ASUS: No ARM/Android netbooks until Q1 2010 at the earliest

Asustek reported its first quarter results today and some interesting news came out from the investor conference. According to Asus CEO, Jerry Shen, it will continue to use Microsoft Windows in its Eee PC netbook line in 2009. The CEO also confirmed that there are no plans to adopt ARM-based processors for its netbooks this year.

“Windows is what most consumers are used to,” said Shen. He then went on to say that the first quarter of 2010 will provide “more of an opportunity” for rival operating software as well as alternative processors.

Shen believes that right now, x86 processors (such as Intel Atom’s CPUs) are more attractive in netbooks due to the breadth of software available. He also said that ARM-based chips, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon, are too expensive despite their obvious advantages (increased power efficiency, always on internet).

Asustek reported a net profit of T$454 million ($13.7 million), which was 94 percent lower than the year before. The company set modest growth targets for the current quarter (Q2), saying it aimed to ship about 1.1 million Eee PC netbooks. It also said that it would launch a number of new PC models in May this year, I imagine this refers to already announced models such as the Eee PC 1008HA.

Via PC World.