$249 Laptop

[albatross710]

The soon to be available "USD199 laptop" from ASUS is sure to be a winner with travellers.

Weight 900 gms, Battery life 8+ hours, wi-fi.

ASUS Eee PC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sort of like an "overnight bag" version of the notebook computer.

I did read that the unit is not likely be available in Australia this year.

Cheers


Albi

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting idea, although with Xandros (i.e. Linux) as its choice of operating system, I just wonder how it will go.

 

[SeaWolf]

The reason it has such a good battery life is because the screen on it is so small (just 7inches) compared with other laptops that have at least 12inches.

 

[Evan]

I have a Nokia N800 Nokia Europe - Nokia N800 - Products - Find products
Useful but smaller than the UMPC, good skype tool, great if you really really don't need notebook features and just want a web tool and IP phone.
Bit more expensive but still $500 or so is much better than the UMPC's of sony etc that are a good $2k plus.
E

 

[markis10]

Toshiba Librettos had similar screen and specs and just failed because they were too small, most PDAs do similar functions to PCs at thast price point but people still use notebooks with 12 inch + size screens for a reason.

 

[albatross710]

I notice that the ASUS unit is now available in Australia but is RRP $499. Not quite the anticipated price point.

 

[straitman]

I notice that the ASUS unit is now available in Australia but is RRP $499. Not quite the anticipated price point.

I stumbled across this one (I think) last week and it was very impressive at first glance. I didn't follow up any further as I'm not in the market.

 

[albatross710]

I read one review which was negative but the reviewer was comparing it against features of $2,000 laptop...obviously it would fall short.

Comparing it to light weight, long life, portable and with throw away pricing I'd be thinking it will be good for our field techs.

Add it with 5gb $40 vodaphone data package(Hot offer - 5GB Mobile Broadband for only $39 a month)

What more cold they want?

Alby

 

[bambbbam2]

Over on whirlpool, everyone is raving about the $500 hp laptops. They only come with 512mb ram, but you can throw 2 gig in and run vista. Discussion:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=899268

 

[austrider]

To clarify a few things (I was in the market but decided to wait)

* the asus eee pc and the HP are meant for different markets. The only thing similar is the price
* eee pc was US$250 but ended up more than that. In AU I think they are sold thru Myer for $500. In TW it's around $360 with the current favourable exchange rate. Top of the range costs more
* eee pc has size/weight advantage, with capbility between a laptop and a pda
* HP cheap laptop is nearly 3kg and is a typical laptop size
* eee pc can have xp installed (from memory). asus is working on the next gen which has the option of having xp according to the TW rep I spoke to


was thinking of getting an eee pc for when travelling for leisure - ie only need to surf web/download photo bring it anywhere. but decided to wait for the 10" version instead

 

[albatross710]

The Myer connection would contribute to the higher price. When suppliers start to go through the major retailers (Hardly Norman included) they have to increase the margin to cover restocking, returns, retail margin, marketing contribution.

I think in this case ASUS missed their market by raising the price point. The eee PC is now part of a "buying consideration/comparison" instead of being the no-brainer, throw away PC.

But in saying that, if they are selling truckloads of them and can't keep up with demand then they are in the enviable position. (if they have excess stock and aren't making sales quota then they got it wrong!)

Cheers

 

[simongr]

Really makes me wonder whether spending $3000 on the new Apple Macbook Air is the best use of my funds (mind you after salary sacrifice and depreciation - over a couple of years it will only end up costing $500...)

 

[moa999]

The ASUS EEE laptop was originally targeted at US$199, but when launched in US$399 for the version we have here for $499 - so no Myer mark up per se.
Is a very functional laptop for say a holiday or a business trip where you need limited Internet access but more than a Blackberry/PDA will provide, but in no means the same league as a full size machine

Big issue with the Apple notebook, apart from price, is it has a non-replaceable battery. For anyone who has used a laptop a lot, rule no. 1 is replace the battery every 12-18 months as otherwise you start losing charge time big time

 

[Miekk]

Obviously would have a lot of issues being so cheap, but if people are after small basic functionality I guess it'll suit.

 

[simongr]

As I continue to develop my PITS (Personal Information Technology Strategy) this actuall has the potential to become a viable option. I could chuck it in my bag when travelling (I have seen them and they are small) for personal stuff so I don't have to tinker with a locked down work computer.

Similarly it would be handy on our Big Personal Trip this year to down load photos andwatch movies/Xvids etc... very very tempting...

 

[Shano]

As I continue to develop my PITS (Personal Information Technology Strategy) this actuall has the potential to become a viable option. I could chuck it in my bag when travelling (I have seen them and they are small) for personal stuff so I don't have to tinker with a locked down work computer.

Similarly it would be handy on our Big Personal Trip this year to down load photos andwatch movies/Xvids etc... very very tempting...

And not such a big $$$ loss when you walk off and leave it at the X-ray....

 

[moa999]

Also a new 9" version has been launched in HK and the UK. US launch next week - Oz probably not too much later

called the Asus eee pc 900
the original 7" is the 700/701 (or 2G/4G/8G Surf) (confusingly it has a 900Mhz chipset so searching for an eepc 900 won't get you the new model).
Very slightly larger form factor, but essentially the side speakers are now dispatched to the base and the screen takes up the whole top

Cost is £329 / US$549 for this larger version.
Linux version with a 20GB solid state drive, WinXP version 12GB

 

[simongr]

Now that would be more interesting... th 7in screen looked awful in Myer.

Now if only I could run OSX on it

 

[SeaWolf]

Now if only I could run OSX on it

Ah, but you can, with just a little tweaking
OS X on an Asus Eee PC - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Ah, but you can, with just a little tweaking
OS X on an Asus Eee PC - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Just don't go and run software update afterwards!

mt