Asus Eee PC Gets a U.S. Price and Release Date

So... can you guys tell me if there's anything else out there that runs off a fast SSD and a full operating system less then $500 bucks and don't weight a ton?

I'd rather buy a kid this than a Wii or xbox360.

(pcworld)

 

It's not any cheaper than the prices in the US. About $400 USD. It's the low end model that is cheap here. $240 tax included. If you got someone to send one to you, you would be charged import tax (10% in most countries) + shipping. It would end up being close to $500...

 

Which is precisely why my friends won't be getting any on this side of the world.

Oh well. It was over-priced...

 

I was really looking forward to this being $200, or $300 for the 8gb version. I was planning to get one as a secondary laptop, but now I'm not so sure. I hope in the next version they include the following, and come out with a very quick refresh.

1. Core architecture processsor. ULV Core 2 Duo/Solo or something, not this 900mhz ancient piece of technology. If I'm correct the new Cores actually produce less heat and give greater performance than the old Pentium Ms. This would of course be accompanied by a better intel graphics chipset.

2. Up the capacity of the max RAM. I'm fine if you only sell the thing with 256mb even on the high end, but let me put in a 2gb sodimm I buy on my own.

3. Increase the screen size a little bit, in the same chassis. It looks like there's plenty of room for a bigger screen. If you're going to keep it smaller, at least make it glossy and high contrast. I wouldn't mind paying a little more for this included.

Maybe there will be a quick refresh?

 

ChivalricRonin, the max the EEE PC supports is 1GB of RAM. 2GB's would not only be worthless with such a weak CPU, but it would not be supported. The reason they didn't use ULV Core 2 Duo's or Solo's is because they didn't want the $200 notebook to turn into a $500-600 one. Asus does appear to have plans for an EEE PC 801 with an 8" display. It seems the 10" version has been trashed.

 

It's still a good price for what you're getting IMO. It could have been better, but it is what it is. Prices are going up all around the world, so we're starting to see it now.

I think the thing that gets most people isn't necessarily the price itself; it's that Asus promised $200 and delivered twice that with lower specs. This is exactly why you don't go promising things so early in the program. If they had been more conservative and said that the price was yet to be determined, then closer to launch announced it would be $250-$300, $400 wouldn't sound quite as bad.

 

The first shipment is very very limited and is sold out. not sure who they were sold to. Asus refused us any inventory in the first shipment as it was "sold out". I frankly did not want to jump on the ship as there is no money to be made on the front end which means these are sold at cost and we are reimbursed on the back end. i rather sit and wait to see the various issues that come up if any. next shipment is forecast for later in the month of nov which will most likely be delayed. I also seriously doubt that this model will remain active for more then a few months. i do think it is meant as a one time deal then it goes end of life never to come back for the same price. smart marketing move actually.

 

What's the point then? To drum up demand for their next, slightly more expensive, slightly improved version?

The 8" model makes no sense. Why do companies do this. Having a 7" and a 10" makes sense. Why bother with different product names, model numbers, stock, part design, etc for only a 1" difference?

My perceived problem with the notebook is this. I wanted one because it was functional and cheap. Something I could throw in my bag and take to class. If it got fubar'd, then fine. It wasn't my 'good' laptop worth a lot more. By raising the price from the 200s to the 400s, it isn't quite as 'throw away'. If I am paying 400 for it, then I want some better specs, less compromises, which raises the price a litlte more. Suddenly my cheap 'throw' away laptop edges up into the 500-600 range. That's not far from xps1330 territory (with a coupon).....

 

The point is brand awareness.....marketing
The 200$ model was never meant for the states. It is meant for overseas charity. In the states expect 400$ and higher. I am actually surprised. I was 100% certain that this was going to come out in the states in 2008 @ 500$ and above if they even brought it in to the us. I did not expect the early intro and a lower price. I dont know why people created all this hype on the forums about a concept notebook @ 200$ from a compamy that is know for specializing in nothing that is cheap.

 

Those who are comparing this toy to a Sony TZ, you fellas do realize that the 800x480 screen is all but useless for most tasks, and the "SSD" is nothing but cheap flash chips you normally find in free-after-rebate USB flash drives, right?

 

I think most people realize the differences between the $399 Eee PC and the $2000-3000 Sony TZ.

 

For all of my mobile tasks at the moment, I use a 240x320 screen. 800x480 would be a godsend.

 

My iPhone's screen is 320x480 and it's pretty readable(with zoom of course).

800x480 would be fantastic

 

News to us, since one of us has a TZ in the office. I have had first hand experience with both models, and it really comes down to battery life and storage space. How do you consider the resolution useless? Flash in a SSD's are nothing more than standard flash. Big difference when you compare free after rebate small modules, and large chips needed to get 32 or 64GB in a small area.

 

Is the 10" version really trashed???? I was going to buy the 10inch one when it comes out like next year...

Can you please give a link on the 8" model.