ASUS to launch hard drive version of S101

[admil]

ASUS will launch a variant of its 10.2-inch netbook, the S101, with a conventional hard disk instead of a solid-state drive, reports say. While the capacity of the disk in the upcoming computer -- due to be called the S101H -- is unknown, the netbook's thinness will likely constrain the disk to a smaller, slower 1.8-inch format. Its capacity should be much larger than the current maximum 64GB SSD option, which is also paired exclusively with Linux. S101 buyers who opt for Windows XP are limited to 16GB SSDs, due to rules imposed by Microsoft.



When the S101H is coming and at what price remain undisclosed, but the switch to a regular HDD may drop the S101H's price below the S101's current $699. Remaining features are expected to carry over from the S101, including 1GB of RAM, an 802.11n Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth 2.0 support and a multi-card reader. The 30GB of online storage ASUS offers with the S101 is also expected to be part of the H's selling points.

( electronista )

[johnson22]

The latest ASUS netbook rumors are that the company is planning to shove a hard drive into the super-slim Eee PC S101, calling it the S101H. The S101 currently only features solid-state drive options, either a 16 GB with Windows XP or a 32 GB with Linux. While a larger hard drive would add some flexibility to the system, it's going to be a tough fit finding room for it in the thin case, only 0.7 inches thick, including the screen.

[Birdie]

Apparently the reason for the tiny SSD, at least in the XP version of the S101, is that Microsoft won't sell discounted XP licenses to netbook manufacturers which don't follow its specifications for what it considers a "netbook". The company is trying to force Vista onto systems it considers proper laptops, and systems with solid-state drives above 16GB are too laptop-like in its opinion. Switching from the SSD to a HDD allows ASUS to continue offering XP while still increasing storage.

Right now we don't even know what size drive the S101H will feature. We'll have to wait until it's actually out to see how the change affects file access speeds and battery life.