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September 18, 2008 10:30 AM PDT

Hands-on with the Asus N10

by Dan Ackerman
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Can a netbook cost $799?

When is a netbook not a netbook? We've previously mentioned the upcoming Asus N10, the more-expensive cousin to the low-priced Eee PC line, which adds discrete graphics options, bigger hard drives, Windows Vista (with an XP downgrade option), an ExpressCard slot, and 802.11n Wi-Fi.

We just got a chance to take a brief up-close look at the N10, which is currently available for pre-order from a handful on online vendors.

The 10.2-inch N10 feels more like an ultraportable laptop than a netbook, thanks to its nearly full-size keyboard and less-plasticy design. Also notable -- a hybrid video solution that lets users switch between using the integrated graphics (for better battery life) or the Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS GPU.

The N10 will sell for $599-$799, a few hundred dollars more than most netbook-style laptops. Both lines use Intel's Atom CPU, and should be shipping by the end of the month.

September 8, 2008 10:25 AM PDT

Is the Asus N10 still a Netbook for $849?

by Dan Ackerman
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Is it still a Netbook at $849?

At what point does a Netbook become a regular old laptop? The upcoming Asus N10 has all the features we'd expect to see in a low-cost, low-power Netbook-style system, including a 10-inch screen and power-saving Intel Atom CPU.

The only catch is that electronics retailers are now listing the system as "coming soon," for a whopping $849. For that you get 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, Windows Vista, and even a GeForce 9300M graphics chip, which is a pretty nice setup, but that's a far cry from the predicted $486 to $630 range we heard about when the system first popped up on our radar.

So, is the concept of a high-end luxury Netbook an oxymoron? Or are you willing to pay regular laptop prices to mix more mainstream components with a Netbook's size and battery advantages?

August 25, 2008 11:32 AM PDT

Asus ditches Eee name for high-end Netbook

by Dan Ackerman
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Is the world ready for a fancy Netbook?

(Credit: blogeee.net)

A high-end luxury Netbook? Seems like an oxymoron, since Netbooks are supposed to be simple, stripped-down, low-cost laptops. (If this is all news to you, check out our Building the Perfect Netbook feature for a primer.)

Asus, the company that single-handedly built the Netbook category with its Eee PC, is reportedly aiming at more upscale consumers with a fancier version of the popular Netbook. The newest version, with a 10.2-inch screen, has some high-end features, including a fingerprint reader, HDMI output, Altec Lansing speakers, and, at least in a few leaked shots, an Express Card slot.

The catch is that Asus is calling it the N10, instead of using the Eee PC name, which has already graced several Netbooks, a low-cost small form factor desktop, and a slew of accessories. We first caught site of this new system on French Web site Blogeee.net, which also claims (if our rusty French is correct) it'll cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 330 to 430 euros, which at the current exchange rate of $1.47, is about $486 to $630. No official word on price, specs, or release date so far.

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