ASUS UK helps us sort out the Eee PC lineup, forgets to help

Alright, raise your hand if the deluge of minor new Eee PC models like yesterday's random launch of a 16GB 900 has you totally befuddled. Yeah, that's what we thought -- and apparently what ASUS UK thinks, too, because a new chart listing all the various Eee configurations is up on its site. One problem though: it's also confusing as hell. Just the first two rows are an insane mish-mash of model numbers and pre-loaded operating systems, and we're loving the unlabeled row at the bottom that marks all the Linux machines as "XP Compatible." Thanks, ASUS. All that said, however, it does look like the 901 still the Eee to buy -- so maybe it's time to start trimming this ridiculous list down, guys.

[Tim @ Jul 8th 2008 8:11PM]

it helped me alright . . .

[Bunson @ Jul 8th 2008 11:31PM]

Agreed, pretty easy to understand.

[scott @ Jul 9th 2008 12:07AM]

i had no trouble understanding it.

but that's not to say it's a good chart.

it's actually terrible, considering a big company is putting this out and not some middle-schooler for a class project.

[Phoenix @ Jul 9th 2008 5:38AM]

Even half-drunk I've found that it's rather easy to understand. Guess I'm just that sorta person who can look at a chart and understand it unlike the folks at Engaget who seem to think that anything remotely complex is ultra-confusing and noteworthy.

[LondonConsultant @ Jul 9th 2008 5:49AM]

I wonder if Heinz will sue Asus when there are 57 varieties of Eee PC.

[first @ Jul 8th 2008 8:11PM]

first

[Ace b @ Jul 8th 2008 8:18PM]

No.

No your not.

May you be "lowest rated" for eternity for assuming you could be "funny" by reciting the most overkilled joke since brittney spears career.

[phobic99 @ Jul 8th 2008 8:20PM]

Engadget needs to adopt the"fade out" system that Joystiq uses on their comment system. I'd even settle for something like Digg does. That way if you wanted to see a stupid comment, you 'd actually have to try to see it.

Oh well, world keeps on spinnin'...

[w00t @ Jul 8th 2008 8:40PM]

Yeah the fade on the other blogs works well and it'd be great to see that here too. :)

[andres @ Jul 8th 2008 8:49PM]

these people tryin to fade me

[Ethan @ Jul 8th 2008 9:31PM]

Red shows up more than green - I reckon you're right. But sometimes the contested views are the most valuable. Uh, rarely.

[SimonRichards @ Jul 9th 2008 12:30PM]

DON'T FADE ME, BRO!

[OXCiD3 @ Jul 8th 2008 8:16PM]

Yeah actually i think it sums it up quite well.

why does the 901 xp come in pink/red but the linux version doesn't...

[Benson @ Jul 8th 2008 8:42PM]

Because XP is gay, and Linux isn't?

[andres @ Jul 8th 2008 8:51PM]

@benson
because "shut up" and "everyone has their own needs"

[Benson @ Jul 8th 2008 10:11PM]

@andres:

Because "ask a stupid question" and "get a stupid answer".

[Pochi @ Jul 9th 2008 12:07AM]

Because Linux users are an EXTREME, EXTREME minority. Better to cater to the masses and not the niche.

Get it?

[Skor @ Jul 9th 2008 1:36AM]

How about just "why does the 901 xp come in pink/red" ?

[OmiMoAK @ Jul 17th 2008 6:44PM]

@Benson

Don't really expect you to know this as you probably are lacking encounters with females

There are more females who use XP over Linux and I assume the numbers are are like 99% to 1% in favor of XP

[Khattab @ Jul 8th 2008 8:17PM]

Yep, good overview. The WinXP 1000 is kinda heavy with 1.45 kg - for 10".

[TRLK @ Jul 8th 2008 8:19PM]

Doesn't look confusing to me

[phobic99 @ Jul 8th 2008 8:21PM]

I love the "matt" cover finish on the older models. Actually, now that I think about it. I hope the "matt" finish isn't what I think it is... *blush*

[John @ Jul 8th 2008 8:58PM]

I hope Matt doesn't get tired of covering these laptops.

[jason @ Jul 8th 2008 8:25PM]

i think if they got rid of a few rows (like the XP compatible one, the ethernet one, usb one, the warranty one, and intel chipset one ) plus the glossy screen type should be 1 block

[Christian Martin @ Jul 8th 2008 8:31PM]

I can't decide amongst the Eee PC Home Basic, Eee PC Home Premium, Eee PC Business or Eee PC Ultimate. Does Eee PC Ultimate come with any Eee PC Ultimate Extras? Or are those still not available?

[Benson @ Jul 8th 2008 8:43PM]

Ah, you beat me to it.

+1

[J-Rad @ Jul 8th 2008 9:43PM]

I still wonder whether to buy a preloaded XP Eee Pc or to just install XP myself.

Or if all else fails, Ubuntu ftw??!

[weaszel @ Jul 8th 2008 8:37PM]

I don't know what you guys are complaining about, it's pretty damn straight forward.

[N Burns @ Jul 8th 2008 8:38PM]

Also, what is with them listing the 2G Surf as non-SDHC compliant?

[Mile @ Jul 8th 2008 8:49PM]

Sorry - still reading all the iPhone posts and comments! BBL!

[Mental Issues @ Jul 8th 2008 8:55PM]

Easy to learn, easy to work, easy to play... but a real pain in the ass to purchase.

[Mental Issues @ Jul 8th 2008 8:57PM]

Easy to learn, easy to work, easy to play... but a real pain in the ass to purchase.

[Paris @ Jul 8th 2008 9:16PM]

You can say that again

[Danny @ Jul 8th 2008 10:41PM]

He did.

[ShadowKain @ Jul 8th 2008 9:03PM]

Yawn, why do they keep milking the Eee name?

[Richie @ Jul 8th 2008 9:13PM]

Why does engadget post so much stuff about the Eee PC anyway. First I dont get the purpose of the eee Pc. Its a device that doesn't even intrigue me. I do love new gadgets and gizmos though. New pc's I could care less about unless their technology is revolutionary and groundbreaking. Really its just another laptop.

[Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 8th 2008 9:19PM]

So the 901 and 1000 don't have ethernet?

[apread @ Jul 8th 2008 10:46PM]

If "10/100 Ethernet" is not ethernet, then yes

[perfectionist @ Jul 8th 2008 9:19PM]

So many of them... And this chart doesn't list the 4G Surf, the 8G (phased out?), or the 900 16G XP (too new?)!

They need to phase out some of this mess! I would get rid of the old 900 models and only keep the 900 16G models. The 7-inch models should get some serious price cuts and maybe some discontinuations.

[Joshi @ Jul 8th 2008 9:39PM]

That's not even all of them. It might be all that's available in the UK, I suppose. But here (US) we have a 701 4G Surf, a 701 8G, and more color options. And while they've announced a 903 and 905, they're absent from this list. I'm assuming the 905 is a version of the 904 with Atom, but the 903? Who knows.

[Skazer @ Jul 8th 2008 10:28PM]

How is this confusing? Have Engadget editors never purchased a car, camera or any other electronic component before? Believe or not, companies often make many different models with similar names. Not every company would be like Asus and actually make a comparison chart to help out their idiotic critics.

[Chris Perkins @ Jul 8th 2008 11:44PM]

Going to have to disagree Engadget. Seems quite understandable to me.

[MoShang @ Jul 9th 2008 12:10AM]

I just got a black 901 (XP) and love it... +1 for ASUS.

[jwilliek @ Jul 9th 2008 12:15AM]

I'm going to save this chart. Man, if they had a flavor of the 904HD with wireless N & bluetooth capabilities, I'd be sold.

[Stuart @ Jul 9th 2008 1:26AM]

I think that the "unlabeled row" at the bottom is an extension of the OS row right above it. That first row lists what OS comes standard with whatever version you're buying, and the second row points out to viewers that even if you buy a Linux version Eee for some reason (price etc), it is still XP compatible.

As for all of the XP preloaded versions, it lists what additional software comes with it (otherwise some might assume that programs such as MS Office were included).

There's my thoughts on it, feel free to disagree. :)

[Rapax @ Jul 9th 2008 3:13AM]

What a second, what's this about the wifi in the 901? a/g/n? No b? That's a show stopper. 95% of all available wireless networks around today are 802.11b.

[DeadJavelina @ Jul 9th 2008 4:11AM]

I'm pretty sure G is fully backwards compatible with B networks.

[OX4 @ Jul 9th 2008 6:30AM]

Eh...looks pretty straightforward to me.

[ITRanger @ Jul 9th 2008 7:10AM]

Well I'm a bit confused.

I'm interested in a 20G 900 matt black. But I still don't know if this is faster than the 20G glossy 901 Atom model.

OK i would like bluetooth as well but I just cant stand a glossy finish on netbooks and laptops even if the processor was faster.

Did someone once say that the speed was roughly equivalent but only the power rating different?

On the other hand, maybe I'll wait until the HP 2133 MiniNote gets updated with the Isiah (or Nano). Even brushed aluminium will be better, but I haven't yet seen a mininote in the flesh.

Choices, choices!

Engadget are right, this is all confusing and a complete waste in terms of the environment. There are simply too many netbooks around which will be forgotten in a year's time.

[XenoX101 @ Jul 9th 2008 8:20AM]

There's only one row missing..


Price.