ASUS Eee PC

ASUS Eee PC. The ASUS Eee PC was a pioneering line of netbook computers first introduced by the Taiwanese technology company ASUS in late 2007. Conceived as an affordable, highly portable, and easy-to-use device, it catalyzed a major shift in the personal computer market, popularizing the small-form-factor, internet-centric laptop category. Its combination of a Linux-based operating system, solid-state drive storage, and aggressive pricing created a new market segment that was rapidly embraced by consumers and emulated by competitors like Acer, Dell, and HP.

History and development

The project was initiated by ASUS chairman Jonney Shih, with key development work led by engineers including Samson Hu. The concept, internally called the "Easily, Excellent, Exciting" or "Everyday, Everywhere, Easy" PC, aimed to create a simple, durable computer for education and first-time users, drawing inspiration from the One Laptop per Child initiative. Following its unveiling at COMPUTEX Taipei in 2007, the first model, the Eee PC 701, launched in Taiwan in October before a global rollout. Its immediate commercial success, fueled by strong pre-orders from retailers like Amazon.com, surprised the industry and validated the netbook concept, prompting a swift response from major Intel and Microsoft to tailor products for this new category.

Hardware specifications

The original Eee PC 701 featured a 7-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 800x480 pixels and was powered by a 900 MHz Intel Celeron M Ultra-low-voltage processor on the Intel 915GMS chipset. It was notable for utilizing a 4 GB solid-state drive instead of a traditional hard disk drive, which improved durability and boot times. Standard configurations included 512 MB of DDR2 SDRAM, integrated Intel GMA 900 graphics, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, a VGA port, three USB 2.0 ports, and a SD card reader. Its compact chassis, weighing approximately 0.92 kg, housed a small keyboard and a trackpad, with power provided by a 4-cell lithium-ion battery.

Software and operating systems

The initial Eee PC 701 shipped with a customized, simplified distribution of Linux called Xandros, featuring an easy-to-navigate tabbed interface designed for novice users. This pre-installed environment included essential applications like the Firefox web browser, OpenOffice.org productivity suite, and Skype. Due to significant consumer and enterprise demand for a familiar Windows environment, ASUS quickly partnered with Microsoft to offer models pre-loaded with Windows XP, which soon became the dominant operating system for later netbooks. Some models also supported alternative operating systems like Ubuntu through community-driven projects.

Models and variants

Following the 701, ASUS rapidly expanded the line with successive series, including the Eee PC 900 series with larger 8.9-inch screens and the popular 1000 series with 10-inch displays. Variants diversified to include models with Intel Atom processors, increased RAM and storage, and features like Bluetooth and built-in 3G modems. The product family also spawned related form factors, such as the all-in-one ASUS Eee Top touchscreen desktop and the compact ASUS Eee Box nettop. Special editions were released in collaboration with entities like Disney and Lamborghini, and later iterations experimented with different designs, including the Eee PC Seashell with a tapered chassis.

Impact and legacy

The ASUS Eee PC is widely credited with creating and defining the commercial netbook market, triggering a fierce competitive battle among OEMs that drove prices down and volumes up, significantly during the Great Recession. Its success pressured Microsoft to extend the life of Windows XP for low-power devices and influenced Intel to develop the Intel Atom processor line. While the netbook category eventually declined due to the rise of Apple's iPad and more powerful ultrabooks, the Eee PC's legacy is evident in the enduring consumer demand for affordable, portable computing, influencing the design philosophy behind subsequent devices like Google's Chromebook and modern budget Windows laptops.

Category:ASUS Category:Netbooks Category:Computer-related introductions in 2007 Category:Discontinued products