RM delivers modded Eee
AT EXCLUSIVE LONDON EATERY The Ivy, RM launched its new Windows XP-based RM Asus miniBook – a rebadged version of the EeePC.
RM dumped the Eee name, as it feels the connotations of the letter in between of D and F with drug misuse/abuse wouldn’t fit all that well with kids and the Education market sector.
So fresh from rehab comes a 8.9-inch RM Asus Minibook for schools. The firm expects to see 50,000 units sold by the year end. This is compared to the 7-inch original model launched at the Handheld Learning Conference in London October 2007, which has sold 23,000 to date.
RM Asus Minibook
Specifications for the education aimed lite-laptop are exactly as the ASUSTeK 900 model itself, with this SKU shipping with 12GB SDD and a 1GB memory. When querying an Asus spokesperson at the event about which battery will be shipping with said units, we were informed that the new models will soon have the standard extended one that’s seen elsewhere in the world. Saving the local education authorities the £11.75 they are currently charging for swapping out the old one for the new.
One of the clear reasons why RM has gone down this route with Microsoft is the simple fact that most educational software is designed to run on Windows. This in turn makes it easier for schools to add their favourite curriculum software to the RM Asus Minibook.
“The Minibooks have proved a popular choice since launch and we are very excited to be expanding our range to include the Windows version. At around the £200 mark these devices mean that no pupil in the UK should be disadvantaged by not having access to the very best learning and the very best technology.” said Tim Pearson, CEO of RM
Tim let slip that he could be breaking an NDA over the following information – there’s a £25 price difference between the Linux version and the Windows XP. This came across that there’s an additional cost to customers from choosing the vole version over the penguin, but their product manager cleared this up later. The CEO was just referring to an internal cost for Asus and that’s all. RM will continue to offer the original Minibook models with Linux applied, just in case you were worried.
Although the model we saw was still Celeron based, they are planning to introduce an Intel Atom version after the summer school holidays – just in time for the Autumn school term.
The Minibook does arrive initially with Windows XP Home installed and they’re leaving it to schools to upgrade to XP Pro if needed, although they do offer factory-ordered customisation for a cost. The price for the 8.9-inch Minibook is just £285 and the reason behind the low cost, is solely down to schools not getting charged VAT (thanks Emil). µ
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> "At around the £200 mark these devices mean that no pupil in the UK should be disadvantaged by not having access to the very best learning and the very best technology.” said Tim Pearson, CEO of RM

Which models is Tim on about here ?.. in the flow of the paragraph it might seem to indicate the new models - which at £285 would stretch the meaning of "around" somewhat.
Title: "RM delivers Linux-fuelled Eee"

First line: "RM launched its new Windows XP-based RM Asus miniBook – a rebadged version of the EeePC."

This is not the operating system you are looking for.

"Linux-fuelled" implies that there is Linux Inside (r) (c) (tm)

Yes, there is no Linux when Windows XP is installed.
This looks like another score for the RM/Microsoft hegemony that continues to be supported by the British tax payer.

50,000 laptops all running an out of date operating system that Microsoft plan's to ditch by June 2010. Who will pay for the upgrades?

Once again Windows is being stuffed down the throats of young people (will an 8 year old really be using Windows when they're 18?) as a trojan horse for selling more software even when there are perfectly adequate and often more powerful applications to be found freely amongst the open source community as was recently indicated in a Becta report.

It's quite worrying that with so much money being invested in educational ICT using public money, e.g. Building Schools for the Future (£40B) and other schemes such as Computers for Pupils and the soon to be announced Home Access programme (which curiously enough was spec'd by RM) that such flagrant stitch-ups are allowed to continue.

No wonder they are launching at swanky hang-outs such as The Ivy whilst discussing disadvantaged learners. 

Trebles all round, eh?
The ‘at around the £200 mark’ - was referring to the 7" version that costs £225. The Linux version is £169. There was no intention to mislead or be disingenuous.