It’s been a long while since we last heard from Asus as reported by Digitimes, until now. Digitimes is reporting that Asustek is planning to release a new netbook line (not the one pictured here) that will be as dirt cheap as $200-$250. Our question is, what took Asus this long to think about this? Is the company already feeling the impact of the popularity of the tablet devices to the netbooks? It’s probably just about the right time.

Anyway, if indeed it is true that Asustek is planning to release a sub-$200 netbook, what should we expect from a netbook as cheap as that? Interestingly, the preliminary information about this Asustek netbook seems to be lacking in substance. What we know for sure is that said netbooks will either be running Android or Google Chrome OS. This should enable Asustek to bring down the cost of the said netbooks.

So, who’s excited about this new $200 netbook?

Asus Planning to Release $200 Netbook? is a post from: Eee PC

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Asus just put up a very brief announcement that they will be adding USB 3.0 ports in their popular Eee brands, namely the Eee PC netbooks and the Eee Box. They also claim that they can pump up the speed

The story of course comes as no surprise but how soon will they be integrating them? The speed boost is nice though I hope they launch it when there are USB 3.0 devices that are in the market already.

source Digitimes

USB 3.0 coming to an Eee near you is a post from: Eee PC

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Asus chief Jonney Shih said together with the announcement of the spin-off of manufacturing arm Pegatron that they are going to launch a “killer product“this June. The CEO is keeping mum as to what the product actually is but the blogosphere buzz points to the Eee Pad, a concept tablet device Asus showed off during CES early this year.

If it really is a slate tablet, we’ll see Asus clashing with Apple’s iPad in the near future. With Asustek spinning off Pegatron, which is rumored to be helping make the new iPhone models, they would be free to pursue this opportunity.

What I’m wondering is if this is true, how will Asus approach this market seeing that Apple already delivered a very affordable product themselves. Asus Eee PCs are known to be very tough, low-cost machines but don’t look as sophisticated as Apple’s own devices. I guess we’ll have to sit until June or wait for Asus to spill more info our way.

source Digitimes

Asus to launch secret killer product in June is a post from: Eee PC

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Asustek are aiming to ship 20 million notebooks throughout 2010, overtaking Toshiba and Lenovo. If they succeed, it will make them the fifth largest vendor worldwide.

From the 20 million, 8 million is expected to come from netbook sales. Asus are also expecting 30% of shipments to be from notebooks supporting USB 3.0. It’s unclear whether this is just from notebooks they’re aiming for 30% or if they will be adding it to their netbook line and expect 30% of total sales to be accounted to USB 3.0.

via and via

Asus aim for 8 million netbook sales in 2010 is a post from: Eee PC

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In a recent interview with Asustek chairman Jonney Shih, he explained that the company is not looking into making smartbooks and eBook readers in the near future.

He says that one of the major roadblocks for this technology is the compatibility with most software. Most Asus netbooks can run on a host of different OSes – Linux, Android, Windows and yes even Mac OS if you are committed enough. While not all smartbooks come with in-house operating systems, compatibility with existing programs might become an issue.

He adds that the hurdle for readers will be content and not hardware, which he confesses is easy enough to put together. If the device is launched by a big book retailer like Amazon and Barnes and Noble did, content won’t be a problem. But letting people load their own content or mixing content with other partners is a tricky business, especially file sharing.

I’m sure that when the time is right, Asus will get into the game and deliver exciting new products just as they did when they launched the Eee line.

source Digitimes

Asus is hands-off on smartbooks, eBook readers… for now is a post from: Eee PC

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The Asustek Chairman also cleared the issue on Asustek holding up a large volume of their inventory in their warehouses. Shih denied any such actions being undertaken by his company.

Finally, reacting to recent reports that Asustek is cutting off shipments forecast for the rest of 2008, Shih is still positive that his company will become among the top three notebook vendor by 2009-2010.

Via Digitimes

Asustek Chairman Responds to Eee Top Issues is a post from: Eee PC

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