Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.
- The Wizard of Oz
The new Eee PC will have a bigger 8.9-inch screen, not the current 7 incher. The resolution of the larger screen is 1024×600, which will address one of the most common complaints on the current Eee. A WiMAX-powered EEe PC is expected to be announced by Asus and Intel at the CES show in Las Vegas next week. Pricing may be closer to $499 versus the $399 of today’s Wi-Fi only version.
According to the Commercial Times, the current 7″ panels used in the Eee PC cost $40 USD. The larger 8.9″ panels are estimated to cost between $55 to $60 USD. The current Eee PC uses a 90nm, 900MHz Celeron M processor running at 630MHz. But this year, Intel’s Menlow platform with a 45nm Silverthorne processor promises ten times the power efficiency of first generation UMPCs using Intel Celeron M, Pentium M and A100/A110 processors.
The Eee PC is currently available in a variety of models including the 4g and 8G, 2G Surf and 4G Surf . Pricing ranges from $299 USD for the Eee PC 2G Surf on up to $499 USD for the Eee PC 8G.
| Model Name | Eee PC 8G | Eee PC 4G | Eee PC 4G Surf | Eee PC 2G Surf |
| Display | 7″ | 7″ | 7″ | 7″ |
| Intel CPU & Chipset | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Operating System | Linux Windows XP compatible |
Linux Windows XP compatible |
Linux Windows XP compatible |
Linux Windows XP compatible |
| Ethernet Communication | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| WLAN | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Memory | 1G (DDR2) | 512 MB (DDR2) | 512 MB (DDR2) | 512 MB (DDR2) |
| S.S.D. Storage (Solid-State Disk) | 8G | 4G | 4G | 2G |
| Camera | ? | ? | - | - |
| Audio | Hi-Definition audio
Stereo speaker |
Hi-Definition audio Stereo speaker Microphone |
Hi-Definition audio
Stereo speaker |
Hi-Definition audio Stereo speaker Microphone |
| Battery | 4 Cells: 5200 mAh, 3.5hrs* | 4 Cells: 5200 mAh, 3.5hrs* | 4 Cells: 4400 mAh, 2.8hrs* | 4 Cells: 4400 mAh, 2.8hrs* |
| Weight | 0.92 kg | 0.92 kg | 0.92 kg | 0.92 kg |
| * Specification changes are subject to different models * Actual battery life will depend on actual operations and other settings. * Product contains software under GPL license agreement |
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Meanwhile FIC is saying that US and European shipments of their $300 – $400 UPMC will begin in Q1 of 2008 and will include either Windows XP or Linux preloads on a 1.8-inch 30GB disk.
FIC is also sheparding Open Moko, an open platform similar to Google’s Android.
Microvision’s “pico” projector is handheld, stand-alone video projector is capable of projecting a 12-inch to 100-inch, 848 x 480 WVGA image for up to 2.5 hours on a single charge.
The device is made for media-rich mobile devices.
Microvision claims it can replace TI’s million-mirror MEMS chip with its own single-mirror MEMS chip, which Microvision claims can be produced cheaply enough to become standard equipment on future cell phones. No focusing lens is required, because the lasers render razor-sharp points without external optics.
The company expects the unit to be initially offered in stand-alone portable projectors you attach to an iPod during 2008. It plans to embed its PicoP chip projector in a variety of consumer electronics.
Why not project real-time transit information on every bus stop?
Hook it up to a WiMAX-powered Eee PC and solar power the whole thing. And your community Wi-Fi, too.
