Filed under: Laptops

Hey, you remember the Eee PC 701, right? The original netbook, before the category even had a name? The machine we all just called the Eee PC before ASUS booted out an insane array of lightly-differentiated models with a somewhat random naming scheme? Yeah, well, it’s still around, even if the 901 has taken over as the Eee of choice, and if those slides from earlier are to be believed, it’s getting a spec bump. Laptop says the new 701SD will get an Atom processor to go along with a minor case redesign, and come in a few flavors (of course): 701, 701SD, 701SD(30GB HD), 701SD-4G. Sadly, there isn’t any info about pricing available, but with cheap netbooks headed toward $299 and below, here’s hoping ASUS gives us a reason to love the 701 once again.

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Filed under: Laptops

Continue reading Asus Eee PC 1000 vs Atom-based 901 vs original 701… fight!

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Filed under: Laptops

Okay, this is pretty much for the crazy keyboard aficionados out there, but the crew over at Laptop says there’s a distinct difference between the keyboards on the black and white Eee PC laptops. They compared the ‘boards on a white 701, black 4G Surf, and white 900, and while the two white Eees had identical keys, the black unit featured different switches with deeper keypresses and more tactile feedback, smaller spaces between the keys, and rougher plastic. (Of course, if you actually use any keyboard for long enough, the plastic eventually wears smooth, so that’s probably not an issue.) We doubt the difference is going to really sway anyone’s purchasing decision — the tiny Eee keyboard isn’t exactly ideal for hardcore typists, after all — but if you’re looking for a tiebreaker between the black and white 700s, well, now you have one that will bore the pants off people at parties.

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Filed under: Displays, Laptops

We’ve already seen one engineering bloke stuff a touch panel into a Cloudbook, so we figured it was only a matter of time before that luscious 8.9-inch unit from the Eee PC 900 found its way into the pioneering 701. According to jkkmobile, all that was necessary in order to make the mod happen was a good bit of reworking around the bezel and a BIOS hack to enable full-screen support on a larger display. Unfortunately, a step-by-step guide has yet to be posted (though it’s likely forthcoming), but you can gaze upon a smattering of photos right now by giving the read link a visit.

[Via Liliputing]

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Filed under: Features, Laptops

The Eee PC’s journey from introduction to mass production hasn’t been filled with too many surprises, and aside from the obligatory price / release date speculation, unexpected Russian review and even more chatter over the almighty pricetag, it’s been a pretty smooth ride. Granted, everyone and their long lost cousin was buzzing about the potential of getting a fully-featured machine in their laps for under two bills, but as these things always seem to go, final figures (for individual consumers, at least) managed to creep up a fair bit. Price hikes or not, it didn’t seem to matter much come launch day, as dear ole NewEgg managed to sell right out of its initial allotment, though we’re left to wonder if it didn’t really have a few more to go around.

Regardless, just about everyone who managed to get ahold of Asus’ little darling came away impressed, if not thoroughly pleased, with how much functionality was stuffed into a sub-$400, two-pound ultraportable. Of course, critics were not hesitant to admit that the bugger wasn’t perfect, and we’ve all ideas that a number of you early adopters out there share similar sentiments. So without further ado, why not give the world a piece of your mind on the matter? How would you meliorate the Eee PC? Make it more functional, more fashionable or just (even) more affordable? Chime on in below with your recommendations for the Eee PC Rev. B — it’s not like we don’t already know it’s coming.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

“Pound for pound, the best value-priced notebook on the planet.” Sure, you could stop right there if you’d like, but where’s the fun in that? Laptop Mag was able to get their paws around an Asus Eee PC 701, and while you may not think a meager 900MHz Intel Celeron processor could stir up all sorts of jubilant emotions, apparently it still can. Reviewers made no bones about the machine’s lack of raw horsepower, and it did make sure to knock Asus for releasing a machine with webcam drivers “on the way,” but despite the rough edges, the wee 701 was deemed a great choice for the novice PC user or someone scouting a secondary machine. Notably, the Eee PC 701 isn’t apt to make just anyone smile, but if you’re interested in finding out if such a device would work for you, be sure and give the read link a bit of your time.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops

If you’ll recall, Asus’ Eee PC first went up for pre-order at NCIXUS just under a month ago, and merely days after the wee machine was exposed courtesy of a Russian review, here it is again on yet another e-tailer’s website. The Eee PC 701 is holding down the high-end with 4GB of built-in storage and a $399.99 pricetag, while two versions of the Eee PC 700 are available at $259.99 and $299.99 price points. Interestingly, the website requires a $150 “non-refundable deposit” up front, and promises to only charge the balance once your laptop ships “in early October.” Personally, we still wouldn’t be so quick to put up a down payment just yet, but for the brave (and unfathomably impatient) ones out there, hit the read link to place your (pre)-order.

[Via Laptoping]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!