New Asus Eee PC E1004DN – First netbook to include optical drive arriving in April

The line between notebooks and netbooks blur even further. Asus will launch its first netbook with an embedded optical disc-drive in mid-April according to sources in retail channels. The model dubbed E1004DN (Asus’ model numbering gets ever more confusing) will be powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 CPU and GN40 chipset. It will also come with a 120GB hard-disk drive.

I imagine with a drive included it will bulk up the size and weight of the unit. However with the model numbering suggesting that this will be a 10-inch model, let’s hope Asus follow the styling cues of the 1008HA. It certainly will be a powerful machine given that it is adopting the GN40 chipset over the ageing 945GSE. The unit will come with a suggested retail price of NT$18,000-20,000 ($532 – $590, €395 – €440, £370 – £415). We’ll come back with more information on this exciting break-through as we have it.

Update: We have attached some pictures of the E1004DN after the break.

Update 2: We now have full specifications for the 1004DN, see them here.