You probably have already read or heard about the Eee PC or EEE from ASUS. And probably you thought about deeply - ’should I or should I not consider to by this new gadget’. Not only because you can play Solitaire on it!

I’ll tell and show you here - that this is not a new gadget which you will find on a daily basis on Akihabara or any other Techblog site. This is truly the beginning of a new time of work experience, internet experience and entertainment experience. For every one. On the very end I’ll talk about convergence in general, in which state we are and what’s ahead.

Akihabara recently had a good review and introduction to the UMPC divisions - with a deep look at the Fujitsu FMV-U8240.

One of the many aspects of technology as a whole has always been to make things smaller and possibly faster and better but the size is the main thing for our product of the day.

Right now the UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) is getting quite popular but companies like Toshiba (Libretto 50/70/100) or Sony (Vaio U) have been proposing such products for quite a long time, leading the category. As usual the first versions were pretty expensive until Microsoft decided to turn the UMPC as a “standard”, therefore opening the door to other companies…as a result the choice is wider and from 900 to 2000€ (appx 1200 - 2700$) most of us can find something to match their needs.

So you may ask yourself why I praise the ‘three E’ PC (they have the PC in the name, not Mobile) device from ASUS? Maybe as ‘World Ahead’ .

You only have to pay 200 to 370 dollar!!! And not over thousand bucks.

And I am aware of that - you may get a a lot more for something over 1000 dollars. But the specifications for the Eee 701 are in detail all what we need to go one step further into the right direction of convergence. And ASUS don’t necessarily replace higher-end products, at multiple price points and cannibalize existing products. BUT - it is still an option for everyone either he user is a freelancer or business leader.

EeePC 701 Specification

Display： 7″
CPU & Chipset: Intel mobile CPU & chipset [ DATASHEET ]
-> 900MHz Intel Celeron M ULV 353 (90nm manufac. process)

-> Mobile Intel 910GML Express
OS: Linux/ Microsoft Windows XP compatible
Communication: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet; 56K modem
WLAN: WiFi 802.11b/g (Atheros AR5BXB63)
Graphic: Intel UMA -> (shared memory) with external VGA-out connector; supports dual independent displays
Memory: 256MB or 512MB DDR2-400 (PC2-3200) SDRAM in 200-pin SO-DIMM
Storage: 2, 4, 8, or 16GB SSD with Silicon Motion NAND flash memory
Webcam: 300K pixel video camera
Audio: Hi-Definition Audio CODEC; Built-in stereo speaker; Built-in microphone
Battery Life: 3hrs (4 cells: 5200mAh, 2S2P) / different batteries may be offered

>> 3.5mm (1/8”) headphone/microphone ports, RJ11 and RJ45 jacks, MMC/SD(HC)/MS(PRO) card reader (one slot), two USB 2.0 ports, VGA-out connector, and Kensington lock.

Dimension & Weight: 22.5 x 16.5 x 2.1~3.5cm, 0.89kg
Boot time: 15 seconds

In conclusion - it is not a Power User Ultra Mobile Sub-Notebook.

To start off the whole convergence theory in the real world itself you have everything what you need - following facts are important;

Linux/Open Source -by chance you will see much more utilities and programs on Open Source basis which will enrich the ROI exponential. And you don’t need to buy a pricey license from Microsoft for Office.

WiFi - Look up in Google which big cities plan to deploy free WiFi access in their city centres. What I would like to see is a WWAN modul for the next generation which will come (but currently - WWAN moduls are too expensive and have a price range of the ‘triple E’ itself). Adittional - there are many projects on a good pace to share wireless network access on a

Storage - 16GB is enough on the road. You can use your XX GB USB Stick for additional storage for MP3, Video, Photo and Documents. On the picture there seems to be a Flash media - so possible 16GB more SDCard storage.

Webcam + Mic - On the road or in the internet cafe you can have a crunch session with your lead designer or participating on a business meeting or record a short VLog for YouTube and Co. Also you have a VOIP capability.

Battery Life: If we have true 3hr of work experience - that would be really good for the beginning. Hopefully we will see an Option to have a 2nd battery - like any you can have with any Laptop/Tablet nowadays.

Eee PCs are similar to a mini notebook, international market research firms are reportedly considering classifying shipments of Eee PCs as notebooks. This will boost Asustek’s market share as well as its ranking in the global notebook market. Shipments of Eee PCs are expected to top 500,000 in 2007 and increase to 3-5 million in 2008. Asustek was ranked the world’s ninth largest notebook vendor in 2006 with own-brand shipments totaling 2.74 million units, according to data available at market research firms. Shipping will begin simultaneously to clients in the US, Europe, China as well as Taiwan, in mid-September, with the first-round shipments targeting 20,000 units, according to ASUS.

During a Keynote from Jonney Shih (Cairman and CEO of ASUS) he said that ‘the Triple E PC will be an inexpensive laptop designed to help spread computing to poorer regions’. The 3 E’s stand for ‘easy to learn, easy to play, easy to work‘. Eee PC represents a new segment for the market: an ultra-low-cost laptop that will apparently be sold as is, and not subsidized by a service provider to lower the cost.

The OS is an ASUS-customized variant of Xandros Linux with “Easy” and “Standard” GUI modes designed for novice and advanced users, respectively. (Early prototypes appear to run a modified version of Xandros Desktop Professional, but final production models will likely ship with a variant of Home Edition or Home Edition Premium.) “Easy” mode consists of a custom tabbed interface, organized by task, with large icons under each tab to launch applications, files, or websites. “Standard” mode is essentially the normal Xandros desktop (but without Xandros branding) and resembles the Windows XP desktop environment, in particular the “Luna” visual style. For more information on that - please go to www.eeeusers.com.

Included Applications

AbiWord - word processor, CodeWeavers CrossOver Linux - allows running Windows programs (may be removed or offered as trial software), Gnumeric - spreadsheet program, KPresenter - presentation program, Kopete - instant messaging client, Mozilla Firefox - graphical web browser, Mozilla Thunderbird - email client, MPlayer - media player, OpenOffice - office suite, PDF Reader (unknown), Penguin Racer - game, Project Management (unknown), Skype - VoIP program, Solitaire - game, Tux Paint - bitmap graphics editor for children, Xandros Antivirus (powered by ClamAV), Xandros Control Center (customized version of KDE Control Center), Xandros File Manager (replaces Konqueror in KDE), Xandros Photo Manager (powered by digiKam)

Currently, the company is concerned that the persistent tight supply of a number of key components might affect production in the second half of the year. Asustek has been working closely with a number of education organizations, insurance companies and emerging markets for bulk deals.

PRE-ORDER IN US HERE - OR USE GOOGLE http://www.citrusmicro.com/webdocs/Items/Details683.cfm

CONCLUSION:

We see here the first generation pocket device which were designed the smart way. For everyone to use with different preferences. This product clearly differentiates itself from the broad UMPC devices (see above the Fujitsu article) for consumers and will dive into new consumer groups (The Long Tail). With this new consumer groups who are now on the road, in the train, in the park, on the green - it offers thousands of new product ideas how and where and what to offer as service for this mobil device. Because it is not a normal sub-notebook, because it is not a 3G mobile phone, because it is not a smart phone. This goes into an area (VIDEO 1) which is called convergence of devices in the 21st century (VIDEO 2). ASUS claims to have the first PC for third world country’s. But it offers much for users than accessing knowledge where no library is. Convergence is out there and it happens everywhere in the technology sector. Even you have no notion of it - but you can be carried away by the idea.

Internet is becoming a point of convergence. People communicate. People communicating over the web. People interact. People interact over the web.

• e-mail,
• shopping,
• search (information),
• music (mp3, podcast),
• photos (sharing),
• video (entertainment, communication et cetera)
• communities
• games

Now get the notion - what when we can utilize these consumer behaviours within one device, mobile device. When there is no loss of end user friction, no loss of connectivity, no loss because of limited technological resources. Welcome the the 21st century of technology - the age of infinite ideas. Where two worlds - the ‘Internet’ and the ‘Real World’ - find a seamless transition.

MJ.