Hot on the heels of the Eee PC 1000 comes the "N Series", which ASUS calls the netbook's "next of kin".
Translation? Some entry level ($999) to mid-range, to slightly spiffier notebooks (Blu-ray) that we might or might not get excited about, once we've had a chanced to compare the value in what is a tightly contested mid-market.
ASUS N10, from $999 - the Eee PC's big brother?
Curiously the entry level N10 looks on paper like more a beefed-up netbook, with N270 Atom under the hood, up to 2GB, 10.2in screen. It also weighs 1.4Kg, which is light enough to trouble the Macbook Air, but won't win any records.
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| The ASUS N10, from $999 |
ASUS N20, from $1,999 - 12.1in with DVD/Blu-Ray
We're much more excited about the N20, which is a "real" notebook, in the sense it has an optical drive (DVD or Blu-Ray), 12.1in screen, and Intel Core 2 Duo under the hood. To top things off it's equipped witjh Intel's new 5GHz capable Wi-Fi Link 5100, which means you can use it with new dual-band routers (less network congestion).
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| The ASUS N20, from $1,999 |
We're also intrigued by ASUS' claim of 12 hours battery life for the N20 - a big call, and not unexpected, given Dell and HP are making huge claims over battery life, including up to 24 hours for the HP Elitebook. We’ve written a lot about battery life claims lately, and will be testing these notebooks to tell you what you can realistically expect.
ASUS N50, from $2,299 - 15.4in premium
At this price, ASUS will need to do something special to tempt people up from Dell's Studio or XPS lines, and they've definitely pulled out all stops, with Blu-Ray optional, and an Air Ionizer, of all things. The platform, with integrated graphics, Core 2 Duo, Wi-Fi Link 5100, and LED panel, means this should be a balanced system you can take on the road, rather than a battery life hog, something testing will confirm. Gigabit Ethernet, up to 500GB HDD, and a WiMax capability (fairly useless in Australia right now) complete the picture for a mid size notebook that's a cut-above entry level.
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| The ASUS N50, from $2,299 |
ASUS N80, price tba - 14.1in business hybrid
This should make for an interesting comparison with Dell's Latitude line, which incidentally, has seen Dell make some big battery claims recently. No prices yet from ASUS, but the specs include Core 2 Duo, integrated graphics, up to 320GB, LED backlit screen. The N80 isn't particularly light, at 2.69Kg.
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| The ASUS N80, price tba |