Asus to launch 'Eee PC' notebook

Mumbai, Jan 29 (UNI) Taiwan-based IT product leader, Asus today announced that it will launch its 'Eee PC' notebook for school children and first time PC users on February 2.

Already launched worldwide in October 2007, the 'Eee PC' has sold its five million units and has received orders for another one million units.

''Though our strength is technology, we have also focused on the design and the 'Eee PC' is our trump card. It will take at least six months for other brands to catch up,'' Asus India Managing Director Albert Tung said.

Asus will launch the 'Eee PC' with 3,000 to 5,000 units initially through the croma retail chain here and the Company's channel partners in the tier-1 cities from March and will retail for Rs 18,000.

''India is our most important market. We will try and sell as much as we can, though we are facing a situation where the demand is three times of our supply rate,'' Mr Tung said.

The diminutive 'Eee PC' weighs 92 gms with a tough shock-proof casing and runs on Intel CPU, Linux platform, a Window XP compatible hardware with 512 MB of memory and four GB of storage space. It also houses a host of features that include webcam, microphone, stereo speakers, wi-fi and ethernet connection, over 40 built-in applications, USB and printer ports, and a battery life of upto three hours. The 'Eee PC', however, does not have a CD/DVD drive in order to keep its weight down.

Though aimed at school children and first time users with easy-to-use menu, the 'Eee PC' also has features like graphic user interface, charts and other professional peripherals that can enable it to be used as a back-up for the laptop totting professional.

The Company has also tied-up with TataData Service for internet and Microsoft for a Windows compatible platform which will have the Windows Live software for enhanced browsing and security.

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