Asus $499 laptop to hit Australian shores

Expected to grab Australian customers’ Christmas dollars, the Eee PC is intended as “a lifestyle gadget designed for internet access and learning”.

Since CRN reported on the introduction of Eee PC in June at Computex Taipei, momentum has been building around the PC’s local release.

Ted Chen, managing director of ASUS Australia, said: “Standing by our commitment to aim to provide everyone a chance to own a PC, Asus has introduced the affordable and very easy, Eee PC, giving people the chance to access the internet and share in this 21st century opportunity.

“Applications on PCs today are mostly online, whether it is checking emails and communicating via other methods such as instant messaging or voice over IP, utilising online share spaces, or simply reading news. Being online has now become a big part of daily computing operations for work and fun, for young and old,” added Chen.

Asus claimed the Eee PC is more compact than most PCs and is lightweight and rugged. The hard drive has been substituted for flash storage and connectivity is industry-standard. The operating system is based on Linux, however it also provides users the opportunity to opt for Windows Vista. The product name is based on the three Es: Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play.

However the Eee PC’s main selling point will be its low $499 price point, making laptops more affordable than ever before.