ASUS to revamp its original Eee PC 700 series?

by Stevie Smith - Aug 4 2008, 12:43

Following on from last week’s rumour revelation that ASUSTek is preparing to unveil new oomph-worthy Ultimate and PRO Fashion editions of its critically acclaimed ASUS Eee PC ultra-portable laptop, fresh whispers are now emanating from the Net regarding a somewhat unexpected overhaul for the first-run 700 series.

According to various industry reports and tantalising pictures posted by German technology site Eeenews.de, ASUSTek is looking to rekindle consumer attraction regarding its original Eee PC 701, renaming it as the Eee PC 701SD and tweaking its specifications without increasing the original computer’s pocket-friendly price tag.

Current chatter regarding the revamped 701SD’s aesthetics suggest the overhauled hardware will come packed into the improved chassis of the Eee PC 901, while retaining the somewhat sharper edging synonymous with the 700 series.

Other external alterations will apparently include the same keyboard as the 901 model, a new track pad and also a repositioned Eee PC logo, while its internal specifications will see performance boosted by the inclusion of Intel’s Atom mobile processor, which will replace the rather limp Celeron chip.

It is believed that the original 701’s pricing will be maintained (or perhaps bettered) thanks to the introduction of a cheaper 30GB hard disk drive (HDD), which is likely to save on production costs when measured against the expensive 4GB solid state disk (SSD) presently offered in the existing 701 edition.

As with any and all Net-based rumours, ASUSTek has not yet issued an official comment concerning the overhaul of its 700 series Eee PC system. Despite that lack of confirmation (or denial), online speculators claim the tweaked 701SD will likely arrive alongside the new Ulimate and PRO Fashion options this coming September.

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