Asus offers Brits Eee PC 900 battery swap plan
But at a price
Asus has bowed to consumer pressure and agreed to swap Eee PC 900 buyers' old, 4400mAh batteries for a new 5800mAh model - and for a payment of £11.75.
In a statement issued late last week, Asus said the battery swap programme would commence on 10 June.
It also said it had posted a Bios update that would eke out the 900's battery life by a further 30 minutes on average.
In our tests, the 4400mAh battery in the 900 delivered only slightly less runtime than the 5200mAh battery in the original Eee PC, but we were still surprised that the 900 came with a less capacious power pack.
Asus Eee PC and friend: bigger battery? I'll drink to that
Two weeks ago, Asus finally responded to Register Hardware's request that it address complaints from buyers that 900s shipped to the UK had a lower battery capacity than versions of the machine sold in other territories, including the US.
At the time, it suggested the two-year warranty that comes with the product - compared to a UK-standard warranty period of one year - was compensation enough for the lower battery capacity.
The new Bios update should mean that the 900 now delivers a longer runtime than an Eee PC 701 with a bigger battery. However, it's not yet clear what - if any - performance trade-off this has required.
Precise details of how Eee 900 owners can get their replacement battery will be published shortly, Asus promised.
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COMMENTS
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I've just spoken to asus on their 0870 premium rate number to be told the deal is not available until the end of the month and will be £15 quid.
bbbbbbbattery......
Well after The Planet server debarcle all I can say this that my little Eee PC has been a complete and utter life saver .... The battery lasted for ever .. I just don't see the issue ... stunning little box with a more than adequate 2 year warranty battery ...
battery smattery ...... !
And how much does it weigh?
Another thing for you to look at, Tony: Asus trumpets the fact that the 900 weighs "0.99kg", but that is with the 5800 battery - the crap UK battery actually weighs more, bringing the weight of the unit to more than 1kg.
http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?pid=279415
So, can you ask Asus how it can claim that the 5800mAh battery isn't universal whilst also claiming that the unit weighs less than 1kg, when with the 4400mAh battery it weighs MORE than 1kg?
Please ask them about the old battery
What can they possibly do with the old battery? It's a sealed unit and it's used - so they can't sell them on. All they will be left with is a pile of toxic waste to dispose of.
So, surely the only conclusion that can be drawn is that Asus are being deliberately bloody-minded to make what appears to be a "generous" offer much less attractive than it would first appear. Fewer people will take it up and it will cost Asus less. Job done.
And as for the warranty, well that's nothing more than weasel words: Italy is getting a 5800mAh battery (the largest) and reports from France suggest it is getting a 5200mAh battery - still larger than the one the UK has been shafted with. And they will all get the 2-year warranty.
