makes viewing the site even worse. Now I have to scroll left and right all the time.

[seanchk @ Apr 21st 2008 6:29AM]

I want something with me at all times that I can use to snd/rcv email and access the web.

I actually saw and played around on one of the 7" triple e's on the weekend and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it.

I'm still trying to decide whether to go with something like the triple e or go with something a bit smaller like the OQO, or whether to just stick with my iphone which handles email and simple web access.

[Fred @ Apr 21st 2008 7:50AM]

Why don't you try the Nokia N800 or N810 ?

[Tits @ Apr 21st 2008 10:33AM]

you cant compare a cellphone with a ultraportable... my friend got one of those nokia and its just a cellphone, not a computer! cant believe he pay 800$ for that, I think he regret too now...

[coolertech @ Apr 21st 2008 6:52AM]

I'm happy with my 701 4G

It does what it says and is very small to take anywhere

[holycow @ Apr 21st 2008 8:06AM]

Why don't they just create a 13 incher... why take small 1 inched steps towards that direction! Come on asus just take a larger step!

[Blackster @ Apr 21st 2008 8:07AM]

why should they?
they already have nice 13' laptops!

[Carl @ Apr 21st 2008 8:08AM]

They've definitely have moved away from the original purpose (and price!) of the Eee PC.

The day the $200 Eee PC comes out, we'll talk ASUS.
It's not even that I'm cheap... I just don't see the need to spend over $500 for a ever-growing laptop. Why not use that $500 and put in a touchscreen, GPS module, Atom processor and even larger SSD/Onboard memory?

[gustavo @ Apr 21st 2008 10:04AM]

Agree. They are moving far away from the original idea of the EEE, which was waht made it good.

It's like in the car market, you can get very cheap lawn-mower engine cars or you can get luxury vehicles. There's little in between, because once they put in one little amenity they have to keep going until you have a Mercedes. Gosh, even honda civics have in-dash gps today.

[DSeaver @ Apr 21st 2008 8:49AM]

@gustavo
Just make sure Circuit City doesn't install it!

[Baz @ Apr 21st 2008 8:26AM]

As noted on Engadget in other EeePC posts -

feature creep = rising prices

ASUS, in releasing the original 4G, failed to deliver on the promised $200 device. But that was deemed acceptable then because the product they delivered was small enough, powerful enough, still had an okay price with no competition around them.
And ASUS (based on its advertising for the product) never intended the device to be used as a real computer.

But now, with the hounds (HP, possibly Dell) at the door, ASUS - rather than push to keep market share in the compact and inexpensive - are instead offering feature creep in an effort to match the competition's more expensive units - with the matching price.

ASUS will price itself out of the market they created.

[Carl @ Apr 21st 2008 8:44AM]

Word.

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 21st 2008 9:49AM]

Excel.

*Badum Chsss*.

I'll let myself out.

[Baz @ Apr 21st 2008 10:09AM]

Actually, I'm holding out for the ASUS EeePC with its 17" fold out origami-like screen.

Of course, it will maintain the same footprint, slightly cramped keyboard, 4G SSD and maximum 1GB RAM. It will come with only XP preinstalled - though the user option to install Win95 will exist.
It'll require a power brick larger and heavier than the Eee itself and cost $699...

[Lotzosushi. @ Apr 21st 2008 8:32AM]

Noooo not ANOTHER Eee PC/ Mini PC/ etc. article... I guess this was to make up for people complaining about too many Apple posts? :(

[Qsat @ Apr 21st 2008 8:45AM]

All of you talk about price not dropping and the 8.9 price that is too high. You have to remember that US dollars keep falling when compared to the money where these laptop are made, Asus make much less profit on them than they used to.

When the US dollars was high, UK and Canada was always paying a premium over USA (as much as 45% on electronic and cars). Now it's your turn and you are better getting used to it, soon, that 15 000$ honda civic will cost 25 000$.

[christopheraven @ Apr 21st 2008 8:54AM]

There is a reason why the prices of these little gems are getting higher - it's called DEMAND, and we gadget hounds fuel it. As soon as something is released, the wave of criticism begins: "it needs more memory.", "why not a SSD?", "the screen resolution is too low.", "if it just had GPS/3G/CDMA/insert whatever else here..." So the manufacturer responds, and the price goes up. Sure, technology gets cheaper, but the company can lower the price margin, because it's shiny, new and we buy it.

[xkevin @ Apr 21st 2008 9:30AM]

You're totally right and those people are what's ruining it for us who want a true low-cost mobile PC. When the Foleo was announced, people jeered because it was $500 with "minimal" features (at least in the bloggers' minds) yet the major things that it touted like 5 hour battery life and a 10" screen are still no where in sight.

Gadgets were supposed to be about functionality, now its all about bragging rights.

[payne @ Apr 21st 2008 9:52AM]

10" seems like the best laptop size to me.

[Phil @ Apr 21st 2008 10:10AM]

I agree completely. While I really like what the eee PC is about, I just can't touch type on that small laptop. I ended up giving it to my son for his first PC, his little 10 year old fingers have no problem with it. I would really consider picking up a 10" for myself though!

[Ian @ Apr 21st 2008 9:59AM]

10 inch eeepc.
So will the resolution improve?

[m-p{3} @ Apr 21st 2008 10:51AM]

If the HP 2133 high-end was a bit cheaper and was using Atom, I would definitely buy this one.

Asus is much more wallet-friendly at the moment.

[digitallysick @ Apr 21st 2008 12:24PM]

I am not sure what Asus is doing to its business model at this point. Why tell everyone that a bigger/better is coming in a few months. Of course, everyone will wait and not buy the current Asus model. Seems as if they are shooting themselves in the foot.

I am awaiting the atom processor before i buy, and hopefully a price point lower than $500.00

[doublej @ Apr 21st 2008 12:28PM]

"ASUS TO STORM SUBNOTE/UMPC MARKET WITH AMAZING 13" WIDESCREEN MODEL" Last model has biggest screen in the UMPC market, threatens market for "regular" sized model.

"INTEL TO SMASH RECORDS FOR FOR CPU WITH LOWEST POWER CONSUMPTION " New 133Mhz "Pentium" chip uses just 10% of the power than the older, 1 Ghz P4.

over to you.

[JohnTitor @ Apr 21st 2008 7:03PM]

can't wait for the 15.4" version...

[ItsTheOMGShow @ Apr 21st 2008 7:18PM]

hah

[Jen @ Apr 21st 2008 8:32PM]

Okay, I'll just buy a previous season 11" vaio then. Only 2.6 lbs, and still less than $1k. Asus is starting to compete with the second-hand high-performance mini-laptop market and the atom 10-inchers can hardly compete with core2 duo 11 inch that is just as light.

[Kreso @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:40PM]

A question. If there's going to be model with Atom instead of Celeron, without upgrades like touchscreen, GPS etc, how much higher price can we expect?
Because the current price is probably as high as I would go, especially because I'm from Croatia, and the price here will be significantly higher than $550. At that price, I'd buy it immediatley :-/

[disco @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:50PM]

There is no way they can beat the sexiness of this.

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=28450&vpn=90NEBA6631251CAL800T&manufacture=ASUS

[Mikado @ Apr 25th 2008 8:27PM]

10in is _perfect! It will fit in my small briefcase and not stretch my arm with the weight. Please _don't_ ruin this little gem with a DVD drive, swivel screen, or any of the crap television addicts must have. All it needs is a decent keyboard, touchpad, usb, ethernet, 802.11, modem, solid state drive, bluetooth, audio and vga ports, Even the audio would be optional when a decent bluetooth headset becomes available. 4 hours of battery without a large/heavy power converter and I'm _sold_.

This is cool. I was feeling bad about planning to get a Lenovo U110. Not bad about the technology but bad because it is made in a country whose government still cultural genocide (on Tibetans) and religious persecution (on Buddhists). ASUS, OTOH, being made in a free and democratic country, will get my business instead.