Asus aims to offer everyone in the world the chance to have a PC at a low price. A commendable goal, although a second-hand Pentium III with 25 is many times cheaper and probably just as adequate. We think that the ASUS Eee PC will appeal more as a second or third PC in the home. For on the couch, on the go, or for the kids.
According to Asus, the Eee is designed for internet-related activities, which we think is a smart move, as notebooks are mostly used for this purpose and almost all applications are moving to the internet anyway. Thanks to the built-in WiFi card, you can use it anywhere in the house. It even has a modest webcam.
Minimalistic
A significant limitation is the storage capacity. The Eee uses flash memory as storage: standard 4 GB, up to 16 GB is possible. Our first feeling is: that's a bit low! But those who refrain from storing media files on the Eee and only install the most used programs locally will find that it's enough. For comparison: at the time when the first Pentium III PCs hit the market, an 8 GB hard drive was still quite normal and more than sufficient. The Asus Eee is compatible with Linux and Microsoft Windows XP. The advantage of flash memory is that the PC boots up in less than 15 seconds and can withstand a bump.
Another component where Asus has applied their minimalistic philosophy is the screen: 7 inches is quite small for a notebook, but it keeps it very portable. For an extra hundred dollars, there is also a 10-inch version.
Eee
Such a peculiar name must have a thought behind it. According to Asus, the letters stand for: easy to learn, excellent internet experience, and excellent mobile computing experience. This must have been thought about for a long time. The association with the popular Wii game console must have played a larger role. Like the Wii, the Eee is easy to master because it offers two different user interfaces: the 'easy' mode for inexperienced users and the 'full desktop' for experienced users.
ASUS plans to launch the Eee PC in July or August, and the goal is to sell 200,000 units this year.
Prices:
7-inch version: $ 199,--
10-inch version: $ 299,--
Info:
www.asus.com