The 'œEeeasy and trendEee' Asus Eee PC S101 now in stores

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 17 October 2008 11:37

Opinion and Analysis

Although previous Eee PC models are “genuinely portable”, Asus feels the S101 series takes portability to an “incredible” new level.

But it is easy to quantify exactly what this means, given the S101’s weight. At only 1kg, it’s half a kilo lighter than regular Eee 1000-series models. It’s also only 1.8cm thick (or thin, whichever way you want to look at it).

To ensure the full power-saving potential of the Atom processor is harnessed, Asus uses its “Super Hybrid Engine” as with other Atom-powered Eee models which “allocates power according to users preferences and accurately detects users power requirements and makes the necessary power adjustments – preserving its battery life.”

Coming with a 16GB of SSD storage and in its initial configuration, Windows XP Home Edition, you also get ye oldEee 4-in-1 Flash card reader and access to an “encrypted 20GB internet storage facility aptly named Eee Storage”.

ThankfullEee Asus decided not to call it “Eee StoragEee” which would have been as playfully visually sillEee as my sprinklings of Eee throughout this article, partlEee in response to the press release saying how “Eeeasy and trendEee” the S101 PC is, although I’ve gone ridiculouslEee over the top. :-P

There’s 802.11n and Bluetooth as well, while Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail and even Microsoft Works are also being pre-loaded for users convEeenience.

Although the original Asus Eee PC, the 7-inch model, was the “original celebrity” of the Eee range, giving birth to the whole Eee PC concept, with the 10-inch 1000 series models now having taken over that mantle, Asus is determined to ensure the S101 is the true “celebrity/celebritEee” of the range and will no doubt push the whole “supermodel” thing as fiercely as it can to one-up its runway competition from Acer, MSI, Toshiba, (ToshEeeba?), Dell, HP and others.

Those more detailed specs again:

Operating System   
Genuine Windows XP Home

Display
10.2” wide active matrix LED-backlit TFT, WSVGA 1024x600, 252K colours

CPU   
Intel Atom 1.6Ghz

Chipset   
Intel 945GSE, ICH7-M

LAN   
Onboard 10/100 Mbps fast Eeethernet controller

Wireless Data Network   
WLAN: 802.11n, Bluetooth V2.0

Memory   
1GB DDR2
Storage   
16GB solid state drive (SSD)

Interface   
1 x VGA port (D-sub 15-pin for external monitor), 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 2 audio jacks: headphones / mic in

Camera   
0.3M pixel

Reader    4-in-1
MMC, SD, Memory Stick, MS-PRO flash card slot

Touchpad   
Multi-touch

Audio   
High definition audio CODEC built-in high quality stereo speakers, digital array mic

Battery   
Lithium polymer battery: 4 cell
Dimensions   
264mm (w) x 180.5 (d) x 18 ~ 25mm (h)

Weight   
1kg

Casing colours / Infusion   
Brown, Champagne or Graphite

And the price is AUD $999 inc GSTEee.

And yes, that's probably Eeenough with the Eee-ification of Eee PC storiEees, I'll kEeep it to a minEeemum next time.