Photo: Uthor / Flickr

Taiwanese smartphone and PC maker Asustek could have the second best-selling tablet PC lineup this year if reports are to be believed. Sales forecasts of Asus tablet PCs put full year unit sales at around 2 million, which would be enough sales to eclipse higher profile Android Honeycomb tablet PCs.

Big in Taiwan

The 2 million Asus tablets sold figures comes courtesy of a Taiwan Economic News report, citing strong demand for the Eee Pad Transformer as a reason. Additionally, Kevin Lin, who is Asus’ general manager, commented that the company was the No. 2 tablet supplier in Taiwan this past quarter, confirming sales were strong and robust.

The sneak attack

The TEN report coupled with Kevin Lin’s comments add to industry-wide reports that the Asus tablets have been a surprisingly big hit from the manufacturer. While other high-profile tablet PCs like the Android Honeycomb Motorola Xoom, HP TouchPad, and BlackBerry Playbook were widely expected to arrive with a big boom, Asus had a comparatively quiet launch and has still enjoyed far greater sales.

Even after its early launch, anecdotal evidence on major tech sites and news publications shows the aforementioned tablet PCs getting more coverage than Asus tablets do is not sufficient for outselling the Eee Pad Transformer.

What’s next?

Asus has since revealed its second tablet PC offering in the form of the Asus Padfone. As its name suggests, this device combines a 10.1-inch tablet and a standalone 4.3-inch Android handset.

It will be interesting to see if this not-quite-a-hybrid device sells as well as the Eee Pad Transform Asus tablets currently on the market. The big takeaway here, however, is that it isn’t necessarily the high profile North American tablet PCs that can succeed in the currently iPad-dominated market. It’s still fair game for anyone who gives customers a good value proposition.

Photo: Asus

Asus recently released the Eee Pad Transformer, an interesting and innovative hybrid device which can function as either a laptop or tablet, or both. As the name suggests, it can transform into either device, while the display disconnects at the hinge, rendering it easy and comfortable to transport without having to carry around the bulk of the keyboard and touchpad.

Many features

The Eee Pad Transformer runs on Android 3.0 Honeycomb, and features a 10.1-inch Gorilla Glass display which can support a 1280×800 resolution, as well as a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera together with a front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera. A dual-core Tegra 2 processor is also included, which is capable of 1080p HD video playback, while two USB ports, wi-fi Bluetooth, a card reader, a mini HDMI port and Flash 10.2 support make for an impressive set of specs.

The product itself is well designed and easy on the eye. The shell’s tactile pattern ensures a solid grip on the tablet and the 3D stereo audio quality, the Asus Waveface UI and the machine’s eight-hour battery life are great features.

The unique docking station the Eee Pad Transformer comes with allows for a complete QWERTY keyboard and extra ports, while the Android 3.0 operating system also allows for bigger screen sizes.

Varying capacities

The Eee Pad Transformer will be available in two capacities, with the 32GB model (£461) costing a third more of the price than the 16GB variant (£338), while the keyboard with touchpad and dock will cost a total of £552 for the 16GB model. No price has been confirmed for the larger capacity product.

Asus launched this new product at the end of March this year, and it’s vying to be the first tablet of its kind for sale in the UK.

Photo: thinknew / Flickr

While netbooks rarely make news these days, news of a dirt cheap netbook running Google Chrome OS is a story that cannot be ignored. Rumour has it Asus is developing a bone cheap netbook running on Google’s latest mobile OS platform.

$200

While these devices generally sell for $300 (£186) and upward, Asus is aiming really low, making a Chrome netbook that will be priced between $200 (£124) and $250 (£155).

The computer is rumoured to ship in either 10-inch or 11-inch variations. And, given that by spec every Chrome netbook must have built-in 3G, there are additional reports suggesting some carriers may offer them for free on six-month plus data contracts.

The effect of pricing

While it’s easy to dismiss netbooks as devices that had their time but no longer have a place, many people still purchase them because they’re so cheap and accessible.

When unwise meets unwise, do you get stupid?

After months of anticipation, Google Chrome OS was announced to very little fanfare. That’s partly attributable to the fact that tablet PCs are all the buzz these days, to the expense of netbooks. And partly attributable to the fact that Google Android has gotten so big and so versatile, Chrome OS no longer seemed to have a place.

It seems risky for Asus to be launching a struggling device format – a netbook – on a mobile operating system that might never get traction – Chrome – but at the dirt cheap price tag of $200 (about £124), it could be a colossal hit.

Photo: Ninja M. / Flickr

Off the back of very weak sales, it has come to bear that Asus will now end its smartphone relationship with GPS devices manufacturer Garmin. The computer manufacturer announced on Monday that it will dissolve the cooperation with Garmin, likely giving the satnav devices manufacturer a clear path for exiting the mobile phones business altogether.

Missed a beat

Back in September, Garmin suggested to Reuters that it was exploring all its options with regards to mobile phones – including exiting the business altogether – after continually weak sales. The company said that it would use a few quarters to decide, but clearly the end of Garmin-Asus suggests that the satnav devices manufacturer only barely needed one quarter to know where it stood in the space.

The TomTom route

Garmin, one of the two largest GPS manufacturers in the world, next to TomTom, is now free to exit the highly lucrative, yet very expensive-to-maintain smartphone space, so as to reinvent their business some other way. The problem is it is well documented that GPS devices aren’t having the best of times and while TomTom has been very successful with its strategy of making software for smartphones, Garmin-Asus went the hardware route and we know how that ended up.

It is likely Garmin will now switch course, and attempt to replicate TomTom’s success in the smartphone space through applications, but in the short term, the transitional pains may catch the ire of investors.

It is what it is

Unfortunately for satnav devices, technology has always been about disruption, and it is likely no device in history has ever been as disruptive as the mobile phone. Garmin-Asus wasn’t working because they weren’t delivering compelling software. Perhaps this will change with Garmin focused on its primary business – satnav devices and functionality – as we move forward.

The future is 3D and this is what most of the companies have realised. Asus is among the first manufacturers of 3D screen laptops. The company is producing some of the most advanced laptops but the recently launched Asus G51J 3D Laptop is what is making news all across the world. The Asus G51J 3D Laptop is fitted with a wide screen which provides superior quality pictures that will simply take your breath away. This is actually a product of the very famous Asus G50 series which has already produced various best selling models in the recent past. The device is equipped with a very powerful Intel Core i7 720QM processor which ensures swift functionality.

Impressive performance specs

On the other hand, the Asus 3D Laptop is also equipped with 4096 MB of RAM which further enhances the functionality speed. The hard disk memory of this device is around 1000 GB which is more than enough to store all sorts of movies, songs and various other files. Most of the laptops available in the market are not equipped with such a huge hard disk memory. If you like watching movies on your laptop then Asus G51J 3D Laptop is specifically built for you. This Asus gaming laptop is fitted with a 16 inch screen which provides crystal clear pictures.

Easy to use

The Asus G51J 3D Laptop is a very user friendly device because it is equipped with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. The weight of this device is around 2.8 kg which is quite low and enables you to easily carry and store it. The Asus G51J-IX098V notebook is also equipped with a DVD writer which allows you to burn data on a DVD and transfers it without any hassle. If you want to buy Asus G51J 3D Laptop then you will have to pay a slightly higher price than other laptops available.

The Asus Eee PC 1005HA-M Black is an ultra-portable and easy-to-use netbook launched in the market by the Taiwan-based multinational corporation Asus. It is merely 1-inch slim and weighs only around 1.27 kg which together with its compact dimensions, make it the perfect runabout internet device anywhere. It comes enclosed in a sparkling pearlescent “seashell” casing that provides a captivating sheen to the netbook. The Asus Eee PC 1005HA-M Black netbook looks beautiful inside and out as it draws inspiration from nature and has an opalescent and glossy exterior which is crafted by the innovative in-Mold Roller technology. This advanced technology provides it the useful scratch-resistant surface and makes it ideal for everyday use. The sleek curves and smooth lines that are hugging the lustrous shell can charm any passer-by within a fraction of a second.

The Seashell style netbook is also more compact

Apart from the amazing looks, the Asus Eee PC 1005HA-M Black netbook is also great to work with thanks to its 92% scaled keyboard, multi-touch and instant key for a quick access to Wi-Fi and the touchpad lock. The ergonomic design of the keyboard minimizes fatigue and provides you more comfort during long typing sessions. The multi-touch touchpad included in the netbook comes in a wide format and therefore, helps you to navigate and have an easy and fun experience. In addition, the multi-touch interface also allows you to scroll and zoom quickly using your two fingers only. The Asus Eee PC 1005HA-M Black netbook includes a 10-inch LED-backlit display in its compact chasis that makes reading documents and viewing multimedia files more comfortable. The advanced LED backlit technology allows for ultra-thin, ultra-bright and energy-efficient display and offers outstanding portability and versatility. Furthermore, the 1024 x 600 pixel resolution allows you to view most part of a page without needing to scroll left or right.

Stylish looking netbook is fitted with the features you would expect

The Asus Eee PC is powered by the Intel Atom N270 processor that is built with the world’s smallest transistors and uses only 2.5 Watts of power, thus offering you a long battery life. To provide adequate support to the processor and the pre-installed Windows XP Home Edition operating system, there is the 1 GB DDR2 RAM included in the netbook. The 170GB ASUS Hybrid Storage included into the netbook features a 160GB hard disk drive and 10GB of Eee Online Storage. Together these two features contribute towards a convenient and generous storage space and allow you to store and access your important data anytime and anywhere. Using the Eee Online Storage of the netbook, your data can be shared with any other people easily and can be accessed in any place where internet connection is available. For ultimate wireless accessibility and mobility, there is the WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (draft 2.4GHz n) network connectivity included into the Eee PC 1005HA Seashell. In addition, there is a host of connection ports included into the netbook for offering a diverse connectivity option. Some of these included connection ports are 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x VGA port, 2 x Audio input/output ports, 1 x RJ-45 port and Kensington Lock port. Moreover, a spring-loaded Plug-and-Play MMC/SD/SDHC flash card slot is provided in the Asus Eee PC 1005HA-M Black to allow easy access to your digital photographs and videos and expand your system storage. The built-in webcam of the netbook and the included Digital Array microphones allow video chatting with friends and family placed in any corner of the globe.

Battery power that lasts up to 8 hours

The Asus Eee PC 1005HA-M Black includes the Super Hybrid Engine and the high density Li-ion battery pack that provides more power to the netbook per charge. You can enjoy up to 8.5 hours of unplugged use with the netbook, such is the battery life offered by the compact portable computer. In addition, using the Super Hybrid Engine, you can also manage the power consumption of the netbook and get that optimal level of power depending on your current usage needs. For enjoying maximum battery life of the Asus Eee PC 1005HA-M Black, you just have to change the default setting to the Auto Power-Saving Mode via the Super Hybrid Engine Instant Key located above the keyboard. There is also a built-in quick recovery system included into the Asus netbook that restores your system to its factory settings by just pressing F9 button three times during start-up. Therefore, you can get an easy system restoration with the Seashell Eee PC’s quick F9 recovery process without requiring any Windows CD or driver CD. This recovery system is only available with Windows systems and before using the recovery system of the Seashell netbook, it is highly recommended that you backup your data with Eee Online Storage.

Asus is a Taiwan-based multinational corporation involved in the manufacture and supply of various computer products like motherboards, laptops, servers and mobile phones. Apart from these, the company also produces components for some other leading manufacturers like Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard, etc. Asus products have been ranked top positions for quality and services and with every new launch the company comes up with something new and innovative. The Asus UL30A-QX131V laptop is the latest entry into its range of top quality notebooks and has taken the market by wave with its amazing range of features.

Made for portability with its incredible battery life and sleek design

The Asus UL30A-QX131V notebook has been designed keeping in mind the needs of all-day computer users and has proven to be an ideal companion for them. This ultra-portable computer comes in a stylish and sleek design covered by robust brushed aluminum lid. There is a multi-gesture touchpad included in the notebook that provides optimum level of comfort while working with it. The Asus UL30A-QX131V is lighter than a conventional notebook which makes it a great choice for road warriors and those who prefer to travel light. Further enhancing its portability is its incredible battery life of 12 hours.

Power saving technology makes the difference

For a lightweight notebook, you sometimes have to compromise on the features, but with the Asus UL30A-QX131V, you no longer have to do that. With its remarkable array of features, you are provided a lot more than what is expected from a notebook of this size. The Asus UL30A-QX131V boasts an impressive 12 hour battery life owing to the incorporated ASUS Power4Gear technology that facilitates power usage according to the preference of the user in relation to the task that is required to perform. In addition, it also provides you the option of turning off hardware devices and thus helping with energy conservation. The notebook is powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo CULV that offers maximum energy efficiency along with an impressive performance. For a smooth and efficient running of all your applications on the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, there is the 4,096 MB RAM included and the generous 320 GB hard disk memory provides sufficient storage space for your files and documents.

Top notch audio and video quality

There is a 13.3-inch LED backlit display screen included in the Asus notebook that provides high definition display with an aspect ratio of 16:9. Furthermore, the integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics card offers that cinematic visual quality while watching a movie or playing 3D games. This outstanding visual quality is further complemented by a pair of angled Altec Lansing high definition speakers provided with the notebook, which are 30% more powerful than the speakers found on most conventional notebooks. These speakers not only provide a better amplification but also deliver a wider frequency range which results in producing lower pitches more clearly and sharply. As a result, every reverberation of the drums and every note in pitch will perfectly reach to your ears and give you a superior audio listening experience. Finally, the connectivity features are provided to the notebook with the built-in Bluetooth V2.1+EDR, 802.11 BGN Wireless and the Atheros AR8132M 10/100Mb LAN/Modem feature.

The Asus Eee PC 1101HA-BLK019M Crystal Black is a superior quality netbook which is equipped with a number of most advanced features. This is a product of the very famous Asus Eee PC 1101 series which has produced some of the best selling netbooks. Most netbooks available in the market is installed with Intel Atom Z520 processor because it offers optimum performance. Similarly Asus Eee PC 1101HA-BLK019M Crystal Black is also installed Intel Atom Z520 processor. The clock speed of this device is around 1333 MHz which is good enough for a netbook.

The hard disk memory of this device is around 250 GB which allows you to store all sorts of data without worrying about the memory. It is installed with 2048 MB of RAM which enhances the overall functioning speed of the device. This netbook is also installed with Bluetooth which enables you to connect the device with various other Bluetooth enabled devices. The networking is supported through Bluetooth, LAN 10/100 and Wireless-LAN. To further enhance the performance of this device, the Asus Eee PC 1101HA-BLK019M Crystal Black is also installed with Microsoft Windows 7 Starter operating system which is very user friendly. The stylish sleek design and black colour gives it a sophisticated and trendy look.

This netbook is also fixed with a webcam which allows you to record quality pictures and video chat without connecting any external device. It has an 11.6 inch display that offers a fantastic resolution of 1366 X 768 which is quite good for such a small screen.

Tags for this article: netbook, asus

Beautifully designed netbook the Asus Eee PC 1005HA-WHI050X is a good value of your money and the reasons are its impressive design and impeccable features. If you are looking for a high-end netbook, this Seashell model from Asus will never let you down. You will avail of all kinds of latest features with the model.

The Asus Eee PC 1005HA-WHI050X comes with a host of cutting-edge features. It boasts Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz processor and 1,024 MB RAM. The display of the model is 10 inch and resolution is WSVGA (1024 x 600). Therefore, clarity is essentially guaranteed with the Asus Eee PC 1005HA-WHI050X netbook. Apart from that, the model boasts a 1.3 megapixel webcam, 160GB HDD, Microsoft Windows XP home edition operating system, Bluetooth, 1x SD/MMC card reader (SDHC), 3 USB 2.0 connection ports, to name a few.

In addition to all these technical specifications, the netbook offers some additional features which will enable you to use the netbook for entertainment purposes as well. Last but not least; long battery life of the Eee PC netbook is another beneficial part that all users will like the most. Incorporating such a host of features and facilities, the Asus Eee PC 1005HA-WHI050X is extremely user friendly and it can be carried anywhere easily.

Just like the recently launched Asus Eee PC 1001HA (90OA1WB21111431K12E) all other Asus netbooks are equipped with a number of latest features. This netbook is available in a glossy black colour which gives it an attractive and stylish look. It is very compact and handy so that it can be easily carried and stored. The device is provided with various accessories such as the battery charger and carrying bag which is very essential for optimum performance. The superior quality rechargeable battery offers long battery back up. This Asus Eee PC is available at an affordable price which makes it a must buy.

The Asus Eee PC 1001HA (90OA1WB21111431K12E) is equipped with an Intel Atom N270 processor which is most suitable for netbooks. This device offers an amazing clock speed of 1600 MHz which is quite high. The hard disk memory of the Asus Eee PC 1001HA (90OA1WB21111431K12E) device is 160 GB which is quite high in comparison of the other netbooks. The amazing 10 inch display supports millions of colours and offers superb clarity as well. This device is also installed with Windows XP Home Edition operating system which further enhances the overall performance. You can store thousands of audio and video files as it has a huge memory.

It is provided with a carry bag which enables you to easily carry the netbook wherever you want. The warranty of the device makes it a reliable buy. This netbook is also installed with a webcam which enables you to video chat without connecting any external device with it.