EEE PC 901 drops to $499
Asus is following Acer’s lead in dropping the price of one of their netbooks, the 901. Asus is dropping the price to $499 which is pretty darn good for a netbook with a 1.6 GHz Atom processor, 1 GB of RAM, a 12GB SSD, 8.9 inch screen and a 6-cell battery. It looks like the netbook field is getting crowded enough to put some pricing pressure on the big boys. That can only be good for us little consumers.
(via engadget)
What about the 20GB SSD Linux version?
When Asus fixes the keyboard — i.e. creates a keyboard that touch-typists can use — I’ll consider buying their products. For now, the Acer Aspire One has the 901 beaten on almost every point of comparison, especially price.
Still, after watching this market for over a year, I’m happy that prices are coming down; another $150 off the price of the 901 and I think we’re in true as-intended netbook territory.
For now I think I’ll stick with my used $150 Thinkpad X31.
Yes, the 20GB Linux version has also received a price cut down to $499, too:
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-EEE-20GB-Linux-White/dp/B001BYB620/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1220916498&sr=8-1
The price cut signal’s the coming arrival of Dual-Core Atom processor which is getting launched on Sep 21st.I want to see an affordable tablet-netbook with dual core atom very soon.
“When Asus fixes the keyboard — i.e. creates a keyboard that touch-typists can use — I’ll consider buying their products.”
What? The ASUS 900 keyboard has the same footprint as the Acer Aspire and the 1000h has an even larger keyboard. If you’re talking about the lack of a right shift key, I’m not sure how many people use it. It’s probably easier to adapt to than the weird trackpad key arrangement.
Yep, I’m talking about the right-shift key, which I use. Any trained touch-typist would also use it. There’s a reason there’s two of them: they’re intended for use in capitalizing different letters.
The footprint of the 901 is roughly the same as the Acer. The footprints of their *keyboards*, however, are vastly different. Take a look at any side-by-side overhead shot of the two together.
The Acer has gigantic, well-spaced keys when compared to the Asus. There’s probably a half-centimeter additional space on the sides of the Acer, and a full centimeter at the foot, dedicated to the keyboard, which the Asus does not have.
Link: http://www.aspireoneuser.com/2008/06/19/eee-pc-901-vs-acer-aspire-one/
the rumor mill is going nuts that all the current & upcoming price cuts are because the dual core Atom will be releasing in netbooks by October.
because the TDP is only marginally higher most ODM’s can work them into their already current designs. so expect netbook refreshes to be fast & furious within the next month.
nice pic Weylund
the Acer is only a tad wider but the KB is SO much bigger, it’s because the Acer decided to use a much smaller touchpad. thats the kinda compromise i like!
Yeah, I prefer the (much) larger keyboard. I thought it was a rather revealing picture myself.
Asus provides a handrest for typing on their tiny strange keyboard. Acer assumes that users have big people hands and realizes that a two-inch handrest is less useful than an extra inch of keyboard. News at 11.