Eee marketing getting adorably bitchy

When every company out there is cranking out the same 10-inch 1.6GHz Atom netbook, there aren't many ways to make your product stand out: the obvious trick is to go low on price, but ASUS isn't messing with its profit margins. Instead, it's apparently going negative in the most adorable way possible -- check this hit piece on the Acer Aspire One. If all these frowny faces are to be believed, using the Aspire One will basically be awkward and unergonomic for a short while, at which point you'll burst into flames. Not only that, but ASUS can't even bring itself to spell out "Aspire," instead starring it out like someone might catch them saying it out loud. Very mature. Still, if anything can revive our flagging enthusiasm for the entire netbook category, it would be one of these WINNER crowns packed in with every Eee -- now that's a real differentiating factor, ASUS. Full image in the gallery.

Gallery: ASUS Eee vs A***** 1

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[Persian @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:36PM]

What a bitch move.

[ybd @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:44PM]

:(

[Aguiluz @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:56PM]

http://i35.tinypic.com/j5bd35.jpg

Bitch move, yes, considering they didn't include that.

[Ali Mo @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:23PM]

YAY! Now do one for every iCrap!

[Clumsy @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:39PM]

Bitchy, but if it is working, why not. That will create competition, which will only help us.

[Zuwxiv @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:40PM]

I trust this, because under load both computers get colder.

Also, a crappier and quiet speaker is clearly superior because of "quiet computing." Wouldn't want that speaker too loud, or else you would need to turn it down.

[Wolfticket @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:02PM]

I guess the temperatures are the wrong way round, maybe Asus should hire a proof reader.

Also, I believe the quiet computing bit refers to the amount of noise produced by the wee cooling fan that netbooks tend to have.

[Al @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:39AM]

or the fan comes on during load and cools it down... my hp (ya ya but it was cheap) is about 3C cooler playing music than sitting on the desk idle bc the fan kicks in

[niemassacred @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:42PM]

...a winner is you!

[ybd @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:45PM]

:)

[no, thank you @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:08PM]

me?

[r3loaded @ Oct 3rd 2008 4:26AM]

Your Winner!

[Jeff @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:44PM]

Sour grapes? The Acer Aspire One made the right compromises in the right places to get the netbook in a price category that MAKES SENSE TO CUSTOMERS.

[russ @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:41AM]

Amen to that. I have the 6-cell, 1GB RAM 8GB SSD Linux Acer Aspire One and I couldn't be happier. Compromises? At this size and price of course there are, but I got exactly what I was expecting for less coin than Asus. The EEE hooked me on the idea of a netbook, but Acer got my business for making a better/cheaper product. 7 hour battery, SSD, 1GB RAM, Linux, 8.9" screen and Atom processor: It's exactly what I wanted for a cool $400.

[Chris @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:48PM]

Hey Asus, I think wEEE all are getting tired of all this nonsense.

[bebop @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:50PM]

Wow, talk about cherry picking. The Aspire One is, on one page, shown to have XP where run times are tabled, and 512MB when memory is compared. The XP models all have 1GB.

And the obvious, aluded to by engadget: these two models are basically lying at opposite ends of the netbook price spectrum.

[Uchiha Sasuke @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:57PM]

Exactly, Asus is comparing their latest version EEE pc to the first gen AA1. I have the AA1 with 160GB HDD, 1 gig RAM, and 6 cell for $399. It beats the EEE 1000H in every way.

I guess if you can't beat them fair and square, then make a fool of yourself.

[leeroy @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:10PM]

@ Uchiha Sasuke


But it's an Acer, and thats why it looses.

[SteveJr_Ri @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:50PM]

huct on fonicks werked fur meee

[Ruben @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:51PM]

I am an owner of an AAOne:

1. The aspire now comes with 6 cell for $399.99.
2. The aspire now comes with 160GB for $399.99.
3. The aspire now comes with 1GB of memory for $399.99.
4. The aspire only cost me $399.99.

Why wasnt the metric of price involved in that photo?

I guess it would look good if the aspire face was pointing and laughing at the Eee face.

[Jeff @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:56PM]

Because that would earn Acer a smiley face. And probably a crown.

You on the other hand sir...get a Smiley Face

=)

[Wolfticket @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:57PM]

Having fiddled with both, to me it does seem to be the case that the acer is cheaper for the same spec, but the asus is better made/generally nicer.

[Karan @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:58PM]

I love how the EEE can be hotter under Ideal and be a full degree cooler under load...What Bull -

[Magnanimous @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:51AM]

The AAone is MUCH better than the similarly priced Eee's :D
And equal spec to that Overpriced pile of ASUS Poop :)
And the build quality on mine is just great!

[Kris S. @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:03PM]

It's called efficiency my friend, efficiency. EFFICIENCY!!!

[EEE @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:20PM]

Good Catch ...

[chudgoo @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:04PM]

I like them both but this ad feels sleazy and misleading. Here are a few things that stood out for me.

1) They don't mention the price difference between the two. ($370 / $430)

2) They're comparing a 8.9" screen netbook to a 10.2" one without factoring in the EEE's added volume (which benefits heat dissipation). Smaller=hotter.

3) They don't compare the 1000HA to the Acer model with 160GB/1GB/6-cell battery for $400. It has the same specs in a smaller package, BUT with a smaller screen for $30 less. Personally I'd rather have the smaller netbook with the same specs.

[chudgoo @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:09PM]

This ad feels sleazy and deceptive... they should have just said :

1) larger netbooks have added volume for heat dissipation. (smaller=hotter)

2) more expensive netbooks have larger screens.

I'd rather have the smaller machine with the same CPU/RAM/HDD specs. BONUS if it's the cheaper unit too.

[chudgoo @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:11PM]

oops. sorry about the double post. I thought I lost the comment and tried to rewrite what i said before from memory (which apparently is failing)

[BigD145 @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:13PM]

Invoking Aspires name might actually summon it into existence, which would be bad for Asus.

[Zorque @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:14PM]

I love that jackass smiley giving us the thumbs up at the top. He looks so condescending and hate-filled. I might have to steal him for other uses.

[XIYL @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:36PM]

I know how you feel
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/XirXes/Asussmilie.png

[Benson @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:15PM]

However wrong, deceptive, and just plain marketing this ad may be...

I think engadget just picked up some new imagery for its legendary photoshops. Winner crown and Green frownie, here we come!

[Andrew @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:19PM]

As the owner of the original version of Aspire One, I have to say Asus does have the point. Temperatures are indeed somewhat uncomfortably warm just as (and where) the thermal imaging shows. The battery life is pretty weak. Touchpad is really tiny and easy to make mistakes with and the buttons are awkward. And the fan isn't quiet either.

They mixed and matched different models, I'm sure, but most of their points do stand.

Of course, so-configured A1 is much cheaper - especially at the time they came out. Asus was forced to drop their price quite a bit since then. So yeah, you get more if you pay more (and after they adjusted price to be competitive, thanks to the same A1).

In the end all of these are just too tiny and I'm glad I paid the bare minimum to find that out. I got 13.3" Vaio Z since then, and even that machine's screen size is just acceptable, not great. My vision is good, I'd like it to stay that way.

[BOGRASH @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:21PM]

First sensible comment on here. The aspire is crappy garbage however you slice it, and Asus didn't really need to stoop so low as to call out a brand as shoddy as Acer. However Asus pioneered this ground, and the 901 and 100h absolutely own the competition in any way you care to call, so fair enough.

My 1000h is a great machine, but even the 10" screen is not enough. Time to move on up in every regard - HP 2730p with Vista 64-bit, 8gb ram and Intel 64gb SSD here I come!

[guoruiwu1994 @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:21PM]

Well, its working pretty well for Apple...

[eric @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:24PM]

At the bottom, for quieter computing...

Are they priding themselves in having quieter speakers? Providing a lower decibel rating for "media player" seems totally bizarre!

[icepop4who @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:28PM]

adorably bitchy... kinda like my girlfriend

[sarah @ Oct 5th 2008 9:34PM]

you're totally dumped, pete

[ManekiNeko @ Nov 2nd 2008 2:41AM]

So judging from that description, your last name must be "Silverman."

[Biomech @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:30PM]

Isn't it *better* for the media player to be loud?

[Reader @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:59PM]

That's what I was thinking...

[KEROLiUKAS @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:58PM]

LOL retards @ Asus. I have no respect for this company anymore..Will not buy anything from them probably due to a jerk move like this, which is complete bullshit and is not even correct information and does not mention prices..fucktards.

[Reader @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:58PM]

These both would be great overclockers since they seem to get colder under load. Put the processor at 4Ghz and you'd have a handy refrigerator!

[cmdwedge @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:05PM]

ASUS have really shot themselves in the foot. They came to market with a clever new product (ASUS EEE PC), made some money, made some friends. Then they proceed to rape the brand name into the ground, and while everyone has lost almost all respect for them, they do a comparison piece comparing two entirely different styles of netbook. And they also proceed to lie in about half the comparisons.

I sold my original 701 because it was too small, and figured I could really use a 10" one though (for travel). I cannot tell you how excited I am about not buying ASUS now. Fark ASUS and farking lying marketing departments.

[Andreas @ Oct 31st 2008 4:15PM]

I dont' hear you bitching about Apple's marketing tactics now do I? Do you know of ANY marketing department that doesn't twist the number just a little bit? I bet you Engadget themselves have even put out a comparo on non-equivalent systems treating them like equals. Of course these comparo's are flawed, but thats how the marketing world works. People that dont know better (read - 90% of the general public) will move right along and believe it. If you dont think this is true, just as Mr.Jobs........

[slowerpig81 @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:06PM]

that touch pad is definitely NOT 170% bigger. The people at asus need to learn math. It might be 170% AS BIG, or 70% bigger. DUH...

[bob @ Oct 7th 2008 2:50PM]

Thanks dude, I thought no one was going to notice that.

[Ian @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:19PM]

The comparison is flawed, and wrong. Rather than gain a potential customer, they just lost one.

And I just tried a bunch of netbooks at Bic Camera (in Japan, where everything they sell is on display, and testable by the user), and the AA1 is far better than the EeePC 901 and Dell Mini 9. The HP Mini-note was definitely the best netbook I've tried so far, but considering it's very high price (much like the EeePC 1000/1000H models), I don't think it's worth it.

[bboston7 @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:21PM]

What a dick move.