Asustek fends off UMPC competitors with Eee PC 1000
Computex saw Asustek launch yet another Eee PC model, the Eee PC 1000. This despite only just bringing the Eee PC 901 to market.
Perhaps Asus is feeling the pressure now rivals are bringing out mini-notebooks left, right and center. IDG reported the Asustek proceedings where Asustek unveiled Atom-powered Eee PCs. After Intel’s announcements about the availability of their Atom PCs and hints of new Atom-powered devices, pundits could see this coming a mile away.
The problem with the Eee PC 1000 is, despite the dose of Atom-power, becoming a very different creature from previous Eee PC models. Sure, the Eee PC 1000 is still small, but it’s no longer ultra-small.
Both the Eee 701 and the 901 shared the same form factors, albeit different-sized screens. The Eee PC 1000 has a 10-inch screen and instead of weighing less than a kilogram, now weighs between 1.3 to 1.5 kilograms. That depends on whether you choose a solid state drive (SSD) or the standard hard disk. The models with the hard disk inside have a helpful H behind the ’1000′ as in Eee PC 1000H.
What will also hurt sales for the new models is the price. Instead of the cheapness of the Eee PC 701, expect to pay at least US$662 for a 40GB SSD model or maybe $40 less for something with an HDD.
Taiwan buyers will get the new models first, followed by other Asian markets. Europe by later this year but no word on either North or South America.
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