ASUS can't help itself, debuts Eee PC 904 HD

As if ASUS's Eee PC line wasn't already crowded enough, the company has now seen fit to debut a new Eee PC 904 HD model in addition to the three other 900-series units that made themselves known only yesterday. Contrary to what you may suspect, however, this particular model doesn't boast a full HD resolution, but rather a standard hard drive in place of a solid state option. Otherwise, it seems you can expect the same 8.9-inch display in 10-inch size casing as the regular 904, although there's unfortunately no word on the size of that hard drive, or any other specs for that matter. ASUS did confirm that it'd be the cheapest model in the new range though, with it coming in at £250 (or just under $500, and no doubt less minus the VAT and whatnot).

[Thanks, Ben]

[Blaine Oliver @ Jul 1st 2008 2:02PM]

Does the HD stand for huge and disgusting (bezel) ?

[Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 1st 2008 8:45PM]

LOL good one! : )

[chris @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:02PM]

wow i'm getting really tired of these EEE posts.

[Forrest @ Jul 1st 2008 2:03PM]

Couldn't the addition of a spinning disk have a serious impact on battery life?

[Blaine Oliver @ Jul 1st 2008 2:21PM]

Tests have show SSD and HDD power requirements as similar even with regular HDD's winning by upto an hour in some tests, because HDD are eitehr on idle or power drained according to usage, SSDs are either on idle power or full power.

[Forrest @ Jul 1st 2008 2:28PM]

Ahh, thanks :) I always thought moving parts would be a bigger power draw, but I'm not familiar with the architecture of SSDs :|

[BigD145 @ Jul 1st 2008 3:09PM]

Tests in large iPods have shown that a solid state CF card in place of the existing drive does extend usage time.

[Kiwi616 @ Jul 1st 2008 2:03PM]

And what was wrong with 904HDD???? Much less confusing

[Kiwi616 @ Jul 1st 2008 2:04PM]

And what was wrong with 904HDD???? Much less confusing

[Kaiser-Machead @ Jul 1st 2008 2:04PM]

You know what else is confusing?


Deciding which of these comments to respond to.

[Kiwi616 @ Jul 1st 2008 2:08PM]

@Kaiser-Machead

Not might fault though....blame engadget and ASUS :)

[Joshi @ Jul 1st 2008 2:32PM]

Actually, most appropriate would be "904H," considering that would follow the precedent they set with the 1000H (the hard disk drive version of the Eee PC 1000). But apparently they want to switch it up to "904 HD" for no reason whatsoever.

I'm still not sure who would want the 903/904/905 (and I'm still not sure what the difference is between them). It's like the worst of both worlds - a larger device with a small screen. You do get a (slightly) larger keypad for it, and the aforementioned HDD option, but people who want both of those but want only a 9" screen (despite the fact that a 10" screen fits) have to be a very small minority.

I'm even more disturbed at Engadget's earlier claim that the 903/4/5 will replace the 900 and 901, which are much smaller devices that actually have something resembling a point. Personally, I would never buy either, because of the keyboard (note: I wouldn't buy a notebook with the 903/4/5 or 1000's keyboard, either - the Wind, Aspire One, and HP Mini are all showing Asus how a small keyboard is done) but the 900 and 901 were the smallest 9" notebooks by a sizable margin. So Asus takes that, arguably their only competitive advantage (price surely ain't one), and destroys it, while further muddying their already-confusing line (and even their product nomenclature) in the process. GG, Asus!

[Chris Aversa @ Jul 1st 2008 4:04PM]

Kiwi,

It won't sell as well. I'd bet the HD designation is confusing on purpose, because just like the article states, it implies a nicer display to those who aren't as techie as us.

They aren't always trying to be as clear as possible. They are trying to sell units.

[Kaiser-Machead @ Jul 1st 2008 2:04PM]

So, um, there's like, no way to improve the line without adding on to the price? Totally losing sight of what made this thing popular.

[Dan @ Jul 1st 2008 3:10PM]

My thougths exactly, The EEEpc was famous for its small size and great price point in a subnotebook category. Now they are getting bigger and more expensive while turning into just a everyday notebook.. but with like 10 different flavors.. Next month tthey will be 11, 12, and 13 inch sizes I bet.

What the hell ASUS dont milk the eeepc series like this please >_

[anon @ Jul 1st 2008 2:06PM]

Finally. Hopefully the price will be subnotebook-worthy (or whatever we're calling it these days).

[Nick @ Jul 1st 2008 2:12PM]

What happened ASUS, you used to be cool

[no1youknowz @ Jul 1st 2008 2:13PM]

Asus is quickly making themselves irrelevant in alot of peoples eyes.

Too many models and none of the features everyone wants. I keep on seeing cries of "where is the $199 model we were promised?"

Anyhow, they have gotten OS X running on the MSI Wind. Which most likely, the future fight will be between that and the Dell-E.

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=110666

Give it a few months and more releases of Asus models and no-one will care anymore!

[DefPo3t @ Jul 1st 2008 2:23PM]

Dear Asus,

Stop this sh&& already

Signed, us people that supported your original 299$ goal

[Karl Hackswell @ Jul 1st 2008 2:24PM]

Have they dropped the price on the original eee's yet? If not I think they should.

[Nick @ Jul 1st 2008 5:12PM]

hell yeah 50 dollar surf's please :)

[XenoX101 @ Jul 1st 2008 2:29PM]

Why all the models ASUS? Can't you make up your mind on what you want to be? Can't you be cheaper? Could you shed a few pounds so that you look like you used to? You've got teenager syndrome.

[MaX PL and the 360 r4pe Tr4iN @ Jul 1st 2008 2:30PM]

i think Asus is officially a joke now. how many EE PC models are there now? around 7 or so?

[Joshi @ Jul 1st 2008 2:41PM]

700 2G Surf
701 4G Surf
701 4G
701 8G
900 12G
900 20G
901 12G
901 20G
903
904
904 HD
905
1000
1000H

So...thirteen. So far. Keep in mind each of those is available in Windows XP and Linux versions (except the 900 and 901, whose capacity is determined by the OS installed) and in multiple colors (five on the older models, four on the newer ones).

Like I said earlier in a (possibly lost) comment: The people who want a larger keyboard and chassis, but not a larger screen, are a hopelessly niche market (unless the price comes down big time), and the people who want an HDD in that are a niche of a niche. Asus continues to expand its line with reckless abandon, but they haven't actually upgraded any of the models, and the original Eees are now nearing a year old with no signs of attention in the future. Asus might be trying to be the Apple of the netbook realm, but without a unique OS, people are going to have a hard time justifying their prices.

[Fusion Fuzo @ Jul 1st 2008 2:47PM]

@ joshi

you forgot the linux and xp versions also

[LongshotX @ Jul 1st 2008 2:34PM]

Buy a real notebook.

[Fusion Fuzo @ Jul 1st 2008 2:40PM]

so theres eeepc 700 2g, 700 4g linux, 700 4g xp, 700 8g linux, 700 8g xp, 900 linux. 900 xp, 901 linux, 901 xp, 1000 linux, 1000 xp, 903, 904 and 905


How many more of the same machine are they gonna bring out before the end of 2008?

[Engadget Reader @ Jul 1st 2008 2:45PM]

So, ASUS. Where is the SSD version/?\

[Stevo @ Jul 1st 2008 3:01PM]

the 904?

[Sime @ Jul 1st 2008 3:46PM]

OMG THERES SO MANY MODELS ITS MAKING MY HEAD SPIN!!!!!!1

[Krush @ Jul 1st 2008 4:31PM]

Eee 904 HS (head spin version)..... same as 904 HD but preloaded with Vista

[nobody @ Jul 1st 2008 4:16PM]

Let's see.. small ? nope. cheap ? nope. A full Notebook ? nope.
Awesome !

[jollyllama @ Jul 1st 2008 4:25PM]

Silly naming conventions from a company that named itself "ASUS" cause, you know, it's like "Pegasus," but without the "Peg."...

Seriously, that's where the name ASUS comes from. Wierdos.

[Steven @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:27AM]

I thought it was an alternative spelling of "asses"

[pennyk @ Jul 1st 2008 5:18PM]

Why so many models? Because ASUS has zero conviction on which model people really want.

[ncmach1 @ Jul 1st 2008 5:21PM]

Now their getting STUPID. Get rid of the bezel and put a 12in screen it it for the love of Pete.

The world has plenty of laptops to choose from now. They must have money to burn on R and D.

[iofthestorm @ Jul 1st 2008 7:17PM]

Right, a 12" screen on a laptop with a 10" diagonal. That will work...

[Sime @ Jul 1st 2008 7:31PM]

they cant or else MS wont let them put XP on it

[Reader @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:07PM]

I got a better idea. They should put a 15" screen in it! And a 160gig hdd, and a dual core processor. Oh wait...

[Skazer @ Jul 1st 2008 8:05PM]

What is wrong with you people? What's wrong with Asus giving its the market CHOICE? Contrary to popular belief, just because you like a tiny keyboard and horribly disfigured hands, doesn't mean that everyone else does. Funny enough, I actually noticed 1 comment on how Asus should give its customers the features they want- gee, could that mean they should get more choice? Ugh.

[StomperGames @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:39AM]

i have the original and they keep smearing the purpose of the eee more and more and more

if only they could keep it cheap and simple and mass manufacture it the way the user wants it and knows it, if only

- www.stompergames.com

[kingu @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:20PM]

Someone patent EEE 1000-2000 and put an end to this madness

[Jason @ Jul 3rd 2008 8:55AM]

This is gotta be the dumbest idea ever to come out of the Eee PC development team. Just when I was about to praise them for putting in a bigger screen and removing the space wasting bezel in the 900 and 901...someone figured what a great idea it'll be to put it back into the 10 inch casing...*sigh*

[ssrat_ @ Jul 5th 2008 1:54PM]

I was leaning to the WIND, but after seeing the 904H on the way, and the fact that the Wind will have a 3cell battery, no real way of upgrading the ram, LESS battery life (even with the "good" battery) Asus is getting me back.

Add in the fact that the Linux editions of the ASUS are the same as the XP (- the license fee) it is easy just to throw your old copy of XP on to it for free

The Linux Wind only comes with 512 soldered to the MB leaving the single (if you GENTLY get to WITHOUT breaking the case) open ram slot to give you 1.5g v the 2g for Xp version

[p meier @ Jul 7th 2008 1:52PM]

if you like it small and portable - hurry for the 900 20G
pimp it (e.g. os - full desktop - and apps: eg audacity, gimp, inkscape, scibus, cinepaint, kino and wine) and stay tuned and happy.
you never know how long the compact 900 will be available.

whatsoever, asus would be better off to launch an Eee PC community to support their initial concept. but alas - ingeneers will stay (egghead) ingeneers.

[DUEG @ Nov 14th 2008 2:05PM]

I think its cute

[Tom @ Nov 26th 2008 4:12PM]

My wife wanted the Dell mini for Christmas (to take notes in meetings) so I had to compare the Asus to the Dell. The Dell is about 1/2 inch smaller and only goes to 1GB ram (comes with 512mb standard) and no HD only 16GB Flash card inside. The Asus 904HA goes up to 2gb ram has a 160gb HD and is $125.00 cheaper than the Dell with 1gb ram. Oh yeah and the 1/2" gives you a larger keyboard. BTW the Asus has a battery that lasts an hour longer than the Dell. At $325.00 I thought it was a pretty good deal.

[frogzus @ Feb 11th 2009 7:22AM]

ok,
so which of all these notebooks from asus is the best to buy??
say i want a 9'' or 10'' ( preferably 9"), which one has the best system and also has the fairest price?
- in the shop they said , well it depends what you aim to do with it? ( LOL )

use word a lot ( want the xp version )
wished to play games ( but I know there is no video board on such a small notebook to support this, or is there??)
wireless needs to work on it ( but on most it does, doesn't it? )
3,5 hours battery ( but 2 h is ok as well )
camera integrated

so which model is the best for what I need???? I can't figure it out..