Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

While we already have the launch date confirmed as May 12, we are now beginning to see pre-orders opening up. The first to be found is coming courtesy of ExcaliberPC and the notebook is listed for $549 with an estimated availability of “Mid of May 2008,” which is just in line with the already confirmed launch date from Asus. They currently have the white model with either Linux or Windows XP available for pre-order.

The Eee PC 900, as we have already learned will feature an 8.9-inch display with a 1024 x 600 resolution, 1GB of RAM, 1.3-megapixel webcam, FingerGlide capable trackpad and built-in card reader. The Linux based version will offer 20GB total storage, and the Windows based version will have 12GB total storage. The notebook is also currently being listed with free shipping, although we are unsure if that is standard or just a limited offer.

Product [ExcaliberPC.com] Product [ExcaliberPC.com] Via [Design Aesthetic]

With resolving more Eee PC battery issues in mind, Asus has announced that they will be offering a “free upgrade” to customers who either purchased the Asus Eee PC 900 or received it for review with 4400mAh batteries instead of the advertised 5800 mAh ones. This is in relation to all the negative publicity that they have been getting lately because of the aforementioned battery issues, which they have rightly adjusted and countered with a good move. I wish all manufacturers were like that, open to the opinions of customers and ready to stoop down low for the sake of being understood. We admire you Asus, and keep up the good work! Now when’s my 80GB OS X powered Eee PC coming?

Via [jkk mobile]

Several reports indicate that Acer is planning to release laptops specifically targeted at the low cost market. The upcoming Aspire and Slim Gemstone Aspire are sized at 8.9-inch and 12.1-inch respectively and are expected to be released in May or June. The 12.1-inch model seems to be of particular interest to me as it has a bigger screen compared to the Asus Eee PC 900. If pricing and other features of the Slim Gemstone Aspire are the same or better then Acer will definitely offer some competition against Asus.

These new notebooks will both be sporting the new Intel Atom processor, which is also going to be implemented in Eee PC’s, which are expected to launch this June. The operating system used will be either Linux or Windows XP. Customers will also have the option to select either a standard hard drive or SSD storage. Pricing is expected to be between $300 and $450, whereas the Eee PC 900 is expected to retail for around $600.

Via [electronista]

Asus has decided to release the 8.9-inch Eee PC in the second half of April, instead of the originally planned May/June launch. This decision, which comes at the eleventh hour was due to the recent announcement of competing UMPC’s, the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC and a soon-to-be released model from Acer.

The early launch of the 8.9-inch Eee PC will mean that it will be released without the Intel Atom processor. The original launched models will will use Intel’s older-generation dual-core ULV processors, but Asus is still expected to ship its Intel Atom processor based 8.9-inch Eee PC in June. Changes in prices and the exact release date of the 8.9-inch Eee PC are yet to be confirmed.

Via [DigiTimes]

Intel has recently shown off not one, not two, but three ultra-portable laptops running on their much-awaited Atom processors. Pictured here is a little lappie from a little-known brand called Thinno, perusing Intel’s Atom processor with Windows XP. Register Hardware was unsure of the third laptop and calls it a mystery, but Engadget was keen to point out that it’s actually the MSI Wind, which according to its official specs, will have Intel’s new Atom processors right off the bat. Suddenly, the ASUS Eee PC doesn’t seem so remarkable. Yes, I can’t wait either. Expect retail versions of these new ultra-portables to be available soon.

Read [Register Hardware]

Yet another ultra-portable notebook is expected to be offering some competition for the likes of the Eee PC and Cloudbook, of course this one has been around and in the works for a while. Originally thought of as a competitor to the XO OLPC laptop, the Classmate PC has similar features to the other more full featured ultra-portables currently on the market and includes a 7-inch 800 x 480 display, an Intel 900MHz Mobile processor, 256 or 512MB of RAM, 1 or 2GB SSD, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and will be running either Linux or Windows XP. The Intel Classmate PC should be hitting both US and European retailers soon. The Classmate PC has been available on the retail markets of India, Mexico and Indonesia, but this is the first time it will be available for sale outside those areas. Intel has done some pilot tests in the US and Australia at select schools. The Classmate PC is expected to retail for around $250 to $350, however there was not any mention of which stores will carry the notebook.

Read [Reuters] Via [Wired]

A report from Reuters cites Asustek Chairman Jonney Shih as saying nearly two-thirds of the Eee PCs to be shipped this year will carry Windows XP instead of the originally installed Linux OS. An analyst at JP Morgan commented that this is because a Windows-based Eee PC is “more attractive” to users due to the lack of familiarity with Linux, among other things. Now, although I agree that a Windows-based Eee PC will be more familiar to consumers than a Linux-powered one, I think this will go against the vision of the company for low-cost, consumer-affordable mobile computers. Linux is an efficient platform supported by a dedicated community of users and developers and of course its biggest selling point is that anyone can take it for free. Compare that to a Windows OS that you have to pay a few hundred dollars for, plus the fact that there have been a lot of reported bugs that keep it from operating smoothly. I’m sure you’ve realized by now that I’d prefer Linux over Windows (just for the Eee PC) but if you disregard that, I think you’d still agree that having a “retail” OS goes against the original vision of Asus for keeping the costs low, even if Windows lowers its pricing for XP for the sake of cheap computers like this one. At any rate, it will still be up to the user whether they use XP or Linux when they finally buy the Eee PC (if they haven’t already).

Read [Reuters]

Rumored to cost around $500 or higher, The MSI Wind will be the newest ultra-portable laptop in direct competition with the recently announced 9-inch wonder from Asus. The MSI Wind, unveiled at CeBIT 2008, will come with Intel’s new Atom chip, 1GB of RAM as default and a 6-cell battery that could last roughly 6 to 7 hours. It’s bound to run on either Linux or Windows, offers a 10-inch display and the option to get fitted with either a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD, depending on user preference. All that’s available right now are just profile shots from the MSI booth, with no sign of the general user interface (or even a power on screen) yet. But judging from the blue, pink, and silver outer casings, this little unit looks dazzling so far. It also looks just as good as other regular-sized laptops. You’ve got to question it’s name though. Knowing that there’s something out there called the “Air”, and since this one is called “Wind”, what do you think they’ll come up with next? Breeze? Gas?

Via [Gizmodo]

We saw the Eee PC pick up an incredible, almost cult like following and with that came more mods and hacks than most of us could even imagine. It has taken some time, the Cloudbook has gotten off to a slow start, but that seems to be coming to an end. A decent community is starting to get going behind the Cloudbook, albeit not as large or devoted as the Eee PC has, but still its getting there and I am sure it will continue to grow with time. With the community getting behind the Cloudbook we are beginning to see some cool new mods, along with some tips and tricks that make the gOS-based ultra-portable a little more user friendly.

MORE »

While the Cloudbook may have gotten off to a rough very rough start, it seems we have some traction building. Initially you had to either make that purchase at ZaReason (who quickly dropped the Cloudbook after all those initial problems) or by placing your order, for delivery only at Wal-Mart.

MORE »