by martin on September 15, 2009
There is a chance that the Asus Eee PC 1101HA could come preloaded with Windows 7 by the end of the year, if recent signs are any indication.
Windows 7 already runs decently on most netbooks powered by the Intel Atom processor, but Windows 7 will need a little assistance from the hardware manufacturers so as to make sure all hardware is supported on netbooks.
Right now, Asus are answering that call with a BIOS update that should help the Asus Eee PC 1101HA cooperate more fully with Windows 7 and adds support for auto detecting 3G, Wlan (Wi-Fi) and BT device.
This should help users who might have been having difficulties with those built-in functions or perhaps add more stability to those who do already have them working.
Either way, this is a good sign and hopefully one of many new updates from Asus to come for the Eee PC line for Windows 7.
by martin on September 10, 2009
The Asus eBook Reader is on it’s way and could see a shelf price of just $164. This dual screen e-reader could turn into the world’s cheapest digital reader and take off just like the original Eee PC.
The feature that really stands out with the Eee Reader, as it is expected to be called, is that it comes with a hinged spine that separates the two screens, so it opens just like a book. This is currently unlike other e-book readers on the market which are usually in the form of a single flat screen.
Furthermore, you will also be able to browse the web while viewing your e-book and one of the screens can behave like a virtual keypad so the e-book could almost be used like a laptop. Also, while other e-book readers currently offer monochrome screens, the Asus Eee Reader will actually be in full colour. There is a chance it could also include a webcam, speakers and microphone for Skype.
There is no information yet as to what format of e-book the Asus Eee Reader will support.
by martin on September 3, 2009
The Eee Box EB1012 is soon to be released, with an official Asus product page now existing and the full specifications already known. The Eee Box EB1012 will measure 8.7 inch x 7 inch x 1.1 inch and weight only 2.4 pounds. However, it does support a bit more grunt that the other Eee Box’s due to the dual core Intel Atom 330 processor and NVIDIA ION graphics.
It also offers 250GB hard drive, 2GB of memory (but it can support up to 4GB), full Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n support, an ethernet port, 6 USB ports, an eSATA port and built-in 5.1 channel audio as well as boasting D-Sub and HDMI outputs.
However, that’s not all. We have some information regarding a few other intended releases gracing us from Asus. Three other products are rumored to be upcoming, all supposedly going to be released in fourth quarter, or essentially around the time Windows 7 will be released.
The first is the Asus Eee PC 1201N. This one claims to offer a 12 inch display, 1.6Ghz Intel Atom N270 processor with NVIDIA ION graphics, 250GB of hard drive storage, 2GB of system memory, a 6 cell battery, full 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It should come with Windows 7 Home Premium and cost approximately $499.
The second is an updated Asus Eee PC 1005HA-P, which will replace the current 1005HA-P models. It would be very similar to the existing Eee PC 1005HA-P except it will come with a higher capacity hard disk drive and come default with Windows 7 Starter Edition. It is expected to go for $399.
The third is an updated 1005HA-M, and would overlap the 1005HA-V. Like the above, it will support similar specs to the 1005HA-V but come with a 250GB hard drive and come default with Windows 7 Starter Edition. It should go for a price of $349.
More information, pictures and other commentary can be found on the EeeUser forums here and here.
by martin on August 29, 2009
Originally it was some graphics settings to change the display, then community driven complex scripts to handle the display and the built-in mouse pad to mimic turning pages of a book as you used your Eee PC as an ebook reader, now Asus are taking another step forward.
Asus are planning on adding a new device to their Eee line which would combine all of the above with a new dedicated Eee machine, an Asus Eee e-Book Reader. This new reader, which Asus claim they plan to launch within the Eee series by around the end of 2009, says Asus company president Jerry Shen, will compete with the Sony Reader and Amazon’s Kindle.
What will it feature? What type of screen will have? What extended storage ability will it offer? We’re not sure yet, but when Asus bring out more information on this upcoming release you can be sure to find out about it here.
by martin on August 24, 2009
A recent report has surfaced from Rescuecom called the Computer Reliability Report which indicates that is Asus is the most reliable for the second time in a row for this report. The report is calculated from a ratio between number of sales and the amount of support and repair calls generated for each company within a certain time period. In this instance, it was second quarter of this year, 2009.
Asus, in this particular order, scored higher than Apple, IBM/Lenovo, Toshiba and HP/Compaq.
David A. Milman, C.E.O and founder of Rescuecom revealed “Because Asus just introduced the newest version of the Eee laptop last fall, the original predicted computer reliability of this laptop has been somewhat up in the air. However, a good eight months later, we’re still receiving the fewest calls for computer repair and support with Asus, while their market share is increasing, adding the Eee desktop to their line as well, indicating that this PC is continuing to prove itself in terms of computer reliability.”
Of course, this report does not take into account that users may choose to use directly offered customer support options, such as Applecare, versus third-party providers. However, when it comes to a wide variety of options and releases within the Eee line, Asus are fairing pretty well. Keep up the good work Asus!
by martin on August 21, 2009
Just as Asus introduce the the Asus Eee Top ET2002T all-in-one PC featuring impressive NVIDIA ION graphics, Asus say their Eee Keyboard, the PC-in-a-keyboard which we have repeatedly written about here, should be out soon, or as close as October.
The Eee Keyboard features the Intel Atom CPU, the much anticipated 5 inch 800 x 480 resolution touch screen display, a solid state storage drive and wireless HDMI. It is intended to easily allow PC access and internet content on a remote TV.
Meanwhile, Asus are setting up to release the first of hopefully many of the Eee Box nettop series to boast the NVIDIA ION graphics chip. The Eee Box EB1012 is the low power small sized desktop PC featuring NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, a dual core Intel Atom 330 processor, 2GB of memory, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi support, 6 USB ports, carries an eSATA port, 250GB of hard drive space and VGA and HDMI ports.
Though the EB1012 isn’t the first from the Asus Eee Box range to come with a powerful integrated graphics chip, it is the first to carry the NVIDIA ION chip, which is specially targeted toward low power devices such as the EB1012.
by martin on August 18, 2009
A member on the Eee User forums has decided to make a project that, more accurately than ever before, emphasizes the word BOOK in the term netbook. Member randyrsx has decided to demonstrate what can be done when you want to use a book to house your netbook and turn it into a protective case.
Several pictures show just how snug an Eee PC 901 can be stored away inside the protective shell of a hollowed out book, and could inspire those to use the idea as an anti-theft device, considering how much, when the book is closed, it would be difficult to guess that it wasn’t actually a book at all!
This brings to mind the idea that if one wanted to push the concept further, there are various software configurations available for viewing ebooks and flipping the display on the Eee PCs to mimic a book standing vertically, so you could be reading an ebook on your Eee PC while it is housed and resting in your actual hollowed out book.
So check out the project and let us know of any other similar modifications other Eee Users have come up with.
by martin on August 16, 2009
For those who regularly use the online storage facility offered by Asus to Eee users called Eee Storage, the facilities will be down on Tuesday from 4PM and estimated to be brought back up at midnight GMT, or 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time.
While maintenance is being performed, all members and users will not be able to perform backups or send files to and from the EeeStorage facilities. So if you were wanting to do any of the above, it’s probably better to backup now or retrieve as soon as you can any important file you think may be needed during that time.
Meanwhile, many Eee Users are giving updated reports on how they are finding the Eee PC T91, which was arguably the most anxiously awaited release from Asus for this this year. The T91 is seen by many as the last of the “smaller” netbooks to be released by Asus, and therefore inherits the ultra portable factor from its 7 and 9 inch predecessors.
Other favorable factors include claims that battery life actually nearly lives up to the promises made in the various announcements for it. The last good note, but certainly not the least, is that yes, the tablet mode which received most of the attention and hype regarding the T91 is living up to expectations, though there have been reported problems with the netbook acting a little sluggish with the default video drivers, but an update from Intel has been reported to fix that right up.
Join in the discussion on the forum and find out all about what the T91 has to offer.
by martin on August 11, 2009
The Asus Disney Netpal, or internally known as the Eee PC MK90H will beging shipping by next week. Drivers are already available from the Asus support website and Toys R Us has been taking pre-orders already and estimates a shipping date of 14th of August.
The Asus Disney Netpal is a 8.9 netbook, powered by the Intel Atom N270 1.6Ghz processor, features a 1024 x 600 resolution display, 1GB of memory, 160Gb of storage a five hour battery and comes bundled with Windows XP. It is expected to weigh about 2.2 pounds and comes with a suite of Disney branded software.
As reported earlier, it also features Wi-Fi, comes with parental control, filters and website monitoring software and includes a 0.3 megapixel camera. The bundled web browser and email client are also Disney branded and inspired and should feature many favorite Disney characters.
It is available for pre-order from Amazon for $349.99 and comes in “Magic Blue” and “Princess Pink”.
