14 DAY TRIAL // End-users versed in such things will probably know that ASUS finished last year as the second greatest supplier of netbooks worldwide. This was possible because the performance standard on entry-level mobile PCs grew when Intel launched the new Atom chips. Additionally, ASUS put special effort in striking a good balance between capability and power efficiency on its Eee PCs. Considering this, it seems logical that the company would seek to maintain, if not increase, its status during 2010.
Sure enough, Digitmes reports that Asustek Computer does, indeed, plan to keep its position by changing, to some extent, its approach to the manufacturing of Eee PC systems. Apparently, price competition on the netbook segment will become more of a stalemate soon, since most models from all companies use the same platform.
To make its devices more appealing, the PC maker will launch models with higher specs, even if the price does end up rising a little. The recently launched NVIDIA Ion-based Eee PC 1218 and Eee PC Seashell 1015/1215 are evidence of this intention.
The NVIDIA-powered laptops cost between US$478 and US$605, visibly more than the so-called “maximum” $500. In return for the extra cash, consumers will get better graphics capabilities, especially in regards to multimedia. Future company plans include bamboo-covered and multimedia-enhanced notebooks, set to launch on May 13.
Whether or not ASUS succeeds in its plans, Intel's Atom CPUs are also expected to see shipment growth during the ongoing year. By the end of 2010, about 35 to 45 million chips should be sold, which is significantly more than the 32 million sold in 2009. In the meantime, Samsung and Acer will make their own efforts to maintain/affirm their dominance, while HP is considering “pushing the line” in the second half of the year, in order to remain the leading notebook supplier.