Asus Eee PC 901 Price Drop?

With Asustek rolling out cheaper models with more features, such as the $375 Asus Eee PC 1000HE, and with Acer dropping the starting price on the 8.9″ Acer Aspire One, it was bound to happen that they would either drop some models or reduce the prices.

A few weeks ago Asustek’s CEO said they would be reducing the number of Eee PC models. Today, several online retailers in the United States started listing $100 rebates for certain Asus Eee PC 901 models. It covers both the 12GB Solid State Drive (SSD) versions as well as the 20GB versions (12GB SSD = Windows XP Home, 20GB SSD = Linux). From what I’ve seen, the rebates end March 8, 2009.

Some Examples (all prices are after rebates):
- Amazon.com - EEEPC901-W001 - Linux, White, 20GB SSD, $267.99
- Amazon.com - EEEPC901-BK002X - Windows XP, Fine Ebony, 12GB SSD, $279.99
- Amazon.com - All Eee PC 901 models
- Buy.com - EEEPC901-BK001 - Fine Ebony, Linux, 20GB SSD, $269.95
- Buy.com - EEEPC901-BK002X - Fine Ebony, Windows XP, 12GB SSD, $279.99
- OnSale.com - EEEPC901-BK001 - Linux, 20GB SSD, Fine Ebony, $268.99
- OnSale.com - EEEPC901-BK002X - Windows XP, 12GB SSD, $266.99

Specifications: Intel Atom 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, 12GB or 20GB Solid State Drive (SSD), 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, Linux or Windows XP, 6-cell Battery

I’m leaning towards them trying to clear out some models, either because of competing with the Asus Eee PC 1000HE as far as price, or perhaps introducing new models within a month or two, perhaps with the new chiclet-style keyboards that are popping up on the 1000HE and the Eee PC T91 or with more flash-based storage.

Keep in mind that CeBIT 2009 is next week, and Asustek is bound to be introducing a few new models.

via PortableMonkey

Asus Eee PC T91 Early Look and Preview (bit-tech)

Yesterday, bit-tech.net got an early look at the upcoming 8.9-inch Asus Eee PC T91. The T91 breaks the conventional laptop form factor line that Asustek had established with their Eee PC line. It’s a convertible laptop/Tablet PC - the touchscreen display rotates on a swivel, allowing it to be used as either a normal laptop (with a touchscreen display) or with it folded flat, a Tablet PC.

The T91 could every well be the first convertible Atom-powered netbook/ultraportable available to mainstream consumers in North America. Right now, they are limited to using importers such as Dynamism to import such devices like the 8.9″ Gigabyte M912X .

bit-tech.net has posted a lot of good photos showing the various configurations of the display. Keep in mind it is a pre-production model. They also took a look at the size compared to other 8.9″ devices in this range, and surprising, it’s actually smaller than the Eee PC 900 and 901. There is a T101, a 10-inch version, that will be out later this year, for those who want something slightly bigger. A switch has been included allowing you to turn off the touchscreen functionality, and the power switch is a sliding-type of switch so that the power isn’t accidentally turned off when using the T91 in various modes.

One problem some may have, and this is probably because of engineering/technical issues, it does have a fixed battery, instead of one that can be easily swapped or replaced. Asustek points out that the Intel Atom Z520 (1.33GHz) does consume less power than the normal 1.6GHz N270 (20% less). The Intel US15W chipset also consumers less power than the 945/950 chipset found in most of these devices these days. The model they had access to had a 32GB Solid State Drive (SSD) which should lower power consumption a bit. Asus claims up to 5 hours, which as bit-tech points out, is probably up to 4 hours of normal usage.

bit-tech.net was given a tentative release date of April of this year for the UK .

Read: bit-tech.net

Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Launched in France

We’ve heard that the upcoming 10″ Dell Inspiron Mini 10 will be launched in the United Kingdom towards the end of the month. That’s looking like a very realistic launch date, given that the Inspiron Mini 10 has been officially launched in France, as of a few days ago.

Netbook 3G was at the Dell press conference/media event, and took quite a few pictures. The Inspiron Mini 10s that were present were prototypes, so it’s hard to say whether or not you’ll have easy access to some of the options as far as upgrading - the photos don’t show any access panels on the bottom (say you want to upgrade the RAM to 2GB). You can see where the battery could be swapped for a larger capacity battery.

There is a good photo of the HDMI port - a rarity when it comes to netbooks/ultraportables. The keyboard looks great, the touchpad is very interesting - there doesn’t appear to be separate physical mouse buttons, but it looks like there is an area you tap for left-click or right-click (not quite as fancy as Apple’s MacBook, but still very interesting to see). They brought along an Asus Eee PC 901 for a size comparison, and you can see the Inpiron Mini 10 is thinner (but wider).

Read:
- Netbook 3G (Translated - English)
via liliputing

NVIDIA Ion - The Benchmarks and Reviews Are Starting

Ever since NVIDIA said they wanted to boost netbook performance, quite a few people have been eagerly anticipating the results of that endeavor.

This week, we’ve started to get a glimpse of what’s to come when NVIDIA pairs up their GeForce 9400M GPU chipset with Intel’s Atom CPU. Quite a few websites and publications have been allowed to release their impressions and previews of an NVIDIA Ion reference PC platform. While it’s not in a netbook form factor at this point, it does provide a good starting point as several of the sites have taken them apart and you can see just how small they are. While the systems had dual-core Intel Atom 330 CPUs, they restricted them to one core (basically like an Atom 230 running at 1.6GHz) so you can get an idea of netbook performance.

PC Perspective also did a comparison to an ASUS Eee PC 901, and the 3DMark scores of the Ion were well over 10 times faster. LAPTOP Magazine mentioned it also blew away all other ultraportables in that range, except for the ASUS N10Jc (which is running a GeForce 9300M graphics chipset).

Among the features of the platform
Read more

“Maximum” Coverage of Netbooks

Normally when you think of Maximum PC Magazine, you don’t think of low-power ultraportables based on older platforms like netbooks. Usually, Maximum PC focuses on the latest and greatest high-end equipment and laptops, but it turns out they do have an interest in these devices.

Earlier this month, they published and compared three reviews of the Asus Eee PC 901, Acer Aspire One, and MSI Wind U100 (and last week published a review of the Lenovo S10). It’s a slightly different look at these devices - among their benchmarks - Photoshop tests were included.

They also manage to accurately describe the appeal of netbooks, unlike some other publications:

A few years ago, SUVs were riding high, with throngs of the massive gas-guzzlers clogging the highways. Compact cars were considered wimpy and passé. Fast-forward to the present day and suddenly small is back in style. It’s not the size that matters, as the saying goes, it’s what you do with it. Since the advent of Asus’s Eee PC, manufacturers have been racing to bring tiny, low-powered laptops, also known as netbooks, to the market. You probably won’t use a netbook as your primary computer… But as small, eminently portable word-processing and Internet-browsing devices, netbooks hit the price/performance sweet spot for many people.

Maximum PC Reviews:
- MSI Wind U100
- Asus Eee PC 901
- Acer Aspire One
- Lenovo IdeaPad S10
- Roundup - Maximum PC

Netbooks to Drop in Price Even Further

There are starting to be large price reductions for netbooks across all display sizes and manufacturers (and storage options).

Among those seeing price cuts:
- 8.9″ Acer Aspire One, both the SSD/Linux and HDD/Windows XP versions.
- Asustek Eee PC 7″ Eee PC 4G Surf, 8.9″ 904HD, 901 (Linux).
- Asustek 10.2″ Eee PC 1000 models, S101
- Asustek N10 notebook
- Lenovo 8.9″ S9 (80GB HDD/HDD)
- HP’s Mini 2133 w/Linux

DigiTimes also mentions the rise in popularity among the 10″ netbooks.

Read: DigiTimes

LAPTOP Magazine’s 2008 Dubious Mobile Achievement Awards

LAPTOP Magazine has published the “LAPTOP’s Dubious Mobile Achievement Awards 2008″ list, and netbooks were prominent (but not for the reason you maybe thinking).

Asustek and their Eee PC family got the “Brand Dilution Award” for the numerous netbook models and naming variations they released this year: “Forget about the competition from Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, and others. ASUS became its own competition in the mini-notebook arena this year, flooding the market with the Eee PC 2G and 4G Surf; Eee PC 701SD; Eee PC 900, 900A, 901, 904HA, and 904HD; and the Eee PC 1000, 1000HA, 1000H, and 1000HD.”

Apple got a mention as well, for their MobileMe launch, set to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 3G, and the replacement for Apple’s .Mac service.

Read: LAPTOP Magazine

Cyber Monday 2008 Deals

Some of these deals are limited in numbers, and some may not be active until 2am PST. I’ll update this if more deals become available (and if you see any, use the comment form and I’ll add them).

Amazon Customers Vote is still going on through December 4, 2008

ZipZoomFly:
- 8.9″ ASUS Eee PC 900-BK010X - $349.99 (Normally $399) 12GB (SSD) HDD 1GB RAM, 802.11b/g, Windows XP, White
- 8.9″ ASUS Eee PC 901-W003X - $399.99 (Normally $409.99) 12GB (SSD) HDD 1GB RAM, 802.11b/g/n, Windows XP Home, Intel Atom, White
- Western Digital 2.5″ WD Scorpio 250GB 5400 RPM 8MB WD2500BEVS Bulk - $49.99 (Normally $69.99)
- OCZ 2.5″ Solid Series 60GB (SSD) SATA II Solid State Drive - $139.99 (Normally $149.99) (Retail, OCZSSD2-1SLD60G)
- Western Digital 400GB My Passport Essential - $107.99 (Normally $145.99) Black, WDME4000TN USB 5400 RPM External Hard Drive Retail
- Western Digital 250GB My Passport Essential Real - $69.99 (Normally $112.99,) Red WDMER2500TN USB 5400 RPM External Hard Drive
- Western Digital My Book Office Edition 1TB WDH1B10000N - $119.99 (Normally $182.99) USB 7200RPM External Hard Drive Retail
- CANON EOS Rebel XSi 12.2MP DSLR - $499.99 (Normally $599.99) Digital Camera w/EF-S 18–55mm IS Silver Retail

Dell Home and Home Office:
- Get the Inspiron Mini 9 for only $299 after $50 Instant Savings
- Cyber Monday deals from Dell Home!
- Save $275 off the Inspiron 1525 laptop - Only $519 after Instant Savings.
- Save $608 off the XPS M1530 laptop - Only $1,199 after Instant Savings.

Buy.com:
Note: Some include free shipping
- Black Friday Price Drops Start on 11/28/08 through 12/1/08!
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