Asus Eee PC cheaper with Windows
For punters Down Under
WINDOWS XP pre-installed will be AU$50 cheaper than the same computer fitted with Linux on the next batch of Asus Eee ultramobile laptops to hit Australia, Information Week reports.
The Linux model will have a 20GB hard drive while the Windows XP version will have just 12GB of disk space, which seems backwards because Windows needs more storage space than Linux.
However, the 8GB difference in storage capacity does provide at least some plausible justification to counter the speculation that Asus and Microsoft are cozying up in a sweetheart deal.
Of course Aussie Linux users who want to save a few bucks can just buy the Windows model and bung Linux on it.
The two models will sell for the same price in the US - $549 - likely because Asus and Microsoft don't want to attract attention from regulators or the US judge who's still overseeing the Vole's anti-trust remedy. µ
See Also
Asus
Eee gets vivisected
Asus
Eee PC with Intel's Atom CPU to launch in June
L'Inq
Information
Week
Comments
Lie
The guy at apc ihas got it wrong. I've confirmed Aubrey comment:"Ok, let's backup. Before this article becomes slashdotted and dugg to the point of being truth, this is from the ASUS Australian website - for actual pre-ordering the 900 series:
ASUS eee PC 900 Win XP Home Features:
PCMarket Pre-Installed Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Home Licence and CD are included
Intel Celeron M 900 Processor
1GB DDR2 667MHz Memory
20GB (4GB built-in +16GB flash) SSD
8.9" LCD 1024x600
1.3MP Web Camera
VGA Out
802.11b/g Wireless
10/100 Ethernet
$799.00 inc GST
ASUS eee PC 900 Linux Features:
Custom Linux based on Xandros Distribution
Intel Celeron M 900 Processor
1GB DDR2 667MHz Memory
20GB (4GB built-in +16GB flash) SSD
8.9" LCD 1024x600
1.3MP Web Camera
VGA Out
802.11b/g Wireless
10/100 Ethernet
$649.00 inc GST
The only machine listed at $599 is a sooped up 4G machine with XP, 1Gb of RAM and a TV tuner.
Maybe ASUS is, in fact, discounting their Windows machines by $200 - but that is 25% off their listed launch price. I can't find anything official on their web site about it.
Angus - is it you, Albert Liang or the ASUS website that is having us on?"
Best regards.
Happy Days
So I can get one, stick Linux on it to make it work properly and then reclaim the XP license cost.Thanks M$ - a double bonus for me!
eeeepc
Does the current version use recycled plastics, and are there any plans to do one of those bamboo covers or anything like that?