by martin on July 1, 2009
Personalising the Eee PC has now taken another step forward. Thanks to forum member Cms, templates are now available for making your own keyboard skins so now you add character to your Eee PC 1000HE by customising the chiclet-style keyboard with your own designs and patterns. The patterns are printed onto paper, then placed onto the keyboard base itself. Photoshop skills optional, but recommended.
Meanwhile, the Asus Eee 1005HA Seashell PC is now shipping in the U.S. and is available via the Amazon online store. There are two different units being sold, so keep that in mind as you order. One has a glossy screen and goes for US$389.99, the other has a matte display and goes for US$349.99. The glossy has is powered by the 1.66Ghz N280 Intel Atom processor, comes with Bluetooth 2.1, a 1.3 megapixel camera, a 6 cell battery running at 5600 mAh which comes with a between charge time of 10.5 hours and comes with a sleeve accessory.
The matte screen version is powered by the Atom N270 processor at 1.6Ghz and comes with a 6 cell 4400 mAh battery which should run at 8.5 hours. A U.K. release is expected towards the end of the month.
by martin on June 29, 2009
Eee PC fans will not be happy. The anxiously awaited Eee PC T91, the Eee with the touch screen, swivel ability and tablet mode, has been delayed again.
At first, it was expected in later May or early June, then we were geared up for early July, now it has slipped to late July. One hopes the logical problems have been sorted out and that Asus can quickly get the T91 out onto the eager market. After all, it does/will support multi-touch.
No actual release date has been mentioned, but apparently Asus UK are confirming that this should be the last delay and that it definitely should be available by late July. The reason given for the delay was that Asus were still working on the interface and wanted to be absolutely happy that the touch screen was going to deliver all that it could. After all, this is the first product of it’s kind from Asus, so they want to make sure they get it right.
A multi-touch SKU has been confirmed and is set to launch with Windows 7, but apparently this depends entirely on how well the T91 sells during the third quarter of 2009. Rumour is that the 10 inch tablet netbook, the Eee PC T101, has decreased in priority for the company, but is still a planned release from Asus.
by martin on June 27, 2009
More news arrives regarding Asus’ other most anticipated release, the Eee PC Keyboard. The Eee Keyboard is an all-in-one computer device within a keyboard and comes with an accompanying touch screen.
Test samples should be circulated amongst tech websites and magazines around August, though the release date is also specified as being August.
Amongst the Eee PC Keyboard’s many features, it will integrate ultra wideband HDMI so it can stream wirelessly to any compatible television. The touch screen is five inches and the keyboard is a chicklet style all wrapped up in an aluminium case.
However, battery life is unknown at this time, though some tests indicate 90 minutes. There is also no pricing information available, but speculation puts the price at £400.
We don’t know yet whether it will come with Windows XP or Windows 7 by default and the product release does carry one other concern; there are no monitors that currently support wireless HDMI on the market.
One way or another, what is essentially an over glorified headless laptop, which is not necessarily a bad thing at all, has many Eee fans anxious awaiting it almost as much as the Asus Eee PC T91. Which one are you most looking forward to?
by martin on June 25, 2009
The latest in the Seashell line, the 1101HA, is showing promise as it shows off several of it’s strongest selling points. The primary point is the higher resolution; it sits at a more comfortable 1366 x 768 resolution.
The Intel GMA 500 graphics chipset is the beast driving the graphics, which is capable of processing high definition video if you have the right software. This is accompanied by the Intel Atom Z520 processor, clocked at 1.33Ghz. It also comes with 160GB hard drive storage, 1GB of RAM and boasts bluetooth 2.1 and Draft-N Wi-Fi capabilities.
Some fans might be wondering about the keyboard. The keyboard is supposedly decent, but does come with a small right shift key, for those who look out for such things.
Battery life is claimed at 8.5 hours between charges with the 4,440mAh battery.
With regards to structure, all ports are open and accessible, full sized VGA port and more is readily at your disposal. For all other intents and purposes, it is built in the same fashion as the 1008HA, as one might expect coming from the Seashell line of Eee PCs.
Overall, it seems like a decent netbook. If you want a slim netbook with all the standard features and a higher resolution than many others, give it a go. It shows a lot of promise.
by martin on June 23, 2009
The new Asus Eee PC 1005HA is now available for pre-order from selected sites. Asus’ own facebook page has details and Amazon are also offering it, though Amazon are only offering the black version at this time.
Reviews have surfaced, with many asking “can it replace my 1000HE?” and comparing it with it’s brother, the 1008HA. The 1005HA is not as slim and light as the 1008HA, but you are compensated for the difference with a removable battery, a full sized VGA port and an access panel to make it easier to upgrade the memory if you want.
The battery is a prime feature too, having tested and reached six hours and fifteen minutes in classic mode. There are several battery configurations, each offering a different amount of time between charges, including a 6 cell 63 WHr lasting about 10.5 hours, a 6 cell 48 WHr lasting about 8 hours and a 3 cell 23 Whr which will probably feature half the uptime between charges of the first two.
by martin on June 20, 2009
Bad news to those hoping for some confirmation regarding any further pricing and availability for the Asus Eee T91 touch screen and tablet PC, Asus have had some delays. These delays have been a constant source of frustration for many an Eee PC user lately leaving many to ask “Just when will it arrive?”.
The Eee PC which was hinted at during October last year by Asus, then revealed at CES in January, is probably the most anticipated release from Asus this year so far. Which means a lot of people anxiously awaiting news of its arrival.
Asus has said that there was a “logistical mishap” in getting the touch screen Eee PC into distribution channels. There is no hint as to what this “mishap” was, but there are further hints as to when we can expect it.
The U.K. is now slated to expect it on Monday, the 22nd June. Yes, that soon. The U.S. is expected to get it at the end of July. No other hints so far (but we’re keeping our eyes and ears open) for any other release in any other part of the globe. Discussion on the EeeUser forums is already underway, and news of Linux multi-touch technology is interesting as well.
by martin on June 19, 2009
Asus, in collaboration with Disney, have now made the Disney Netpal. The Disney Netpal netbook, built by Asus, marketed and themed by Disney, is specially designed and targeted to children aged between six and twelve.
The Disney Netpal includes an 8.9 inch display, kid-friendly software, Wi-Fi and parental-control options. It will run Windows XP Home out of the box, will include 1GB of memory, 160GB of storage and include an 0.3 megapixel camera.
The included software, including web browser and email client, will naturally be Disney inspired and feature Disney characters and icons. Parents will also be able to use the bundled software to find out which sites their children have visited, and how long they have spent at each individual website. It will also feature customizable website filters with password protection.
The Disney Netpal should be available through Toys ‘R’ Us and Amazon by late July and comes with a suggested price of US$350. The initial release will be in the United States, but Disney plan to release it in Europe and Asia by the end of the year.
UPDATE: Discussion and picture on the EeeUser forums.
by martin on June 18, 2009
The Asus Eee PC T91 should be right around the corner. Well, it should be anyway. Asus have a very much anticipated newcomer to their netbook market, the T91 touch screen netbook with swivel ability and tablet mode, and they are not revealing any details.
Rumor originally had it that it would appear in early July, we just did not know when. Further details revealed by Asus indicate late July. Many Eee fans are hoping that this delay does not go on any further. Especially with the indication that a future update and revision to the model would include a multi-touch feature, even if only with a specific Windows 7 configuration.
It would be in their best interest to reveal the Asus Eee PC T91 very, very soon, as it would no doubt improve their profitability, not to mention of course, make a lot of Eee fans very happy.
by martin on June 15, 2009
Asus are migrating to a new fan page on facebook and when this happens, there has to be a way to get the word out. Well, as it turns out, there is. Asus are trying to get not only their existing five thousand existing member over to their new facebook group but are now try to get over ten thousand members.
So what is the best way to get attention, get people curious and drive up numbers? A raffle of course! Yes, Asus are now running a raffle and are giving away netbooks and netbook accessories. Winners will be drawn at random from the official Asus fan page and will get a random prize. Prizes include: Eee PC 1005HA Seashell, Eee PC 1008HA Seashell, Eee BOX, 80GB leather bound external harddrive, 80GB leather bound external harddrive, Eee External Optical drive, Eee External Optical drive, Eee Optical Mouse, Eee Optical Mouse, and a Mystery Notebook.
So, sign up, join in, add to twitter and you could be the winner of a great new netbook or accessory prize from Asus!
by martin on June 12, 2009
Asus have now provided more information regarding availability of the Eee PC T91, the touch screen netbook with swivel ability and tablet mode. The T91 should be available in early July in the U.K. for about £449.
The Asus Eee PC T91 has an 8.9 inch display, measures 225 x 164mm and will be similar to the Asus Eee PC 701 in weight; under 1Kg. It will run with Wi-Fi and bluetooth and keep a 16GB solid state hard drive. It will include a bonus 20GB of web-based Eee storage and some models with also come with an extra storage feature: a 30GB portable hard drive.
Unfortunately, there is still no official word on a release date or of availability in the U.S., but a rumor comes to us through Jerry Stigliano that a U.S. release date could be as soon as June 15th, though that information comes to us with an implied warning; there will only be a small limited number released in the U.S.
More news as it arrives.
