Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/08/asus_new_eee_pc_not_atom/
Asus may be working to bring forward the launch of its next Eee PC in a bid to beat rival sub-notebook makers to market, it has been claimed. If so, the Eee PC 900 could appear this month.
When the Eee PC 900 was announced in early March, it was said to be scheduled to ship in April. Later, Asus appeared to revise that timetable to shift the release to late May or early June. The move was blamed primarily on a slow-down in battery shipments, but we shouldn't ignore chip maker Intel's timeline for the release of its 'Diamondville' processor (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/03/idf_inside_silverthorne/), the Atom-branded CPU designed for sub-notebooks like the Eee.
Last week at Intel Developer Forum, the chip giant said the Atom N270 - the mobile version of Diamondville - will debut in June.
Eee PC and friend: trying to come first
According to unnamed industry sources cited (http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20080407PD218.html) by DigiTimes, Asus can't wait and will use an older Intel dual-core ultra-low voltage processor - presumably something like the 1.06GHz Core 2 Duo U7500 or the 1.06GHz Core Duo U2400 - instead of Atom.
The moles said Asus' decision was based on a desire to ship ahead of Atom-based machines from Acer and HP. While Acer may well be waiting for Atom, HP certainly isn't and could well get its based 2133 Mini-Note sub-notebook, launched today (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/08/hp_launches_eee_rival/) out before the new Eee.
The HP machine is scheduled for a late April release, presumably because it's using the already available VIA C7-M processor.
Asus speaks out on UK Eee PC 900 battery issue (22 May 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/05/22/asus_speaks_out_eee_battery/
Intel sales chief promises Atom bombing (2 May 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/05/02/intel_atom_maloney/
Atom-based Eee PC to hit UK in June (22 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/22/atom_eee_gets_june_debut/
World wants small, cheap PCs, say makers of small, cheap PCs (11 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/11/asus_intel_predict_huge_growth/
VIA and Nvidia partner to bomb Intel's Atom (10 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/10/nvidia_via_vs_atom/
Dell readies Asus Eee PC, HP Mini-Note rival (9 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/09/dell_readies_eee_rival/
Asus unwraps media centre mini PC (9 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/09/asus_unwraps_essentio/
HP launches Linux-loaded Eee PC rival (8 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/08/hp_launches_eee_rival/
'Diamondville' to shine as Intel's next Atom (3 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/03/idf_inside_silverthorne/
2010's Centrino Atom to pack 2008 CPU (2 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/02/idf_moorestown_silverthorne/
Intel reveals Atom CPU speeds and feeds (2 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/02/idf_intel_details_atom/
Intel shows Atom-powered Eee PC clones (1 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/01/idf_eee_pc_clones_demod/
Asus CEO: Eee PC to get HDD options, Intel Atom CPU (10 March 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/03/10/asus_ceo_on_eee_future/