14 DAY TRIAL // Just recently, netbook pioneer ASUS has further expanded its netbook lineup with the introduction of the ultra-slim Eee PC 1008, also known as the Eee PC Seashell. Unlike any of the company's previous models, the new Seashell provides one distinct feature. More specifically, the Eee PC 1008HA is built with an integrated 4-cell Li-Polymer battery, which can't be replaced by the end-user. However, according to some recent reports, the Taiwanese system vendor could soon announce a new addition to its long list of Eee PCs, with the introduction of the EeePC 1005HA.
According to a recent article on Fudzilla, ASUS is also preparing the Eee PC 1005HA, which will reportedly provide the same technical specifications as the Eee PC Seashell, but will come with a replaceable 6-cell battery pack. Said netbook has already been listed on the website of an online German retailer, pointing to a possible future release on the part of the Taiwanese company. However, the system is yet to be confirmed by the giant manufacturer and, according to Fudzilla, retailers are expecting the netbook to become available in two months.
As previously mentioned, the Eee PC 1005HA will boast the same technical specifications as the Eee PC 1008HA, providing users with the performance capabilities of the 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor, coupled with 1GB of RAM memory, a 160GB hard drive and a 10-inch (1024x600) display. Due to the integration of the larger-capacity battery pack, the entire system weighs 1.4kg, 300g more than the 1008HA.
Although it's still early to confirm the existence of an upcoming Eee PC 1005HA netbook, these rumors tend to be somewhat true, considering ASUS' policy of releasing netbook after netbook, each model providing a slight improvement over previous versions. With the Eee PC 1005HA, the company appears to have acknowledged its mistake of having built the Eee PC 1008HA with a built-in battery and not giving the end-user a choice for a replacement.