For all of you Eee PC fans out there who have been so bummed out by the news of ASUS planning to phase out its 7-inch and 9-inch netbook systems in the year to come, we have an update to the story. As it turns out, these small-sized portable computer systems will not only continue to sell, but will also bring out a refresh of their specifications, at least in the UK, that is.

According to a recent article published on ZDNet UK, a spokesperson for the Taiwanese manufacturer said that the company would continue to produce the 7-inch and 8.9-inch versions of its Eee PC netbook, and that these netbooks were even due for a "refreshment on the specifications." This could suggest that ASUS is actually planning to further expand its portfolio of 7-inch and 8.9-inch netbook systems, which are to be made available sometime in the upcoming months.

However, people could still ponder over what the company's CEO, Mr. Jerry Shen, intended to say when, quoted by Digitimes last week, he expressed that the afore-mentioned Eee PC models were expected to phase out the market, thus allowing the Taiwanese manufacturer to focus more on the development of its 10-inch models. According to the ASUS spokesperson, quoted by ZDNet, Mr. Shen's statements may have been misquoted, as the plan is to maintain the production of both 7-inch and 9-inch Eee PCs, in 2009.

So, for all of you Eee PC users out there who have found the 7- and 9-inch models just the thing to meet your requirements, the Taiwanese manufacturer will continue to produce these models. Additionally, Mr. Shen's statements regarding the upcoming touchscreen and Windows 7-powered Eee PC models appear to be well-grounded, so we at least have that. On the same note, it is likely that new models of Eee PC netbooks be unveiled at next year's CES show, or later on, at CeBIT.