ASUS N10 netbook forgets the streets, ditches Eee moniker

It looks like ASUS knows how much it's trashed the Eee brand -- the company's new, higher-end 10.2-inch netbook is simply labeled "N10" in an effort to give the rig some premium cachet, and it looks like it deserves it, with a slick new case, Altec Lansing speakers, HDMI out, and a 1024 x 768 display. Apart from Digitimes saying pricing will be in the range of €300 - €400 ($446 - $595) -- which we're not buying -- that's really all we know, but we're sure to find out more soon. Anyone else think it's funny that ASUS so diluted the Eee brand in under a year that it has to start a new premium line? Tons more pictures at the read link.

[Richard Lai @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:42PM]

Seems like the LCD can go bigger as well. Make the whole thing glossy black, put in a nice chip and I would definitely buy it.

[Jason @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:52PM]

But.... then it would be a laptop, wouldn't it?

*so confused*

[d00b @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:47PM]

This model is pretty big, easily the same size as normal a 12" laptop, judging by the thick bezel around the 10.2" LCD and the large horiz width of the keyboard (note how the keys at the edge are much wider than normal). This puts it against the traditional ultraportables: It's lower cost, but also much lower performance and smaller LCD for the same size.

I agree that the Eee label should be junked if Asus want to fatten up on its margins. The name & the erstwhile Eee designs just scream entry-level. Interesting that Acer have just announced a $50 price drop for the Aspire One.

Understandable that Asus wants to go upscale, but they'll need more than a makeover of the exterior shell and a name change to get there. The competitors' styling (Aspire One, Lenovo S10) also look pretty spiff, and they're cheaper. What's needed to diferentiate is a better performing chipset, especially now that Asus want to connect to the TV.

Not sure why they'd put a fingerprint reader on a consumer notebook.

[Richard Lai @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:21PM]

@d00b:

"Understandable that Asus wants to go upscale, but they'll need more than a makeover of the exterior shell and a name change to get there."

"Not sure why they'd put a fingerprint reader on a consumer notebook."

Well, you've answered yourself!

[Kris @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:43PM]

That actually looks very nice though I have a feeling the new Dell might give you more bang for your buck.

[m @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:46PM]

yeah, when it catches fire and explodes.

[ivybat @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:45PM]

If it's going to cost the same as a an actual machine (15.4", 3GB - 4GB of RAM, 250GB HDD, 2.0GHz Core2, and dedicated video laptop from an overpriced company like Dell hit in at around 450 bucks these days), I'd at least expect some sort of tablet functionality to set it apart from the rest. MiniPCs (call 'em what you want) are a great idea, I agree, but they're not meant to be used like typical laptops, so they should have atypical features (and be cheaper! sigh..)

[Matt @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:21PM]

I don't know where you priced out a rig like that for 450 bucks, but hook me up with a link, big dog. I recently got an XPS 1530 with pretty much the specs you described and a 2.4 GHZ proc, and it clocked in at around 1700.

[JerryA @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:38PM]

@ivybat: Not quite. They are pretty damn competitive and they have been putting out some nice notebooks lately. Still, not counting specials (of which there are many) their base model is $499 and that is only 2ghz, 1gb RAM, 80gb HDD, and integrated graphics. Granted you can spend a couple hundred more and bump up the RAM and video but it's not quite as good as you paint it.

[Jason @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:54PM]

ivybat is probably quoting a promo price - still, it seems a little unrealistic, but then bottom tends to drop out about now with everybody doing back to school sales.

[Skyride @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:29AM]

I reckon he might just be having a joke exagerrating.

Im happy with my vostro tbh. Had an eee, wasen't fast enough, got a 14" laptop. happy :D

[telepheedian @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:45PM]

I'm sick of all the people saying that the 10-inch Eee models are overpriced/coming way too close to a notebook. I've found that the 1000h is perfectly sized for a subportable, and even though it costs more than the competition, it is well-speced and readily available. This simply looks like a classed-up version of the 1000h, I've been using mine as a primary machine since I got it, and I would say that there is definitely a market for a more high-scale version of it. Really, its got all you need for 90% of computing tasks, the only thing it really can't handle is content creation, as well as gaming.

[telepheedian @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:46PM]

In other news, it looks like they finally fixed the right shift key.

[chefgon_ign @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:46PM]

This doesn't really look like a Netbook. High-end speakers and HDMI out seem to suggest that this is just a 10" notebook. I wouldn't be suprised to see a $1000+ price tag and no effect whatsoever on the Eee line because they are distinctly different products with different target markets.

[Wolfticket @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:00PM]

The atom processor means this will be cheap, sub-1.5kg, and relatively underpowered.I t will also have a small/lowish resolution screen and be a netbook.

[Jason @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:55PM]

yeah, that and there's no 'eee'

[Josh @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:54PM]

Looks good. Just to clarify though, the link provided described the LCD as having a resolution of 1024 x 600, not 1024 x 768 as you stated. If that's true, that's one sad LCD in 10.2" size.

[Brian @ Aug 22nd 2008 11:54PM]

That's what I thought, it's the Innolux 10.2" LED backlit panel that's actually a 15:10 aspect ratio, which is rather strange.

It's a beautiful display, and has a killer 500:1 contrast ratio, and 80 degree viewing angle.

[chop @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:54PM]

thats definately not a netbook. if the screen is 10.2" already, then that means the casing is around 12-13" wide. meaning its now hit normal laptop territory, just doesnt have a dvd drive.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:54PM]

1024x768...? On a 16:10 (or what appears to be) screen?

Uuuhhh... ew. No thanks to distorted images.

[Dexter @ Oct 29th 2008 12:01PM]

thats a typo, its 1024X600 a proper aspect ratio for the screen

[Sam @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:57PM]

Shame 1024x768, higher res was the only thing I was looking forward to.

[Ryan @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:57PM]

Fack, I just called Dell today and they told me that the Mini Inspiron release date has been pushed back to the 4th of September.
School starts in 3 days. Ugh, I'll have to carry around the 17"er until then.

[WarMouse @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:17PM]

Better invest in a mask to hide your face, or all your friends will surely disown you.

[Timmy @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:24PM]

I carry a 17"er around all the time...wait, what .. we were talking about notebooks wernt we? my bad

[bertross @ Aug 23rd 2008 9:16AM]

My notebook has 96 pages and 8mm lines.

[CraigJ @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:59PM]

Looks like the ASUS designers are channeling Dell designers. Not exactly ugly, but not exactly good looking either...

[bob sakamano @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:01PM]

in other news... asus released more products this week than apple has in the history of its company

[aquatsr @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:10PM]

Looks nice, but I'm still in the netbook camp. The Eee 900/901 and 1000 are very nice. Screw the rest but I'm waiting for 701SD =D

[w4rh34rt @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:11PM]

Whoa, this looks really nice! I would buy one, but, I'm already sold on the Acer Aspire One. I think the EeePC is just too expensive for a so-called, "netbook".

If I had the money, I would get one though, no doubt about it ^_^

[rcappo @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:38PM]

HDMI/DVI out... It's about time. :) I'm excited about this laptop.

[Ray @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:46PM]

But no real video car... wont this strain the system?

I guess it will be okay if it supports only lower (aka crappy) resolutions.....

[Jason @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:59PM]

woah, waitaminute! did you say that your laptop comes with a car? That would be frickin' awesome!

[bertross @ Aug 23rd 2008 9:18AM]

There could be the slim chance there is an X4500 in there, or a HD 3200. Probably not, but since they included HDMI...

[David @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:38PM]

I dont know why engadget did not mention this but it also has a nvidia 9200m dedicated graphics card and costs closer to 800 than 700 dollars.

[sockatume @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:38PM]

Erm, isn't the whole point of the Eee that it's a budget machine? And Engadget is surprised that Asus' premium machines go under a different brand?

[Paul @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:47PM]

I'd get it for the HDMI, only if they reduced the width of the bezel around the screen!! They could easily fit an 11" screen in there. It actually has TWO bezels, an inner one and an outer one!

[Jason @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:19PM]

Sssh! Paul! They don't want people to think about that! They just want you to be wildly impressed at how they got such a 'spaciously roomy' keyboard on just a 10" incher.

[trer @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:05PM]

I still don't understand the whole "Rock Solid - Heart Touching" slogan. I'm using a laptop, not watching The Notebook.

[moordryd @ Aug 26th 2008 1:09AM]

I never understood that slogan, either. I mean, no offense to the Chinese marketing guys for Asus, but a big company like that should really have a native English speaker check it out before releasing it. Kind of like HTC: know what it stands for? High Tech Computer Corp. I thought it was a joke when I saw their full name in an About for my WinMo phone. Same with "Eee" -- are you kidding me? Naming a product after a girly shriek?

[micklol @ Aug 22nd 2008 11:14PM]

Taiwanese*

[Paul @ Aug 24th 2008 1:00AM]

It is a translation artifact no doubt. But it makes me cringe a little to think of someone touching my heart.

Leave that to the surgeons thanks.

[Mike @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:07PM]

I don't understand Engadgets obsession with claiming the Eee brand is "diluted". WTF is that supposed to mean? How many different Latitudes does Dell have? Surely more than there are Eees. Does that mean the Latitude name is diluted too? It's making "news" out of a non-point.

[Loonie @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:56PM]

"Preeemium"?

...sorry.

[tekdemon @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:01PM]

I reeealy hope that they've made the keyboard less flextacular than the current 1000h's keyboard.

But seriously I just got my 1000H today and Asus announces a replacement?? Arrghh!

[bot @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:06PM]

"Anyone else think it's funny that ASUS so diluted the Eee brand in under a year that it has to start a new premium line?"

Mmm, so if Asus makes another Eee model, they're diluting it more and more. If they make something different, it was because they diluted it so much. What is the point on reporting stories that you're so biased towards? I suppose now whenever Asus releases another laptop under 12 inches it will be somehow related to how diluted the Eee brand is.

[bebop @ Aug 22nd 2008 9:07PM]

"Losing focus on" might be a better term than "diluting" the brand. Asus is microdividing its own market share, rather than concentrating on putting out class-leading products.

[bot @ Aug 23rd 2008 3:24AM]

Asus has many different netbook models, yes, but I fail to see how that is hurting them. Since their models cover a wide range of prices it's easy to choose one that's appropriate for your needs. As far as I can tell they are leading the pack in terms of technology and value. The biggest complaint I hear is that of price, but when you add everything up, it seems to add up nicely. A quick example: the 1000h can be had for ~$550 around my way, while the MSI Wind is also 550ish. They are very evenly matched, except that the Asus has 802.11n, a multi-touch pad, among other enhancements. On the low end, the Acer Aspire One is getting alot of attention because of its low price, but it has a 3cell battery, so most people will be wanting to upgrade that, as well as the RAM if you're getting the 512MB version. The 900A has all those specs and more, for a similar price.

I'm confused as to why there is such negativity towards Asus. Do the same people that dismiss the many Asus models also complain about laptop manufacturers letting you configure notebooks individually? -confused-

[Knives_Out @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:57PM]

1024 x 768 ???

[Brian @ Aug 22nd 2008 11:46PM]

Are you sure it's a true 1024 x 768?? I sell LCD panels, and I hadn't heard of a 10.2" panel that's a true 1024 x 768, only the Innolux LED backlit 1024 x 600, which to my knowledge, is the 10.2" that Asus has on contract for netbooks.

Anyway, just curious.