Bigger Eee PC will have touch screen, GPS

(Credit: DailyTech)

The second generation of the Asus Eee PC, which we first wrote about earlier this month, will apparently include a few more features unseen on its predecessor. DigiTimes is reporting that the laptop's 9-inch display will be a touch-screen panel, and the new models may include GPS support. The presumed launch date for the next-generation Eee PCs remains May or June of this year.

While I welcome the larger screen size (it's better for Web browsing), I've never found a touch screen to be that much of a bonus outside of a tablet form factor. The possible GPS support seems more helpful; paired with some decent software you can potentially eliminate the need for a separate navigation unit.

But I can't help wondering if these developments are pulling the Eee PC from its primary selling point: low price. Reports have priced the second-generation model anywhere from $500 to $600. Granted, that's not much more than the current Eee PC, and it does include such welcome improvements as increased RAM and a larger drive. But it also teeters dangerously close to the cost of more full-featured budget laptops from the major manufacturers. In a field that seems to grow more crowded every day, will consumers accept a slightly higher price point? Will you?

Via Laptoping

[hamtrap]

Looks Good

I would definitely like to be able to have an affordable laptop with a touch
screen. Drawing in Photoshop might actually be possible with such a device.
While I doubt that it will have pressure sensitivity like the glorious Wacom
Cintiq, even a single level of touch sensitivity would allow better drawing input
than a mouse, trackpad or larger touchpad. Clearly, though, this is a niche
market. Doesn't seem like the touchscreen would be a draw to most people.

[philmiller]

too much money

i agree the cost is getting a little too much for me. I would love the features but at that cost i might make a jump up to a bigger device.

[mishani]

I would welcome it

If for an extra $200 we get a decent drive, more RAM, GPS, larger screen and still 2lbs or less, then it is certainly worth it. Asus can keep the current models for the lower price bracket. True that there are many larger notebooks at $500-600, but very few sub-3 lb notebooks at that price. 8gb EEe PC models costs as much now for just an extra 512Mb of RAM and 4Gb of storage.
Regarding the comment about touchscreen being good for Photoshop, with the limited storage and horsepower (and Linux preinstalled), this is hardly a Photoshop machine.

[logangreer]

They need to keep the cost down. If they are going to add anymore features, it needs to be built-in Edge, 3G, or WiMax support.

You don't need a big HDD or tons of Ram for a primarily internet device (which should keep cost down). But you do need connectivity. Along those lines, create some kind of syncing mechanism so that you can offload data onto another computer.

Also, keep the screen size down and develop something like the iPhone's ability to zoom in on web pages. That would be better than a bigger screen. The small size is a big (no pun intended) selling point for many people.

Seriously, why buy this laptop for $600 when you could get an only slightly larger, and more full-featured Dell for not much more (if not cheaper!).

[mesohomey]

Touchscreen . Not much better than a keyboard . Just screws up your typing more . Not worth the extra cash .

[epranav]

The price point is too high. At $500, the low-end full-fledged notebooks seem attractive.

I would ideally like to pay $300 for a device such as the eee pc. I understand that at that price point it is impossible to get these advertised features but in my opinion, asus should focus on the price point and cram in whatever features it can

There is a very thin bracket between a good smartphone and a laptop - asus needs to make sure it stays within this bracket.