Gizmodo: eee pc 900

Homemade Asus Eee Keyboard Has No Screen, Plenty of Heart

John Herrman — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EDT

The Eee keyboard, as cool as it is, sure is taking its time, you know, coming out. One especially anxious Russian modder got bored of waiting around, so he just broke down an Eee PC 900 and made his own.

It's a meticulous, charming mod, complete with woodwork, which is why we can forgive some of the larger omissions, like its lack of a touch display—the most outwardly distinctive feature of the original—and its lone, primitive VGA video output. What is does have is a 900MHz Intel Mobile Celeron processor, a 20GB SSD, 1GB of RAM and Wi-Fi.

It doesn't look like he kept the battery, which would have been a nice touch, but hey! PC in a keyboard! [Eee-pc.ru via Liliputing]

EeePC 900 Gets a Touchscreen Mod That's So Good We Want It Standard

Jason Chen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:59:59 EDT

If we didn't know that this was done by a user, we'd swear that this touchscreen Eee PC was made by Asus themselves. The video shows a super sensitive and responsive screen, flicking quickly up and down on a web page with either the finger or stylus. On a laptop of 10-inches or smaller—what we like to call "tardtops"—a touchscreen fits just perfectly. Why get a Kindle when you have a light, touchscreen laptop that can be carried with you and supports lots of colors? Nice work jkkmobile. [JKKMobile]

First Shots of Black Eee PC 900 in the Wild

matt buchanan — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:57:17 EDT

The chowed down fish crowding the shot almost gives a new meaning to "in the wild" pics, but I digress. Until now we've only seen the bigger, badder Eee PC 900 in that single shade of paleness (unlike its little bro), but this shot seems to confirm that a veritable rainbow (or um, a pair) of color options is shortly on the way. So what'll it be folks, black or white? More shots at the link, if you need help making up your mind. And yes, the fish is in all of 'em. [Flicka via EeeUser]

Asus Fixing Their Battery Blunder

Mark Wilson — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:05:00 EDT

Yesterday we told you that Asus was not everyone's favorite company after shipping customers Eee PC 900s with smaller batteries than those supplied to reviewers. Now Asus is offering their Hong Kong customers a free battery upgrade. Here's the letter that Asus is sending to eligible customers:

Automatically translated text:
Eee PC 900 free upgrade to replace Tai capacity 5800 mAh battery

Dear Asustek users

Hello, Thank you for the support and love Asustek.

EeePC 900 series with the four cells of the battery (4400mAh) and (5800 mAh) two. Because of Hong Kong products in the conference at the scene a short time display time, the company only display four cells (5800mAh) for samples, but the media reports, so that customers have the misconception that and the actual shipping 4 cells (4400mAh) specifications are inconsistent, Shuo are deeply sorry.

All customers of the Hong Kong-based Asustek's long-term support and love, Asustek decided ASUS HK Royal Club Hong Kong EeePC 900 users a free upgrade and replace all 4 cells (5800mAh) batteries.

Once again, thank you for your support and love Asustek products

Telephone: ASUS HK Royal Club
Kowloon: 29581620
Hong Kong: 35824770

Asustek Jingshang

It's a good move on Asus' part. Because that would have been a scary precedent to set. [jkkmobile via ubergizmo]

Asus Gives Reviewers Different Batteries Than Consumers, Considers Free Upgrade

Mark Wilson — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:20:00 EDT

According to DigiTimes, recent Hong Kong purchasers of the new Asus Eee PC 900 (it's that Eee with the bigger screen) found that their batteries weren't as nice as those given to reviewers. Speaking from experience, that sort of thing happens all the time. Real world testing is always more rigorous than reviewer testing. But in this case, consumers were not talking about battery life itself, but a straight-up battery capacity rating. Then, in a turn for the even loopier, Asus actually admitted to giving different batteries to reviewers and consumers. What??? Yeah.

Reviewers were given a 4-cell, 5800mAh battery. Consumers, on the other hand, were given a 4-cell, 4400mAh battery. Big difference. Asus claimed that the batteries given to testers were a mistake and that they'd planned to roll out the larger batteries to the public shortly. And at the moment, Asus is considering a replacement program.

With a super portable machine like the Eee PC, battery life may be the most important factor in day to day usage. Let's hope this issue gets sorted out. [digitimes]

Asus Eee PC 900 Hits U.S. May 12 for $549

matt buchanan — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EDT

We'd heard that Asus's bigger, badder Eee PC would be getting an early launch next month in Asia but it looks like the US won't have to wait very long either. Crave's Asus sources are telling them it'll launch stateside on May 12 for $549. That's definitely a bit more than the long-rumored $500 pricepoint. Is it worth it?

You're getting a pretty significant spec and comfort upgrade for the money—but breaking the $500 mark pushes it past super cheap, and very possibly out of the category that the original Eee helped to create. So, $550. You guys still interested, or too much? [Crave]

First Asus Eee PC 900 Review (Verdict: A Bit More Comfy)

Mark Wilson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EDT

CNET UK has just published the first review of the upcoming £329 Asus PC 900—the 8.9" version of the Eee packing a 20GB SSD. Their verdict? While still disappointed by the unchanged keyboard, CNET appreciated the bigger screen and addition of multitouch on the trackpad.

Also of note: even though the 900 includes a whole 1GB of RAM, the processor is the same Celeron model we had in the original Eee. CNET was hoping to see an Atom stuck in there for more power and battery life. So overall, despite the extra RAM and storage, CNET sees the upgrades as a bit superficial. Given our long-term impressions of the Eee, superficial was a good place for Asus to start. [cnet]

Asus EEE 900 Gets 20GB Linux version, Some Launch Dates

Kit Eaton — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:13:50 EDT

We'd heard the upcoming EEE PC 900 was going to have 12GB of flash, but Asus has just stumped up some more data. 4GB of that is permanent with the remaining 8GB being slot-loaded. That's for the XP version— the Linux edition will have a whopping 16GB of slot-loaded storage. The diminutive machine will apparently be available in the UK and Hong Kong now, France tomorrow and Australia, Germany and Italy at different dates from late April to May. No word on the US release yet. Asus press release below. [Impress, VR-zone and Engadget]

Discover a New Perspective with 8.9 Inch Eee PC 900
1.3M Pixels Webcam, FingerGlide Among Innovations Galore at Just 0.99kg

Taipei, Taiwan, April 15, 2008 - Amid the buzz of reaching a new milestone of 1 million Eee PCs sold in just 5 months after its launch, ASUS has provided yet another round of excitement with its release of the new Eee PC 900. This new generation of the ever popular PC packs in a whole range of hardware that includes a 8.9 inch widescreen, a 1.3M pixels webcam, the new innovative FingerGlide and 12GB and 20GB storage capacities for Windows and Linux platforms respectively - catering to wider consumer needs while still maintaining the "Easy to learn, work and play" concept by keeping the overall weight under 1kg.

Mobility is one of the major factors attributed to the Eee PC's success; and this is in part due to the use of the built-in Solid State Disk (SSD) technology - which offers a quiet, energy saving and shock proof design for stable computing on-the-go. Traditional hard disks spin at 5400 RPM (Revolutions per Minute) - making them more prone to data loss or damage if shocks or bumps are received. Conversely, the Eee PC is able to protect against such incidents, and is the perfect tool for outdoor computing - suitable as an ideal companion for reporters, wildlife photographers and other like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.

"Vital feedback from a wide variety of users have been received, which has spurred us on to create more options to cater to different user requirements." said Jerry Shen, CEO of ASUS.

Take a New Look with the 8.9 inch Display
Through extensive R&D, the inclusion of the 8.9" display screen does not affect the overall weight of the Eee PC 900, which remains below 1kg - making it easy for children and women to carry it around; and maintains the ultra portable theme that has become synonymous with the Eee PC. With this large screen size of 8.9", a resolution of 1024 x 600 is achieved - allowing users to view a single A4 page without the need to scroll left or right and making it much easier and more effective when reading or working on documents.

FingerGlide and Other User-Friendly Features
The new Eee PC will also incorporate an innovative FingerGlide feature that makes operating the Eee PC easy and convenient. For example, with just two simple finger movements on the touchpad, users will be able to zoom in and out of pictures (great for looking at image details), or scroll up and down for easier document viewing - making the Eee PC 900 more convenient to use.

"Due to its lightweight stature, most users will place the Eee PC on their laps or hold them in their hands during use. With the addition of the FingerGlide feature, users will find it even more convenient to use the Eee PC." commented Jerry Shen.

Furthermore, the Eee PC 900 pairs a 1.3M Pixel webcam with its wireless Internet connection capabilities for web conferences anywhere, anytime for easier web communications and increased work efficiency.

Providing Suitable Environments for Different Needs
To suit differing user requirements, the Eee PC 900 comes in both Microsoft Windows and Linux versions.

The Microsoft Windows version allows more experienced users to seamlessly utilize the Eee PC through the familiar Windows interface, and incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging; and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on the user´s desktop. Complementing this is Microsoft Works, which equips the user with numerous office applications to work efficiently.

The Linux version is useful for users who desire an icon-driven and easy point-and-click interface. Well suited for children or users without any computer experience, it provides a fast boot-up time- ideal for fast Internet access while waiting for public transport, or taking notes on-the-go.

Specifications

Display: 8.9" Display, 1024 x 600 resolution
Color: Pearl White, Black
CPU: Intel® Mobile CPU
Processor: Intel Mobile Chipset
Memory: DDR II 1GB
Display Card: Intel UMA
Storage: 12GB (4GB built-in + 8GB flash) SSD (Microsoft Windows OS Version)
20GB (4GB built-in +16GB flash) SSD (Linux OS Version)
Audio: HD audio / built-in speakers
Wireless: Built-in 802.11b/g
Camera: 1.3M Pixel webcam
Storage Cards: SD / MMC (SDHC)
Input / Output: 3xUSB / VGA-out (D-Sub, 15pin) / earphone jack / mic / RJ45 10/100 Mbps
Power: Output: 12V, 36W; Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal
Tracking Control: Utilizes FingerGlide
Operating System: Windows XP Home / Linux
Dimensions: 22.5cm(W) x 17.0cm(D) x 2cm~3.38cm(H)
Weight: 0.99 kg

Asus Eee PC 900 Getting Early Launch

matt buchanan — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT

In order to beat the increasingly heavy cheap subnotebook competition from Acer, HP and everyone's mother to the market, Asus is pushing its Eee PC 900 out the door a month earlier than originally scheduled, according to our favorite Asian rumor mill, DigiTimes. They were set to launch in June, but Asus is speeding it up to May,
even initially foregoing Intel's hot new Atom chipset so it can yell "first!" [DigiTimes]

Asus Eee PC 900 Lands at the FCC: MacBook Air Style Multi-touch Trackpad Revealed

matt buchanan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:05:00 EDT

The Asus Eee PC 900 is out of the ~~cat's~~ FCC's bag. No WiMax, GPS or touchscreen, and the specs are otherwise what we've heard. But here's the biggie: The manual reveals it's got a MacBook Air/Pro style multi-touch trackpad, with two-finger pinch zooming, and two finger scrolling. Check it out, along with the guts and a bunch of spec gobbledygook at the FCC. [FCC]

Video Hands on With the 8.9-inch Asus Eee PC 900

Sean Fallon — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:30:57 EST

Just days after becoming official, JKK Mobile has unveiled a short video hands on with the Asus Eee PC 900. It is not definitive by any means, although they were generally impressed. Specifically, they were happy with the larger size and increased resolution (1024 x 600) on the 8.9-inch screen. And the 1GB ram, 1.3 megapixel camera and 8GB SSD (up to 12GB) is definitely an improvement over the original. Available in mid April for 399 Euros ($607) with Linux [jkkmobile]

Asus 8.9-inch Eee PC 900 Confirmed

Jason Chen — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:21:01 EST

Asus has confirmed the Eee PC 900, which features a larger 8.9-inch screen with 1024x600 resolution, 1GB RAM and up to 12GB storage. Other than this, and a larger touchpad, it looks almost the same as the original. [DailyTech]

New Asus Eee PC 900 Revealed?

Mark Wilson — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:59:35 EST

According to the French site BlogEEE.net, Asus has a reworked Eee PC on the way. While the casing will have the same dimensions as the original Eee, the 900 will feature a larger 8.9" screen (up from 7"), an unspecified faster processor, 1GB memory standard (up from 512MB) and SSD storage options as high as 12GB (up from 8GB). But the sticker price (in Europe) has seen an increase from 299€ to 399€. We've contacted Asus to confirm the information and will keep you updated. [blogeee via eeesite]