ASUS releases high-end S101 netbook

ASUS has officially announced the S101 netbook, its “fashion forward” model with higher specs than the traditional Eee PC range. The S101 has the usual 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU paired with a 10.2-inch WSVGA display with LED-backlight, SSD storage up to 64GB and WiFi 802.11n. It’ll be available in brown, champagne and graphite

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Spec wise, it’s really not all that different from other competing netbooks:

• Intel Atom processor
• Intel 945GSE / ICH7-M chipset
• 10.2 inch wide-screen LED backlit TFT with 1024 x 600, 252K color display
• 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet Controller
• 802.11n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.0
• 1GB DDR2 memory
• 16GB/32GB/64GB SSD
• 20GB Eee Online Storage
• 1 VGA port
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• 1 RJ-45 port
• 2 audio jacks - headphone/microphone in
• 0.3 megapixel webcam
• 4 in 1 media card reader with support for MMC, SD, Memory Stick, and Memory Stick PRO
• Multi-touch touchpad
• HD Audio
• Stereo Speakers
• Digital Array Microphone
• Polymer battery 36 W/hr
• Measures 264 x 180.5 x 18 ~ 25 mm
• Weighs 1kg

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Pricing is listed as follows:

• 16GB SSD, Windows XP, inclusive of an additional 16 GB SD card: $699
• 32GB SSD, Linux operating system: $699
• 64GB SSD, Linux operating system: $799

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Of course, the delay in launching could be ASUS taking the opportunity to slot Intel’s newly-shipping Atom 330 dual-core CPU into the netbook, rather than the single-core processor. That might answer critics who have suggested that ASUS’ other premium netbook, the N10, is technologically impressive but not quite enough to warrant the price-tag (nor significantly threaten entry-level ‘normal’ notebooks).

Fashion-on-the-go Made Eeeasy

With its elegant styling and slender profile, the Eee PC™ S101 cuts a striking profile that complements any sartorial ensemble. Its unique colors emanate confidence, success and dynamism, and its incredible portability—weighing a mere 1 kg and svelter than most fashion magazines at just 1.8 cm—enables users to carry themselves with effortless grace, without the slouching and strain that often plagues users of regular notebooks. Its fantastic slimness, which has an uncanny ability to snare attention, enables it to tuck easily into most bags.

Substance in Equal Measure

Its head-turning looks and astounding portability aside, the Eee PC™ S101 is equally impressive in terms of features. It supports Wi-Fi 802.11n, enabling high speed Internet access virtually anywhere. It also features Bluetooth V2.0, ensuring fast and convenient connectivity with a vast range of Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Every Eee PC™ S101 comes with an encrypted 20 GB Internet storage facility known as Eee Storage, allowing users to store and subsequently access their important documents and media securely whenever, wherever. Also keeping users' data safe and sound is the Eee PC™ S101's shockproof Solid State Drive (SSD) which maintains the integrity of the stored data even when subjected to knocks and shocks. The SSD has further advantages over traditional hard disk drives, such as silent operation and reduced energy consumption. The SSD comes in capacities of up to 64 GB. Rounding off the Eee PC™ S101's comprehensive storage capabilities is an integrated 4-in-1 flash card reader that supports more formats than other Eee PC™ models. The supported flash memory types are MMC, SD, Memory Stick and MS-PRO.

The Eee PC™ S101 is also equipped with a vibrant 10.2” wide active matrix LED-backlit display which is capable of running at WSVGA resolution, thus providing more-than-ample space for viewing documents and perusing other media.

Long Five-hour Battery Life with Super Hybrid Engine

The Eee PC™ S101 features the exclusive Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) which greatly enhances its energy efficiency, letting users enjoy longer battery life per charge—enabling up to five hours of continuous use—thus eliminating the need to lug power adapters along with them. SHE also offers a choice of performance and power consumption modes that allow users to make quick and easy adjustments to suit their usage scenarios.

Choice of Operating Systems

Catering to users across the full spectrum of experience levels, the Eee PC™ S101 is available with either Microsoft® Windows® or GNU Linux. The Microsoft Windows version offers users with moderate to substantial computing experience with more configuration avenues and a wider spread of applications. The incorporation of Windows Live™ Messenger and Windows Live Mail ensures that all of the user´s communication needs are fully met, and the inclusion of Microsoft Works equips the user with the ability to work efficiently while out of the office. Less experienced users, on the other hand, will appreciate the icon-driven, point-and-click simplicity offered by the Linux version. An additional boon of the Linux version is that it comes with over 50 pre-installed applications that span learning, productivity and entertainment