14 DAY TRIAL // That netbooks are doomed is something most everyone on the PC market agrees on, but ASUS is determined not to let their death come too swiftly, as its latest act clearly shows.
Long story short, ASUS has decided to give its Eee PC 1025C and 1025CE the same instant-on functionality that ultrabooks possess.
For those unaware, ultrabooks, those latest, super-thin mobile personal computers that cost a fortune, can recover very quickly from sleep mode and hibernation.
ASUS has decided that its netbooks should be able to do this as well.
Normally, one would think that this is an exercise in futility, but it bears noting that ultrabooks aren't exactly progressing as some hoped either.
Despite what companies and prospective buyers may have desired, they will continue to be expensive until next year (2013).
As such, people will go on buying low-end laptops even if only due to their reduced prices.
That said, ASUS gave the Eee PC 1025C and 1025CE this speed through a software utility called, predictably enough, “Instant On”.
For those who don't know, the fast recovery is not the only advantage. Instant On is also supposed to make it possible for the two machines to last for up to 21 days on a single battery charge.
The company will probably have it pre-loaded on them from now on, but the installer will also be available for download from the online support pages.
There are some other utilities as well, like Live Update, Super Hybrid Engine, Smart Camera and Media Sharing.
It is unclear if other netbooks will get this same treatment or if any of ASUS' rivals will mirror this maneuver at any point in the future.
ASUS Eee PC 1025C and 1025CE will start selling this month, for the prices of $299 and $319, respectively. That translates into 225.62 Euro and 241.24 Euro.