Sponsored Link

Saturday, September 29, 2007

New Asus Eee PC info from Taiwanese blogger

Submitted by reader Bluberry -

A Taiwanese blogger who goes by the name of Jeremy offers a cornucopia of info on the Asus Eee PC on his blog. The translated version in English can be read here. (Note: the translation is kinda crappy.)

At the any rate, here are the highlights of his posts:

1. The Asus Eee PC will be officially launched in Taiwan on Oct 11, 2007.



2. Keyboard is a bit cramped for Jeremy's ring and index fingers.



3. The 300K webcam.



4. The Asus Eee PC with a 3.5G HSDPA Huawei card attached, which provides Internet access via cellular.



5. The Yahoo home screen as it appears on the 7" screen. Notice the truncation.



6. OpenOffice in action. The Word document opened fine without any problems.



7. Excel file also loaded without any problems. Formulas were intact.



8. Powerpoint presentation ran smoothly as well.

9. Jeremy feels as long as the Asus Eee PC does not exceed TWD10,000 (about USD305) it should do well.

The TWD10,000 appears to be the psychological price point in Taiwan, as compared to USD200 in the US.

There are tons of information in the blog, including more photos and videos. It is definitely worth a visit.

Friday, September 28, 2007

eBay Asus Eee PC Sold for $617

The winning bid for the pre-production Asus Eee PC that went on sale on eBay was USD617!!!



Not sure what to make of it but considering the product launch has been delayed yet again, maybe the winning bidder has the right idea.

Canadian User Reviews Asus Eee PC

polocanada posted a review via a comment (no. 8) in Eeeuser -

Highlights of the review -

Unit reviewed is a pre-production model 701 with 4 GB. It was bought from a company that did an online review.
Overall look - sexy, tiny, light, pleasant to hold.

SYSTEM INFO:
BIOS version 0155
BIOS date: 09/10/2007 (this is after I flashed the BIOS today. Flashing BIOS on Eee Pc is easy).

Software version: EEE PC 1.0
Build info: 2007-09-20 06:00. That means this EEE PC was built like 8 days ago.
CPU Type: Intel Mobile
Memory: 512 MB
Mother Board version x.xx

Screen - matte. Resolution and colors are OK. The screen doesn’t tilt flat as it is heavier than the keyboard. So limiting the tilt angle prevents it from flipping over.

Audio - even with headphones, sound is low. But this might be application dependent. Audio for anything in Firefox is too low but sounds for games were OK.

Boot time - about 20 seconds. The Eee PC uses Xandros (Linux). It has two GUIs. One is simplified (with big icons for email, gmail, gaim, firefox, Open office, player etc.) and is intended for kids, and new computer users. The other is Normal and acts like Windows or KDE. Switching between both modes is easy but requires a 20 second reboot.

Battery - A little bit warm. Not hot, but the tiny fan is running.

Stand-by mode - In stand-by mode, the Eee PC remains hot.

Touchpad - Touchpad is great. But the button is a little bit tricky and not easy to handle. It is also pretty loud.

USB ports - 3

Multi-card reader - Didn't recognized SD card from Nokia phone. Probably it wasn't formatted properly.

Microphone - located on the bottom underneath the touchpad. There might be another one besides the camera.

Hinge - perfect. Perfectly tight. Closes good and easy.

Bottom - there is a cover. Under the cover there is 1 DDR II 512 MB memory. Max might be 1 GB. Besides memory there is an Express card slot. This could be used for anything, like a GSM or 3G card or even a memory module. It is very easy to set up a 3G or HSDPA connection when you have the card. This can be setup in control panel.

Keyboard - My fingers are XXXL size so typing was some nightmare. Normal sized users might find typing OK. One very negative thing about this keyboard is that is relatively noisy. The Back Space key should have been bigger also as you will make a lot of typos.

Software update - it’s easy. There is a utility that you can start and update your software. So far, there is not much to update, just the BIOS.

Applications - There is a nice set of sweet games. SMPlayer (media player) comes preinstalled. There are other typical KDE applications, including an anti-virus. The software takes up a lot of space. There is only like 1.3 GB left out of 4 GB for my files. Also I am not clear about how to do a complete system backup.

Webcam - I tried to start the Webcam application but failed.

Charger - The power cord is long enough and plugs into the back of the Eee PC.

Bug: If a USB mouse is plugged in and then unplugged, the touchpad and keyboard stop working. If the mouse is plugged in again, the touchpad and keyboard still won't work. To get both working again, the Eee PC needs to be shut down, the battery taken out for a few seconds, and then rebooted.

I think many people will love the Eee PC and some of them will find that after initial excitement it is simply too small and thus a useless gadget. But if you need extreme mobility and always access to your stuff, work, school, internet, WIFI, movies on subway, then you are going to like Eee PC.




Another German site on the Asus Eee PC

Submitted by reader Jan Detlefsen -

Another interesting German site on Asus Eee PC and related topics - Tonsai Media.

Looks like the Asus Eee PC has a universal appeal. I would venture to say, almost iconic. Too bad, we will have to wait a bit longer. Again.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Asus to Ship Eee PC in Taiwan Oct 11

According to Taiwanese site cnYes, Asus actually launched in mid-September a mini trial of 1000 units involving its internal staff and their families.

Based on the findings, Asus is planning to add more software applications, thereby causing another delay in the formal launch. It now plans to release the Asus Eee PC in Taiwan on October 11. The simplest model will sell for NT6588 (about USD199) with more advanced versions priced at NT8111-9899 (about USD245 to 299).

While there is no equivalent product at this time, Asus expects competition by the second half of next year.

The translated version of the site (in English) can be read here.

Asus delays Eee PC shipments

Submitted by reader Vito Cassisi -

From Digitimes -

Yen Ting Chen, Taipei; Emily Chuang, DIGITIMES Thursday 27 September 2007

Asus is now expected to further delay shipments of its Eee PCs to the end of October this year. Originally announced in June, initial delivery was supposed to be in August. It has since repeatedly been moved, the latest being the third week of September.

The major reason for the latest delay is that Asus has decided to add more software applications. The company indicated that it expects to ship Eee PCs soon, adding the launch should be no later than that of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC)'s latest plan in November.

Despite the additional software to the Eee PCs, the cost will remain the same.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

German Asus Eee PC Site

I just came across a German site focusing on the Asus Eee PC - Eee-PC.de. With the French site Blogeee and the Spanish site Hispazone both featuring the Asus subnote as well, it appears the product has a very strong European following as well.

Spanish Review of the Asus Eee PC

The accompanying review of the Spanish video previously posted is at Hispazone. If you'd rather read the translated version (in English), it is available here.

According to the reviewer, they were able to work with an engineering sample of the Asus Eee 701. The review is basically an introduction to the unit and does not present much new information. However the reviewer refers to the article as Part 1, so hopefully there will be succeeding articles.

Photos below are from the review. The original video can also be viewed at the site.





Spanish Asus Eee PC 701 Video from the Japanese YouTube site

As posted by member TheTick in the Eeeuser forum (post no. 1), a video from the Japanese YouTube site -

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Classmate PC Potential Eee PC Rival?

Looking at the specs of the Intel Classmate PC, which is manufactured by ECS by way of its purchase of Uniwill -

Intel Classmate PC Specs as listed in the the ClassmatePC site -

Chassis: Customized Mini Chassis 245x196x44
Processor: Intel® Mobile Processor ULV 900 MHz, Zero L2 cache, 400 MHz FSB
Chipset: Intel 915GMS + ICH6-M
Memory: DDR-II 256M SO-DIMM
LCD: 7" 800 x 480, LVDS Interface, LED B/L
Storage Device: 1GB/2GB NAND Flash
Audio: Stereo 2 Channel Audio, Built-in Speakers and Microphone, Jack for External Output and Microphone Input
LAN/WLAN: 10/100M Ethernet + WLAN 802.11 b/g w/ Antenna
Keyboard: Integrated Keyboard with Hot Keys
Touch Pad: Cycle Touch Pad with Left and Right Buttons
Digital Pen (optional): Wireless Pen to take digital notes
TPM: TPM1.2
Power Solution: Battery with Adapter – 6 Cells, approximately 4 hours Usage
Weight: Less than 1.3kg (aprox. 2.86 pounds)
Operating System: Windows XP Pro*/ Linux*

it is quite obvious the unit shares a common platform with the Asus Eee PC.

Of course, appearance-wise, no one will mistake the Classmate PC for its Asus counterpart, as the two photos below from Ricardo's Blog show.





But aside from the similar technical specs, the two also have similar price ranges, especially now that Asus has effectively increased the Eee PC's since its initial announcement. The Classmate PC lists for USD300 for its target market while the Asus Eee PC starts at USD249 (at least for the US market).

What this means is that if ECS were to streamline the physical appearance of its Classmate PC and make it more appealing to adult users, as well as reduce the price, it will have a formidable rival to the Asus Eee PC. Moreover, since the Classmate PC has been in production for a while now, ECS will have the advantage in procuring the critical components that are currently in shortage.

Thus barring any legal impediments, ECS is actually in a good position to sneak up on Asus. Back in late 2001, ECS defined a new market segment with the introduction of its Desknote (iBuddie) series - which are desktop replacement laptops without built-in batteries. The next year, Asus came out with its Degatto line, essentially the same configuration as that of the Desknote, to compete head-on with the latter. Since then, the two companies have been consistently introducing notebook models with similar configurations and price points.

Incidentally, the two companies also compete directly in the motherboard business, being two of the largest manufacturers in the world. So it would be interesting if their rivalry heats up the notebook segment once again.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Asus Eee PC not covered by Asus Accidental Damage Warranty

Submitted by reader Bluberry -

According to Asus' Accidental Damage Warranty as listed on its site -

...To notebook users, we know accidents are unavoidable, and the costs associated with them can really add up. Whether you drop your ASUS notebook computer or spill coffee on your notebook keyboard, you’re now covered. And you will always enjoy the convenience of assistance 24/7* from ASUS technical representatives. And rest-assured your product will be up and running quickly.

ASUS currently provides the best notebook product warranty in the industry – ASUS 360 with “20224” protection**, including 2-year global warranty, zero bright dot (ZBD) guarantee for LCD display, free two-way standard overnight shipping for repair, 24 hours tech support. Now, ASUS is leading the industry again to provide ASUS notebook users with one year Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW) Program free of charge**, if your ASUS notebook computer is purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007.

** The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers “ASUS” brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to:

+ “Built on ASUS,” “ASMobile,” “Powered by ASUS,” the Eee PC, or some other models....

Blogeee.Net Reviews Asus Eee PC

Blogeee.net has a very comprehensive two part review of the Asus Eee PC. Only thing it is in French. The first part can be viewed here. Translated version (to English) can be viewed here. Thanks to reader Kyle Zetts for first submitting the info.

The second part can be viewed here. The translated version (to English) can be viewed here.

Highlights (meaning new info) of the review follows:



The Asus Eee PC is 22.5 cm wide.



The keyboard labels are very legible. The standard keys are practically the same size as that found in a regular 45 cm keyboard, measuring 1.5 cm at the base and 1.3 cm at the top.



The space bar, however, is much smaller at 7.5 cm compared to the 10.5 cm of the reviewer's Logitech keyboard. The smaller size however is a non-issue.



Then ENTER key has a width of 2.4 cm, which is still okay.



The vertical travel of the keys are also adequate.



The touchpad. at 4 cm wide, is actually too narrow. However, the icons used by the OS are designed for less than precise navigation. But for navigation requiring more precision, a USB mouse is recommended.


A screw, located at the bottom of the case, whose function is undetermined.


The built-in mic is located at the bottom front where it will be susceptible to the echo generated by the air vents. A headset is recommended instead.



The battery is held in securely by two locks. It has a voltage of 7.4 volts and is rated at 5200 mAh.

There are lots more photos, plus the complete review at the site. In addition there are other articles on the Asus Eee PC.


Sunday, September 23, 2007

Asus Eee PC now expected in October

According to the Inquirer, sources at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) last week said that the price of the Asus Eee PC will vary greatly depending on the configuration. There will be four to five different configurations, with the entry level model priced at $239 (? - article quoted a price of $239 but the accompanying table, shown below, indicates a price of $199) and higher-end ones, considerably more. The cheaper models, shown at IDF, were expected earlier than October.

The bill of materials also vary greatly depending on the configuration. The 7" screen now costs $40 but the higher resolution screens will cost much more. Battery life for four cells models is still a meager three hours.

Intel presented a data sheet which showed the configurations of the different Asus Eee PCs.


700-C
700
701
701-6
Flash
2GB
2GB
4GB
6GB
DDR2
256MB
256MB
512MB
512MB
Camera
No
No
Yes
Yes
Battery
2 Cell
4 Cell
4 Cell
4 Cell
Wi-Fi
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Ethernet
10/100
10/100
10/100
10/100
Modem
Yes
No
No
No
Price
$199
$239
$299
$399

The very cheapest one, with a recommended retail price of $199, is only available on tender. There will be four models in all, with the most expensive model costing more like $399.

----------

The above information will obviously add more confusion as to the actual pricing and configuration of the Asus Eee PC models. But considering that the source is The Inquirer...

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Asus Eee PC on Ebay!

I guess it is never too early for people to try to sell the Asus Eee PC. A straightforward search on Ebay generated two results -



The first entry is for what seems to be a pre-production unit. Interestingly it already has nine bids with the current bid at USD255.00



The second entry is for a a 512MB, 4 GB Model with a starting bid of USD650!!! Not surprisingly, no one has made a bid on it yet.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Rumours of Dothan cpu too hot with Puppy Linux?

Found this interesting article over at the Tuxmachines site. It was submitted by atang1 on Sat, 09/15/2007 - 03:29.

...ASUS EEE PC was too hot to run at 900 mhz due to the fact that Puppy was the trial operating system. Puppy has no power management allocations for Dothan cpu. We are now suggesting the use of Microsoft mini operating system supplied in People's Republic of China, which has shadowed bios adjustment module to cool the cpu. In addition Intel has team of ten engineers to work around in smpbus on core voltage and pll frequency, to do power management perhaps to work at the designed 900 mhz frequency?

OLPC had the same problems with battery power conservation, and delays in operating system design. Carlos Slim had intended only to put the first delivery in Mexico libraries, which needs perhaps only AC adaptors, avoiding embarrassing battery problems.

The designs are sometimes best money can buy cheap, or the worst which is cheap enough to build a minimum notebook. OLPC is only sub500 mhz, and EEE is barely running in bios without operating system loads to overheat it...

-----------

Could this be in anyway related to the delay of the launch?

The (Non) Issue About Un-upgradeable RAM

The past few days several new photos of Asus Eee PCs have been uploaded all over the Net. In some of these, the unit clearly shows soldered RAM chips, implying a casual DIY memory upgrade would be out of the question. Yet other forum posters insist the test unit they have has memory upgrade capabilities. Given that the entry model will only have 256MB RAM and 2G flash memory, the uncertainty naturally has caused a lot of prospective buyers apprehension regarding being able to use the Asus Eee PC for their intended purposes.

Personally I think whether the memory ends up being upgradeable or not is a non-issue (for Asus and most users). First of all, most of the posters in the various forums voicing their concern are not the typical users of consumer devices. These are the geeks, the nerds, the gadget-lovers – people who love to live on the bleeding edge of technology. They love to take apart gadgets, to modify them, to hack them. Hence, the ability to upgrade is a significant consideration. On the other hand, the typical user most likely has yet to learn about the Eee PC, given the lack of aggressive marketing on the part of Asus.

Now if the entry model of the Asus Eee PC functions properly as advertised – depending on how Asus finally positions it – the vast majority of users will likely not be bothered by the lack of upgradeability. After all, how many users actually upgrade their mobile phone’s RAM? Or their PDAs? Or even their iPods? The iPods are even worse, the battery is also non-removable. Yet this did not prevent the iPod from becoming a best-selling iconic product.

The reality is that the typical consumer is not bothered by upgradeability issue. If the Asus Eee PC functions much like a consumer device (and its Easy user interface actually allows it to do so), then the typical user will regard it as such. And as most consumer devices go, they are not really upgradeable. In fact, the cheaper ones are actually throw-away products after only one or two years of use.

If you think about it the only reason why there is an issue about memory upgradeability is that Asus has been positioning the Asus Eee PC as a notebook. Ergo, notebook = memory upgrade capability. But if Asus has, from the very start, positioned the Asus Eee PC as a consumer device that will allow a typical user to go on-line, check email, work on documents and spreadsheets, then the upgradeability issue becomes moot. And at the original announced $199 price point, pricing was more in-line with consumer devices than with notebooks.

Even with the higher prices, Asus can still market the Asus Eee PC as a consumer device. After all its user interface is simple enough. Turn it on, the icons appear. Click this to go online. Click this to check email. Click this to write a document. Easy enough. For as long as the Asus Eee PC functions as advertised, typical users will not be concerned about upgrading, the way they are not concerned about upgrading their mobile phones, their PDAs, their iPods. So whether memory is upgradeable is not is actually a non-issue.

For the typical user, at least. As for the geeks, the nerds, the gadget freaks among us – well, that sadly is another issue

Spring Singapore Approves Asus Eee PC AC Adaptor Aug 29, 2007

According to SPRING Singapore's website, the Asus Eee PC AC Adaptor (model AD59230) was only registered on August 29, 2007 and given the registration number CPA PIE EAD 071483-11.

SPRING (Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board) Singapore has served as the MTI's appointed Safety Authority to administer the Consumer Protection (Safety Requirements) Registration Scheme (CPS Scheme) since 1991. It ensures that consumer products gazetted as controlled goods meet the specified safety standards and are safe for normal use. Registration with SPRING Singapore is mandatory before a controlled good (such as the AC adaptor) can be advertised, traded or displayed for sale.

Question now is if the Asus AD59230 adaptor is indeed the one that will be bundled with the Asus Eee PC, that means Asus could not have been able to launch the subnote in Singapore before Aug 29, 2007 even if they have previously announced an earlier launch date.

Well, it is always possible Asus has several types of adaptors that will be bundled with the Asus Eee PC. But given the numerous delays, it does make one wonder.

Video Twitter, Anyone?

Given that the Asus Eee PC’s form factor and light weight lends itself to being carried around like a mobile phone (well, actually it would be more like inside a bag), it is likely this product may yet be the catalyst that sustains, or even increases the momentum of the blogging industry. For those of you following the blogging world, some analysts have been predicting a slowdown in its growth starting this year. Some have even ventured that the number of blogs (estimated 70 million as of April 2007 according to Technorati) may even level off. Of course, the more optimistic ones expect the growth to continue.

Whatever the trend may actually be, the Asus Eee PC is just the right device to bring along anywhere. It has built-in WiFi. It can accommodate a USB HSDPA plug-in. Worst case, you can have dial-up. So Internet access is a no-brainer. It would not be difficult to visualize hordes of bloggers holed up on their favorite couch at the local Starbucks blogging away on their Asus Eee PCs.

What’s more, with the built-in webcam (well, except for the entry-level models), uploading snapshots (or with sufficient bandwidth, video) of their environment becomes very easy, practically second-nature. Thus they can provide graphic updates periodically – not that most people would be interested. But still, something sort of a video Twitter.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Another Black Asus Eee PC

Submitted by reader Kyle Zetts - Another black Asus Eee PC made an appearance, this time at the Intel Developer Forum 2007.

ASUS stopped by the Intel Developer Forum 2007 with its new EeePC, a sub-$400 notebook designed for emerging markets, classrooms, and other cost-conscious users. Complete details and lots of photos at Anandtech.

ASUS Eee PC 701: субноутбук at the price of a handheld computer

Submitted by reader Bruno Campos - A comprehensive Russian review of a black Asus Eee PC from the Russian site 3DNews.

We will cite just the important and new info. The complete translated version is available at Translate.ru -

Note test unit is a preselling sample that may differ from the production units. Here are the results:

Characteristics (for Russian production model )

The processor
Intel Celeron M 900 MHz ULV, cache L2 of 512 Mb, FSB 400 MHz
Operational system
Linux-based
System logic
Intel NG82910GMLE/NH82801FBM
Memory
256 Mb DDR2 of 400 MHz
LCD the Display
7 " wide-screen, 800 x 480
The module schedules and video
Integrated Intel 910GMLE Express
HDD
Flash-disk in volume 4 Гб
Optical drive
No
Communications
Built in module Ethernet LAN, 56K modem, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
Dimensions, mm
225 x 165 x 21~35
Weight, kg
0,89

Design and appearance

Appearance ASUS Eee PC 701


The Eee PC 701 looks like classical "book", without a cover latch. The fit between the cover and case is tight. Both case and cover are made from black matte plastic with a slightly rouogh but very pleasant touch. It looks stylishly expensive.

All the connectors are located on the left and right sides of the unit. The SD/MMC, two USB ports and the VGA-out are located on the right side.

ASUS Eee PC 701 on the right

An Ethernet port, the modem port, a 3rd USB port and the audio ports are located on the left side.

ASUS Eee PC 701 at the left

On the bottom there are several air vents along the perimeter. There are also four rubber legs to stabilize the unit.

ASUS Eee PC 701 Bottom surface

The battery is secured by two separate locks.

ASUS Eee PC 701 Accumulator

Interior

ASUS Eee PC 701

The LCD display is attached to two massive ring supports. The hinge works very smoothly and is moderately stiff.

The keyboard is also made from the same matte black plastic and is less than full-sized. The lay-out is more or less standard. However, it would have been desirable to see the block with курсорными keys displaced at the bottom.

ASUS Eee PC 701 Keyboard

The alphabetic keys, number keys , and also курсорный the block are essentially allocated with the almost full-sized keys.

ASUS Eee PC 701 Keyboard

All keys have precise tactile feedback and travel short distances. The keys also slightly jingle but this should not matter. The substrate of the keyboard hardly noticeably caves in, but it is not appreciable almost.

The touchpad is small but works well with the display. It has scroll bar on the right, and also two standard buttons integrated in one long metal strip.

Тачпад
There is a slot for a web-cam above the display but our unit did not come with a web-cam.

The display

The LCD is a 7" TFT with 800 x 480 resolution. While the 7" should not be a problem, the 480 pixel length is not enough for Windows applications. The display has a huge range of brightness control, a fine saturation and color rendition.

Sound

The speakers are located near the display and sound is okay - not bad, not worse than other
ноутбука. But the loudness has to be set to a maximum and on a bustling street it would be necessary to use headphones.

Internal

Both RAM and flash memory are soldered on, making upgrades impossible.

System payment

The test unit had the Intel Celeron M 800 MHz running at 570 Mhz.. However production models are supposed to have the Celeron M of 900 MHz (Dothan 353: architecture 90nm, cache L2 of 512 Mb, frequency of the system trunk of 400 MHz). The BIOS did not allow us to make any adjustment on the clock frequency.


Near the processor two more large microcircuits of a set of system logic Intel NG82910GMLE/NH82801FBM are located. They comprise the Mobile Intel 910GMLE Express with the built in graphic kernel.

RAM is 256 Mb DDR2 400. The sample unit uses Qimonda HYB18T512161BF-25 64MB modules. The memoy have an access time of 2.5 nanoseconds.


The Asus Eee PC has no hard drive and uses flash memory instead. While production units will have 4GB, the sample unit has 2GB, composed of two 1GB HYNIX HY27UG088G5M chips. These chips are commonly used in MP3-players. A number(line) locates the controller from company Silicon Motion-known microcircuit SM223.


Battery

The power adapter of the Asus Eee PC is tiny - similar in size to those used by mobile phones.

Using Battery Eater ’ 05 Pro 2.70, the Asus Eee PC is estimated to last 2 hours 30 minutes.

Heat

There are several air vents along the bottom perimeter but these may be blocked if the unit is set on the user's lap. But the ULV processor is not expected to generate excessive heat.

There is a fixed fan inside the case but it never made a sound during our testing. Interestingly, it does not cool the ULV processor directly.

Quality

It is easy to throw this ноутбук in a backpack and bring it around all day.

The lack of a hard drive may be an issue but it depends on the flash memory installed. Windows XP occupies nearly 1GB so a bigger flash size might be necessary. Alternately, an external hard drive can be connected via the USB port, or even SD or CF cards.

Windows XP boots up in 30 seconds but is sluggish.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Asus Eee PC Selling in Taiwan for USD257

According to member jonel003 of the TipidPC forum, the Asus Eee PC is available in Taiwan for NT$8,500 (approximately USD257). If purchasing in volume, the price can be negotiated down to NT$7,500 to NT$8,500 (USD226 - USD241). No word on the exact configuration, though.

Asus Eee PC photos

Submitted by reader Kyle Zetts -

From blogeee's photos at Flicker -



Asus Eee's keyboard.



Close-up of ON/OFF button.



The four LEDs.



Two of the USB ports and the VGA port.



RJ45, modem, and 3rd USB port.



Free bag.



The tiny power adapter.



Close-up of power adapter.



SD port.



Audio ports.

More photos at the site.