Asus has been pretty consistent with its definition of a netbook. The company has refused to put the Eee PC name on any laptop with a screen larger than 10 inches, and some higher end 10 inch models like the Asus N10 haven’t been labeled as Eee PCs either. This helps prevent brand dilution, (something Asus has been struggling with anyway), but it also made it clear that Asus decided that netbooks topped out at 10 inches, about 3.2 pounds, and around $500.

But now DigiTimes is reporting that Asus will soon launch an Eee PC laptop with an 11.6 inch display this month. Now, it’s possible that DigiTimes got things wrong and that the laptop won’t carry the Eee PC name. But it’s also possible that Asus sees its competitors like Acer bringing 11.6 inch models with Intel Atom processors to market and feels pressure to compete in that space.