ASUS' Chinese site reveals Eee PC 900 with 30GB hard drive

As if it wasn't already clear that ASUS has descended into self-parody, the company's Chinese website has now revealed yet another Eee PC model which, by our estimation, brings the total number of variations to about on par with the number of Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors. This latest model, dubbed the Eee PC 900 30G, boasts a 30GB hard drive in place of the usual 12GB or 20GB SSD drive, and is apparently set to be available in both black and white Linux versions, and a black-only Windows XP model. No word on a price or release date just yet, but it seems safe to bet that it'll come in under the flash-based models. Given the saturation of Eee PCs 'round these parts, it also seems entirely possible that these'll only be available in China, although we certainly wouldn't put anything past ASUS at this point.

[Via Electronista]

[Miles @ Jul 17th 2008 4:58PM]

is that photo to scale? is the Eeepc really that small?

[lukas88 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:23PM]

It is pretty small, but that picture makes the lower portion look thinner than it really is. I would go do a google image search for eee, that will give you a pretty good idea.

[clevername @ Jul 18th 2008 2:28AM]

the eee pc is just great you can check out some youtube videos there are a lot the the latest on eee901 is from jkk adding 30gb 1.8inch hdd the is so well build that this is almost as easy as adding a memory card http://youtube.com/watch?v=sJdNQk5AfkE enjoy ;)

[Vance @ Jul 17th 2008 5:02PM]

While I can see Engadget's point about the many Eee flavors, would we all be as critical if it were only one model but with several different options? Sort of a roll-your-own Eee. And is that really any different?

Frankly, I like having the options. I want big screen and keyboard, but not big harddrive. SSD all the way.

[KEROLiUKAS @ Jul 17th 2008 5:18PM]

What would you do with 4 gigs of storage?? useless...That's why i'm going for a wind..80 gigs here i come.

[broli @ Jul 17th 2008 5:18PM]

Let's make this an apple comment shall we.

You see my friend if you didn't have options and they only sold one model you'd have to wait in ridiculous lines filled with people who think it's cool to look like an idiot.

[retro77 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:31PM]

KEROLiUKAS: you fail to see the point of the 4G Eee, please, go buy the Wind. Once you get into cloud computing, you will see why you don't need more than 4GB locally. Also these aren't meant to be power houses, the are netbooks.

[lukas88 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:38PM]

I use the surf with 4 gigs of storage, and other than some clever XP installing, it hasn't been a problem. I put a 4 gb SD in there which I save all my notes too, and I couldn't really ask for more. Nowadays, the minimum you will get is probably 8gb, which should be way more than enough if you just use it for school and web browsing.

If you want a media player or a game player, netbooks are probably going to disappoint. If you want something light and small that you can look up a wikipedia page from a cold boot in less than 30 seconds (or 10 from sleep mode), they are great.

[404 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:08PM]

"by our estimation, brings the total number of variations to about on par with the number of Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors"

And when there's an Eee full of white chocolate polar bears, it'll be awesome too.

[KEROLiUKAS @ Jul 17th 2008 5:09PM]

900? Who wants that Celeron?

[retro77 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:31PM]

again failing in your own pool of fail here.

[SuperSexyErik @ Jul 17th 2008 5:15PM]

what is eee pc?
Thank you in advance for reply :)

[rento @ Jul 17th 2008 5:24PM]

Something better than (and I quote) the iPhone

[lukas88 @ Jul 17th 2008 5:26PM]

Welcome to engadget :)

Eee is a tiny laptop. You can take it places easily and use it anywhere, like on the train, where some lady will tell you that the computer is perfect for her 5 y/o daughter, and you just have to nod and smile.

[Jamma @ Jul 17th 2008 6:22PM]

what is iphone?

[Jim @ Jul 17th 2008 5:18PM]

I am the other way Vance,

I want a small, very small, computer with lots of storage.
I travel and want it very light weight and very portable. I also travel with my Camera and would like to be able to off load the shot to a hard drive and may do some very simple editing (rescaling, color touch ups). Just enough horse power to create/display some Power point presentations and minimal graphic editing.
As I travel ability to use skype from a small computer is a plus.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jul 17th 2008 5:33PM]

Lots of models, maybe but here in Europe (arguably the biggest possible market for this thing) is still not possible to buy any of them in any brick&mortar store.
And nobody is gonna order one online before having at least seen one in real life.
A clone of the MSI wind went for sale only in Austria, but not the real msi.
Any conspiracy theory I have'nt heard of yet ?

[gcc @ Jul 17th 2008 6:18PM]

Its available in Europe. I've seen the 900s on shelves in both London and Prague in the last two weeks.

[Pizzicato @ Jul 18th 2008 5:39AM]

I don’t know where in europe you are, but here in europe you can send back anything you ordered online in the first 7 (some countries 14, some 30) days. There are units of the 900 in ’brick and mortar’ stores, too - since June.

[Shane @ Jul 17th 2008 5:58PM]

All EEEs have an SD card slot and you can carry as many 16gb cards as you want around with you. I keep one in my computer at all times effectively doubling the capacity from 16gb to 32gb. I also upgraded it to 2gb of RAM and run Windows XP, which makes it a very usable ultraportable laptop.

[Anonymous Coward @ Jul 17th 2008 6:06PM]

8gb should be enough memory for anybody

[lordmorgul @ Jul 17th 2008 8:57PM]

None of the EeePCs have 8Gb of memory... they have 8Gb of storage. 8Gb of memory might be enough for 'almost anyone' (but note that though these do not have that) but it will not be enough storage for everyone, hence the reason you can buy different models with more or less storage.

[Pizzicato @ Jul 18th 2008 5:33AM]

If you don’t get the joke, don’t reply.

[Castaa @ Jul 17th 2008 8:24PM]

I don't get why the editors here at Engadget mock ASUS's variety of products. It's called selection. Who cares if it's all under the 'eee' brand.

Why single out ASUS? Intel sells two dozen different processors at any given time in their product cycle. What's the difference?

[Kclee2002 @ Jul 17th 2008 10:06PM]

this particular model has been on sale in Malaysia(named as eeepc 900H) for some time.It retails at RM1399(437USD approx.) with Windows XP. Comes in both black and white apparently

[markdossor @ Jul 17th 2008 11:29PM]

Harvey Norman in australia has these listed on there system, not sure if they are available yet or not. aus $439

[Markarian @ Jul 18th 2008 4:34AM]

My Cloudbook thinks I'm beautiful...

[RIcardo Sampaio @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:57AM]

Im Posting from a eee900 30gb that i bouth today in suzhou china, cost 3800rmb = 380euros

[Boom @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:32AM]

There is a mod for installing 1.8" HDD in Eee 901.
http://www.eeehacks.com