Asus Launches Eee PC T91, a Touch-Screen Tablet Netbook 205
MojoKid writes "Asus today launched yet another addition to their Eee PC netbook product offering. The Eee PC T91 is unlike any Eee PC we've seen before, primarily because the screen can be spun around and flipped down in the style of a tablet. This so-called 'netvertible' sector is still in its earliest stages, making the T91 one of the first netbooks available that also doubles as a full-fledged tablet PC. Unlike the Eee PC 'Seashell' line, which is largely just a sleeker take on the tried-and-true Eee
PC netbook, the T91 takes a completely different approach to computing. Its 8.9" resistive touchscreen literally puts a new spin on the netbook and enables a new usage model."
Does it ... (Score:5, Interesting)
run Linux? Seriously.
Oh, wait here we go:
# Intel Atom Z520 @ 1.33GHz, 533MHz FSB; 512K Cache
# Intel US15W chipset
# 1GB of DDR2 Memory
# 8.9 inch LCD (1024x600 resolution); LED backlight, Resistive Touch Panel
# Intel GMA 500 integrated graphics
# 16GB ASUS-JM S41 solid state drive (SSD)
# 16GB SDHC Card Included
# 10GB Eee Online Storage
# 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
# Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
# No optical drive
# 0.3 megapixel webcam + Digital Array Microphone
# VGA Output
# USB 2.0 x 2
# RJ-45 (Ethernet 10/100)
# Headphone / Mic Input Jacks
# MMC/SD card reader
# Twin speakers
# Gesture-enabled trackpad
# 2.11 Pounds (with battery installed)
# 0.99 - 1.11 inches thick
# Non-Removable Li-ion Battery (Up To 5 Claimed Hours of Computing)
# 8.85" (W) x 6.45" (D) x 0.99 - 1.11" (H)
# Windows XP Home
# Color Options: White, Black
# Protective Sleeve
# 1-year limited warranty
Guess we'll have to find out for ourselves (as usual)! :-)
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Consider it bought for me. It's $500 (the price is on the last page).
Re:Does it ... (Score:5, Informative)
Why not pick up a real tablet system, like a Dell Latitude XT off of eBay for $600-$700? Core 2 Duo, 3GB of RAM, 80GB HD, 12" LED LCD multi-touch screen, etc. I snarfed one "new open box" for $650 USD a couple of weeks back -- looked brand new/ever used.
Re:Does it ... (Score:5, Insightful)
Because this is more portable and power efficient?
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Re:Does it ... (Score:4, Insightful)
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I'll bite. There is no difference in gasoline efficiency between a gas electric hybrid and an equivalent standard vehicle; the problem is finding a "standard" vehicle that meets the same performance, reliability, & safety metrics of a hybrid: you will be hard pressed to find any.
I think the major argument countering the poor performance of said hybrids is that an average commuter doesn't need anything better than a top speed of 90 & a 0-60 time of 9 seconds. We'll leave that argument for another t
Re:Does it ... (Score:5, Interesting)
If you want power efficiency why use x86? This [alwaysinnovating.com] comes in cheaper ($299-$399), has a battery life of 10+hrs (3-5 for the cheap one)
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If you want power efficiency why use x86? This [alwaysinnovating.com] comes in cheaper ($299-$399), has a battery life of 10+hrs (3-5 for the cheap one)
Because they haven't built or sold one yet?
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That ai.com device sure looks interesting. The only reason I don't pre-order one right this minute is because of how shaky their OS build out is. They're essentially releasing a product before it's ready and saying "Trust us to make it work right later.".
Since I don't know anything about them or their product, and having been burned one time too many, $400 is an awful lot of trust to extend.
What bites is since I live in the M.o.N. (Middle of Nowhere) it may be years before I get to put my hands on one, if I
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Looks interesting. This [alwaysinnovating.com] says the first batch is supposed to start shipping this month.
Re:portable and power efficient (Score:2)
Portable and power efficient? You mean like a Dell Axim X51v or HP iPAQ hx4700? Hey, I'm just extending your own argument....
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Yes, if you wanted something more portable or power efficient, yes, you would go for maybe one of those.
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And anyone who thinks ARM Pocket PC systems are useless is just not well informed. At least when they have four-inch or larger displays like the two I mentioned, they are very useful, especially due to the fact that they literally fit in a pocket. I have so much software installed on my old hx4700 that I had to ditch the standard Windows Mobile menu and replace it with a pull-down hierarchical menu system, so that I could organize and find apps quickly (as opposed to scrolling through an endless unstructu
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Are you replying to me or to someone else? I was agreeing that if you wanted something smaller and more power efficient that, yes, there are also other options.
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Nah, not to you, just in general to all those Pocket PC/Windows CE/Mobile/ARM naysayers (take your pick) out there. :-)
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Not to mention, outside of the US eBay is murder. Pay $700 for a laptop, then enjoy the extra $100 to get it shipped, if you're lucky.
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Why bother? Because it has a touch screen?
Give me a real keyboard and pointing device over a touch screen any day of the week. Use an iPhone (non-Apple-fanbois only, please) or another touchscreen phone like Samsung Instinct and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Garbage. They're just incredibly frustrating to work with (I know, I know, you'll get to used to it. What if I don't want to?)
I can pick up a Dell Mini 10 for under $500 that has the same processor and memory configuration, 4 times the
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Why bother? Because it has a touch screen?
Um, yes!? I'd use it to take notes, draw pictures, and it also has A KEYBOARD, so I can use it as a regular laptop too.
Oh, and play http://osu.ppy.sh/ [osu.ppy.sh] too. All work and no play and all that jazz.
Re:Does it ... (Score:5, Informative)
Does it run Linux? Seriously.
Not very well, probably. From the Wikipedia article on Intel GMA: [wikipedia.org]
The Intel System Controller Hub US15W for the Atom processor Z5xx series features a GMA 500 graphic system. Rather than being developed in-house, this core is a PowerVR SGX core licensed from Imagination Technologies. Since PowerVR is not cooperative with the open source movement, this has resulted in the reliance of out dated closed source Linux drivers.
Re:Does it ... (Score:5, Insightful)
In other words, is very Linux-unfriendly. So I won't buy such crap. It's sad that we have lost a company that supports linux, fortunately there are others.
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I've been waiting for a while to see some development with the PowerVR drivers (wanted to get a Poulsbo netbook).
Soon enough the AlwaysInnovating touchbook should be out, which is built around the TI OMAP3530. That's Cortex A8 + PowerVR SGX530 and it's gonna run linux, so we'll see if it's just more binary blobs or there's some real work going on.
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It's liable to be just blobs for the SGX530 stuff- there is NO info that is not explicitly under NDA on the programming on that core right at the moment. There's an RE effort going on with a few people on the OpenPandora boards, but it's not complete yet.
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My laptop is currently using open source ATI drivers from Ubuntu. That had no prompt to even install. Yes it works 100%.
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Umm, no. Intel GFX chips are in general well supported with new, FOSS drivers. nVidia have modern closed drivers. ATI have some of both. Any of those would be better.
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The only ones that aren't are the ones they supply with select Atom based machines. The GMA500 isn't an Intel part, but an SGX-53X series part from Imagination Technologies (PowerVR part...).
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Normally I don't see or respond to ACs, but I will second this: the OMAP3 and the Beagleboard are very interesting, but trying to get the video acceleration and the DSP going is WAY too hard, due to the closed source parts. Imagitec, if you are reading this: You make money selling the core IP to the companies, not by selling the drivers - MAKE THE DAMN DRIVERS OPEN AND GET THEM INTO XORG!
And while I am ranting, a bit pointed towards all the folks working on the Free software items, like kernel drivers: PUSH
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Convenient breakdown. It really looks like other ASUS devices in terms of specs. Looks like they merely adapted the mods that others have been doing to them for a while and added a swivel screen.
What they should have done is included the 1080p display screens that have been emerging lately. The higher pixel count really helps a lot when it comes to running various operating systems on it. And while other people were asking what OSes can run on it, Windows or Linux, I was thinking "Is ASUS trying to beat
Re:Does it ... (Score:4, Informative)
The Intel GMA500 graphics are very broken on linux right now. I wouldn't buy this if you want 3d acceleration to work. Also, if you want to use it for watching HD video, you should wait until the driver problems are addressed.
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GMA 500: this means no osx86 on this baby for the moment.
It is better with Windows (no, seriously!) (Score:2)
I wouldn`t rely on Asus for any kind of Linux support. If you want to run Linux, stay away from Asus and especially netbooks of them.
Why? They have a site to explain why, they openly say their products run best under Windows.
Here is the news story http://www.osnews.com/story/21589/Asus_Microsoft_Launch_Anti-Linux_Netbook_Campaign [osnews.com]
Here is the site: http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/ [itsbetterwithwindows.com]
You would wish it was a joke but it isn`t. Perhaps Asus better go back to their mainboard and Apple manufacturing business.
Does it run... (Score:2, Insightful)
Does it run GoogleOS?
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ChromeOS you insensitive clod
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Does it.. (Score:3, Interesting)
make phone calls? :P
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skype?
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https://www.gizmocall.com/gc/app?class=GizmoCall&proc=gcStart [gizmocall.com]
If you are OK with the limitations, yes, for free.
Yes it runs on Linux (it's flash).
I'm still waiting... (Score:4, Insightful)
None of this is new. (Score:2, Informative)
I've had a touch-screen tablet netbook for years. It's a Fujitsu P1510D (there was an article on Slashdot a little while back about alternative operating systems that mentioned it specifically). It's got a touchscreen, half a gig of memory, 30 gigs of hard drive space, a biometric sensor, et cetera. Oh, and in lieu of a touchpad it has a trackpoint. :)
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a Fujitsu P1510D (there was an article on Slashdot a little while back about alternative operating systems that mentioned it specifically). It's got a touchscreen, half a gig of memory, 30 gigs of hard drive space, a biometric sensor, et cetera. Oh, and in lieu of a touchpad it has a trackpoint
Your Fujitsu still sells for over $1,000. I could easily buy a thinkpad in the same price range that will do what I want. I want a netbook that is affordable with a trackpoint.
So indeed, I am asking for something new.
Re:I'm still waiting... (Score:4, Insightful)
I couldn't agree more. Using a trackpad is like trying to use a mouse with a broken arm swaddled in plaster. you're lucky if you can get the pointer 1/3 of the way across the screen without reseating your finger, and at higher sensitivities it's even more of a cumbersome pain to use.
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Having used an EeePC 1000H for over 6 months, I have to disagree. The touchpad on that thing was AWESOME - way better than the Synaptics one on my Thinkpad's Ultranav. In fact, it actually rivals the Thinkpad's trackpoint for ease of use, accuracy and speed... IF you spend some time learning to use it (not to mention multi-touch tapping etc.).
If you were just willing to try something new, you might find that a halfway decent, properly set up trackpad isn't necessarily inferior to a trackpoint on any more th
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Every touchpad and mouse is speed sensitive in windows - go to mouse options in the system setting and turn up the acceleration sensitivity. I haven't had to, the XP default works flawlessly with my synaptic touchpad with the generic windows drivers. (I hate the overhead the synaptic package adds)
That's been a standard thing since Windows 95 (don't rememebr if 3.1 had this feature.) Apple didn't sweat a damned detail, they followed suit.
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A netbook with a trackpoint?
As if the damned keyboard wasn't small enough, now I'll have to deal with brushing up against a nipple in the center of my keyboard and having it accidentally click on shit while I'm trying to type on keys smaller than what my index finger can comfortably sweep across..
Seriously, what fucking moron decided to make the trackpoint function as a mouse button? This is why I burn off every trackpoint I find nestled in the center of any laptop keyboard.
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I dislike the touch pads too. My thumbs often brush them causing my cursor to move unexpectedly. In general I find the mouse/track/touch to be rather clumsy versus the keyboard. I've been able eliminate a lot of mouse work by configuring hot keys through the window manager (openbox and now compiz) as well as xbindkeys. For email I use Mutt and for web browsing I use the Vimperator Firefox plugin.
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That, and digital video output (ex DVI).
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I've found the little rubber nipples to be quite annoying, you don't have the same control over the speed and precision of it since you're just operating a joystick. With the touchpad, the cursor is going to move relative to the speed you're moving your finger. If you want to draw something it's quite a bit easier, just move your finger where you want the cursor to go. With the trackpoint there's no actual movement it's just applying pressure in o
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Weak screen mount? (Score:5, Interesting)
Although the computer looks nice, I am a bit concerned as to the quality of the screen attachment. I have friend who has a computer with a similar configuration and after a year the screen would become wobbly, probably because of wear on the joint. Does anyone know whether Asus has taken care of this?
Re:Weak screen mount? (Score:5, Funny)
Although the computer looks nice, I am a bit concerned as to the quality of the screen attachment. I have friend who has a computer with a similar configuration and after a year the screen would become wobbly, probably because of wear on the joint. Does anyone know whether Asus has taken care of this?
As a time-traveller from July 2010, I can assure you that this newly-launched product which hardly anyone in 2009 has even touched, does not, in fact, get wobbly after a year of use.
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As a time-traveller from July 2010, I can assure you that this newly-launched product which hardly anyone in 2009 has even touched, does not, in fact, get wobbly after a year of use.
Is there anything else that you can tell us. Have we finally manage to bio engineer a pig to fly?
Actually I wasn't expecting anyone to have year's worth of experience with the portable, simply to know whether Asus had tried to use a better mount, or they are just using the same one used in other models.
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As a time-traveller from July 2010, I can assure you that ... (blah blah blah ...)
WHO WON THE FUCKIN' SUPER BOWL, FER CHRISSAKE?!!
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Thats one of the things i love about this [alwaysinnovating.com], the screen comes of entirely and i assume/hope that you can just flip it over entirely so there is no joint to break.
Sweet timing... (Score:3)
SOLD! When does it ship in the UK?
It is going to ship in the UK, isn't it?
Non-removable battery?! (Score:4, Informative)
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Oh great, ANOTHER iPhone story. Wait, what?
the T91 takes a completely different approach.... (Score:2, Insightful)
Does it? Does the T91 take a completely different approach to computing? Really? What is this marketing fluff?
It's a touchscreen. We've seen that. It spins around. We've seen that (GRiD 2260 anybody? Ruggedized convertable laptop from 1992. Incidentally, only eBay auction I ever got screwed on, but it was resolved) It's small. Damn sure we've seen that. Were touchscreen laptops ever that big of a deal? They were The Next Big Thing a few years ago but never got the impression people liked them that m
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Does it? Does the T91 take a completely different approach to computing? Really? What is this marketing fluff?
No. It probable means they patented it. The lawsuits start in 3...2...
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I dunno, $500 seems pretty steep for a machine that's slower than most N270/280 netbooks and has less battery life even though it's got a non-removable battery. Wake me when they get 8 hours of (wi-fi browsing, note-taking, word-document-editing, divx/xvid playing) battery life...
I hate corp-speak. (Score:2)
Can we never, ever see the phrase 'new usage model' on Slashdot again? How about "New way to use it"?
Finally a tablet at a reasonable price. (Score:4, Informative)
I recently was gifted a Dell Inspiron Mini 10. I have no complaints (for what it is). It runs fine and what I really like about it is the HDMI output lets me easily hook it up to my plasma and watch movies with netflix. If this was available a month ago I would've seriously considered it, even though it has VGA out. Put an HDMI connector in it and I'd be in heaven.
I have always wondered why they charge such a premium for tablets, just like I still wonder today why I can't buy a large non-widescreen format LCD monitor for < an arm and a leg...
Pivot (Score:2)
I still wonder today why I can't buy a large non-widescreen format LCD monitor for < an arm and a leg...
Get a widescreen that pivots. 1200x1920 is spectacular for spreadsheets, reading, and code, and you can get used ones for less than $200.
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Sorry, I've tried that, I have screen rotate support. I use pdf's on one screen, data/email/filesys in the other... yes that works with letter/portrait but I also get legal/landscape pdf's. Needless to say, 16:9 works for legal/landscape but sucks for letter/portrait. 4:3 works for both marvelously. Also too you get crappy viewing angles when in portrait mode
Widescreen is a current darling, maybe so. 4:3 works for business and there is the reason they are so much more expensive. Productivity often suffers o
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Wait... how does productivity suffer when you get more screen real estate for less money? What studies have you read that show a loss in productivity due to aspect ratio?
Sorry to nitpick, but it just seems that you prefer 4:3 for aesthetics or familiarity. Which is fine, but no cause for claiming inefficiency or subsidization of 16:10/9 sales.
Uh this has been around for years.. (Score:2)
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(emphasis mine) Tha
It's the price. (Score:5, Insightful)
>Is it relevant because they shrunk the overall thing and now its a "netbook" ?
No, it's relevant because it's $500 instead of, say, a $2000 Fujitsu Lifebook.
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But this [alwaysinnovating.com] is already out (well beta-testing/first shipment) costs $400 ($300 without the keyboard)
Netvertible? (Score:5, Funny)
Let's call the Windows based version a winnetvertible, and the Ubuntu version a netvertibuntu. If they add the ability for the Ubuntu version to make calls, it's a netphonevertibuntu. The aquatic version which comes with tools to help you catch fish and move boats will be a fishnetphonevertibuntugboat.
Or, we could stop making up stupid names for shit.
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Kindle killer (Score:2)
Add a little decrease in cost and a touch screen and the kindle dies a well deserved death. No loss.
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You forgot adding a 200-dpi eInk screen. As shiny as this thing is, I doubt I'll be reading a book at 10-point type in broad daylight on it.
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It's a price/performance issue. I read stuff on my current laptop with no problem. I can either buy a kindle because it's a little easier to read and has some extra battery life, or a tablet which is a full blown computer which is good enough for reading and comparably priced. Which would you choose?
.
Kindle's major engineering problem is the extra zero on the price tag. It's a one trick pony. Not worth it.
Nice try but I'll wait (Score:2)
My eee pc 1000 has the perfect size keyboard for me, although the right shift button could have had better placement. So 8.9" is going to be a little too small for me. The non-removable battery is also a deal killer. My issue with my netbook is the network card isn't supported by some of the software, uh, 'tools' I use, the battery life is almost half what they say it is, and the performance could be a tiny bit faster (only issue that really bugs me is not being able to watch 720p on it). What I ultimately
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Most people will want a separate keyboard at least some of time. What's so bad about having a keyboard built into the 'flip cover' of your touchscreen? What I want is dual touchscreens (a la Nintendo DS) so one can be a reconfigurable keyboard/input device.
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The HP TC42/4400 should come with virtualization technology. Actually, look in your BIOS to see if it's there (it's usually a BIOS setting in the consumer-line of HP laptops.)
Maybe I've got it mixed up with the nx9420
this was done in 1994 (Score:2)
around the time that the NEC versa laptops came out. the period was 486 dx2/66 era ;)
their version had a TFT display that could pivot around and fold on top of the keyboard, over it, with the screen up.
this is hardly new.
Gigabyte M912 (Score:2)
Gigabyte did this a year ago, with their M912. It looked like a stunning little machine, but sadly they priced it at more than double the price of the average netbook, and nowhere seemed to get any in stock.
I'm not sure why they've included a trackpad either. Those things are horrendous to use at the best of times, now there's a touch screen there to replace it. The space could be used to include a decent sized keyboard instead.
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I have one of these. You have to import it. (try Dynamism).
Actually I'm in the UK, but even over here it was incredibly hard to track one down. I found one company that listed it, but it never seemed to be in stock. Besides, I'm used to shopping around for the best price - when only one company stocks an item it makes me nervous. :)
The other down side is a poor power management design.
Yeah, I did read that too - it's the other thing that put me off tracking one down. I went for an Acer Aspire One as my general purpose netbook in the end, but I still crave a touch screen machine.
Tablets are a special market space
Tell me about it - my particular need fo
Nothing really new here... (Score:2)
Both Fujitsu [shopfujitsu.com] and Kohjinsha [kohjinsha.com] have been offering small (<9" screen) tablet PCs for a number of years, so I'm not sure exactly why this is considered newsworthy. Asus' contribution here seems to be in reducing the price and shipping them into the consumer channel. While it is nice to have inexpensive hardware, I would hardly qualify that as revolutionary, let alone evolutionary.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
YOU ARE WELCOME (Score:5, Funny)
Hi everybody. Just wanted to stop by and say you are welcome. My now obsolete Eee non-touchscreen netbook was delivered yesterday. My decision to finally purchase thus ushered in this new generation of netbook (2 days later) for you all to enjoy. I'm getting tired of waiting for Android phones too so I better go buy a G1 so that 3 new Android phones will be released the next day. Otherwise we'll just have to keep waiting indefinitely.
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So if you were to return your EEE, does that mean they'd have to recall all of these new touchscreen ones to continue their systematic campaign of mental torture against you? 'Cause that's got some serious potential for entertainment value.....
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Hi everybody. Just wanted to stop by and say you are welcome. My now obsolete Eee non-touchscreen netbook was delivered yesterday. My decision to finally purchase thus ushered in this new generation of netbook (2 days later) for you all to enjoy. I'm getting tired of waiting for Android phones too so I better go buy a G1 so that 3 new Android phones will be released the next day. Otherwise we'll just have to keep waiting indefinitely.
You could have paid attention to the future product announcements... I knew the T91 was on its way when I bought my 901 in March... The reason that didn't stop me from buying the 901 is 'cause I knew the T91 would be horribly overpriced for the first six to eight months of its sale... I wanted to buy a good netbook for cheap, so I chose one of the models near the end of its sales run.
upgrade or switch... (Score:2)
Should I just upgrade my 900 with a touch screen [dealextreme.com] with internal usb hub, or dump it and get this new model.. Decisions decisions...
I'm tttotally used\tothe keyboard now.I dooooon't make too many mnistakes anymorerd.
The keys are the same size than a regular keyboard, but there is absolutely no space between keys. This is what's messing me up.
Finally! (Score:2)
I've been waiting for this to change from 'vapor' to 'solid' ever since I read about it in CES coverage in January, when it was supposed to ship 'in a month or two'. At the time, sites were saying it'd be available with a TV tuner and GPS. I see the tuner mentioned on Asus' (ridiculously crappy) site but not the GPS. Anyone know about that?
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$500
Last page.
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Why on Earth would you think a resistive touchscreen is useless? Did you go to a school that exclusively used finger paints and A2 pages of paper for writing?
I don't understand what the big deal about capacitive touch is - as far as I'm concerned it's useless for everything that's not web browsing or multi-touch gestures...
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Real men use an inductive touch screen. L FTW!
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Hmmm, what do you need pressure sensing for on a netvetible? Isn't the whole point of this thing being able to take notes in meetings/lectures? It's not like artists are gonna be buying them for highly detailed shadings etc...
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I'd rather see a full-on Wacom tablet underneath the screen. Both aforementioned technologies are quite worthless compared to a good wacom.
Do you suppose that would impact the price?
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Read the last page. 500$.
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Can't see the price...