Sub £100 Laptop

First Asus launched the EE PC and i want one.


http://www.custompc.co.uk/reviews/149466/asus_eee_pc_4g.html

Now Elonex have gone even cheaper.

http://www.custompc.co.uk/news/602070/the-99-laptop.html#

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/03/04/cebit_asus_eeepc_900/

The second generation Asus EE PC. I am gutted to see the price will rise though, i think half the charm was the fact it was so very very cheap, and surely 512 ram doesnt come to 150 dollars!? Thats just silly, and who cares about an inch or so more screen when you can hack them to put reolustion up to 1024. Still, in my book, the ultimate, man-gadget of the year.

Asus' EE laptop has just been launched with XP as the default operating system, available from www.overclockers.co.uk for £330 all in.

Specs below. I think they are the ultimate man-gadget and need to sweet talk 0A.



Microsoft Windows XP
Intel Mobile P3 900MHz
1GB DDR2 RAM
12GB SSD HDD
Screen: 8.9" Widescreen LCD (1024x600)
Wireless LAN: 802.11b & 802.11g
Ethernet Socket
High Definition Audio
SD Card & MultiMedia Card Reader
1.3 Megapixel Camera
3x USB 2.0, 1x VGA, 1x RJ-45, 1x Microphone & 1x Speakers/Headphones
2 Year Collect and Return Warrenty

Quote :

Asus has made several innovative improvements with this next generation of the Eee PC – dubbed the Eee PC 900. These new technologies will bring about a brand new concept for Internet access with 1G of memory, larger storage of up to 12GB, and a wider 8.9" screen. Pre-installed with Windows XP, the Eee PC provides an easy, convenient and fuss-free platform to seamlessly integrate multiple devices, applications and services. In addition to the Windows operating system, consumers with the Eee PC will be able to access Windows Live, which is a set of personal Internet services and software to manage their online world more efficiently and safely. key features include Windows Live Mail,which consolidates all the various email accounts into one place on the user´s desktop and eliminates multiple log-ins; Windows Live Messenger to help keep users connected with each other easily and instantly; Windows Live Photo Gallery that easily organizes, sends, posts and shares photos with friends and family; and Windows Live Family Safety, which offers built-in family safety features including safer browsing for children via Web site management.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=LT-164-AS&groupid=959&catid=1070&subcat=

To top it all off, Asus have also decided to introduce the new Intel Atom mobile processor to increase this device even further. Which will see better speed, capability and longer battery life too.

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/04/06/asus-eee-gets-atomized

XP on an EEPC for about 30 dollars? Bargain

Quote :

‘Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning,’ said Bill Gates in his 1999 book, Business @ the Speed of Thought. Nine years on, it seems as if people are queuing up to give lessons to Microsoft. Apple is raking in the cash, and thanks to ultra low cost PCs (ULPCs) like the Asus Eee PC, Linux is threatening to become popular.

According to PC World, Microsoft is taking the ULPC so seriously it has created a new programme to help manufacturers create Windows XP-powered machines that can compete in terms of price with Linux-powered Asus’s Eee PC and Elonex ONE, by offering XP Home at a steep discount.

However, there will be a few catches – to qualify for the discount, the ULPCs will only be allowed to have screens 10.2in in diameter or less, hard disks 80GB in size or less, and they can’t have touchscreens. They will also be confined to 1GB of RAM and a 1GHz single-core processor.

The reason for the limitations are to keep these systems very clearly differentiated from Windows Vista PCs. Microsoft has already pulled back from its decision to discontinue Windows XP support in June, in the realisation that many aren’t yet ready for the move to Vista. But it wants to maintain the message that Vista is now the preferred choice for mainstream PCs.

So how cheap will these OEM copies of Windows XP Home Edition be? In developed markets they will cost a rock-bottom $32, and in developing ones $26, with a further $10 available for manufacturers participating in Microsoft’s Marketing Development Agreement. That’s still not as cheap as Linux (i.e., free), but Microsoft hopes this will encourage more manufacturers to stick with Windows for their ULPCs.

However, predictions of the ULPC’s likely popularity vary wildly. Microsoft reckons as many as 13 million units will be sold this year, whilst IDC only puts the annual total at 9 million by 2012. Nobody’s quite sure whether people want a cheap, light PC – or a powerful mobile phone like Apple iPhone.

Microsoft refused to comment on the details of the deal in the UK, but John Curran, Director of Windows Client Group, Microsoft UK gave the following statement to Custom PC:

‘Microsoft is deeply committed to working with PC manufacturers in the UK to offer a wide variety of Windows experiences that meet the tailored needs of our customers. These experiences range from exciting new laptops and desktops that enable people to take advantage of the latest in digital photography, music, entertainment, and Office productivity to new ultra low cost PCs that serve as easy to use starter PCs and terrific companion devices for browsing the web and doing mail. We expect to see Windows XP based ultra low cost PCs introduced into the UK market in the next few months.’