Asus R50A finally arrives, jacks your wallet in the process

If you're looking to drop nearly $2,000 on a UMPC, well, first of all, you're nuts, but second of all, you're in luck, 'cause the Asus R50A is shipping at €1,475 ($1,878). They weren't kidding when they said it would be above $500, but for the price you'll be running Windows Vista on a handheld with a 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor, a gig of RAM, a 32GB SSD hard drive, a 5.6'' screen at 1024 x 600, three USB ports, a microSD slot, a wireless keyboard, and an external DVD reader / writer. Connectivity options include 802.11 b / g WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G. These specs aren't all that different from what you'd find in a netbook (save for the SSD), except you're paying more than twice as much and you get to look like you're playing games on a GP2X while you're using it on the train. Maybe it's supposed to be a status symbol?

[Via Pocketables]

[Ike Turner @ Nov 15th 2008 7:46AM]

"Maybe it's supposed to be a status symbol?"

Like every Apple product?

[Erb @ Nov 15th 2008 7:54AM]

No its more like

Hey look at me, I'm so rich I have a computer IN MY POCKET!

[Nick K. @ Nov 15th 2008 7:56AM]

Oh, hey. I have a computer in my pocket! It's called an iPhone.

[ArcticFox @ Nov 15th 2008 8:06AM]

If the iPhone was a computer you would be able to copy and paste.

[Hotrod @ Nov 15th 2008 8:14AM]

Seriously fellas, the apple bashing is just sad now. I can't read any engadget article without reading some wanna be comedian bashing on apple products.

Yes I agree, Apple is rip off. Apple is arrogant. But seriously guys, we established this many, many years ago. It really makes reading the once enjoyable comments, no longer enjoyable.

[Ken J @ Nov 15th 2008 11:41AM]

The Apple flame is necessary to keep the universe in balance. Otherwise, the Apple spam will take over.

[chickenator @ Nov 15th 2008 2:15PM]

*yawn*

[DB @ Nov 15th 2008 4:27PM]

my palm centro has copy and paste :)

[OneLove @ Nov 15th 2008 7:33PM]

get da fuck outta here with that price!

[Dante @ Nov 15th 2008 8:18AM]

is that a computer in your pant or are you just happy to see me?

(sorry! can't refuse to say it!)

[giuliop @ Nov 15th 2008 12:36PM]

Who asked you to?

[Valicore @ Nov 15th 2008 12:41PM]

Is that thing ugly or is it just my eyes?

[gad get @ Nov 16th 2008 9:39AM]

Your eyes aren't ugly; it's just that thing.

[Ike Turner @ Nov 15th 2008 8:19AM]

Seriously fellas, the Microsoft bashing is just sad now. I can't read any engadget article without reading some wanna be journalist/reporter/hobo bashing on Microsoft related products.

Yes I agree, MS is Da Eval. Ballmer prolly has seaty bals. But seriously guys, we established this many, many years ago. It really makes reading the once enjoyable comments, no longer enjoyable.

[Chuck @ Nov 15th 2008 8:26AM]

Wait, I'm thinking you're mocking Hotrod, but somehow you came out looking like the idiot.

[Hotrod @ Nov 15th 2008 9:29AM]

???

So two wrongs make a right?

[htd @ Nov 15th 2008 8:35AM]

make it a little smaller and xp, make it a phone...

[Duuude @ Nov 15th 2008 12:50PM]

Skype

[linuxamp @ Nov 16th 2008 10:49PM]

Wonder how much money you'd get back if you decline the Vista EULA and load your own OS (assuming you can find drivers).

[Spoink @ Nov 15th 2008 8:38AM]

Hey Hotrod, if that's your real name. ArcticFox was obviously provoked by a tech newbie. I personally get tired of reading people claiming that the iPhone is a 'computer' or 'revolutionary' when it obviously lacks many functions of a Windows mobile device, or for that matter a PPC 2002 device. It is a failing of the ignorant and the youth, who, having no substantial experience or knowledge with what came before and assumes that marketing hype IS fact. Kind of like an Obama presidency - charisma before wisdom, knowledge, experience or character.

Without fully reviewing the spec sheet on the Asus R50A, I can imagine many business uses for this type of device. Lugging out a notebook for last minute editing on a PowerPoint, Excel or quick edits of some image files and updating a web site seems like likely uses. Let's also assume it offers a VGA-out. Pulling a 'presentation machine' out of your pocket is not only convenient but impressive. Sure the price seems high, but they need room for street-pricing, discounters and later iterations of the device.

[Hotrod @ Nov 15th 2008 9:38AM]

I understand where your coming from, but no one provoked an apple bashing. Ike Turner just felt bashing on the very first comment of this article.

I'm not defending apple, if it was Sony that got bashed in every single article, I'd say the Sony jokes were getting old too. I'm beginning to think that he's misreading "Apple" as "Anna Mae".

[Fusion Fuzo @ Nov 15th 2008 8:47AM]

NICE

[AR @ Nov 15th 2008 8:49AM]

Wow, if this had an integrated keyboard (or controls that slid underneath instead of take up space on the sides), it would actually be a reasonable competitor to the OQO2. The specs are nice though I would have liked to see more than 1 gig of RAM (like OQO). However, at that price without an integrated thumb keyboard, it is more of a toy than a useful information manager/do-all UMPC.

[MyHeadisFed @ Nov 15th 2008 8:57AM]

I should sleep sometime soon.

[Hotrod @ Nov 15th 2008 9:28AM]

:-D

[Mile @ Nov 15th 2008 9:12AM]

32GB storage space? That'll last forever! I could keep my whole life on that!

[Ineed911 @ Nov 15th 2008 9:28AM]

Holy stupid pricing models! Do you think that OQO is selling a lot of their overprices toys right now? People aren't even paying $4 for coffee anymore - this price point is so 2007.

[mirakutea @ Nov 15th 2008 9:53AM]

Most of the people who would of bought this item then probably would buy it now :>.

[gad get @ Nov 16th 2008 9:45AM]

@ mirakutes

You mean wealthy bank executives?

[Dr. Angel Rajan Singh @ Nov 15th 2008 10:12AM]

At this pricing my HTC Shift has suddenly started looking a much more value and useful buy ...

[Jorge @ Nov 15th 2008 10:14AM]

At least it has more USB ports than a MacBook Air.

[Jamma @ Nov 15th 2008 11:44AM]

The new macbooks and the new pro only have two USB ports....

[John B. @ Nov 15th 2008 12:12PM]

I know, right?!

[Christopher @ Nov 15th 2008 4:26PM]

Haha, I had the same thought. And as another person said, it even has 1 more than the Macbook (and MB Pro).

However, I think it looks more like PSP than the device that engadget linked.

[Cybergypsy @ Nov 15th 2008 10:55AM]

I will wait for Apple to release one... Yawn............

[trevor @ Jan 8th 2009 12:03PM]

...for $5,000. you can live in a cardboard box if you want. I have a life, though.

[trevor @ Jan 8th 2009 12:06PM]

...for $5,000. you can live in a cardboard box if you want. I have a life, though.

[skyblaze @ Jan 8th 2009 5:24PM]

holy smokes there's two of you!!!

[bidur @ Nov 15th 2008 11:33AM]

its waste of money. its so small i am sure it will be unnoticeable in others eye ... its like wearing underwear with diamond . need to open your pants if you want to show that you are reach ..



:)

[bidur @ Nov 15th 2008 11:34AM]

rich not reach .. ( my mistake )

[Cubfan786 @ Nov 15th 2008 11:37AM]

It looks like a PSP, but probably without the interlacing issues

[frankXchange @ Nov 15th 2008 11:46AM]

It's handy that it's small form factor means you can use it coach, because you won't be able to afford business class for a while.

[yopladas @ Nov 15th 2008 12:18PM]

Looks cool, but are there good games for it? & Ill see how well it fares before considering one...

[gad get @ Nov 16th 2008 9:48AM]

It's a Windows PC! What do you mean, "are there good games for it"?

[yopladas @ Nov 16th 2008 12:30PM]

oh. lol I need to learn to read. I thought it was a well made PSP knockoff.... lol my bad. looks cool, but I have no need.

[Rambo @ Nov 15th 2008 1:07PM]

This just looks like a chubby PSP, how is that a status symbol? It's not cool if you have to explain why it's cool (runs Vista, 32 GB SSD, 3G, etc)

[BigD145 @ Nov 15th 2008 1:30PM]

Why does this not have a VIA in it?

[Fedayk1n @ Nov 15th 2008 6:32PM]

Nah ,give me the archos 7g instead of that, is a quite cheaper and i am not going to use all those specs

[Shinigami @ Nov 15th 2008 7:03PM]

OMG O_O

If the price drops to $501, it would be an interesting deal, but for that price... I can build a gamer's PC of the year... And still have money for the monitor... Yes, it won't fit in my pocket but I won't have a feeling like I'm throwing money away.

[LonnieDvD @ Nov 15th 2008 7:36PM]

I'm sure the rich people will buy this, so they can act like they are so much better than everyone else. I wish I had $2,000 to throw away like that, I would have bought a Qosmio laptop instead of this Satellite laptop.