New images point at Atom-based ASUS Eee PC 900A

Whoa, wait a second. Is ASUS about to plop another Eee PC onto the totally numb-to-this-brand public? As confident as we are that ASUS wouldn't dare hesitate to dilute its once meaningful Eee moniker even further, we're still taking this with a morsel or two of salt for now. Spotted on French site Blogeee, a host of new images depict the Eee PC 900 (with a design occasionally preferred over the 901) with an "A" bringing up the rear. It doesn't take an Intel engineer to guess what that might mean, now does it?

[Via thegadgetsite, thanks K.C.]

[Colin Potter @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:23AM]

Eee PC 900 Apple Killer?

[who? @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:30AM]

No way, but that Eee branded pocket protector might be.... ;p

(point = Eee is a declining brand)

[LondonConsultant @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:06AM]

Eee a delining brand? Bollocks!

This 900A hits the E-spot: the 900's nicer case but with the 901's better innards... Eeerogenous!

[Steffen Jobbs @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:00AM]

OMG. Such a shock. A new Eee PC. I haven't seen that for at least ten days.

The only thing that makes the Eee PC worthwhile is Leopard OSX running on it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGHDKpqZ86I

[bondsbw @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:17AM]

Haha... ASUS found a way to get as many Engadget posts as the iPhone... just release a new Eee every day.

[Superevil @ Aug 3rd 2008 1:56PM]

Another day, another EEE

[andrewviolet @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:04PM]

I understand there are a few differences between this an a 901 - bluetooth, quick launch keys, case and a new processor oh wait my bad! - come on asus keep it simple and make it cheaper. Its nice to have the choice but I think we could all put up with a few less models for a $50-$100 (£25-£50) price reduction that would be saved by streamlining the number of models produced.

[The Dude @ Aug 3rd 2008 5:54PM]

@Steffen:
Oui, oui nice video, mais cet Eee n'a pas de la vitesse! It took that Leopard'd Eee 1:30+ to boot after POST. jkkmobile put Vista Ultimate on the same model (w/30 GB HDD) and it booted in 0:50.

[chop @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:31AM]

wow...i call myself a gadget nerd whos in the market to buy a "netbook" but even I CANT keep up with all of asus' names and amount of eee's they keep spitting out. if someone like me cant figure them out whos to say a normal consumer looking for an ultra portable can? come on now asus...

[John Bailey @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:54AM]

True.. Kind of like all those thinkpads. Surely Lenovo must have diluted that name long ago. Not everyone is Apple, so not every company will bring out a single model a year. They have several variations to satisfy several different buyers. Good for them.

Perhaps people outside those of us following every twist and turn of the UMPC market might just look at what is available, read the spec, and decide which of the many models suit their needs. 7 inch screen, 8.9 inch, or 10 inch, and Linux or Windows, big keyboard or little one. Pretty simple. Eee is a brand. Fair enough, but it is signifying small, portable low powered computers. And as such, it is doing just fine. Just wait until Christmas. not only the Eees, but Acer, Dell and others all fighting for their share of the market. And I hear that Lenovo and LG might be in on the market too..

[Richard Rivers @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:34PM]

@ John Bailey -- I wouldn’t say the Lenovo ThinkPad brand is diluted. There are only about 4 main series and each serves a certain group/user (X=ultra mobile; T= business/enterprise; R=all purpose; SL small business).

As for a Lenovo netbook soon, I think you’re on to something:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF7LkFdoe5M&fmt=18

[who? @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:35AM]

Let's face it Eee, you're dying. Don't make this harder on either of us by introducing products that might stand a chance on the market for a while. We all know you're going to crash and burn eventually. Go out with the one thing you never had in life, style!

[p3ngwin @ Aug 3rd 2008 12:04PM]

dying??
wtf are you talking about, Asus have sold nearly a million of these beauties in about 12 months!

they may be bringing out similar models with similar names, but that is nothing odd compared to LOTS of other companies that have been doing the same with software and hardware for decades.

face it, Asus made a cheap UMPC that was perfect for occasional tasks for kids and parents alike.
they put the effort in and almost nailed perfection with the 1st EEE PC, then they listened to customer critique and evolved the later models to add a bit of variety and expand the options for those that want either better screens or keyboards.

if this was an apple product you would be all over it and it would still cost a grand.
yet here we have a company that made an apple grade product with their 1ST attempt, sold a shit-load, and continue to evolve the models with worthy additions.

now how many Ipod models have been made with similar tiny differences, yet sell for as much as a laptop like the EEE?

did you bitch about the big hooplah when Apple make a BIG announcement and fanboys go wild?
only to find it's.....the latest ipod since the last identical one 6 months ago still costing too much and crippled with propriety software and hardware interfaces.

[^ Fusion Fuzo ^ @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:37AM]

NICE - just when im about to get eeepc 901 another new eeepc comes along - another one to consider

[Nick @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:11AM]

"another one to consider"

Prepare to consider about a million more models.

[diode3diode @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:32AM]

Ooh YEAH! I'm crossing my fingers for a tablet!

[Muhammed @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:46AM]

I hope it does Eee mail.

[JJ @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:05PM]

I love you

[Sakl @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:53AM]

I would buy it.
Regarding the many models - this is starting to look like a Vista smear campaign.
Seriously, come on. How can more models ever be worse than few? Go look EEE up at Wikipedia and you will find a nice comparison chart.

By producing more models Asus succesfully manages to create a computer for nearly everyones' needs. And NO chop, you can't be a geek if you can't figure out the numbering system - it's quite easy..

[zezke @ Aug 3rd 2008 5:29AM]

They still don't have one for my needs. A nice lowbudget 9" netbook. I'm not gonna buy a second notebook that costs nearly as much as my normal one.

[joshuaakelly @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:04AM]

They could do the same thing by just offering a few customizable models.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:29AM]

Yeah, plus isn't creating a crap load of different models bad for profits? I guess they just manage to sell all the models.

[THJ @ Aug 3rd 2008 3:03PM]

I disagree. Having 3 (maybe 4) distinct versions, such as:

Netbook lite: Minimum specs, No optical, 8g Flash 350-450 range

Netbook Traveler: Medium specs, extended battery, DVD, 32g flash, 3G (either CDMA or GSM) - 500-650 range

Netbook Elite: Max specs, All of the med spec stuff + Hi rez screen, 80g mini HD, Blu-Ray drive - 900-1200 range

4th? I don't know. A rugged version (like a toughbook)? A tablet? A solar panel top for recharging? Anyway something totally distinct from the above 3.

[chyan @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:57AM]

Still not gonna buy it.

[LowTeckh @ Aug 3rd 2008 5:04AM]

Aaaaa... for AMD?

[diode3diode @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:43AM]

I say it's Armageddon as in "It's totally gonna kick A$$"

[avester @ Aug 3rd 2008 5:10AM]

OSX is in heaven
All's right with the world!

[indeed @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:45AM]

while i do appreciate the Evangelion reference (maybe?), i don't appreciate fanboyism.

Low ranked

[Colin Potter @ Aug 3rd 2008 5:13AM]

I have a macbook and an ipod touch, and have convinced some of my friends who I do video work with to get macs.... but i still find the fanboy thing annoying as hell... and my first comment was supposed to poke fun at it btw...

[albert @ Aug 3rd 2008 5:35AM]

Oh wow, another Eee PC knockoff...wait...

There seem to be more actual Eee PC models now than knockoffs.

[rony @ Aug 3rd 2008 5:40AM]

stupid Clak damn you and your I-POO ....MICROSOFT FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

[Kizorblade @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:24AM]

I wonder what happens when two fanboys of competing brands meet in real life.

[CJ @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:56AM]

Have you ever heard of the theorectical reaction when you mix matter and anti-matter?

Like that, just with more semen.

[Shadyman @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:43PM]

@Kizorblade:

Their heads a splode?

[Freakin Ijit @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:35AM]

>>> "...Is ASUS about to plop another Eee PC onto the totally
>>> numb-to-this-brand public?..."

I heard it's going to have a strong Artificial Intelligence component integrated into it.

They're gonna call it the "Aieee".

[Shadyman @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:44PM]

And its login screen will be "Welcome to zee swamp"?

[Adderz @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:38AM]

Audi are doing the same with their entire car lineup.

They are filling the "niches" with new, slightly different, models.

So therefore obviously this sales model works Engadget. Seriously saying over and over how much "Asus are diluting the brand" is getting kinda old. It obviously works, which is why they are the Netbook sales leader.

[L @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:12AM]

Was just about to say the same thing. Engadget is really diluting their eee posts with the permanent usage of "dilute"...

[dave @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:47AM]

Gah! I got my 901 yesterday. This (900a) is what i was hoping for.

If it has all the same specs as 901 in 900 case... i might even sell my day old 901 and "upgrade"

[Rishone @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:18AM]

i for one, welcomes all our under powered- confusingly named netbook overloads.

Someone have to do this...

[Aquify @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:16AM]

I like how the A is added on afterwards, give it a zoom.

I call fake.

[bebop @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:37AM]

Quick, the differences between 900A and 901? Appearance aside, beats me.

[Jack @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:47PM]

No bluetooth, potentially slower SSD Flash cartridges (like 904) and potentially different internal connectors (no ziff/mini pci-e). Also, obviously no quick-launch buttons.

[Chris Aubeck @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:11AM]

I wish Asus luck with their marketing strategy and don't feel my life or their brand or my happiness as a shopper has been ruined by this surge in the number of models available. All this "eee is dying" and "OMG they're diluting the brand to some watery nothingness" is really immature.

[Skazer @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:22AM]

Another "OMG Asus is diluting the brand" post on Engadget. How surprising. Maybe if you whiners grew a brain, you wouldn't get confused by this. What is so bad with have many models? You know- besides confusing all the high school drop outs?

[R @ Aug 4th 2008 2:33AM]

Heh, and to top it off, people must be encouraging them to produce more and more by _actually buying them_. *gasp!* What? Demand fueling production and innovation?!!!

[abu @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:29AM]

The average joe consumer is not expecting to figure it out anyway.
He won't look past the "Eee PC" part of the name, as trying to decipher the numberish part of electronic gear names usually procures him labyrinthitis.

He's gonna ask the shop clercks, and they'll be able to point him to the "brand new jizzy revision that debuted just today!" - this, any given day of the year, thanks to the asus way.

[Joe @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:34AM]

They should call this site Eeengadget!

[collegekid13 @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:25AM]

oh oh does the A stand for apple?

(jk)

[Deesaster @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:28AM]

I almost bought an Eeeeeeeeeeeeee(k) back in the winter or spring. Thank God I read!!