Future Eee PCs to get Qualcomm chips?
updated 03:30 pm EST, Thu March 5, 2009
Eee PCs to get Qualcomm
ASUS is considering using a Qualcomm platform for its future Eee PC models, the company's general Eee PC manager, Samson Hu, said recently. Although the company has no current mass production plans and will not abandon the current Intel Atom-based notebooks anytime soon, it's likely to use the semiconductor firm's Snapdragon chipset, which has integrated 3G data network capabilities, a GPS sensor and HD video playback in addition to a notebook-class processor.
At the same time, Hu said ASUS will continue to produce 8.9-inch netbooks, contradicting an earlier report that had Benson Lin, ASUS' Asia-Pacific region president, saying the company will phase them out completely and replace them with 7- and 10-inch models. ASUS will continue to make 8.9-inch Eee PCs, although in very limited numbers and for network providers and government markets only.
Hu estimated ASUS will ship 15 percent of all netbook production in 2009 to network providers, while convertible touchscreen Eee PCs like the Eee PC T91 and T101H will account for 10 percent of all netbook sales.
