ASUS briefly teases EP71, EP101, EP102 tablets pre-CES
updated 09:40 am EST, Thu December 30, 2010
Releases, then pulls, intro video with chairman
ASUS revealed more about its upcoming Eee Pad line of tablet computers in a video featuring Chairman Jonney Shih. The company tweeted a link to the video, since removed from YouTube, which confirmed some of the specs for its 12-inch EP121 and 10-inch EP101. Also shown was another 10-inch tablet with a sliding keyboard, dubbed the EP102. The video provided the first glimpse of a smaller tablet, designated the EP71, without providing any details about the unit.
The video confirmed that the EP101 will have a 10-inch touchscreen and run Android. The EP101 will also have a detachable QWERTY keyboard, which Shih said will convert the tablet into a more standard netbook form factor. A similar tablet, the EP102, will feature a sliding keyboard instead. Previous reports hinted that the EP101 may use Windows Embedded Compact 7, a new version of Windows CE tailored to touchscreen devices.
The video verified several details about the EP121 tablet. The EP121 will have a high definition 12-inch touchscreen, run Windows 7 desktop on an Intel Core i5 processor, and incorporate HDMI out, a USB port, and one SD card slot. ASUS touted a keyboard dock for the EP121 in the earlier video.
No information was given about the EP71 other than a sketch that positioned it as part of the Eee Pad "family," but its name pointed to a seven-inch screen size.
ASUS has a history of not releasing information on its products until they are ready to ship. [via Notebook Italia]
