The president of Asustek Computer, Jerry Shen, has confirmed at a news-conference in Taipei, Taiwan, that the company plans to launch Eee PC-branded mobile computers for higher-end market segments. The launch of such systems will considerably expand markets that Asus may address with its trendy Eee-branded devices.

As revealed earlier this week, Asustek Computer plans to release Pro Fashion and Ultimate (S-series) families of Asus Eee PC notebooks aiming at $700 - $900 price-points. The systems will feature 10.1” LED backlit screens, 120GB hard disk drives (HDDs) or 32GB solid state drives (SSDs) and will work for 4-5 hours, DigiTimes web-site quotes Mr. Shen as saying.

The more expensive Asus Eee PC laptops may become popular among professionals looking for affordable second laptop or among consumers interested in getting an inexpensive, but relatively stylish gadget.

Earlier this week it was revealed that Asustek Computer plans to expand its Eee line to 23 systems this year. With 23 different Asus Eee PCs models on the market, customers seeking for ease-of-use are likely to find it hard to pick up the right model. On the other hand, Asustek Computer will get a chance to more efficiently compete against its rivals due to wider product lineup.