It seems that the Asus EEE Pc has created a whole slew of tiny laptops that are looking to capitalize off its popularity.
The latest comes from MSI, dubbed the Wind. Available in 8 and 10 inch flavors, and powered by Intel Atom processors running at 1ghz and 1.6ghz, the MSI Wind costs between 299 and 599 euros. While the high end model puts it in the price range of more full-sized notebooks, 299 euros is very much a cheap computer and a direct price competitoragainst the EEE pc.
The initial specs are as follows;
1024 x 768 display
Intel Atom CPU at 1.0 or 1.6GHZ
2.5″ HDD or SSD
1GB RAM
Read the full story at Notebook Italia
Pocket-Lint reports that the ECS G10IL is a very interesting competitor to the Asus EEEpc. The tiny laptop packs in a ton of features (HSPDA 7.2!) into a small package under $500, and it looks great to boot.
“The Asus Eee PC could have a new challenger in the guise of the ECS G10IL.
The new sub-$500 notebook will come with a HSPDA 7.2 datacard built-in.
Although currently still in production, and details incredibly sketchy at the moment as to what else you will get in the box or when it will launch in the UK, what we do know is that it comes with a built-in webcam, three USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet and a 56Kb/s modem.
There is no optical drive but if its got HSDPA it’s sure to come with Wi-Fi and most likely Bluetooth too boot.”
You can view their gallery here
One intrepid modder set out to build his tiny EEEpc into a mobile powerhouse by cramming it full of upgrades that would normally be found on much larger (and more expensive) laptops.
The contents of this mini-powerhouse are as follows:
- USB hubs - 11.20 USD
- GPS module - 36.70 USD
- Bluetooth - 5.65 USD
- SDHC card reader - 6.45 USD
- Adata SDHC 8 GB - 74.50 USD
- Corsair VoyagerGT 4 GB USB drive - 90.94 USD
- Switch + Prototypingboards - 2.66 + 30.10 USD
- Intel Wireless adapter - 62.69 USD
- Airplay FM transmitter - 14.98 USD
- Conexant Modem - 11.89 USD
- Crucial 2 GB DDR2 module - 106.62 USD
For those of you looking to accomplish a similar mod, take note that the prices he paid were due to international part costs. To pick up the same parts in the United States would cost significantly less, around $200.
He also notes that possible future upgrades include:
- USB relay power switch
- New keyboard (non-taiwanese)
- CPU/GPU/Chipset voltage mod
- Silicon Motion NAND flash replacement
- Modemport - Wifi antenna, additional ethernet port
- Modemport as a switch - remove to turn off, plug in to power
- Disable the fan to conserve power
- USB touch-screen overlay
- Copperplate with thermal tape better cooling
- Fingerprinter
The wildly popular ASUS Eee PC this holiday shopping season has just gotten better. ASUS today announced that the Eee PC will now come in five pastel colors. Here is a quote from today’s announcement:
“Delightfully compact and supremely lightweight, the Eee PC is designed to go anywhere it is needed — home, office, school and everything in between. Complementing its highly personal purpose, the Eee PC comes in no less than five exciting pastel colors: Pure White, Galaxy Black, Blush Pink, Lush Green and Sky Blue.”
Thanks, MobileTechReview
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