Asus Announces Super-slim $200 Eee PC
Is this the Eee PC you've been waiting for?
Asus made a big splash this week at Computex with the introduction of the Padfone, a tablet/smartphone combo expected to launch in the second half of this year. However, the company also revealed another interesting device, this one being an addition to the company’s famed Eee PC line.
Last week, Asus promised us a new model of Eee PC and teased that this one would be thinner than ever. The company also asked a rather telling question via its Facebook page, inquiring as to whether or not users felt Windows was a necessity for netbooks.
This week, the company introduced the Eee PC X101, a 10.1-inch netbook measuring 0.7-inches thick. Though the slim form factor of this device is definitely a selling point (indeed, it’s one of the features Asus is pushing the most), the real point of intrigue about this machine is that Asus is offering a Meego-based option that apparently costs just $200. For those in need of a quick memory job, Meego is the Linux-based OS developed for mobile devices by Intel and Nokia.
So, that about covers the company’s earlier questions about Windows being absolutely necessary, but it’s not the first time Asus has offered an OS other than Windows with its Eee PCs. The very first Eee PC, released in October of 2007, was Linux-based too. However, the strength of the Windows brand prevailed and, as more customers opted for Windows XP-based netbooks, Linux offerings became increasingly scarce. Will things be different this time around? We shall see.
$200 is pretty cheap, no matter what way you slice it, but the OS isn’t the only thing keeping the price down. Liliputing reports that the base model will come with a 3 cell battery and just 8GB of SSD storage. There will be the option to upgrade to a more serious harddrive (think 250GB or 320GB) but that will mean more money and added thickness with the bulkier version measuring in at 0.87 inches.
No word on pricing for the Windows 7 version and the release date for the X101 is still unknown but we’ll keep you posted.
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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lunyone Give me an AMD Bobcat cored EEE PC w/2-4 gb's of RAM and 1280 x 800 or better screen (>12" screen too) for around $300-350 and I'll buy one.Reply -
DjEaZy lunyoneGive me an AMD Bobcat cored EEE PC w/2-4 gb's of RAM and 1280 x 800 or better screen (>12" screen too) for around $300-350 and I'll buy one.... fusion FTW!!!Reply -
bennix86 wow!this is really good for mobility.i like this model since this is very portable for doing networking task..:)Reply -
BulkZerker lunyoneGive me an AMD Bobcat cored EEE PC w/2-4 gb's of RAM and 1280 x 800 or better screen (>12" screen too) for around $300-350 and I'll buy one.Reply
Or hows about what this computer is without the extra ram and bigger display for $200? This whole "I'll buy one if it has a bigger screen and more ram" was the entire reason you had to pony up $500 for a laptop with a battery life of over 2 hours and had more than a gig of ram.
I'd love to see this with a low power fusion APU as well though. -
amk-aka-Phantom This is like going back to Eee PC 900 series... not sure what they're planning to achieve with that, with all my respect for Asus...Reply -
bonezy Yeah, the 1024 x 600 resolution kills it for me. I had the original 10" eeePC, and that's not enough to browse the web at.Reply -
icemunk I love how they post an article about it but barely mention the specs.. come on Tom's, this ain't CNN newsReply -
icemunk Since Tom's Hardware is too lazy to post the specs:Reply
ASUS Eee PC X101 Netbook Features
•10.1-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels
•Based on Intel Oak Trail platform
•Powered by a 1.5GHz Atom Z670 single-core processor
•Equipped with GMA 600 integrated graphics
•Runs on Windows 7 or MeeGo OS
•Supports 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity option
•A hard drive or solid state drive
•3.5mm headphone jack
•Two USB ports
•Includes 6-cell battery
•A chiclet keyboard & web camera
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In Singapore, the vendors treat us as if we'd pirate if they don't give Windows with their hardware. I really want a Meebo or whatever Linux-based one with a Fusion processor. Then I'd install either ubuntu or fedora and use it happily. Sigh. International readers, please notice our humiliating experiences of treating like thieves.Reply