Asus Philippines Country Manager Leon Yu said the new Eee PC 1000 will not compete with any other brand that also uses the same Atom processor. Instead, Yu said the company will remain a niche player in the ultramobile computer segment.
He said users are becoming progressive in the kind of equipment they need. For instance, students need lighter notebooks that can provide them fast Internet connection and web chat. Professionals have basic document editing requirements while staying connected for longer periods.
"The market for ultramobile PC is huge and we're only targeting people who have specific needs. We don't have any problems with the other brands in the same market," Yu said.
On the other hand, Yu said the company is optimistic that the Atom processor will create new demand for low-cost, low-power computers especially in a country like the Philippines where there is a huge segment for budget-conscious buyers eyeing their first computers.
The Eee PC 1000 incorporates several new features not seen in previous Eee PC models. Among these are the Atom N270 processor running at 1.6 Gigahertz (the previous Eee PC 900 uses an Atom processor but was not introduced in the Philippines). It is also the first model to have Bluetooth connectivity and the new 802.11N wi-fi antenna, allowing faster Internet connection.
The Eee PC 1000 also has a standard six-cell battery instead of the three or four-cell battery. This should make it last approximately seven hours on idle or about three hours on active mode with all the wireless connectivity switched on. It has a 1 Gigabyte memory and an 80-Gb hard disk.
The keyboard is also bigger at 95 percent making it more comfortable to use than previous generations of Eee PCs. The screen is also bigger at 10.2 inches and can render images up to 1 megapixel.
Meanwhile, the company also introduced the Eee Box, a mini-desktop computer that uses the Atom 230 processor variety. It is just slightly bigger than the Eee PC 1000 but has nearly the same features, except for Bluetooth.
Both the Eee PC 1000 and Eee Box use the Windows XP Home operating system. The former costs P29,900 while the latter costs P24,999 pesos, bundled with a 16-inch widescreen LCD monitor.
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