Asus launches affordable ultra-mobile PC

Asus has taken the wraps off a tiny ultra-mobile PC designed for internet surfing and sporting a solid state disk (SSD) drive.

Unveiled at the Computex Show in Taipei, by Asus chairman Johnny Shih, the Eee PC 701 is being touted as the world’s cheapest and easiest-to-use laptop.

It has been designed with communications in mind, with in-built Wifi, webcam, 56K modem and 10/100Mbps Ethernet support, and is targeted at users that want a small, lightweight device that can do most things. At the event, an entry-level model with a 2GB SSD drive was priced at just £100, although you can expect that price to rise the closer it gets to the UK.

Ease-of use will be an important selling point for the Eee, with users offered a choice between an ‘easy mode’ and ‘full desktop mode’ interface.

It will be powered by a range of Intel mobile processors, sport a 7in display and weigh in at just 0.89Kg. It can run Linux or Microsoft XP operating systems, has 512Mb of DDR2 memory and can be equipped with a range of SSD drives, including 2Gb, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB. Battery life is quoted at three hours and the device measures 22.5x16.5x2.1cm.

There is no official launch date for Europe yet.

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