Available for pre-order through, of all things, ASUS’ Facebook page, the Eee 1000HE is promising a staggering 9.5 hours of battery life at a suggested retail price of just $399.
The “HE” part of the model name is derived from the company’s “Super Hybrid Engine” technology, “which can boost CPU speed for extra power or lower it to preserve battery life, all at the touch of a button.”
And speaking of touching button-like objects, the 1000HE features a revamped chiclet-style keyboard reminiscent of certain Sony and Apple notebooks. At first glance, it looks pretty comfortable for typing (except for the shrunken right Shift key).
Other features include an Atom N280 CPU (a world’s first, according to ASUS), 3.2-pound weight, Bluetooth, 10-inch screen, 160GB hard drive, and 10GB of online storage space.
Now for the weird part. The pre-order offer is good for Facebook members and you’ll get an additional $25 off your purchase price, which is nice. The problem is that the pre-order page lists a bunch of places to buy the 1000HE (Amazon, Buy.com, Newegg, etc.) but none of the stores actually list the computer yet, even though the press release says that the computer “is available immediately for pre-order.”
There’s also no mention of how much RAM the machine has. I think we can assume at least one gigabyte, but it’d be nice to know for sure. The $25 promo is good from today until the end of the month, so perhaps ASUS retail partners haven’t gotten around to adding the machine to their inventories yet. Everyone always drags ass on Mondays, right?
Full press release:
ASUS Announces the Upgraded Eee PC 1000HE, Available Now for Pre-Order
– First netbook to feature Intel Atom N280 processor, the new Eee PC offers more power, 9.5 hours of battery life, and comfort and style –
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA (February 2, 2009)-ASUS, the innovator who revolutionized the mobile computing landscape with the original Eee PC netbook, today announces its most powerful and long-lasting Eee PC yet – the 1000HE. Available for pre-order from selected online E-tailers, the Eee PC 1000HE is the pinnacle of netbook computing, offering more power, longer battery life, increased comfort and legendary ASUS quality.
World’s First Atom N280 Netbook
With the extra power of the Intel Atom N280 processor, users will be able to boot faster, get work done quicker, and enjoy higher performance compared to other Atom N270-powered netbooks. The Eee PC 1000HE also features ASUS’ exclusive Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) technology, which can boost CPU speed for extra power or lower it to preserve battery life, all at the touch of a button.Higher Density battery, New Keyboard
The Eee PC 1000HE is equipped with a high-density battery that, when combined with the Super Hybrid Engine, allows for an industry-leading 9.5 hours of battery life*. Using the Eee PC all-day has never been easier thanks to its bright 10” LED backlit display and new “chiclet” keyboard that allows for faster and more comfortable typing.Wireless Internet and File Storage on-the-go
The Eee PC 1000HE comes with WiFi 802.11b/g/n network connectivity for ultimate wireless accessibility and mobility. Bluetooth v2.0 is also included for flexibility and convenience with any Bluetooth devices.Additionally, the Eee PC 1000HE is outfitted with 170GB of Hybrid Storage – 160GB of internal hard disk drive and 10GB of file-encrypted Eee Online Storage. Users can store, share and access documents and multimedia easily on the move.
Pricing and Availability
The ASUS Eee PC 1000HE is available immediately for pre-order through the official ASUS Eee PC Group on Facebook at the following link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6297967631. The introductory MSRP of the Eee PC 1000HE is $399 USD. For a limited time, an additional $25 instant discount will apply to the pre-orders. The Eee PC 1000HE will be available in both Fine Ebony Black and Blue in North America.* Estimated maximum battery life under Windows XP is measured with BatteryMark 4.0.1 (in Eee PC Super Hybrid Engine Power-Saving mode, 40% LCD brightness, Wi-Fi off, BT off, and camera disabled). Actual battery life may vary based on product settings, usage patterns and environmental conditions.