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. Read more

Asus announces Eee PC 1003HAG netbook for Japan

Asus has announced a new netbook, the 1003HAG, specifically for the Japanese market. The 1003HAG has an internal 3G module and supports NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA network with 7.2Mbps speeds. Judging by the pictures, the 1003HAG looks very similar to the slim Eee PC 1002HA but with a chiclet keyboard.

Apart from that you’ll find a 10.2-inch (1024 x 600) display powered by a 1.66GHz N280 Atom CPU. It will come with 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard-disk drive. Other features include Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. Asus claims that battery life will last 4.3 hours. Read more

NbC: Asus Eee PC 1000HE Review

Let’s cut to the chase, the Asus Eee PC 1000HE is one of the best netbooks that money can buy today. The 1000HE improves on its predecessor, the 1000H, in several ways. It comes with a chiclet style keyboard, enhanced battery life as well as a faster processor. The sheer number of features that the 1000HE offers at a very competitive price point is what sets it apart. This combined with a superb battery life makes it well worth your consideration.

However, it is not all roses. Whilst as an overall package, we feel that the 1000HE is one of the better netbooks on the market, it is by no means perfect. There are a number of issues we have with the 1000HE, however most are minor niggles and do not detract from our overall positive impressions. Read on for our full, detailed review including some comprehensive performance and battery tests. Read more

Intel GN40 chipset benchmarked, disappoints

If I were to say that there is a lack of hardware variety powering most netbooks today, it would be an understatement. I’ve written the following line ‘N270CPU, 945GSE chipset, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard-drive etc’ so many times now that it is ingrained into my cerebral cortex. Two particular pieces of netbook tech I’ve been following closely are Nvidia’s Ion platform and Intel’s GN40 chipset, which are both meant to be much more powerful than the aging 945GSE chipset.

The first netbook that is due to appear with the Intel GN40 is the Asus Eee PC 1004DN, Asus’ first with embedded optical drive. Gigabyte also plans on releasing the TouchNote T1028P which will also support the chipset. HKPEC has managed to get hold of a 1004DN and put it through a number of benchmarks to see what the N280 CPU plus GN40 chipset combo was capable of. Unfortunately, it seems that the GN40 is not that much of an improvement over the 945GSE chipset. Read more

Video: Asus Eee PC 1008HA hands-on

The Asus Eee PC 1008HA is definitely the most attractive netbook in the Asus 1000 series of netbooks. It takes a number of design cues from the more luxurious S101/S121 models which include a very slender form–factor. Cnet UK has managed to go hands on with a pre-production model of the 10-inch Asus Eee PC 1008HA.

They refer to it as the ‘Seashell’ but I’m unsure at this point whether its nickname will be used in final marketing by Asus. Overall they liked the slim styling although felt that it didn’t look as sexy as the Asus S101. You can see that ports are hidden behind flaps to keep a clean look. Read more

Another hands-on video with the Asus Eee PC T91

We have already a posted a number of hands-on posts of the Asus Eee PC T91 netbook, but thought we’d share Cnet UK’s experience given some new titbits of information. They have posted a video hands-on with a pre-production sample of the 8.9-inch convertible tablet. The interface is shown much more clearly than the previous video we highlighted.

What may put some people off is that apparently the Asus Eee PC T91 will come with a sealed battery, so if anything goes wrong with it you’ll have to send it back to Asus to replace. The keyboard is also likely to be bigger in the final retail model, most likely at the expense of the trackpad as the keyboard already appears to stretch to the end of the chassis.

Other than that, one thing that has always worried me about such a device is how smudgy the touch screen will look when exposed to fingerprints. One particular shot towards the end of the video highlights how unattractive it can look with greasy fingerprints all over. Check out the video for yourself after the break. Read more

Asus S121 ‘netbook’ now on sale in Taiwan

Whether a mini-notebook with a 12-inch display can be classified as a netbook is debatable. Asus does not include its 12.1-inch S121 as part of the Eee PC family, unlike its little brother the 10-inch Eee PC S101. What we do have however, is a model that shares similar gorgeous looks and the little touches that highlight the S121 is a premium product. These touches include a very slender form-factor and leather palm rests.

You do have to wonder though whether the S121 is more style than substance. It is only powered by a 1.33GHz Z520 Atom CPU and comes with 1GB RAM and a 160GB hard-disk drive. It also does not use the dual storage system utilised by the S101.

The Asus S121 is now on sale in Taiwan for the equivalent of $799/€605/£545. Obviously quite pricey compared to other netbooks that offer more bang for your buck (Samsung NC10 and the Asus 1000HE spring to mind). However, for those for those that are seriously looking at this luxury ‘netbook’ I would imagine value for money isn’t too high up on the agenda.

Via Fudzilla.

Fingerprint sensors to appear on more netbooks

Fingerprint sensors already appear in quite a few laptops, but so far it is a feature that has remained absent from netbooks. Asus’ first Eee PC with optical drive, the 1004DN is the first netbook to include this technology and according to AuthenTec it won’t be the last. Read more

NbC: Asus Eee PC 1000HE Unboxing

Asus kindly sent us an Eee PC 1000HE to put through its paces. We are hoping to have a full review up in a week or so, but in the meantime we thought we’d share our unboxing of the 1000HE.

We were sent a white model and it certainly looks attractive with its glossy white lid. The 1000HE is almost identical to the 1000H but has a faster CPU (1.66GHz N280 Atom versus the 1.6GHz N270 Atom in the 1000H), a chiclet keyboard and better battery life (9.5 hrs versus 7 hours for the 1000H).

We’ll be doing the full range of battery, HDD and CPU tests that you would expect over the next few days. If there are any questions you’d like answered, feel free to ask away in the comments section and we’ll do our best to answer them. Click through for a full gallery of photos. Read more

Asus Eee PC 1000HE wins Laptop Mag’s Netbook Madness

Over the last few weeks, Laptop Mag has organised a netbook faceoff featuring sixteen netbooks. Two netbooks have competed against each other vying for public votes to ensure it gets through to the next round. The netbook that has now emerged victorious is the Asus Eee PC 1000HE against the runner-up, the Samsung NC10. There wasn’t that much in it, with just over 13,000 votes cast, the 1000HE took 54 percent of the vote compared to 46 percent to the NC10.

This is probably not surprising given that the Asus 1000HE costs a similar amount to the Samsung NC10 whilst having a longer battery life. However, it would be interesting to see how the 1000HE compares against Samsung’s upcoming N110 which Samsung claims will last for 9.5 hours. Click through for a full chart of the final result. Read more

Early impressions of Asus Eee PC 1004DN plus indicative pricing

Australia’s PC Authority has managed to get hands-on with the Eee PC 1004DN, Asus’ first netbook with embedded optical drive. Interestingly, they also revealed that the 1004DN has an Australian RRP of AUD1399, the first time we have an idea on pricing. This converts to roughly $995/€750/£680 so it certainly will not be cheap if the 1004DN ends up coming to the US/Europe.

Starting off with the chiclet keyboard, they found the comfort level was good with a good response, despite the rattle of the keys (something which a number of chiclet keyboards suffer with). The same couldn’t be said of the trackpad which they found to be “sticky and unresponsive”. Read more

Asus keeping 8.9-inch netbooks, Acer phasing them out

There was a point earlier in the year when Asus were making noises about phasing out their line of 8.9-inch netbooks. They have now decided to keep them but only for the procurement market according to Digitimes.

Acer, on the other hand, has decided to phase out the 8.9-inch netbook altogether and will focus its attention on 10-inch models. Asus will continue to push 10-inch models to consumers whilst it will target its 7-inch models to telecom partners. Asus also said that Eee PC shipments in Taiwan have doubled since last year, with shipments expected to reach between 16,000 – 17,000 units in April.

In other related news, Asus is planning to release a pink version of the Eee PC 1000HA during Softex Taipei (April 9 – 13). It will also be pushing its luxury netbook, the Eee PC S121.

Asus Eee PC 1008HA netbook hits the FCC

The Asus Eee PC 1008HA is certainly one of the most attractive netbooks due for release soon. The 10-inch netbook is just 1-inch thick and weighs 1.1Kg (2.4lbs). The 1008HA is expected to be launched in the UK this month at a price point of £359. The US launch should follow soon as the 1008HA has now hit the FCC.

There aren’t any test photos (either internal or external) of the 1008HA, the only one I came across showed the bottom of the unit with the label and FCC certification location. What is concerning is that there appears to be a lack of access panels for the HDD and RAM. Also, I can’t seem to make out a removable battery either. I really hope Asus don’t go the way of the Macbook Air with its sealed battery as I’m sure that would be a turn-off for many.

The Eee PC 1008HA has a 10.2-inch LED backlit screen which supports a resolution of 1024 x 600 and is powered by an Intel N280 Atom CPU and 1GB of RAM. It will also come with a 160GB hard-disk drive.

Via Netbook 3G.

Asus Eee PC 1004DN Manual reveals new info

Asus is set to launch its first netbook with optical drive, the Eee PC 1004DN, over the next month. Initial comments from Asus’ PR people in the UK and US suggest that the unit is unlikely to make it to western shores unfortunately. Despite this, the 1004DN remains an interesting netbook even if only to serve a sign of things to come. The manual for the 1004DN recently appeared online and browsing through it revealed some new information about the optical-drive netbook. Read more

Asus Eee PC T91 net tablet passes FCC

Asus upcoming 8.9-inch convertible tablet netbook, the Eee PC T91, has passed through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). From the official e-filing page there doesn’t seem to be too much information there with just two photos from the documents that I could see. There also seems to be no manual attached either. There is no confirmation as to when this will appear in the US or for what price. According to UK Asus PR, the T91 is expected to appear in the UK in late May/early June for approximately £500.

The Asus T91 features an 8.9-inch (1024 x 600) LED backlit display, 1.33GHz Z520 CPU and 1GB RAM. As well as Windows XP, it will also come with Asus’ Easy Mode software to be used in tablet mode.

Via Netbook 3G.

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