July 20th, 2007
ASUS on schedule to release $199 subnotebook for back to school
ASUS is on schedule to release their budget subnotebook in late August or September, according to DesktopLinux.com. Slated to start at $199, the device will run Xandros Linux with KDE. It will also have a special introductory interface for those new to computing, but this can be bypassed for experienced Windows/Linux users. The major compromises at $199 are a small screen (7″), minimal solid state storage (4GB to start, up to 16GB available), and mediocre performance (it only has a Pentium M). However, at this price, this still represents the beginnings of a great market, domestically and internationally, for one-to-one computing solutions. While I’ve never been a fan of student laptops, at $200, an easily-portable internet access and word-processing device (it includes OpenOffice) make a lot of sense. Keep an eye on this market as new and innovative ways to use a computer in (and out of) the classroom emerge.
Follow Chris Dawson on Twitter! Christopher Dawson is the technology director for the Athol-Royalston School District in northern Massachusetts and a member of the Internet Press Guild. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations, but always keep in mind that the opinions expressed here are his own and not those of his daytime employer, even if he talks incessantly about his day job.
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