For those interested in seeing the real insides of the Eee PC 900, check out this thread on VR Zone and this multi page article from bit-tech. Both provide a lot of photos and a lot of information on the exact components that make up the new Eee PC.
It looks like some of the big websites are getting their hands on Eee PC 900 devices and publishing some reviews. Here are some you can check out:
The folks over at XEPC have gotten their hands on an Eee PC 900 new in box. If you head on over to this link, you can see all the pictures which show off the large screen goodness!
Microsoft recently announced that they will be keeping Windows XP alive until 2010, mainly for the Eee PC and other low cost tiny notebooks.
This goes hand in hand with Best Buy now offering a version of the Eee PC 4G (the 4G-X) that comes with Windows XP preinstalled. It is available in black, and apparently is (or will be?) available in actual stores. I ran a couple zip codes into the store availability/inventory part of the Best Buy website, but none seem to be in my area at least.
Users in the last post we had about this have done some investigating, and while the Best Buy employees don’t seem to know much, it looks like inventory might start to arrive on April 14th.
If you’re in the United States and have been waiting for an Eee PC to come with Windows XP preinstalled, you better get your wallet ready because they’re coming to Best Buy starting on the 9th. Though it doesn’t come right out and say it, it apparently looks like they mean in brick and mortar Best Buy stores, and not just BestBuy.com.
Laptop Magazine has a full hands on with the Eee PC 4G-X running Windows XP, which appears to be exactly the same as the 4G that runs Linux.
The recent fire at an LG battery factory is creating quite a shortage for ASUS’s laptops, including the Eee PC. According to an article on Yahoo, 40% of Asustek shipments could be affected by the shortage created. This Digitimes article also says that ASUS hopes to resolve the problems by the second quarter of this year.
We’ll have to wait and see if the battery shortages play a large role with inventory of current Eee PC 70x’s– or if it causes a delay in the Eee PC 900 series.
If you were disappointed about ASUS stopping plans for a touchscreen on the next generation Eee PC, you can smile now. According to touch screen manufacturers in this Digitimes article, ASUS will indeed be including touch panels in the next generation Eee PC.
A new article also on Digitimes, posted today, further explains that the 8.9″ Eee PC:
“will include touchscreen panels and possible GPS support, with shipments expected to begin in May or June, according to Kevin Lin, vice president of Asustek’s sales department. Pricing is projected to reach NT$15,000 (US$500)”
So, it looks like it might be the Eee PC 900 afterall that gets more than just a touchscreen!
Asus has quietly released the SDK for the EEE. There does not seem to be a fanfare or press release accompanying the SDK, but, it is available from Asus’ standard download servers- you can either access it through the Asus Support website, by selecting “Downloads”, or else you can access the European download directly here. [edit by Ant: Appears as though there's some sort of anti-leeching thing going on here- you have to actually go to the downloads section to get to the link to work]
It is not currently clear what the SDK comprises, but, from the file name, it would appear to be a beta release, and is just over 1GB in size.
EeeUser.com is probably the number one resource on the web for EEE users, with a large number of active contributors, and a good success rate in resolving users’ problems. However, don’t just take my word for it - forum user Picotrain posted an email suggesting that even Asus views the site as the best way to support its customer base, providing links to both the EeeUser.com forum and wiki as the first port of call for those experiencing difficulties:
“Thank you for your support of our products!
Here are a few website that can help with any Eee pc issue. These site can also help you understanding Linux and how it works. If nether of these site can help you with your Eee pc problem feel free to call Asus
The first link give you alot of information and fixes and how to use the Eee PC
The second give you information about new products for the Eee and a Forum where you can get information and ask question.
It looks as if EeeUser.com has moved from an unofficial online fanbase to a useful (and, to Asus, if not to ant, free) resource for the device’s manufacturer… Let’s just hope that some of the Asus support representatives, or, even better, developers, are reading and contributing the site also!
See here for discussion of the email, and its potential implications.
Laptop Magazine has an interview with Jerry Shen, where he talks about future plans for the Eee PC line. They include the already announced 8.9″ Eee PC 900 and Eee PC with Windows XP preinstalled. Other plans include the possibility of larger non-ssd hard drives, Intel Diamondville processors, and “more stylish looks.”
Shen also indicates that the Eee PC 900’s price may be $499 for US users. Not bad!
There’s a wealth more of information if you read the full interview here.
