Planet Lowyat

Asustek Computer plans to add a desktop computer to its Eee PC family that will launch globally in early June, the company revealed Thursday.

With Micro-Star International (MSI) expected to officially launch its 10-inch Wind series notebooks and Acer planning to launch an 8.9-inch Aspire low-cost PC in Europe priced at 299 euros (US$469.49) over the next few weeks, Asustek Computer has decided to rush forward plans to launch a 10-inch version Eee PC, according to notebook industry sources. The Eee PC 1000 is now expect to be launched on June 3 along with the Eee PC 901 and Asustek is also preparing lower priced versions of current models, the sources noted

from Digitimes.

The new desktop, dubbed Eee Box, is a white mini-PC about the size of a hardback book and will come with either a Linux or Windows XP operating system.

Eee Box will come in a range of configurations, including a choice of hard drives from 80G to 250GB in size, and allow users to surf the Internet wirelessly via 802.11n Wi-Fi.

The device comes with four USB ports, two each in front and back, and a slot for Multimedia Cards, SD cards and Memory Sticks.

The most basic version of the device, which will come with an 80GB hard disk and run a Linux operating system, will cost around NT$10,000 (US$328), an Asustek representative said. She declined to comment further on the device or its components.

The new desktop will be part of the popular Eee PC family of Asustek low-cost laptops that allow people to access the Internet wirelessly. The company set a target of shipping over 5 million Eee PC laptops this year, and said a shortage of laptop batteries was the only thing holding back sales.

Although Asustek will bring forward the launch of the Eee PC 1000, the sources expect initial shipments to be low giving MSI a chance to take the lead in the 10-inch low-cost PC segment.

On the other hand, the inclusion of a 10-inch model as well as cut-price versions in the Eee PC range, should help in holding off Acer’s entrance into the low-cost PC market, the sources commented.