Asus, the world's largest maker of motherboards, believes it's on the cusp of doing what no Taiwanese tech company has done before: fuel a consumer trend with its new low-cost mini-laptop, the Eee PC.
The former contract technology company is hoping its 7-inch notebook, which sells for less than $500 and slips into a purse, wins it a foothold in the United States. Though Asus is not the only PC maker to jump into this emerging market - and others are expected to follow - it has so far received a thumbs up from analysts and consumers.
The Eee PC is part of a mini movement to market little laptops. Initially, the gadgets were aimed at the developing world. Now, some computer makers realize these light-weight laptops could be sellers in countries like the United States. They have hit a sweet spot among some consumers because of their compact design, low cost and durability.
The two-pound Eee PC, made with children and older people unfamiliar with computers in mind, has garnered unexpected interest from on-the-move adults looking for a slim, durable and light machine for basic computing.
"That's one thing we did not anticipate," admitted Asus President Jonathan Tsang. "It's been pretty hot."
Asus, which launched its customized Linux laptops in October, sold about 350,000 in three months. Early in the holiday season, this iPod of the PCs was the No. 1-selling computer on Amazon.com.
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