Asus: 'no plans' for 10in Eee PC
Upcoming 8GB model will have 7in screen
Asus has claimed it has "no plans at the moment" to produce a version of its Eee PC ultra-small laptop with a 10in display. The upcoming 8GB model will sport the same 7in screen as the currently available 4GB unit, it added.
Rumours that the manufacturer has a 10in Eee PC in the works have been doing the rounds since the machine was announced back in June. Back then, Asus showed a compact 10in Eee PC, the 1001, at the Computex show in Taipai this year. You can see pics of it at Akihabara News here - but it's clearly a different, larger design to the current Eee PC 701 rather one of today's machines with a 10in LCD in place of the 7in panel.
More recently, German website Der Standard posted an ambiguous quote from a local Asus spokesman that some observers have leapt on as proof that a 10in, 8GB Eee PC is imminent. The trouble is, the statement that the 8GB version will have a "larger display" wasn't made by the spokesman but by the site.
Asus' Eee PC and friend: not waiting for the ten-incher
Yesterday, website Eeeuser.com contacted Asus and asked it outright. The response: "We will have [Eee PC] 8G with the same form factor and 7in screen size as the Eee PC 4G now.
"There are no plans for a 10in at the moment."
We've no doubt that if the Eee PC is as successful as Asus hopes it will be a 10in model will be added to the line-up some time in the future. Our sources suggest such a machine is in the pipeline, but don't expect it in the near future.
Related review
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COMMENTS
7" of heaven
Agree with Rick Brasche on this one. This machine is fine for basic web browsing, checking email and using IM. If i want to burn dvds or need to examine web pages whose layout demands a bigger screen, i'll use my desktop or hook this one up to an lcd at work or college.
Asus clearly aren't going to declare a 10" version until this one has made its mark. So quit speculating on unreliable sources and buy one! I'd suggest overclockers.co.uk, preordered mine on friday, got it the day after it was released. Excellent machine.
@ Adrian
http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewforum.php?id=11
Tons of places in the uk stock it.
I have one, it rocks. but there is some work to make it from the user interface (can't add your own software) ridden machine to a true linux machine where you actually have a laptop. The bundled apps more than make up for it however.
Screen edges
I just don't currently like the large black bars down the side of the screen in the 7" one. If the just filled the current eee pc's lid with a full screen it would be a whole lot better.
Seconded on the screen comments
The current screen is the only thing that's stopping me from ordering one;1024x576 (or 600 to keep the usual laptop aspect ratio) would be perfect. Other issues such as the underclocked processor and lack of pcmcia slots/hard drive storage are not too much of a problem, but reading pdf files/web surfing needs a decent screen resolution. Not to mention watching freeview programmes.
Hopefully once the early adopters are satisfied, Asus can come out with a new version that won't cost any more than the current one. As we know, another £50 and you can get a proper laptop.
When to use?
If you ride a motorbike (like I do) you really don't want to be lugging around a 3kg notebook everywhere you go. For example, if I take my notebook with me it takes about 20mph off the top speed of my bike. And makes my shoulders ache. And people laugh at me.
The EEE PC is exactly what I've been waiting for; it looks good, it's cheap, it runs Linux, it's small and it's light. And I'll be able to walk after the 30 minute ride to work...
I'm waiting for mine now, actually...
