Asus Ultra-Thin Netbook Goes Official, Under $200
Various online retailers are now taking pre-orders for the super-slim Asus Eee PC X101 netbook.
Who said the netbook was dead? Not Asus who on Thursday officially launched the ultra-thin, MeeGo-based Eee PC X101. As promised earlier this year, the device sports a $199 pricetag and will begin shipping in September although several online vendors like PCSuperStore and Directron are already taking pre-orders.
Under the hood (what there is of it), the netbook sports a single-core Intel Atom N435 or N455 processor, 1 GB of DDR3 memory (up to 2 GB max), 8 GB of SSD storage, 2 GB of DropBox cloud storage, 802.11 b/g/n connectivity on the 2.4 GHz band, a 0.3MP webcam and a 10.1-inch LED backlight WSVGA (1024 x 600) screen.
Other features include a 3-cell battery offering up to 4 hours, two USB 2.0 ports, an SD / SDHC / MMC card reader, Bluetooth v3.0, stereo speakers and a headphone jack. The netbook measures just 262 x 180 x 17.6-mm and weighs 2.3 pounds without the battery. It arrives in three textures including white, red and brown.
So what makes this netbook so cheap (other than a lack of an optical drive)? That would be the Linux-based MeeGo open-source OS that was dumped by Nokia but now officially "hosted" by the Linux Foundation.
"The MeeGo software platform is designed to give developers the broadest range of device segments to target for their applications, including netbooks, handheld computing and communications devices, in-vehicle infotainment devices, smart TVs, tablets and more – all using a uniform set of APIs based on Qt," reads the description over on the MeeGo website. "For consumers, MeeGo will offer innovative application experiences that they can take from device to device."
Asus will eventually offer the X101H model which will reportedly sport Windows 7. There's also mention that this model is slated to have more RAM, a higher storage capacity, a VGA port and possibly a 6-cell battery, but the company is still keeping tight-lipped, so stay tuned.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
-
LuckyDucky7 How about a better Linux OS, like a Ubuntu-based one?Reply
Other than that: great news- 200 dollar PC's are finally a reality (netbooks never seemed to break 300 bucks). -
dotaloc i like the price. think of the money this'll save less savvy family members from rogue security software removal fees.Reply -
michaelahess "2 GB of DropBox cloud storage" is most certainly not "under the hood" nor is it something 99.9% of buyers will even use.Reply -
calinkula master9716its a paperweight. Poor souls who buy this thinking its an actual computer.Reply
So you mean it's a paperweight..... that's also a computer...... Sounds pretty sweet to me! -
Luscious $200 for a N435??? $300 gets you a C-50 with a decent multimedia GPUReply
I don't understand manufacturers - super thin ALWAYS means compromise. -
MrBig55 Reply2 GB of DropBox cloud storage, 802.11 b/g/n connectivity on the 2.4 GHz band, a 0.3MP webcam
Everyone that makes a free account on dropbox has a free 2GB storage, that 802.11n is pretty basic by now and that webcam will not capture HD at all.
Well $199 for a white coaster... at least this coaster has wi-fi and bluetooth capability ^^ -
molo9000 No video out?Reply
Kind of an issue if you want to give a presentation.
otacon72Garbage hardware, garbage OS....no wonder it's $200. Maybe selling this in developing countries but that's about it.It's a full-on laptop for $200. What's not to like?
You could even install Windows if using Monopoly Office is your thing.
It's an awesome proposition for a penny-less student who just needs something to take to class. (Or it would be if it had a video out)
It's so cheap, you might even buy one for a long holiday, because you don't want your expensive laptop being stolen/lost/damaged. -
tacoslave i would pay 100 dollars extra to get a c50 with at least 2gb of ram and at least a 16gb ssd.Reply