Asus' Ultra-Cheap, Ultra-Portable Laptop

If you're shopping for an ultra-portable laptop under $400, you might want to wait until next month. Crave has details regarding the inexpensive Asus' Eee ultra-mobile PCs expected to arrive in the U.S. next month. The three E's stand for easy to learn, easy to work, and easy to play, meaning the company is targeting inexperienced computer users who probably want a low-end laptop to surf the Web. Although, I'm sure most mobile users will be attracted to both the price and portability of this two-pound UMPC.

The flash presentation on the site provides minor details about the of the Asus PC 701 like it will be shock-proof, wireless, and extremely portable, but allasus.com is promoting a $199 version (sorry, it won't be sold in the U.S.) which gives us a better idea of what to expect in the two versions that will be sold in the U.S.  

It appears the U.S. bound UMPCs will feature a 7-inch display, 512 MB of RAM, flash hard drives, Wi-Fi, and a built-in webcam. As far as operating systems go, it will ship with Linux OS, but is compatible with Windows XP. Rumor is they will also be available in a white or black case. One thing is for sure, the Asus Eee is coming, and I'll be the first to get one if the price is under $400. I'll keep you posted.

Related:
Hands-on Review: Fujitsu LifeBook P1610
CES 2007 Preview: UMPCs