ASUS Eee PC "Ultimate" S101 revealed, and it's brown

We've already seen the S101 Ultimate Eee PC at the top of ASUS' Eee PC pyramid of implosion. ASUS' prez, Jerry Shen, told us earlier to expect the Atom-based netbooks to ship with a 32GB SSD, 10.2-inch, 16:9 aspect LED backlit display and battery life of about 4-5 hours. Today in Taiwan, he personally revealed the S101 prototype (pictured above next to the Eee PC 901), and it's brown (at least for now) and it's sporting the Eee logo as you'd expect. Interestingly, ASUS has apparently decided to ditch the Eee branding on the S101 when it goes production in mid-September to keep it distinct from the low-cost ultra-portable branding that the Eee PC name is (or at least was) synonymous with -- a move we wholeheartedly support. The S101 will measure in at a tapering 16 ~ 21-mm and weigh less than 1KG. Seems Jerry re-enacted the ol' MacBook Air (4 ~ 19.4-mm thick) trick and pulled the S101 from an envelop to demonstrate its thinness. Played carny tricks aside, the S101 features the same 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor and 945GME chipset found in current gen Eees with prices to range from $699 for the 32GB SSD model on up to $899 for a 40GB SSD (and possibly more). Interesting, to say the least.

Update: We're hearing that the $899 model actually carries a 64GB SSD -- could be if it's that $313 cheap-o from Buffalo.

[Via iTechNews]

[Blaine Oliver @ Aug 7th 2008 3:49AM]

Brown? Seriously? The zune failed in brown, since when was there a brown iPod and when has brown ever looked good unless its the colour of a table?

[MastrCake @ Aug 7th 2008 3:57AM]

Ummm... the Zune hasn't failed. And I liked the brown Zune.

[quomen @ Aug 7th 2008 4:03AM]

I think brown is sexy.

[deyanimay @ Aug 7th 2008 5:55AM]

dark brown looks nice imo

[Yours Smugly @ Aug 7th 2008 6:04AM]

Brown is a nice, warm color. Besides the brown on this looks quite copper-ish. Me like.

[happy_penguin @ Aug 7th 2008 6:21AM]

@ mastrcake

He said "failed in brown" not just "failed". What were the sales numbers of the original Zune? I don't believe they were all that good. I never would have considered a brown Zune although I do like the looks and colors of the newer models and I would consider Zune for my next player.

Just one iPod user opinion.

[Gianluca @ Sep 14th 2008 4:38AM]

brown? naaa, it' GOLD! ;)
I like this new version... shiny... good idea for this new Acer Aspire One... ooops, Asus EEE... :-)

however, 699usd is not cheap... these new netbooks aren't as those of some months ago... now they're larger (in dimensions) and much more expensive... imho in the next months we'll have a newer family of netbook... uh, we need a new name for those... found! "notebooks"!! ;D

[Mustaine @ Aug 7th 2008 7:44AM]

You could get a matching Louis Vuitton cover..except it'd be more expensive than the laptop. >

[Kamokazi @ Aug 7th 2008 8:35AM]

"Hehe, brown is the color of poop!"

My all-time favorite Family Guy quote.

[PrimoLevinas @ Aug 7th 2008 10:26AM]

I like brown, too.

[happy_penguin @ Aug 7th 2008 11:37AM]

Wow. Low ranked because I don't like brown. Pathetic.

[CraigJ @ Aug 7th 2008 12:09PM]

The Zune isn't a roaring success, but that has noting to do with the brown color.

I like brown.

Oh, and orange is pretty cool too...

[Ollie @ Aug 8th 2008 1:53PM]

I'm pretty sure that Sony do several, very successful, laptops in brown...

[Lance @ Aug 7th 2008 3:59AM]

32GB SSD for $699 is pretty good IMO.....

....but the brown just kills it

[Andrew @ Aug 11th 2008 6:09PM]

No shit.

[Jamma @ Aug 7th 2008 4:02AM]

Seriously? The Eee 901 is $699 (£350) in the UK

I hate being screwed over in this country...

[Homeboy @ Aug 7th 2008 5:00AM]

You're not getting screwed. It's just an illusion from the dollar having lost 40% of it's value the latest 8 years. If you work and live in the USA buying this Eee is just as expensive as it is for us UK citizen to buy one at Dixons.

What if the dollar suddenly increase in value becoming more powerful than the pound? Would that mean that the Americans would be screwed? No. All manufacturers follow a price setting model set several decades back and never change their prices because of changes in currency.

[lnx @ Aug 7th 2008 5:05AM]

@Homeboy,

Finally, someone realises that the dollar is being devalued daily.

Won't it be amazing when the economy implodes and brings us in the UK along with it.

Damn criminal Federal Reserve with their fiat currency.

[Jamma @ Aug 7th 2008 5:33AM]

@ Homeboy,

I see your point, but ASUS (and most electronic manufacturers) are still getting more money for the same production costs by charging more in the UK, irrespective of the cost of living

if they can sell at $699 in the US and make a profit, then they should sell at the exchange rate across the world

[Matias Korhonen @ Aug 7th 2008 5:51AM]

@Inx

The dollar id not being devalued, it's depreciating. There's a big difference. But your point is valid nonetheless, it's all about the PPP (Purchasing Power Parity, for those of you who weren't lucky enough to do economics in high school).

[ilh @ Aug 7th 2008 7:38AM]

You really are getting screwed if you're finding the 901 for £350 and not just for the usual US vs UK price hike reasons.

Everywhere i've seen the 901 it's £299 (the RRP) or less. I got my 1000H for £349 but you can get that for less in other places (the extra few bob was worth not having to wait for delivery as I picked it up 5 minutes away from home).

[Homeboy @ Aug 7th 2008 7:53AM]

Jamma: The world doesn't revolve around the US. Zimbabwe and other nations have fluctuating currencies as well and a company can't change their entire pricing structure just because the currency of one country suddenly drops.

Besides that Asus is a Taiwan company and the Dollar has dropped against almost every single currency on the planet. And with Asus returning all overseas profits to Taiwan they are actually making less money on their sales in the US then what they are in the home country or Europe. In that sense, Asus should really increase their prices int he US so that they at the current exchange rate matches the price of their products in Taiwan.

You guys need to understand that economics are much more complex to keep changing price structures because of one single country. The ones benefiting from all of this are American companies selling products overseas.

[Major4Play @ Aug 7th 2008 7:51AM]

@Jamma

where are you doing your shopping ? an Asus Eee PC 901 cost £256 in the UK

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Laptops/Asus+Eee+PC+901+12Gb+SSD+with+XP+Home+Black+?productId=33184

Why must everyone bitch ? if you can't afford it don't buy it, thats exactly how you enlighten Asus about your feelings DON'T BUY IT

[Major4Play @ Aug 7th 2008 8:02AM]

Also Mr Jamma the exchange rate between £ & $ is meaningless to ASUS it's the exchange rate between their currency (New Taiwan dollar) and whatever country they are exporting too.

The UK does get ripped off in general but mainly by american companies, like M$, Apple etc, the GBP has been up on the US dollar since the birth of the tech age and still we get a price in GBP that is the same as US dollars even though US dollars are worth roughly half of a GBP

[LondonConsultant @ Aug 7th 2008 9:15AM]

Computer hardware and software costs 50%-100% more in the UK than the US because UK businesses and consumers are willing to pay the higher cost. This has been the reason for decades. Focusing on temporary currency fluctuations is a red herring...

[BOGRASH @ Aug 7th 2008 9:57AM]

@major4skin

ever heard of VAT?

[Michael @ Aug 7th 2008 4:12AM]

if it hasnt alraedy been said but Asus...this has officially got out of hand....every week i swear they release or talk about a new laptop..

[bootleg16 @ Aug 7th 2008 4:13AM]

MBA FTW

[[e-mail] @ Aug 7th 2008 4:14AM]

funk dat for $500 and maybe

[takashisenke @ Aug 7th 2008 4:23AM]

I looks like a bar of caramel.

karmel...

[scootinger @ Aug 7th 2008 4:27AM]

so how many different models of the S101 should we expect?

[Will H. @ Aug 7th 2008 4:27AM]

Holy crap that thing is UGLY!

The laptop doesn't look too bad though.

[neofolklore @ Aug 7th 2008 7:34AM]

HAHAHA touche'

[diode3diode @ Aug 7th 2008 4:31AM]

I'm getting thirsty, for some reason I feel the urge to drink Coke.

[Razel @ Aug 7th 2008 5:01AM]

..good thing ur not getting hungry!

[James C @ Aug 7th 2008 5:06AM]

As a an Elite, Travel Explorer & Free Writer, I have been eagerly awaiting a laptop that is both Exquisite and also Extreme Slim & Light.

The wait is finally over!

[bebop @ Aug 7th 2008 5:17AM]

Hey, brown! I thought Acer had dibs on brown?

www.acer.com/aspireone/

[trumpton @ Aug 7th 2008 5:41AM]

Can a brand be diluted any further? I'm going for the Lenovo S10 - at least that won't be obsolete twenty seconds after buying it.

[Macdelaney @ Aug 7th 2008 11:37AM]

"Interestingly, ASUS has apparently decided to ditch the Eee branding on the S101 when it goes production in mid-September..."

Please read the article before posting, not just the title.

[Sciamachy Moran @ Aug 7th 2008 6:07AM]

Braaaahn! Dahn' like BRAAAAHN!

[Sciamachy Moran @ Aug 7th 2008 6:09AM]

(quoting from Waynetta Slob of course)
"A'm Smaaaahkin' a faaaaaaaag!"

[john @ Aug 7th 2008 6:46AM]

What about 3G?

[John @ Aug 7th 2008 9:51AM]

I know Americaans don't find 3G intressting because they don't have full coverage and when they do, they are lucky to get 384Kbit. But in Europe 7.2Mbit has 95%+ coverage in some countries and we do find 3G a major point for mobility!

[ShadowKain @ Aug 7th 2008 8:28AM]

Removing the Eee label won't take away the pain or the knowledge that it pretty much is an overpriced Eee PC ver. # 74.4.3.3.2.2.23.2.1

[Macdelaney @ Aug 7th 2008 11:54AM]

I think that if you compare this with a Wind, wich if I recall correctly is around $559 to $599 with a 6-cell battery (according to this blog), you end up paying between $100 and a $150 more for the 16:9 aspect ratio, LED backlight and SSD option, wich doen't sound that bad to me, I mean I don't need 80gb in one of these. And, I'm really asking here, but should't the LED backlight and SSD give this one a better battery life?

[Tubalcain @ Aug 7th 2008 3:28PM]

The prices are going into regular notebook territory, somethings gotta give.

[m-p{3} @ Aug 7th 2008 9:29AM]

Looks like an Ubuntop

[Jake @ Aug 7th 2008 9:49AM]

Is anyone else as underwhelmed as I am with these tiny laptops? Are they even selling? Who's buying them?

[John from Buffalo @ Aug 7th 2008 10:54AM]

mmmm... more shit brown laptops!

[tanooki2003 @ Aug 7th 2008 10:49AM]

As Chris Griffin says to Brian.... "Brown is the color of poop."