ASUS struck gold in 2008 with the launch of its supposedly low-cost and ultra-portable range of Eee PCs, and various other manufacturers now have similar-spec netbooks on offer in a rapidly growing market.
With an abundant array of Eee PC models now on offer, it could be argued that ASUS is milking the Eee-machine for all its worth. However, in the face of growing competition from the likes of MSI, Samsung and Toshiba to name just a few, where does ASUS go from here?
Well, according to DigiTimes, Samson Hu, general manager of ASUS' Eee PC business, states that the company will attempt to reinvigorate its range with the launch of a touchscreen Eee PC in the first quarter of 2009. In addition, it will also launch a long-awaited dual-core model based on Intel's nettop-orientated Atom 330 processor.
Concerns of increasingly expensive "low-cost" systems will no doubt arise, but ASUS' president Jerry Shen is also believed to have confirmed the planned launch of a sub-$300 Eee PC at some stage next year.
ASUS, as you'd expect, has plenty more in store for the Eee PC brand - but is it targeting the right features? While a touchscreen and dual-core processor may provide their own merits, the all-important battery life and price-tag may be overlooked, we feel.
We can expect to see a slew of new netbook offerings from various manufacturers at CES in January 2009, but we'd love to hear what you'd want to see in a 2009 netbook. Share your thoughts in the HEXUS.community forums.
