While Asus hasn't yet updated the official Eee PC 900 web page, the company held a press event today http://www.umpcfever.com/news/?postid=730 to announce the product and confirm that it will be available in Hong Kong on April 19th.
As expected, the Eee PC 900 will come in two models. The Windows version will sport Windows XP Home and have a 12GB solid state disk, and cost HK $3998, or about $513 US. The Linux version will have a 20GB solid state disk, but will otherwise be identical to the Windows version and will sell for exactly the same price.
So to reiterate, here's what you get for your money:
* 900MHz Celeron processor
* 1GB DDR2 RAM
* 12GB/20GB SSD
* 8.9 inch 1024 x600 pixel display
* 802.11b/g WiFi
* 1.3MB webcam
* 4 cell 2.8 hour battery or 6 cell 3.5 hour battery
* 3 USB 2.0 ports
* Ethernet
* Headphone, Microphone jacks
* 1 VGA output
* 12V power supply
No word on US pricing or availability yet, but it looks like Asus is going to be able to sell the Eee PC 900 for about the same price as the Linux version of the HP 2133, which means the competition among low cost ultraportables is officially on. Of course, that's what I would have thought the same thing when Everex released the Cloudbook a few months ago. But by all reports, the Cloudbook is still a little too rough around the edges to give Asus and HP much competition.
It's interesting that with the the new eee we have to measure the Windows tax by SSD GBs. Here the tax is 8 GBs of SSD.
Edit: Notebookreview.com says BestBuy will carry them in the US and they will sell for around $600 http://www.notebooks.com/2008/04/16/asu ... ial-specs/
Anything above $499 is not going to work for this thing IMO.The Eee PC 900 is expected to start shipping in May and will cost approximately $600. It will be available from Best Buy, TigerDirect and other major online retailers.