Hands-on with Atom-based Eee PC 901 running WiMax

What, you're not in Taipei? No problem, Engadget Chinese is at the WiMax Expo with the first WiMax-enabled Eee PC 901 pictures. Showing off a funky, cutaway hinge (likely due to missing battery), the Eee PC 901 features Intel's Atom processor as expected, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g, and now 802.11n too (hoozah!). The card reader supports MMC/SD/SDHC cards and the WiMax chipset is Intel's Link 5150. Keep in mind that the Link 5150 is a dual-mode WiFi and WiMax module. In other words, there's no guarantee the 802.11n will carry over to the WiMax-less 901 being announced tomorrow. A few more pics after the break, all the rest at our Chinese site.

[Hellios @ Jun 2nd 2008 5:34AM]

I wonder if the inclusion of Draft-N will bump the price over $700.

Who am I kidding, of course it will.

[r3loaded @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:23AM]

Not really, Intel draft-N chips don't cost that much

[brickwood @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:52AM]

in 802.11n that much more an expense than 802.11g hardware?

[brickwood @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:53AM]

i mean is*

..not that anyone wouldn't be able make the correction for themself.

[Hellios @ Jun 2nd 2008 7:34AM]

It isn't, but Asus will still increase the price beyond the $700 anyway.

[kicks @ Jun 2nd 2008 5:36AM]

now for the all important price.......
if i see a wonky price tag on this, i'll be on the MSI wind meat wagon

[matt @ Jun 2nd 2008 5:41AM]

The hinge appears to be cut away as the battery isn't fitted, you can see the guides in the first picture.

[404 @ Jun 2nd 2008 5:41AM]

Maybe it's just that there's no battery in yet (I think) but something about that hinge just makes it look so much more fugly than the older versions.

[bobgorila @ Jun 2nd 2008 5:41AM]

I think the "cutaway hinge" is perhaps because the display models don't have their batteries attached?

Also, me likey a cut-price 900, since it's far too bloody expensive as it is.

Something beneath £300 please, chaps?

[sockatume @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:25AM]

If they're cutting the price of the 900, I'm assuming it's because this will come in at the same price as that.

[Kiruba Shankar @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:08AM]

I like the fact that the new Atom based 901 will mean a price cut for the 900. Good.

The 900 is still to make it to India, while the 700 has been widely available. Even ASUS India doesn't have a clue when the 900 will be available for sale here. Hopefully by the time it makes it to India, it comes with the reduced price.

[rob mathieson @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:32AM]

Maybe we can get some normal photo's, so we can actually see it. Action shots are fun, but i'm getting neck ache. :)

[Rikki @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:25AM]

Congratulations to Asus for packing punches in the netbook world but without a decent price tag to match the 901 is likely to end up being blown in the Wind.

[SD @ Jun 2nd 2008 8:03PM]

pun intended

[unearthed @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:26AM]

Is there any difference in design between 900 and 901?

[Keith MacDonald @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:30AM]

For Christ's sake, Dell: drop the specs on the damned mini Inspiron!

[brickwood @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:54AM]

explain.

[ryan @ Jun 2nd 2008 9:43AM]

I think he means release the specs, not lower the specs

...if that's what you were thinking.

[Keith MacDonald @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:32AM]

I hear ya my friend. Who *wouldn't* want to have 9 inches of lovin'? Time to look into surgical alternatives methinks :( ...

[meist3r @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:36AM]

I would hope they would finally start selling these things in big quantities ... so I can get one of the older ones cheap. I'd really like to have one of these 10" screens and a good updated system but I'm not going to pay 3/4 of the price of a regular laptop for that.

[ron1n @ Jun 2nd 2008 7:14AM]

wtf, it has a windows logo on the "Super" key.

I'm not buying it.

ps. The price is almost guaranteed over $700. No sources to back it up though, other than that "Super" key!

[SteveJ @ Jun 2nd 2008 7:21AM]

I can't tell if it's a normal looking windows key, but those are obviously the Windows version of the Eee PC. Perhaps the Linux version has a different icon on the key. Speaking of which, a good reason to pick up the Linux version even if you want the Windows version (and then install Windows on it), is so you don't have all those obnoxious Windows stickers all over the place.

[digitallysick @ Jun 2nd 2008 9:28AM]

DO WANT!

[ryan @ Jun 2nd 2008 9:31AM]

I think he means release the specs, not lower the specs

...if that's what you were thinking.

[ryan @ Jun 2nd 2008 9:32AM]

WTF that was a reply! Engadget foils me again!

[wickedpheonix @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:20AM]

Is the keyboard actually type-able this time around?

[Booshack @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:08PM]

So they decided to dump the cool understated design of the 900 and go for a lot of awesome plastic crome and high gloss black plastic? Yeah. Well they already lost this generation to the superb msi Wind. The fucked up look and price of the atom Eee is the last nail in the coffin.

Not saying it won't sell ofcourse, it just won't be the best option.

[OneLove @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:45AM]

Whats with the Big Ass hinges!

[bebop @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:02PM]

While the Wind is better spec'd and looks like a better deal, keep in mind that it's a fair bit larger than even the 9" EEE. Its easy to forget that just looking at product shots.

Those looking for a cheap, small notebook - not an issue. Those more interested in the small-and-slight take-anywhere side might want to give it some thought before placing that online order.

[Susan @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:23PM]

Engadget-

Can you please show pictures of the 901/900 with some hands on the keyboard.
Some profile shots as well as a POV perspective would be very helpful.

The 900 series looks good but I am still trying to get a sense of the keyboard's scale.

thnks-
-S

[Tben @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:35PM]

WiMAX.......I prefer HSDPA~

[Some Kid @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:45PM]

@ Tben
that would be better
theres no WiMax in america, but there is HSDPA

and what the hell is the EEE selling for at over even $500
it defeats the purpose of the EEE line
they should stick with subnotes for consumers that need internet and email
802.11 n and WiMax- who are they kidding

[LinuxMacWindows Fanboy @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:33PM]

damn.......i thought my black 7" was perfect until i saw this........

[muypadre @ Jun 2nd 2008 9:57PM]

The idea of a netbook is "ubiquitous connection" at broadband speeds at less than $500.

WiMAX and N bring Asus a step closer.

At the risk of comparing Apples and oranges:

Netbooks will be more functional (with a lower "cost of ownership" ) than iphones.

[pairannoyed @ Jun 2nd 2008 9:05PM]

i could swear i saw the eee at best buy and the hinge already looked like that on a black model, what i saw doesnt match the cloudbook or the eee pics ive seen previously. the unit i played with did have a battery in and only the 2 outside connector points

[Chris B. @ Jun 4th 2008 3:32PM]

For the folks wondering about the keyboard: think "small." I assume the 901 has the same kb as the earlier Eee models. If you have big hands or wide fingers, you will not be able to touch type on it, and should pick one of the 10" models or stick with your crackberry.

I wear a U.S. "M" glove, if that helps, and I can just cram my fingers onto the home keys on a 2G surf, so I am OK with it. But it takes some concentration and practice at first... it is a SMALL keyboard.

[Kris Johnson @ Jun 19th 2008 6:20PM]

This is a fantastic review. I love this laptop! I think it's important to have a laptop that's affordable by almost anyone and I'm glad to see this one is in that market.

Kris J
http://www.pcauthorities.com

[karl @ Jun 24th 2008 4:41AM]

The pics here look to be the eeepc 1000 with 10inch screen, check hinges on pics agains the 1000 at this link.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/asus-eee-pc-1000-vs-atom-based-901-vs-original-701-fight/

Quite frankly the I think these guys (designers) are now lossing the point. The reason many people bought the eeepc 701 was because of the price, size and ability to mod it. I agree the screen is to small as speaker bevel is huge on original, but having only used the eeepc 701, OS replaced with ubuntu for 5 months while travelling the keyboards is OK as muscle memory results in acceptance. And I have big chubby anglo fingers.

What I think they should have focused on for improvements are:
Screen size (good work in the 901), make a standard linux drivers package for all hardware, yes mouse scroll has been painful (so good work updating the pad), and lastly improving the durability of the unit (I dropped mine from a bunk accidentially and it doesn't go, even after opening and checking all the parts which all look ok physical). Then you would have a brilliant product.

Doubling the price and increasing the dimension, make sexier (e.g add cost to design) simple means normal low end laptop ... next progression in laptops should simple be able to buy with or without OS bundled. My preferance is without, but with linux and windows drivers on CD.

enough said!

[karl @ Jun 24th 2008 5:05AM]

apologise, it looks like these "in my view" ugly hinges are now on the new 901s too.

In case any eeepc designers read these forums, if they added some indentations to the outside of the case on the edges then it would not be so easy to drop.

I miss my eeepc...