TechRadar is reporting that Asus could swap out that 900MHz Celeron processor in the Eee PC 900 for a shiny new Atom processor before the end of June. Word on the street is that the Atom processor might not be much speedier than the Celeron processors shipping with the current models. But they are designed to be much more energy efficient, which could have a significant impact on battery life. Right now you’ll be lucky to get 2 to 2.5 hours from an Eee PC 4-cell battery.
Typically I wouldn’t expect to see a company like Asus launch a computer in April/May only to offer a processor upgrade just a month or two later. But I get the feeling that Asus will be able to slap the Atom chip into the current Eee PC 900 (and maybe even Eee PC 701) series computers without making major changes that would require a whole new product design.
[via Eee PC News.de]
I believe the Atom can run two types of external buses, for just that reason.
I said I’d get one when I could get a 1024×600 screen, but that was assuming I could not get 64 bit (yes, I have software that doesn’t need speed but would be much better if I could run the newer 64 bit version) and hyper threaded (close enough to dual core, and given the design of the Atom, a big win, unlike the P4).
Is the Celeron soldered in? Does the Atom fit is slot?
It’s at least two week old news that Asus was jumping the Atom gun and putting Celeron units out there.
Some people at JKOTR have said the Atom is as bad as the A110. If that’s the case, I’d rather snag a Celeron unit. My fondle of a Samsung Q1U with A110 was horrible. The Q1 with Celeron whupped its tush.