Despite being one of the first companies to bring the idea of small, cheap, no-frills computers to market, ASUS doesn’t think the whole smartbook idea is going to take off. As such, we’ll see no smartbooks from ASUS anytime soon.
Company CEO Jerry Shen told investors recently, “Currently, I still don’t see a clear market for smartbooks.” He’s referring to Qualcomm-powered 8- to 10-inch subnotebooks that run Android, promise all-day battery life, and would theoretically sell for around $200.
If any company’s in a good position to push smartbooks, it’s ASUS, seeing that it’s got plenty of experience with tiny notebooks. You’d think it’d be relatively straightforward to take one of the older 7- or 9-inch Eee designs, update the form factor slightly, and switch out the Intel chipset for a Qualcomm one. However, ASUS has some pretty big deals with both Intel and Microsoft, so it’d be interesting to know if the company’s getting pressured to stay away from competing platforms.
Whatever the case, ASUS has cited limited resources as the reason behind putting Android-based smartbook projects on hold. PC World does point out, however, that the company “could use some of the smartbooks made by contract manufacturer Pegatron, the company’s subsidiary.”
[via PC World]
This is not surprising. Smart phones are quickly filling in the gaps that these netbooks were aiming at.
What brand and model is that in the picture? Looks pretty nice.
I’ll say, i wanna be that guy holding that thing. But not asian (im not racist, i just like being a black guy)
This story is bollocks. Asus is in bed with Intel and will do anything Intel asks them to stop competition in the market.
Fact:
Asus did remove any prototypes at Computex of their ARM powered Linux machines.
PROBABLE REASON: Intel phoned Asus CEO Jerry Shen and told him to immediately stop any project based on technology that out-competes and completely cannibalizes Intel and Windows.
FACT: Asus earns lots of money selling Intel and Microsoft based products and does not want to see their licencing fees highered or non delivery of components or software licences by using competitors technology and offend the big giants Silicon Valley.
FACT: ARM powered smartbooks can be much better than Netbooks, can run 2x longer on a battery, can cost 2x to 4x cheaper than an Intel and Microsoft powered laptop.
I couldnt agree more sir, but will any of these factors enable toasted cheese on milk bread?