First Look At the Asus EeePad: Specs and Pics

News
By Rico Mossesgeld
published

That big "Concept Design" plastered beside the demo unit is quite a disclaimer

Whether or not the Asus EeePad is on your radar, here are confirmed specs and pictures of the demo unit from COMPUTEX 2010.

And by "confirmed", we're talking about the specs listed right below the Asus EeePad station in the Microsoft booth. The unit was off, and enclosed in a acrylic cube, which kept us from getting our dirty hands on it.

  • 12" display
  • Intel Core 2 Duo
  • Windows 7 Home Premium
  • 802.11b/g/n
  • DDR2 SO-DIMM 2GB
  • 32 or 64 GB SSD
  • 0.3 megapixel webcam
  • Stereo speakers
  • HDMI-out
  • SIM slot
  • "Polymer Battery"

Seems like Asus is keeping its cards close to its chest for this one. The big "Concept Design" sticker beside the device casts even the design of the demo unit (a display that extends near the edges framed by a washed metal case) into doubt. Weight was "TBD", along with what colors the EeePad would be available in.

The minimalist look of the Asus EeePad we saw works for and against the product. On one hand the clean lines and lack of extraneous bells and whistles promises a user-friendly experience. Yet, trapped within its transparent prison with the screen off, the Asus EeePad looked so plain.

We'll try to corner an Asus rep for more details, including more specific... specs, estimated availability and price. So stay tuned!

Rico Mossesgeld
33 Comments Comment from the forums
  • XD_dued
    Good CPU and windows 7...works with me! Depending on price i might actually consider this.
    Reply
  • boobot
    (P)EeePads, not just for oldfolks anymore..
    Reply
  • blacksins
    0.3 megapixel webcam?? am i in 1997 ??
    Reply
  • bob_white
    Wow! Core 2 duo, 2GB DD2 Memory, SSD, windows 7

    Its better than the computer im typing on!
    Reply
  • 70camaross396
    I like the specs, with the exception of the SSD and camera.

    A 32GB SSD is a little small by they time you install widows 7, and add Office 2007 or 2010 to make it usefull you are very close to the limits of a 32GB SDD. they should make the base model a 64GB drive and the upgraded version a 128GB. that would allow you to store a few movies, MP3's or Ebooks on it with out filling up the drive.

    as for the camera, .3 MP? WTF? if they can put an 8MP camera in a cell phone at least put a 3-5MP camera in the "EEEpad".

    also the specs don't list the video chipset. I dont want to play crysis on it. but it sould be at least capable of 1080p video playback, and most intigrated chipsets suck at this.

    My only other request would be a gigabit ethernet port or a docking staion with a gigbit port to make transfering large files of videos to it faster. granted you can do this with wireless or usb thumb drives. but gigabit ethernet is much faster.

    Reply
  • epkfaile
    i wanna play crysis on it :D
    Reply
  • jecastej
    I think this 12' tablet will be very a nice entry level or sketching portable PC for CG artists but in general not so good as a entertainment device. Is very close to a laptop with some advantages and some disadvantages. I believe it has a very specific use, please enlighten me, but as a CG artist and I can't deny is very tempting for me. Maybe next time I will consider a laptop a tablet like this will be my best option. But is to big, it will be expensive and heavy for light use on the internet or watching a movie. Very possible but not to discrete on a flight.
    Reply
  • gumbedamit
    like the specs, with the exception of the SSD and camera.

    A 32GB SSD is a little small by they time you install widows 7, and add Office 2007 or 2010 to make it usefull you are very close to the limits of a 32GB SDD. they should make the base model a 64GB drive and the upgraded version a 128GB. that would allow you to store a few movies, MP3's or Ebooks on it with out filling up the drive.

    as for the camera, .3 MP? WTF? if they can put an 8MP camera in a cell phone at least put a 3-5MP camera in the "EEEpad".

    also the specs don't list the video chipset. I dont want to play crysis on it. but it sould be at least capable of 1080p video playback, and most intigrated chipsets suck at this.

    My only other request would be a gigabit ethernet port or a docking staion with a gigbit port to make transfering large files of videos to it faster. granted you can do this with wireless or usb thumb drives. but gigabit ethernet is much faster


    Anything else you might want? Didn't we have Tablet Laptops before the iPad. All of a sudden we want it all again. One of the things that makes the ipad so desirable is because of the things that it can do, not want it can't. Do you think that if it had a Core Dual precessor that it would get 10hrs of battery life. Come on, Office 2007, what kind of typing are you going to do on a touch screen that requires a full blown word processer. If I wanted to do all those things, then a traditional desktop or laptop would fit build. I know that most of us here want to open it up get into what's behind it. Lets put it this way, when you turn your TV on, it just works, you change the channels and they change, you hookup a Blueray/DVD and after SOME changes, it just works. The masses want their things to just work without spending hours or even days to get it just right. I am by no means in to Apple products, but being that they just sold 2million iPads speaks volume. Sometimes I just want to push the button and it work.
    Reply
  • vertigo_2000
    gumbedamitAnything else you might want? Didn't we have Tablet Laptops before the iPad. All of a sudden we want it all again. One of the things that makes the ipad so desirable is because of the things that it can do, not want it can't. Do you think that if it had a Core Dual precessor that it would get 10hrs of battery life. Come on, Office 2007, what kind of typing are you going to do on a touch screen that requires a full blown word processer. If I wanted to do all those things, then a traditional desktop or laptop would fit build. I know that most of us here want to open it up get into what's behind it. Lets put it this way, when you turn your TV on, it just works, you change the channels and they change, you hookup a Blueray/DVD and after SOME changes, it just works. The masses want their things to just work without spending hours or even days to get it just right. I am by no means in to Apple products, but being that they just sold 2million iPads speaks volume. Sometimes I just want to push the button and it work.I'll agree with you on a lot of your post, but selling 2 million iPads says more about Apple's marketing machine and the consumers than it does about the quality of the iPad. Is it interesting product? Sure. Is it "magical"? Hell no. Does Apple know how to market their products? Yes. They're genius marketers. But don't try to relate the number sold to the quality of the product. Ask Toyota about that.
    Reply
  • thejerk
    I have Windows 7 installed with Office 2007, Google Earth and a sketching app I use for work. My total installation size on my 40GB SSD is 7.1GB. 32GB is plenty for this device.
    Reply