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ASUS branches out with a new Windows XP Home variant of the Eee PC

DailyTech first reported in late March that a new, Windows XP-based version of the Eee PC would be in store during the opening days of April. Reports from around the web pegged the price of entry at $399 despite the fact that the hardware specs appeared to be identical to the similarly-priced Eee PC 4G which is available with Xandros Linux.

Today, the reports were confirmed when BestBuy.com launched a product page for the Eee PC 4G-X. As expected, the 4G-X includes a 4GB SSD, 900MHz Intel Celeron M processor, 512MB of DDR2 memory, 7" (800x480) display, and Windows XP Home.

Likewise, the price is listed at $399.99. With a price tag that is identical to its Xandros Linux-equipped counterpart, one wonders exactly how much Microsoft is subsidizing the cost of the operating system on the Eee PC.

News of the newly available Eee PC 4G-X on BestBuy.com comes just days after Microsoft announced that it would extend the sales of Windows XP Home until at least June 30, 2010 for what it calls ultra-low-cost PCs (ULPCs). Microsoft acknowledged that it just couldn't ignore the growing demand for low-cost notebooks and insisted that "Windows XP Home provides an effective solution on these devices from a performance and cost perspective."

According to the Best Buy website, the Eee PC 4G-X is currently in stock online and ships within one business days. In-store pickup for the 2-pound notebook is also available in select Best Buy brick-and-mortar stores.

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Popular
By JoshuaBuss on 4/6/2008 7:16:44 PM , Rating: 5
I foresee this thing flying off the shelves pretty fast at Best Buy... what do you guys think?




RE: Popular
By nitrous9200 on 4/6/2008 7:39:58 PM , Rating: 2
Absolutely, parents can get these for their parents or kids as light email/web machines. Plus, they've got the built in webcams for some video chatting and the SSD for quick boot up. Throw in the familiar Windows XP user interface, and for just $400 you've got a winner (which only weighs 2 pounds!).


RE: Popular
By StevoLincolnite on 4/7/2008 11:30:20 AM , Rating: 2
They actually also have decent hardware to play allot of classic games, like:

- Dungeon Keeper 2
- Stupid Invaders
- StarCraft
- Diablo 2
- WarCraft 3 (Maybe, Although I did play it on a Pentium 3, with a Geforce 4 MX440)
- Popcap + Gamehouse!
- Homeworld 2
- Freelancer
- Freespace
- X-Com
- Settlers
- Heroes of might and Magic
- Unreal Tournament 1
- Quake 3 Arena
- Half Life 1

- Snes, Nes, Gameboy Emulation!

Only thing holding it back would be the HDD, but you could always whack the games on a USB Thumb-drive.
Perfect for a little, games machine for on the go!

Only thing I wouldn't mind in the future would be an upgrade to that 7" screen.


RE: Popular
By Generic Guy on 4/7/2008 3:08:59 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Only thing holding it back would be the HDD, but you could always whack the games on a USB Thumb-drive.


If you notice, the EEE has a SDHC card slot in the side. Those of us with EEE-PCs usually use a largish SD card for extra programs/games/documents. I'm personally using at this time a class-6 16GB SDHC which so far has been plenty. A bit slower than the SSD, but it works.

The EEE also has a nice ability to hold down ESC at boot time to change boot devices for other OSes and whatnot from SD cards or USB devices (including bootable thumbdrives).


RE: Popular
By StevoLincolnite on 4/7/2008 10:55:01 PM , Rating: 2
Is it Possible to take out the SSD drive, and whack in something like a 120gb 4200RPM Laptop Drive? Or is that a no go?


RE: Popular
By bjacobson on 4/8/2008 1:26:40 AM , Rating: 2
Um...just buy a cheap laptop.


RE: Popular
By StevoLincolnite on 4/9/2008 12:20:00 AM , Rating: 2
It is a cheap laptop?


RE: Popular
By Quiescent on 4/8/2008 9:25:47 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, someone hacked up an Eee to have a harddrive placed into it.


RE: Popular
By StevoLincolnite on 4/9/2008 12:20:39 AM , Rating: 2
I might have to check it out, cheers.


RE: Popular
By dbauer2000 on 4/6/2008 7:41:31 PM , Rating: 4
I'm having trouble seeing the value proposition for these EEE PC's. In the current weekly add for both Best Buy and Circuit City, they have Toshiba dual-core Pentium laptops for $449. Walmart has an Acer on clearance for $398 with a Celeron M 540. Outside of the size factor of the smaller eee PC, why wouldn't you get the full 15.4" screen, much faster processor and more expandability of the similarly priced laptops? My thought is that most consumers are going to walk into Best Buy, see this 7" screen and ask the question "Where's the beef. I can get twice the screen size, two processors and a Toshiba name for $50 bucks more?".


RE: Popular
By jtemplin on 4/6/2008 7:55:11 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Outside of the size factor of the smaller eee PC
You can't go outside that...theres nothing beyond that, it IS the selling point. I'm not so sure what "most consumers" will think, I agree with you that there will be people who think "what is this rinky dinky small underpowered machine, why get this when i can have something with a screen twice as big etc?" But there are also people who have a desktop and are just looking for something to take notes, surf, and just do basic portable non-entertainment computing. I think the EeePC will find a home at best buy...especially if it sits next to a 2 thousand dollar miniature sony.


RE: Popular
By See Spot Run on 4/6/2008 10:41:42 PM , Rating: 4
You hit it right on the mark. I have a desktop at home (P180) and would absolutely love the small size of the eee PC to take to class to just type up notes and surf the Internet during boring classes. I have no desire for a 15" laptop, as it would be too big and heavy to lug everywhere. 2lbs is perfect.


RE: Popular
By xSauronx on 4/7/2008 10:37:13 AM , Rating: 3
Personally, I have a T40 at 14.1" and while I like it...I don't take it with me as much as Id like to due to the shortish battery life and size. Its not as bad as a previous Inspiron I had, it's just not quite what I think now is ideal.

What I *want* is to sell this and get the 9" Eee model in a few months, and just use a 17" or 19" LCD with it when im at home.


RE: Popular
By Quiescent on 4/7/2008 10:32:44 AM , Rating: 3
For $411 I made my Eee 4G Surf an 8G without the webcam and lesser battery life.

The chipset isn't great, but besides that I have been able to overclock the celly to 1Ghz using Eeectl.

I have also been able to get some games like Conquer Online and other games to work as well. It's not much of a gaming machine, though. But it works well for emulators.

I have gotten Photoshop to work on it which is great for simple editing.

I haven't exactly been nice to my Eee. It has fell off my bed, fell off a desk, tossed in my bag and it has been thrown around. I accidently got yogurt all over the right side.

It's a very robust laptop, and because of it's size, you're more likely to carry around with you more than any other laptop. I have found myself taking it with me every where I go.


RE: Popular
By Oregonian2 on 4/7/2008 2:35:20 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, my wife is begging for it already, it's been hard to hold her off waiting for the 9" version, let alone waiting for the Atom upgrades to get both speed up and battery life longer. She WANTS a tiny light laptop (for lightweight use)!


RE: Popular
By JoshuaBuss on 4/6/2008 8:31:27 PM , Rating: 2
You're right, a lot of people will think that way, especially if they're looking for a primary machine.

However, let's say someone comes in and says "Show me your ultra portables", "show me your lightest laptop", or just "I'm looking for another computer.."..

Then, they might end up comparing $1,200 fujitsu's and sony's to the EEE.. and suddenly they'll be like "wow.."

THIS is why I think it will fly off the shelves... a lot of people already have a decent primary machine, and $400 for a secondary, very light, compact PC might sound too good to resist..


RE: Popular
By JoshuaBuss on 4/6/2008 8:35:42 PM , Rating: 3
not to mention the hype of the macbook air is sure to have more of your average joe types asking about "ultraportables" in the first place.

Imagine how good that person might feel having seen his friend's new $1,800 macbook air, gone to best buy to ask if they have anything "like the macbook air", and being shown the $400 EEE.. he's going to think he's getting a bargain!


RE: Popular
By mmntech on 4/7/2008 8:53:58 AM , Rating: 2
You can't really compare the two since they have vastly different specs. The Celeron 900 is less than half the speed of a 1.6ghz C2D. The Air also has a higher res screen and 20x more storage.

Not bad though for the price if people are looking for something small and light. I'm still waiting for the 9'' with the HDD and the Atom platform.


RE: Popular
By rdeegvainl on 4/7/2008 9:57:16 AM , Rating: 3
Actually, I think Best Buy can and will mislead customers into thinking there is little to no difference between the two.


RE: Popular
By john3141 on 4/7/2008 12:52:15 PM , Rating: 2
I agree. Some kid with little or no knowledge of computers will sell one to some old lady...


RE: Popular