Asus X101CH and 1025C Now Available for Pre-Order

The Asus X101CH and 1025C are now available for pre-order at JR.com (X101CH, 1025C) and ExcaliberPC.com (X101CH, 1025C) with anticipated shipping dates of February 29^th and February 20^th respectively according to Excaliber PC.  Apparently Asus is taking advantage of the extra leap year day to still claim the February availability they promised.  Both the Asus X101CH and 1025C were announced and on display at CES 2012 this past January.

The X101CH is equipped with the Intel Atom N2600 Dual-core processor giving users both multi-tasking productivity abilities and a multimedia experience. The X101CH netbook is designed for easy portability with its slim profile that’s less than 1-inch thick and weighing in at just over 2 pounds.  Color choices for the X101 include either black or white.

Here are the full specs of the X101CH:

• Operating System: Windows 7 Starter
• Display: 10.1″ LED Backlight WSVGA Screen (1024×600)
• Intel CPU & Chipset: Intel Atom N2600 Processor (1.60GHz)
• Memory: 1GB DDR3 SO-DIMM
• Wireless Data Network: WLAN 802.11 b/g/n
• Hard Drive: 320GB Hard Drive
• Camera: 0.3 Mega Pixel
• Audio: High Quality Speaker
• Input/Output: 2 x USB 2.0 1 x Audio Jack (Headphone/Headset)
• 1 x Card Reader: Micro SD
• Battery: 4hrs (3cells, 28W/h) Battery Life
• Dimensions: 10.31″ x 7.01″ x 1.02″~1.44″
• Weight: 2.05 lbs (with Battery)

The 1025C is available in black, pink or white.  It has specs virtually identical to that of the X101CH; the only difference is its battery size, which is approximately double. Though this triples the battery-life, it also increases its weight to 2.75 pounds.

• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Starter
• Display: 10.1″ LED Backlight WSVGA Screen (1024×600)
• Intel CPU & Chipset: Intel Atom N2600 (1.60GHz) Dual Core Processor
• Memory: 1GB DDR3 SO-DIMM
• Wireless Data Network: WLAN 802.11 b/g/n @2.4GHz
• Camera: 0.3 Mega Pixel
• Audio: Hi-Definition Audio CODEC Stereo Speaker
• Battery: Li-ion Battery 6-Cell (56W/h)
• Battery Life: 10 Hours
• Dimensions: 10.31″ x 7.01 x 0.93″~1.43″
• Weight: 2.79 lbs (with Battery)

The Asus 1025C is priced at $299 while the cheaper version X101CH is $269.00.

Asus and Acer are two of the only manufacturers to announce new netbooks at CES this year.  Acer has already stated they’re looking to get out of netbooks due to the slim margins (aka no profits) and focus on ultrabooks, yet they still recently released the D270 netbook.  Apparently leaving the netbook industry is like trying to kick a bad habit – hard to do.   The sales of netbooks have been plummeting of late as tablets cannibalize the potential buying audience.  That said, some people refuse to go without a physical keyboard and like their cheap and small laptop equivalents, so if Asus is the only man standing then they might make a business of it.

Stay tuned for reviews of these new Asus Eee PC laptops!