Asus Linux based 'Eee PC' to be Priced Under 20K

Asus has officially launched the much awaited, ultra-portable and ultra-low cost 'Eee PC', promising a new mobile Internet experience.

Based on the Linux operating system (OS), 'Eee PC' has been customized to suit the needs of students from 10 years to 25 years of age who need both mobility and Internet connectivity.

The 'Eee PC' offers two modes of intuitive user interface (UI) design: the easy mode, and the full desktop mode for both experienced and inexperienced PC users. Meanwhile, the PC is also Windows XP compatible.

Francis Kao, business development manager (Notebook) of Asus, said, "Eee PC aims at bringing technology, knowledge, and future for children or students who may not be able to easily afford modern convenience. Especially in India, where Internet is available for even less than 1 percent of the population."

The 7-inches 'Eee PC' uses the Intel platform, and weighs just 0.89 kg. It has built-in flash memory, which supports the 15 seconds quick launcher design. Besides, flash memory helps save power to extend battery back-up time.

In addition, the 'Eee PC' is equipped with 512MB DDR2 memory, 300K pixels video camera, and WLAN. The 'Eee PC' will hit the Indian market in November this year with a price tag under Rs 20,000.

When a majority of activities conducted on laptops today are Internet-related, and when they can be performed using a smart phone or a PDA, what is the need to get an 'Eee PC'.

"The screen size and computing power of 'Eee PC' is what will give users a different experience as compared to PDAs or smart phones," Kao explained.

"You can receive emails on a PDA, but you cannot browse and edit as easy as on a laptop. You can use a PDA to dial Skype or MSN, but you cannot stay on-line and chat with your friends all the time. So over all, 'Eee PC' is a much more practical solution for a student who needs to use office functions, wants to chat on-line, and browse the Internet all the time."

Apart from mobile handsets, 'Eee PC' also has strong competition from OLPC's $100 laptop, and Intel's Class Mate PC, both targeted at school children.