Asus' 9-inch EeePC: It's real!

Our friends at Engadget - who are reporting from CeBIT Hanover 2008 - have discovered that the rumoured Asus EeePC in 9" size is real and it's coming this year.

The 8.9" machine will come in 8GB and 12 GB sizes - with possibly more capacities - and will feature a 2.5 - 3 hour battery.

When it is released in Europe, the 12GB version will retail for 399 euros, just making it under that magical 400 euro mark.

Full specs can be expected at tomorrow's official press event.

[via Engadget]

Asus EeePC - 8 and 9 inch this year + Eee 801 pic

Asus, creator of the interesting EeePC - an ultraportable, ultra-affordable notebook computer aimed at students, has announced that it will be manufacturing these little wonders in 8, and 8.9 inch forms - so basically 8 and 9 inch screens.

At the same time, Asus also announced that the EeePC 701 could be configured to work in the US with Sprint Nextel's XOHM WiMAX service (standard wireless speed internet anywhere). Don't expect that for down under until Telstra introduces WiMAX on the Next G network, which we don't think will be soon.

Asus, however, didn't have the EeePC 801 or the Eee 901 on display - however, a Taiwanese blog called Pixnet has managed to get its hands on an 8" 801 model, compared next to a 7" 701.

They certainly look similar - same size and footprint, only the 801 uses more of the colossal space on the lid for a bigger screen. I certainly feel that the 801 looks 'cleaner' as gone is the black speaker grille around the screen - it's now white.

Whether these pictures represent the final product, we'll find out in Q2 2008 (April-June), when Asus is slated to officially release the new Eees.

[via Pixnet Blog (Taiwan), translated page]