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Brandon Hill (Blog) - April 21, 2008 12:44 PM

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25 comment(s) - last by johnsonx.. on Apr 26 at 1:13 PM

ASUS' Eee PC 900 is priced at $549.

More features means more $$$

It may seem like ages ago now, but when ASUS first announced the original Eee PC 701 4G in June 2007, it promised a retail price of $199. Many people were skeptical of such a low price and they were right to express such feelings.

When ASUS finally got around to launching the Eee PC in late 2007, the price for the notebook was much higher at $399. The higher price tag didn't stop the Eee PC 4G from becoming an instant hit with consumers to the surprise of many.

ASUS introduced cheaper models in the following months. The company drove prices down with the 4G Surf model ($349) and the 2G ($299). While the Eee PC 2G became the lowest-priced model, it was still a far cry from the original $199 promise.

ASUS, however, is moving down a path which is seeing the price of the Eee PC steadily increase. The new Eee PC 900 adds niceties such as a larger, 1024x600 8.9" display, larger SSD capacities and the option to select Windows XP as an operating system.

The added features mean an even more inflated price tag: $549 for the Eee PC 900 12G (Windows XP) and Eee PC 900 20G (Linux).

Today, ASUS revealed plans for yet another Eee PC model which will join the fray by the end of the year. Not only will the Eee PC 900 be available with Intel's Atom processors as previously discussed on DailyTech, but the company will boost the screen another inch to 10".

Most seemed satisfied with the 2" increase in screen size from the Eee PC 701 to the Eee PC 900, but ASUS apparently knows something we don't about Eee customers. An extra inch could give the Eee PC a tad bit more room to add a larger keyboard, but it wouldn't be enough to dampen the criticisms already leveled against it.

The only way for ASUS to increase the size of the keyboard would be to go back to the original design of the Eee PC 701 and have the speakers flank the display screen to take up dead space (the speakers on the current Eee PC 900 reside underneath the device). HP takes a similar approach with its 2133 Mini-Note PC which features an 8.9" 1280x768 display.

As more features, larger keyboards, and larger screens are added to the Eee PC, we'll be left with a larger and heavier device. The Eee PC 900 is already marginally larger and heavier than its predecessor and a 10" model would only further that trend.

But the thought that seems most depressing is that ASUS is content with pushing the price tag of the Eee PC higher and higher instead of trending lower. The Eee PC 900 retails at $549, so a 10" model could easily break into the $600 bracket or even higher at $650. That is a far cry from ASUS' original goal with the Eee PC and pushes it comfortably into "grown up" laptop territory.

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memo to ASUS

By johnsonx on 4/21/2008 2:45:18 PM , Rating: 5

No one wants a BIGGER screen. What we want is more PIXELS. 800x480 is simply too small. Many Windows dialog boxes are taller than 480, and most web pages are wider than 800 these days.

Witness this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...

The Fujitsu U810 manages a 1024x600 screen in 5.6". If the original EeePC had 1024x600 screen, in any size, I'd have one now.

RE: memo to ASUS

By Spazmodian on 4/21/2008 7:45:43 PM , Rating: 2

Indeed resolution is a big factor, I made a VGA adapter to trick the Eee into thinking it had an external monitor hooked up so that I could run the Eee's screen at 800x600.

The other thing they need to improve is battery life, significantly. What's the point of an ultraportable if you have to carry around the AC adapter and an extra battery to support it? Why not get a normal laptop with 1-2 extra internal batteries since you have to carry around the extra weight and bulk anyways?

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RE: memo to ASUS

By Brandon Hill

(blog) on 4/21/2008 7:49:05 PM , Rating: 2

You don't need a VGA adapter to do that. Just use AsTray Plus

http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=18260

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RE: memo to ASUS

By johnsonx on 4/22/2008 2:11:36 PM , Rating: 2

ok, I read through some of that thread, but much is unclear.

Does AsTray Plus let a regular EeePC emulate a higher-resolution screen? Does it pan, scale, or both?

If it will scale 1000x600 effective resolution onto the 800x480 panel, then that's good enough for me. I'll purchase one today. (yes, I get that down-scaling will drop some pixels and make the images blurry)

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RE: memo to ASUS

By johnsonx on 4/26/2008 1:13:32 PM , Rating: 2

yep, that's what AsTray+ does. Typing this now on my new 4G running 1000x600. The scaling slows the display down a little, but looks much better than I imagined it would.

All things considered, this is perfect.

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RE: memo to ASUS

By pmonti80 on 4/22/2008 3:40:19 AM , Rating: 2

Have you even tried reading something on a 5,6" screen with 1024x600 resolution?
I think there is a point where increased resolution is not a good thing because the OS and aplications are not yet ready to be DPI independent and words are so tiny you can't read anything comfortably.

Just my 2 cents.

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RE: memo to ASUS

By DeepBlue1975 on 4/25/2008 2:45:07 PM , Rating: 2

I, for one, want a screen that has a size which is capable of filling all of the available chassis space.

The 7" EEE simply wastes a lot of chassis space. If its frame was a tight fit for a 7" screen, then 7" of real estate would be fine for me, but if it will eat more space in my bag, I want it to be worth it.

As stated before, 9" vs 7" represents something like a $25 price difference for Asus, so it's no biggie.

I've seen 1024x600 on 7" screens and it's just asking too much from that size.

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EEE PC

By restrada on 4/21/2008 8:19:20 PM , Rating: 2

Brandon,

I know you are really big on this EEE PC and you yourself have an older model.

But don't you think the EEE PC story has played itself out? It's not really newsworthy anymore unless ASUS announces they will make good on that $199 model.

Really, all the stories are appreciated but they are becoming rather redundant.

RE: EEE PC

By Brandon Hill

(blog) on 4/21/2008 8:52:34 PM , Rating: 2

The Eee PC is the market leader when it comes to cheap, ultra-portable notebooks, so whenever something happens with it or its competitors, it makes news. Same goes for just about anything Apple does these days.

In this case, the news was about the 10" model and the confirmation of the Atom variant on the way. This is not news that you just sweep under the rug, it's actually pertinent information.

And since I wanted to put my own two cents in on the news, I made it a blog instead of taking up space on the front page.

On top of that, our readers like Eee PC/HP Mini-Note/etc. articles, so there's no sense in depriving the readers of content. If people don't want to read about it, they can simply move on to the next topic.

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RE: EEE PC

By Alpha4 on 4/22/2008 6:49:31 PM , Rating: 2

Well maybe we value your insights so much that we want to see you blog about something even more pertinent. ;)

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RE: EEE PC

By mindless1 on 4/24/2008 2:54:20 PM , Rating: 2

I have a secret to share with you.

The entire world does not write articles only caring about what you, personally, want to read. Sometimes other people want to read things you don't, and you have an amazing thing you can do.

1) Choose not to read it.

2) See #1

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100% agree

By pixelslave on 4/21/2008 1:44:41 PM , Rating: 2

Absolutely agree with you. Their greed is killing the brand.

RE: 100% agree

By johnsonx on 4/21/2008 2:06:38 PM , Rating: 2

Also, why is there NO reseller discount at all on these things? My cost at Ingram Micro for the 2G is $299.57, 4G Surf is $349.40, and the 4G is $399.78. The only one I get a tiny margin on is the 8G at $491.47 (wow, 8 bucks!). If I had a customer interested in one, the best I could do would be to sell it at straight cost. I'd be thinking to get a 2G and carry it around to see if I could get clients interested, but to what end? It isn't the sort of thing that's going to generate a bunch of service revenue...

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RE: 100% agree

By das mod on 4/21/2008 5:49:51 PM , Rating: 2

with each eeepc revision/update, it becomes more apparent that
the ultra mobile platform, has been to ASUS nothing but a gimmick to ultimately relaunch their full-form line of laptops.
At this rate, we will, with no doubt, embrace the release of the " Ferrari xxl eeePC "

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IMO, they take the easy way out

By pixelslave on 4/21/2008 5:39:58 PM , Rating: 2

IMO, Asus takes the easy way out. It's easy to improve the EeePC by adding bigger screen, bigger this/bigger that, more this/more that, than to go back to the drawing board and come out with better keyboard design , better power consumption , better screen , etc. Bigger and more is easier than better but less . It's not just a technical problem, but also a design and marketing challenege. How do you tell your customer that you are giving them less, but better (if it's truly better)? I think Asus will have a much more difficult time to compete in the higher end low budget laptop segment. HP's mini-note looks like a much more refined product than a comparable priced Eee (except for the CPU :-( )

RE: IMO, they take the easy way out

By Topweasel on 4/22/2008 8:36:19 AM , Rating: 2

They are not competing in the low budget laptops. They are competing in Low budget ultra portables. Having options is not a bad thing, and all this does is let people decide if they would rather have an extra 2 inches for slightly less portability but still be more portable then any other option. Anyone that has tried to purchase ultra portables in the past would know that the going rate was usually $1400-$2000. Now that people are starting to see that they can be popular by not charging someone more for less a whole market of low cost ultras is starting to explode.

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RE: IMO, they take the easy way out

By SilthDraeth on 4/25/2008 1:02:07 PM , Rating: 2

If Asus makes the EEE to good, then it competes with itself. It has several high end ultra portables. See the U series. The EEE is the budget ultra portable.

Though I do agree, that making it bigger and bigger is getting away from the root of the EEE. I would like to buy the 9" model for $399. and the older one for $299.

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I love the smell of progress in the morning.

By peldor on 4/22/2008 10:03:48 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
ASUS is quickly getting away from its roots

And? That's how things grow.

RE: I love the smell of progress in the morning.

By tanishalfelven on 4/25/2008 1:24:30 AM , Rating: 2

also what roots ?
the roots of being the elcheapo brand ?

i think asus wants to get away from it.

the eee 900 is an incredible product. 20GB ssd isn't cheap after all. offering people willing to pay more a better product is smart.

ps. ASUS is way smarter than any blogger, they effectivly tapped into a market before any one else realized its potential, and created a whole new segment in the laptop market. i think they know what they're doing.

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I don't understand

By just4U on 4/22/2008 1:46:15 PM , Rating: 2

Ok, correct me if I am wrong but you can buy a el cheapo notebook with a 15.4" display for 499, so ... why would you buy a EE for 549? that just does not make sense. What is this Asus EE (in that price range) bringing to the table over low end laptops?

RE: I don't understand

By Sunbird on 4/23/2008 10:31:20 PM , Rating: 2

I think its because its a whole lot more portable...

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Yep it's ridiculous

By funduck on 4/21/2008 2:12:03 PM , Rating: 2

I completely agree with the post. When ASUS first announced the EEE PC at $200 I was extremely excited. It had enough power for reading pdfs/web/word which is all I would want to use it for and cost as much as it should given the level of hardware present. At these prices though it makes no sense for me to buy this over a real laptop.

6-700$ For 10"

By Oscarine on 4/21/2008 3:58:37 PM , Rating: 2

I'd easily pay that range for a ultraportable with a 10.4" 1280 x 800 Widescreen, with an Atom Processor. It would effectively replace my 2000$ Sony TX