X-bit labs

Started by: kjls | Date 01/30/08

Comments: 5 | Last Comment:  02/02/08

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1. Apple names everything with the "i".
iToaster, iBeefpattie, iTolietpaper

Asus names everyting with the "Eee"

EeeBread, EeeEgg, EeeMeatloaf.

2. I do not think the author of this article has gotten it yet...

Me myself, I own several computers and for example, I don't want to start my quad-core, Ultra-SLI computer just to browse the web for porn or other interesting stuff or dl some movies or music. I reserve that machine for gaming.

Using the right tool for the right task is the key here and I can clearly see that there are a lot of people (who are not into gaming) wanting simple systems that just work, but on the other hand, they are also fed up with the horrible expense of Apple's solutions (MBAir = fiasco?) and frankly can't stand the persona of Steve Jobs or his followers.

People who are interested in computers generally just don't give a f*ck about expensive prestige stuff. Leave that to the "audiophiles" buying +25 K$ speaker wires. There are exceptions like Apple, Alienware and Sony Vaio (with carbon shell) to mention a few, but in general - "computer nerds" or everyday people just want some bang for the least amount of money.

And Apple may soon bite the dust thanks to their "smart" choice to abandon IBM for Intel CPUs. Why buy a +1000$ Apple when you can dl the right OSX torrent and install it on your PC? Not legal, that's right. But that arrogant SOB called Steve would not let us PC users buy the OSX and then install it, because it's not allowed. Well, let him have it.

It's also about taking market shares. If person A orders the 500$ Eee Monitor, he or she might not be likely to also buy a 1200$ I-Mac, right? Instead, he or she may buy an Eee HDTV, an EeePC or some other extras (traveling kits etc) offered by ASUS or other companies. Thus denying Apple the magic of growth.

If ASUS designs the Eee Monitor to be similarly looking to the I-Mac (but I think black is..well...the new black, so I expect to choose between white/silver or black) and perform adequate, they might really take some market shares from prospective I-Mac buyers!

The news-story is not about Asus vs. Apple. It is about Asustek Computer's Asus Eee family of devices, which are "going back to basics", a way that may not be the way to go.

3. But it IS the way to go

4. You're insane. The EeePC is a runaway hit with sales expected in the HP range this year. The Eee Monitor will be an iMac-like computer WITH A TV TUNER for under $500. I don't know how well the TV will sell, but plenty of people are looking to upgrade to HDTV, and the Eee HDTV will cost just $200 more, probably with amazing features over a plain HDTV. We'll see if it's done well, but they will sell well if the interface is good.

Asus is in the game.

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