14 DAY TRIAL // According to the latest details in the industry, ASUS is planning an April launch for a new Eee PC model, which will provide users with something that most netbooks don't. The Eee PC E1004DN will apparently boast an integrated optical drive, although it will feature the same 10-inch form factor as most of its competitors. The new system should become available sometime next month and will likely receive a favorable welcome, given that it will probably be the first in its class to boast an optical drive.
The new netbook was first showcased earlier this year, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The netbook will boast the HD-capable GN40 chipset, which has been combined with the 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor. Additional features include a 120GB hard drive, ExpressCard slot, three USB 2.0 ports, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and an 8-in-1 multi-card reader. However, the most significant feature of the E1004DN is the fact that it has enough space to house a DVD burner, in addition to all of the aforementioned hardware components.
This netbook should become available sometime next month with an estimate price tag between $531 and $590. After the E1004DN, ASUS is said to be planning the release of another Eee PC, the 1008HA. As the name suggests, this is yet another 10-inch netbook that will boast pretty much the same technical specifications as other netbooks on the market, namely a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth and the aforementioned Intel Atom N280 processor.
Despite earlier reports, ASUS appears to stay committed to its previous strategy, that is to further expand its Eee PC range of netbooks, providing users with several configurations and similar designs. This strategy is somewhat unfortunate for end-users, as they are forced to go through a number of models to find out which one best fits their needs.