In other news, the company sources also noted that Asustek plans to gradually phase out EMP-based handsets and instead will switch to handset platforms from Qualcomm and Marvell.

While launching its 3.5G P552w PDA phone in the Taiwan market on October 28, Asustek plans to launch one 3G handset model built using Qualcomm’s dual-core solutions in the first quarter of next year, the sources noted.

Asustek’s shipments of smartphones in the Taiwan market totaled 30,000 units in the first nine months of this year, and the company expects the annual shipment volumes to reach 40,000 units by year-end.

Source: Digitimes

Asustek’s new touch panel notebooks are expected to take advantage of Windows 7, said the sources. Asustek showed concept notebooks featuring two touch panels during Computex 2008.

AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) are planning to launch 11.6-inch notebook panels in February next year, which along with 12.1-inch make possible candidate sizes for the upcoming touch panel notebooks, noted the sources, adding that Asustek has not yet decided what size its notebook will be.

The Asus M70T, M50V, M51T, F8Va, and F8Vr will be the first laptops on the market to include the “rapid-start platform.”

Splashtop comes to ASUS Notebooks

Complete range of ASUS notebook models provide ‘instant-on’ Internet and media access
May 29, 2008 – SAN JOSE, CA – DeviceVM today announced the release of their award winning Splashtop™ software on numerous ASUS notebooks. Splashtop is a light-weight operating system that allows consumers to use their computers seconds after hitting the power button. Models spanning a wide range of segments are to ship with Splashtop pre-installed by ASUS starting in June this year.

“The integration of Splashtop into notebooks represents a big step forward in portable computing, where instant ‘on’ and ‘off’ is essential,” said Mark Lee, co-founder and CEO of DeviceVM. “We are pleased to introduce Splashtop to portable computing together with our partner ASUS.”

Branded “Express Gate” by ASUS, Splashtop software enables users to browse the web, watch videos, listen to music, chat with friends, share photos, and more – just seconds after turning on their PC. Express Gate is already available on a wide range of PC motherboards from ASUS. The notebooks announced today are the first to integrate Express Gate for the broad consumer market, including the M70T, M50V and M51T multimedia series and the stylish F8Va/Vr series.

“ASUS is always committed to bring customers the most innovative solutions,” said Henry Yeh, General Manager, ASUS Notebook Business Unit. “With Express Gate, users will experience a new, fast, and secure way to surf, chat and play on ASUS notebooks for a new computing experience”

**ASUS booth will showcase Express Gate at Computex in Taipei International Convention Center TF1L & 101B, June 3 – 7. Please come by for more information.

“The integration of Splashtop into notebooks represents a big step forward in portable computing, where instant ‘on’ and ‘off’ is essential,” said DeviceVM’s CEO and founder, Mark Lee.

Asus appears equally pleased to have embraced an interesting innovation in a market where so many PC vendors look alike.

“Asus is always committed to bring customers the most innovative solutions,” said Henry Yeh of Asus. “With Express Gate, users will experience a new, fast, and secure way to surf, chat and play on Asus notebooks for a new computing experience.”

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.

Through separating Eee as a sub-brand, Asustek believes the product family will be able to jump out of the low-cost market bracket.

In other news, in addition to the Eee PC 900, the company will launch the Eee PC 1001 with a 10-inch panel as well as an 11-inch model by the end of this year, market sources have revealed.

I’m looking forward about the Eee series products and I believed the similar products from other manufacturer coming soon.

Source: Digitimes

Last year, Asus sold more than 300,000 copies of the small Linux laptop. The company has a very optimistic view for this year, predicting to sell several millions of copies. Best Buy sells the subnotebook in three versions: the pink, the white and the galaxy black models.

These laptops feature an Intel Celeron M processor at 900Mhz, 512 MB of DDR2 memory, a 7-inch widescreen display with a resolution of 800 x 480, a 4GB flash-based SSD hard disk, built-in web cam and Xandros Linux, but there’s no optical drive present. The EeePC has shock-proof design, to prevent accidents and data loss. Also, three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast digital video, audio and data transfer and a Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard slot are included.

I know we don’t have Best Buy in Malaysia but do you think this is a trend. Anyway, you can get in Plaza Lowyat.

I believe most of the laptop buyer are looking for small, cheap, comfortable, and light weight laptop.  Again, the most important is NO Micro$oft Windows installed.

According to DigiTimes & AsusTek company sources, the relatively low tax rate in Singapore is drawing Asustek Computer, which is about to reshuffle its own-brand and ODM/OEM businesses, to relocate its sales and marketing operation to the region.

Following the announced spin-off of the company’s own-brand business, Asustek is considering transferring the role of brand marketing to its Singapore subsidiary, Asus Technology Pte, leaving only R&D work to be performed at the company’s Taiwan headquarters.

In fact, Singapore is one of the best well know regional office for any multi national company. Again, why not Malaysia?