Unexpectedly low Apple iPad price forces notebook vendors to re-evaluate their tablet PC strategies

From Digitimes -

After the launch of Apple's iPad, which came in starting at way under the expected $1,000 pricepoint, leading netbook makers Asus and MSI are now forced to re-evaluate their strategies for the tablet PC market. The companies originally planned to offer their competing products at 20-30% lower than the Apple iPad. But the $499 entry-level price has caught them by surprise. But since they are used to, in fact, they tend to focus on price wars, we can expect the emerging tablet market to be fought on low prices.

Asus Chairman Jonney Shih talks about the Asus ARM based Smartbooks in the works

Asus weighing up Chrome versus Android

Asus chair Jonney Shih has informed ZDNet UK his company has prototype Android and Chrome OS smartbooks and is currently deciding whether to release an ARM-based device to complement its Intel-based Eee PCs. They are still not sure if users would sacrifice Windows compatibility for a lower-cost subnotebook running a Linux-based OS on a non-Intel compatible ARM chipset. In addition, they need to choose between Google's two operating systems, Android and Chrome OS.

Android is targeted towards smartphones while Chrome OS is cloud-centric and based on the Chrome web browser. The former is faster but is suited more for smaller screens while the latter has multi-windowing.

Asus to launch three new business notebook series and one all-in-one lineup in 2010

From Digitimes -

Asus has announced it plans to introduce three additional business notebook lineups as well as one series of business all-in-one PCs in 2010. The B series will be high-end models that feature a docking station as well as unique industrial designs, the PL mid-range ultra-thin models and the PL the P series entry-level models.

The company will also intro its touchscreen-based Eee Top series all-in-one PCs.

Asus planning to acquire Toshiba notebook line

From Digitimes -

Having previously outlined plans to become one of the top three notebook vendor in the world by 2011, Asus is now announcing it is in talks with Toshiba on the possibility of it acquiring the latter's notebook business. Per company chair Jonney Shih, talks have started but so far nothing has been finalized.

Asus to launch new 8.9" touchscreen netbook; to delay 10" model

From Digitimes -

Asus is expected to release its 8.9" touchscreen Eee PC T91MT in the next few days, to take advantage of the Oct 22 Windows 7 launch. Depending on how the Eee PC T91MT fare in the market, the company is also set to launch a 10" version, the Eee PC T10 as well, either earlier than December or early next year.

The Eee PC T91MT is an upgraded version of the Asus Eee PC T91. New features include a multi-touch compatible display supported by Windows 7 and a built-in 32GB solid state drive (SSD.

Asus aims to ship 1 million ultra-thin notebooks by end of 2009

From Digitimes -

Asus expects to ship 600,000, possibly 1M, ultra-thin notebooks by the end of 2009, 1M units and for the models to account for 30% of the company's total notebook shipments in 2010. President Jerry Shen said he expects combined notebook shipments to reach 7.35M units in the first three quarters of 2009 and will hit a total of 12M units for 2009, 40% of which will be netbooks.

In October, it will launch a Celeron SU2300-based ultra-thin model priced at NT$25,000 and the Eee Keyboard. The company is also in the final development stages for its first e-book reader, the Eee Reader. It will be available at the end of 2009 at the earliest and will include 6-inch and 9-inch models, both featuring a grayscale touchscreen display.

ASUS' Eee PC roadmap leaks: Ion-boasting netbooks

From Engadget -

A couple of slides leaked to the Eeeuser forum have revealed Asus' detailed roadmap for the US market. New products include the $499 12" Asus Eee PC 1201N, which uses the NVIDIA Ion with an Atom N270 CPU, 2GB RAM, a 250GB HDD, Bluetooth and 802.11n WiFi, the $399 1005HA-P with the N280 processor, 250GB HDD option, Windows 7, and the $349 1005HA-M with the N270 processor, a 250GB HD, and Windows 7 Starter Edition.

Are Asus and Moko Teaming Up to Sell Underwear?

From Gizmodo -

Moko and Asus seems to have some kind of weird campaign over at the Moko site with several photos of girls in skimpy outfits, holding what seems to be the Asus Eee PC 1008HA.

More photos here.

No new netbooks from Asus, Acer in 2009

From Digitimes -

Both Asustek and Acer have decided to wait for Intel's Pine Trail-M platform due early next year and will not offer any new netbooks in the second half of 2009. In the interim they will focus on ultra-thin notebooks.

However Asus still has the touchscreen-based Eee PC T91, the T101, and an Android-based netbook scheduled for this year. The T101 is expected after the Windows 7 launch while the Android unit around Christmas. In addition, it has several ultra-thin models ready for release next month.

As for Acer, while has decided to postpone its Android model, it plans to launch several ultra-thins (13.3", 14.1", and 15.6") later this year.

ASUS Participates in Windows 7 Upgrade Program

From Softpedia -

ASUS has announced that it will be participating in the Windows 7 Upgrade program. Accordingly users who will purchase a new qualifying ASUS desktop or portable PC, including the EeeTOP PC or the Eee PC family, in the eligibility period will be able to upgrade to Windows 7.

Windows 7 is expected to be launched on October 22, 2009, while the program runs from June 26, 2009 through January 31, 2010.

Asus unable to assure profitability in 2Q09

From Digitimes -

Asus is not sure whether its operations can turn from the net loss of NT$3.1 billion (US$94 million) recorded in thQ1 2009 to profitability in the second.

It is however currently still adjusting its channel lineup and marketing strategy, and is confident that quarterly notebook and Eee PC shipments in the second half will grow sequentially along with gross margins.

Disney, Asus team up on netbook

From USA Today -

Disney is teaming up with Asus on a Disney-branded 8.9" Asus Eee PC-based netbook called Netpal, targeted at kids 6 to 12 and due out in late July. Disney designed a kid-friendly user interface to sit on top of Windows XP customizable by severla Disney themes such as Mickey Mouse, Cars, Toy Story, WALL-E, etc. In addition, a Magic Desktop “gadget tray” has icons for a Disney browser, e-mail and parental controls and a Radio Disney widget streams music real-time. More common features include WiFi, and 16GB SSD or 160GB HD storage.

Netpals will be available Toys R Us, and Amazon.com and will come in “Princess Pink” (with florals) or “Magic Blue” (miniature Mickey Mouse icons).

Seamless Experience at the Asus Booth @ Computex 2009

Uploaded by NewGadgetsDE -

Asus Vows to Out-Apple Apple

Per a New York Times article, after failing miserably to grab the opportunity of turning its pioneering Eee PC into an iconic product like Apple's iPod and iPhone, Asus now thinks it is because they have been too conservative.

Huh??? What do they mean by being too conservative??? If Asus thinks coming out with a dizzying range of overlapping models and discordant product line that practically erodes the brand identity of your bestseller as being conservative, I can't wait to see what they will put out now that they intend to correct their approach, especially since they will "continue trying to win over consumers with more innovative designs."

The company just don't get it. They lost dominance in the very market segment they created because they didn't follow through. Instead of further pursuing their initial objective of affordable computing, they chose to play catch up with their competitors who, because they can't compete directly with the Eee PC, went big and more expensive instead. Asus further destroyed brand recall by diluting it with an overwhelming array of various products.

But as Jonathan Tsang, vice-chair, said, "Our goal is to provide products that are better than Apple’s." Which means, if the iPhone were an Asus product, chances are there will be at least 15 different models, an iPhone TV, an iPhone DVD player, and just maybe, an iPhone payphone. :(

Asus evaluating Nvidia Ion for netbooks and nettops

From Digitimes -

Asus is considering launching Nvidia Ion-based netbooks and nettops, including an Ion-based Eee Box B1006 in the third quarter of 2009, but has not yet set a schedule for netbooks.

Japan market: Eee PC owns 27% of netbooks

From Digitimes -

The Asus Eee PCs are the best selling netbooks in Japan with a market share of 27.18% in terms of sales, according to research firm GfK. Asus has sold around 60,000 Eee PCs since the beginning of the year, and its Eee PC 1000H was the number one selling netbook in Japan March 2-8. The Lenovo S10 4068A came in second, followed by the Acer Aspire One.

Asus to phase out 7-inch Eee PC netbooks

At the recent CeBIT 2009, Asus Chair Jonney Shih announced his company will be phasing out the original 7" Eee PC models in mature markets, although it may continue to sell it in emerging countries that show demand. Asus will instead concentrate on its 8.9" and 10" lines - models that do not necessarily adhere to its original affordable netbook/cloud computing vision.

As further evidence of the turn-around, the Eee brand, which had originally meant "Easy to learn, easy to work, easy to play", now stands for "Easy, excellent, exciting." Ever since the successful launch of the Asus Eee PC, the company has been leveraging the brand, expanding the line to include monitors, videophones, all-in-one PCs, nettops, and an overwhelming range of netbook models.

The dilution, specifically the move to higher-priced models, arguably has been a major mistake since Asus not only lost its early dominance in the very market segment it created, the term Eee PC has since lost its iconic connotation as an affordable netbook. Meanwhile, none of the other Eee-branded products has been exactly a bestseller, putting the Eee brand in some sort of limbo.

Ironically, in a nod to the original Eee PC's trendsetting breakthrough, mainland Chinese manufacturers/resellers nowadays use the generic term EPC to refer to their own low-cost netbook products.

Google Android May Run Asus Netbook

From Bloomberg -

According to Samsun Hu, Asus Eee PC business head, his company has allocated engineers to develop an Android-based netbook by as early as the year end but hasn’t decided whether to proceed with a final product because the project is still under development.

An Android-powered notebook would extend Google’s rivalry with Microsoft into the OS market, where the latter's Windows currently controls has more than 90% share. However, netbooks, which are the fastest-growing segment, tend to offer OS alternatives, especially free Linux-based distros.

Asus to completely phase out 8.9-inch Eee PCs in 2009

From Digitimes -

Asus will completely phase out its 8.9" Eee PC models by this year since 10" models are becoming the mainstream configuration. Of the company's projected Eee PC shipments this year, 10" models will account for 95%, while the other 5% will be 7-inch models for telecom service operators.