Asus Set To Release EEE PC Shell Posh Netbook

Taiwanese powerhouse Asus is apparently planning to release a high-end netbook called the EEE PC Shell which could well compete with Apple's Mac Book Air.

According to the Commercial Times newspaper, the EEE PC Shell will have an even higher configuration than the S101 that was launched back in October last year.

Asus is expected to keep the same 10.2-inch LCD monitor as the S101, a higher capacity battery and with a higher specification as the latter but will sell at a much lower price ($570 compared to $699).

The S101, you may remember, comes with an Atom N270 CPU, 1GB, 16GB SSD, Windows XP home and an improved battery while the upcoming S121 comes with a Z520, 2GB RAM and up to 512GB SSD.

We expect a 64GB SSD model and an Intel Dual Core Atom CPU with a release date in April 2009. Additional cookie points if the EEE PC Shell has a sturdy, ultra thin profile although that's unlikely at this price point.

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How Asus can manage to get the same hardware specification for 20 percent less than what the S101 sold for last year is something of a mystery; the EEE PC Shell could well be announced at next week's CEBIT.

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Our Comments

The S121 is 26mm thick, weighs 1.45Kg and has a 12.1-inch TFT screen. That leaves us wondering where will the EEE PC Shell will fit in, especially as the price is significantly less than the $570. 

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