Eee PC 900 available for preorder at Amazon

Asus is set to release the Eee PC 900 in the US tomorrow. But if you can't wait to get your order in, Amazon has launched pre-order pages for both the Linux and Windows XP models.

The Windows model sports 12GB of flash memory while the Linux version has 20GB. Otherwise, the two machines are pretty much identical. Both sell for $549. Only the pearl/white units are available right now, but expect to see black and other color options soon.

If that's more money than you're willing to spend, you can always pick up a refurbished Eee PC 701 for less than half the price. Or you can pre-order a CTL 2Go PC (Classmate 2) from Amazon. The Classmate featrues a 9 inch 800 x 480 pixel display, and a 40GB hard drive. The Windows version goes for $469, while you can get a Linux model for $399.

[via EeeUser]

Low-cost PCs are new battlefield in Microsoft's war on Linux

There are three things that separate low cost ultraportables like the Eee PC from higher end laptop computers. They're small, lightweight, and cheap. In order to keep cheap in that equation, computers makers like Asus are turning to Linux, the open source operating system that you can install and run on most computers without paying any licensing fees. And while Eee PCs, XO Laptops, and Mini-Notes aren't exactly taking over the world, this new class of low-cost subnotebook is certainly gaining a lot of attention. And that could lead some folks to believe (rightly) that Linux is a viable alternative to Windows and OS X.

Of course, Microsoft's not too happy with this development. So while the company had planned to discontinue sales of its Windows XP operating system by the end of June, 2008, Microsoft has made arrangements to continue selling and supporting its 6+ year old OS beyond that date. Because let's face it, Windows Vista isn't really designed for machines with slow processors and small hard drives.

But here's the thing. Microsoft does want to continue pushing Windows Vista. So while the company is encouraging PC makers to install Windows XP on low-cost machines as an alternative to Linux by providing deep discounts, IDG News Service reports that manufacturers will need to meet a pretty strict definition of ULPC (Ultra low-cost PC) in order to qualify for their cheap XP licenses.

That definition includes a screen that's less than 10.2 inches, 1GB of RAM or less, a hard drive with 80GB or less, and no touchscreen devices. You'll also need a 1GHz or slower processor, although Via's C7-M processors which run up to 1.6GHz are allowed, as will be Intel's new Atom processor.

That rules most version of the HP Mini-Note out, since all but one model ships with a 120GB hard drive. But that's probably fine with Microsoft, as the low-cost version of XP is really meant for PC makers who sell their computers in educational markets and developing nations. Computer makers will be able to get an XP Home Edition license for $26 if they sell their laptops in developing countries, while they'll pay $32 to license XP for use in developed countries like the US.

The HP Mini-Note, on the other hand is targeted at US consumers (and in fact, ships with Windows Vista).

HP posts more Windows XP drivers online

A few days ago HP started posting Windows XP drivers and software for the Mini-Note on the company's web site. But there were a few things missing, most notably the audio driver. Sure, you could configure Windows XP to use the Windows Vista driver with a little tweaking, but it's not a perfect fit.

But now it looks like HP's got a full set of drivers and support software available for download. That includes an audio driver, a BIOS image, Bluetooth, WiFI, flash card reader drivers, a system update for Windows XP SP2, and even a copy of WinDVD 8 SE (which is kind of funny considering the Mini-Note doesn't have an optical disc drive).

There are a couple of other goodies on the support page too, so whether you've already installed Windows XP on your Mini-Note or you plan to, you should probably check it out. Keep in mind, you don't need all of these files to install Windows XP. But I'd recommend using the audio, chipset, network, and storage file at the very least.

Upgrading the Mini-Note hard drive

You can pick up an HP Mini-Note with a 1.2GHz processor and 120GB hard drive for just $50 more than the 1.0GHZ/4GB SSD version. But if you buy the lower end model and then later decide you want a higher capacity hard drive, it's pretty easy to upgrade. HP Mini Note PC has step by step instructions, and a few photos showing the upgrade process.

In a nutshell, you need to remove the battery, and a few screws and lift the keyboard to access the hard drive enclosure. You can then unscrew your SSD or hard drive and replace it with another SATA hard drive.

3K renames the Longitude: Meet the RazorBook 400

3K is promoting its new RazorBook 400 mini-notebook. And if it looks familiar, there's good reason. It's pretty much the same computer 3K was showing off last month, only back then it was called the Longitude. Aside from the name change, I don't see many changes. The computer's still got:

• 7 inch 800 x 480 pixel screen
• 400 MHz processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB flash storage
• 802.11b/g
• 3 USB ports
• SD card reader

And as for the operating system, the Longitude... I mean RazorBook stil packs the same "genuine Linux" OS. No word on what distro that would be, or what a fake Linux operating system would look like.

[via Mobility Site]

Proporta Crystal Case keeps your Eee PC protected, shiny

Looking for a protective case for an Eee PC that you don't even need to remove when you want to start using your computer? Proporta's Crystal Case for the Eee PC is a shock absorbent case made of shatterproof clear plastic. It covers up all the vulnerable points on an Eee PC, but has holes so you can access all of the computer's ports. It also has holes over the vents so your Eee PC won't overheat while in its case.

You can pick a Crystal Case up fo $38.95. It looks like this case is designed for the Eee PC 701 series. The Eee PC 900 is slightly larger, so you'll need to wait for Proporta or another company to come out with a new case if you want to cover up your Eee PC 900.

[via Just Another Mobile Monday]

MSI Wind pricing revealed, available for preorder

The MSI Wind is one of the most hotly anticipated next generation low-cost ultraportables. Like the Eee PC, the Wind will be small, light-weight, and far cheaper than old school ultraportables. But unlike the current generation Eee PCs, the MSI Wind will have a 10 inch screen, an 80GB hard drive, and a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor.

And now we finally know how much the computer will cost. Online retailer Expansys has put up preorder pages for versions of the MSI Wind running Linux and Windows XP. The Linux mode will set you back $560, while the XP version will cost $610.

While those prices make the Wind a bit higher than the $549 Eee PC 900, the Wind will have a larger screen (with the same 1024 x 600 pixel resolution as the Eee PC 900's 9 inch display) and Intel's newest power-saving processor which should improve both performance and battery life.

[via Blogeee and Slashgear]

Popular Science upgrades an Eee PC

The folks at Popular Science have posted an article on Eee PC hacking. They upgraded the RAM, added an internal Bluetooth module, and slapped some extra flash memory into their unit. And to be perfectly honest, absolutely none of this is new. People have been making these mods since day one. But the picture that goes along with the article was just so awesome I had to share it. So that's what I'm doing. Click the picture to see the full article with more information on Eee hacking.

HP will offer Mini-Note XP install disc on May 15

If you've been holding out for HP to offer the Mini-Note with Windows XP preinstalled, I've got mixed news. The bad news is that HP will not be selling Mini-Notes with XP already loaded. The good news is that starting around May 15th, the company will offer a "downgrade" option that will let anyone who buys one of the Windows Vista Business models ask for as Windows XP installation disc and a driver disc.

In some ways, this is actually better than getting XP preinstalled, because you'll have an XP disc that you can use to reinstall the operating system if something goes wrong. But it's a bit funny to see HP selling a computer that has no CD/DVD drive and then throwing in two CDs.

If you don't want to buy a USB CD-ROM drive, you can follow my instructions for installing XP without an optical disc drive. But I'm guessing that a lot of less tech-savvy customers will decide it's too much work to install XP and just stick with Vista.

[via MiniNoteUser]

UK mobile carrier PowerUp gives away free Eee PC with contract

I can't say this ever occurred to me before, but an Asus Eee PC is cheaper than an iPhone. So perhaps we shouldn't be surprised to see wireless carriers subsidizing Eee PCs. After all, it's cheaper than subsidizing some cellphone models, and carriers have been doing that for years.

So here's the deal. If you're in the UK and you want to sign up for a 2 year T-Mobile contract through PowerUp Mobile, you can get a free Eee PC 2G Surf and a USB modem so you can surf the web on the go using your new wireless service. The contract will set you back £35/month and the offer is good until June 15th.

[via Engadget]