ASUS: $200 Eee PC in 2009

Finally, the promise of the $200 Eee PC is, uh, promised again. Jerry Shen, apparently in a meeting with analysts, said that ASUS will launch an Eee PC priced at US$200 in 2009. He also said that 7- and 8.9-inch Eee PCs will be phased out of the market to be replaced by 10-inch models. Although that sounds like it opens the possibility for a 10-inch Eee PC for $200 we're not counting on it. Shen also noted that 70% of all Eee PCs are now loaded with XP (a latecomer to netbooks) and hard disk drives compared to 30% with Linux and SSDs. Microsoft, you win again.

[Evan Fraser @ Oct 31st 2008 7:31AM]

Hardly a win for Microsoft, even at 70% pre-loaded with XP. None of those systems are running vista are they?

[Ignatius @ Oct 31st 2008 7:32AM]

What's the point in running Vista on that hardware? That just seems idiotic.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 31st 2008 7:53AM]

MS wins either way.

Win big, win little, still win.

doh

s

[steve @ Oct 31st 2008 8:37PM]

Whats the point in running vista on that hardware? The 3.0 performance score my 1000h gives. I've got the photos to back it up.

[David @ Oct 31st 2008 7:34AM]

Why phase out the 8.9"? Those are probably the best of the whole line! I can stand up at the train station, waiting for the underground train to come and sit there holding it with one hand comfortably just tapping away. Put touch screen on that and it would be even better.

Doubtful they'll get the 1000-series down to $200, though ... SSDs need to stay around, too.

[Mile @ Oct 31st 2008 7:34AM]

Windows 7 will have a stripped down netbook version.

Just sayin'...

[Superevil @ Oct 31st 2008 8:34AM]

Until someone comes and snatches it out for your hand

[konshuss @ Oct 31st 2008 9:28AM]

something about a screen that doesn't take up nearly as much real estate as it should/could makes asian businessmen sit down and cross their legs like humbled children.

[Justin Nolan @ Oct 31st 2008 9:37AM]

I agree... but if you got rid of the bezel I think a 10" screen would fit in the 90X form factor. I would take a bigger screen any day if it doesn't change the dimensions of the device.

[Superevil @ Oct 31st 2008 8:34AM]

wow this comment system sucks that was meant for david

[konshuss @ Oct 31st 2008 9:36AM]

no, you suck at using the comment system.

[NEUR0M4NCER @ Oct 31st 2008 7:38AM]

If they had gone with Ubuntu, rather than the god-awful Xandros-ish distro, people might have stuck out the 'learning curve'. As it is, they've actually done MS a favour, and shown Joe Public that Linux can't compete. When almost every flavour of Linux is free, why did they choose Xandros???

[Mizzark Henry @ Oct 31st 2008 8:09AM]

Is Joe Public the cousin of Joe Da Plumber? Asus really missed an opportunity by going with Xandros. I like it, but it has its quarks.

[Intrepid @ Oct 31st 2008 8:11AM]

I'm a massive Microsoft fanboy and generally I'm against Linux... but I have to agree. Poor choice of Linux distribution - Ubuntu is much nicer, and I can say that from experience.

[Patriks7 @ Oct 31st 2008 7:41AM]

Oh great a 200$ Eee PC!

In other news my dog has learned to talk and sing..

[pavlindrom @ Oct 31st 2008 8:43AM]

I only doubt the second part

[David @ Oct 31st 2008 7:42AM]

Windows 7 with a touchscreen could be cool, though ...

[NEUR0M4NCER @ Oct 31st 2008 7:48AM]

I'd go for a touchscreen, but only in slate form-factor. Problem is, for that to work as well as everyone would like, you need 'true' multi-touch, or at least 5 contact registers... Oh yeah, and a decent skinnable on-screen keyboard. I've never seen a half decent touchscreen keyboard.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 31st 2008 7:54AM]

For 200 dollars you touch nothing.

[sinjinn @ Oct 31st 2008 9:17AM]

zw keyboard is a great touchscreen keyboard

[Generic @ Oct 31st 2008 7:54AM]

It seems that Asus is gonna beat NickNeg to the OLPC target price...

[Jon Acheson @ Oct 31st 2008 10:37AM]

Once again, markets beat bureaucracy.

[Chris @ Oct 31st 2008 7:54AM]

I really wanted to get an EEE but I have no idea what I would do with it!

[Bernhard @ Oct 31st 2008 8:05AM]

Many people who buy it as a first computer buy later on a second machine with bigger screen and better specs. Those who buy it as a second computer usually use it to show of, after which it usually just sits in a corner and collects dust...

[Mizzark Henry @ Oct 31st 2008 8:21AM]

I own a 2G SURF. I was curious and decided to go cheap. I have to say that for such a limited Machine I get a lot of use out of it. I download Car Repair diagrams, Game Guides, Grade book software (I Teach), Videos, Music, E books and anything else I use that dos not require windows xp.

You would be surprised at how much use you can get out of the machine. It is very small and very lightweight and can go with you almost anywhere.

I would advise anyone looking to buy a Netbook to go with something with XP, a Large Hard Drive and at least an 8.9" screen with 1 G of Ram.

My only gripe is that it doesn't seem to support Text to speech software in the Linux Flavor....XP does.

[Lee, ChihCheng @ Oct 31st 2008 9:03AM]

I just take my 901Go yesterday. It cost US$330 with 2 year contact ($26/month for unlimited 3.5G access)
At this price, I get 1G Ram, XP Home+Works, 16G SSD, 11n, Bluetooth, 1.3M Webcam, multitouch toudchpad,
internal HSUPA modem, and a great 6 Cell battery.

Before 901, I have Fujitsu U810,, it's too small for me (5.6inch). before U810, I have a 13 inch BenQ joybook,
and it's too heavy for my business trip.

I really love my 901Go, it's small, cute, light , and long battery life. High speed 11n network can
access my home media server very fast, and 3.5G modem can go online anywhere.

I buy a 2GB DDR2 RAM to upgrade today. (cost $24.9). Nothing change, but feel good ;-)

[htd @ Oct 31st 2008 7:57AM]

1000ha keyboard is more usable for me, it still fits in the diaper bag. :)

[Kiwi616 @ Oct 31st 2008 8:45AM]

Because its the sh*t! LOL

[Forrest @ Oct 31st 2008 9:51AM]

No no no...the CLEAN diapers go in the diaper bag. What have you been doing?!?

[Compudirt @ Oct 31st 2008 8:00AM]

No point in getting a REDFLY now is there?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/30/switched-on-redfly-seeks-your-green-before-halloween/

[gondil @ Oct 31st 2008 8:03AM]

Nice to see they're lowering the prices, a $200 laptop is a lot more attractive to me than a $399 one, no matter what specs.. You don't buy this to play Crysis, do you?

[NEUR0M4NCER @ Oct 31st 2008 8:17AM]

Yeah, $200 for you guys - we'll still end up paying £200 for it in the UK.

[cpetterborg @ Oct 31st 2008 8:20AM]

Definitely they should have used Ubuntu! But most people are just to damn stupid to try anything but windows, even if it is better. Societal lemmings - Everyone following each other off the cliff, never even thinking there is another choice.

[pavlindrom @ Oct 31st 2008 8:49AM]

Sounds much like people not believing in God and following into hell off the cliff. There is another option, it's Jesus.

[schmitty338 @ Oct 31st 2008 9:55AM]

Jesus is a lie....

blind religious followers are the worst lemmings of all.

Back on topic: $200 EEE PC FTW!

[pavlindrom @ Oct 31st 2008 11:16AM]

Jesus is not a lie. Now we can go back to the topic.

[xiasma @ Oct 31st 2008 8:32AM]

The Surf 2G has been available for around £100+VAT from a number of retailers for a few months now, so surely we already have a sub $200 Eee?

[gagged @ Oct 31st 2008 8:33AM]

some money is better than money! it definitely gives MS a lot of clout in the marketplace

[Chris @ Oct 31st 2008 8:39AM]

This isn't a win for Microsoft. How many full sized laptops ship with Linux? .3%? Compare that to 30% for these EEE netbooks.

[Richy @ Oct 31st 2008 8:45AM]

Just goes to show that 70% of people are idiots.

[silverblackvoid @ Oct 31st 2008 11:28AM]

go away troll

[TheLostVikings @ Oct 31st 2008 8:48AM]

wow, phasing out the 8.9 inch models? They really are so clueless its almost scary. Have they absolutely no clue why the eeePC became so popular in the first place?

[Eric @ Oct 31st 2008 9:00AM]

$200 Eee PC, ok ASUS...we'll believe it when we see it. You already failed on your initial promise, and you are playing out the Eee name with the number of different models released. I for one don't take the promise too seriously.

[SjlN @ Oct 31st 2008 10:14AM]

I don't know about you guys abroad, but at least in Finland EEE 701 4G is widely available for 189-199€. I checked couple of German sites and found out the prices are similar over there. Isn't this already 200$ EEE pc for you like Xiasma mentioned about the UK? And I know about € to $ rate, but usually prices are equal in Europe and US, just currency is different, same thing with UK just £...

[Stacky @ Oct 31st 2008 3:36PM]

We already have the Eee 900HA for 199.00 at my campus's computer store.

[craino21 @ Oct 31st 2008 9:57AM]

I would have been more than happy with Linux, but I wanted a large hard drive. I think they're limiting they're market by only offering linux with the small SSDs.

[Jim @ Oct 31st 2008 10:05AM]

Can come pre-loaded with new Duke Nukem game?

[Danger @ Nov 2nd 2008 8:50PM]

They can toss in a copy of "Chinese Demoracy" while they're at it!

[CosterMonger @ Oct 31st 2008 10:58AM]

you could already get the 2G surf for some time now.

[Adam @ Oct 31st 2008 11:33AM]

Haha, this is hilarious, originally I thought that netbooks will stay at 8" screen size, now they are making 10" netbooks. Ain't 10" notebooks called ultraportables?

I guess SJ is correct when he says that the netbook market is too early and too unpredictable.

Too bad Linux lose though, I love how the new HP netbook OS looks.