X-bit labs

Asustek Readies Intel Atom Based Eee PC for Mid-Year Launch.

Category: Mobile

by Anton Shilov

[ 04/21/2008 | 05:54 PM ]

Asustek Computer officially announced that after the Computex Taipei 2008 trade-show the company would commercially release its second-generation Asus Eee PC system powered by Intel Atom processor. The company said that the new system would have longer battery life thanks to lower power consumption of the Atom, but did not provide any additional details.

Helen Ling, a spokeswoman for Asustek Computer’s UK subsidiary said in an interview that Asus Eee PC based on Intel Atom processor would arrive to the UK by the end of June, after Computex trade-show, TechRadar web-site reports. The information was confirmed by Jerry Shen, Asustek’s chief executive at a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, who reiterated plans to unveil its Atom-based small form-factor laptop at Computex Taipei, the largest trade-show in Asia that kicks off on the 3^rd of June and ends on the 7^th if June, 2008, reports IDG News Services.

It is surprising that Asustek Computer decided to release its second-generation Eee PC based on Intel Atom processor just two months after it started to ship its Asus Eee PC 900, a version of Asus Eee PC based on the same Intel Celeron M processor as the original model, but featuring 8.9” screen with higher resolution.

In addition to Asus Eee PC many other companies are entering the market of very affordable mobile computers, which is why Asus does need to constantly improve its Eee PC to stay competitive. Increased battery life, boosted performance and, perhaps, richer feature-set may provide Asus a number of strong benefits on the market. For example, adding a 3G or WiMAX connectivity will allow Asus to sell its Eee PC through telecommunication operators who are interested in selling their customers affordable hardware to offered services.

Asus did not provide any additional details about Intel Atom-based Eee PC in particular as well as about further development of the Eee products in general. However, it is possible to expect Asustek to reveal more information at Open Tech Summit Taiwan 2008 later this month.