Asus was one of the first companies to start the netbook segment and its Eee netbooks are the systems that prompted many computer makers to enter into the netbook category. Asus has a wide array of models and systems in its Eee lineup and today it has introduced its latest machine.

The new Asus Eee 1000HE is the first netbook to launch using the new Intel Atom N280 processor. The N280 is slightly faster than the N270 it replaces and is optimized for better battery life. The machine uses the Asus Super Hybrid Engine to boost CPU speed for performance or to lower it to get longer battery life depending on the user’s needs.

The ASUS F50 and F70 range of notebooks sport features tailored specifically for users who want both high definition audio visual entertainment and extensive multitasking capabilities. Users looking for large screen entertainment and massive storage will want the Asus F70SL, the world’s first 17.3″ notebook with 16:9 golden aspect ratio for cinematic viewing and dual hard disk drives providing up to 1 TB in storage space.

The Asus F50 and F70 range of notebooks come standard with high definition audio quality and a 16:9 Full High Definition display for high contrast rate, brightness and color saturation. An HDMI port allows users to connect their notebooks to larger external LCD displays or other HDMI-capable devices.

Last week we had a look at Asus’ HTPC keyboard concept, but now we’ve got some specs to go along with it. The only thing we don’t know about are pricing and availability. The keyboard boasts a 5-inch built-in display, a 1.6 GHz Atom processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB SSD, WiFi, flat Mac-like keys and Bluetooth.

Where ports are concerned, it’s got wireless HDMI, 2 USB 2.0, VGA, HDMI, and audio in/out. It’s OS of choice is Windows XP home, which is a bit odd for something that wants to be a home theater PC, though it’s not packing a TV tuner either. No info on price or release date, but according to the Asus CEO, it’ll be available in the next 3 to 6 months.

Your Eee Box experience is missing one key ingredient isn’t it? A branded keyboard/mouse/remote. According to Eee PC News, ASUS is getting ready to ship an Eee-branded wireless keyboard / mouse combo in black and white.

That should be good news for Eee users. The multi-function remote should handle all of your media center duties easily. There’s no word yet on a price or release date, so we unfortunately, you’ll have to wait to find out.

When I think of a netbook, I envision a small, lightweight machine offering lower levels of performance in exchange for longer battery life and a lower purchase price. Most of us expect the same things. Some people aren’t happy with the battery life of the Eee netbooks and look to the aftermarket for more run time.

A new battery for the Eee 1000H and the 901 is now available that is in simple terms insanely ugly. The battery is wider than the netbook itself and features 10-cells to provide power for the little rig.

It looks like a Celeron-based Eee Box B203 has shown up on Asus’ website. Aside from the the Intel C220 processor, little has changed from the Atom-based Eee Box B202. It features Windows XP Home, ships with up to 2GB of RAM and 160GB storage, and measures just 222 x 178 x 26.9 mm (which is about 8.7 x 7 x 1 inches). As far as looks, it still leaves a lot to be desired, but on the plus side if it’s cheaper, faster, and fits behind your monitor, you probably don’t care about it’s looks.

The netbook is the sole bright point in computer industry with the current economic crisis worldwide. The netbook is selling like hot cakes thanks to the lower upfront cost and small dimensions for the service.

DisplaySearch has released its rankings for the netbook market and surprisingly Asus with its massive line of Eee netbooks isn’t in the top spot. The top spot in the rankings went to Acer with its Aspire One netbook. Some of its sales success is no doubt linked to the fact that it is the only netbook I have seen in Walmart locations.

I really like the idea of a HTPC in my living room. I would love to be able to watch A-Team or The Pretender on my big screen rather than my PC display from Hulu. The catch is that I don’t want a big and bulky HTPC machine in my entertainment center, I just don’t have the room, and I want HD capability.

Asus has announced a couple new Eee Box models that could be perfect for my needs. The models are the B204 and B206. Both of them offer HD capability thanks to a new discrete ATI Radeon HD 3400 series video card. The systems also offer HDMI output for connecting to HDTV sets. The B204 adds Bluetooth and an internal battery to act as an uninterruptable power supply.

If you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly laptop that will match your wood floors, the ASUS U6V-B1-Bamboo laptop is for you. It’s actually fairly nice looking and this 12.1-inch ultraportable laptop is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com. It features a Moso bamboo cover and a palm rest that is “artisan grade,” ooo la la.

Even the touch pad has bamboo fiber patterns on it, making it feel as though you’re scrolling and pointing on a real bamboo surface. Specs include a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 processor, a 320GB hard drive, a NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS 256MB graphics card and more. The display is LED backlit and features a 1280 x 800 resolution. An optical drive is included as well as Windows Vista Business. Go ahead and pre-order it on Amazon now for $1,999.

It looks like ASUS fans have another model to consider from the company, the new N20A model. At around 4 pounds, this one has a 12.1-inch WXGA display, described as “glare-type”, and it gets a boost in the performance as well. You can choose from four different Core 2 Duo processors, though it sports an integrated Intel GMA X4500HD graphics chipset. You’ll get up to 4GB of RAM, a max 320GB hard drive, and a DVD burner, built-in webcam, memory card reader. There are also HDMI and VGA outputs, three USB ports, an ExpressCard slot, eSATA port, 8-in-1 media card reader, and the Trusted Platform Module 1.2 in select models. No word on price yet.

DigiTimes is now reporting that Asus is planning to launch an Android-based handset, which confirms some rumors we’ve heard. They were invited to join the Open Handset Alliance after all. The phone will apparently be available sometime in the first half of 2009, and might land in Taiwan first under ASUS’ own brand before coming our way in the form of different customized models. As you might expect, no other details at this point, but sources say that ASUS will be phasing out its use of the Ericsson Mobile Platform for handset platforms from Qualcomm and Marvell.

ASUS’s new Eee PC S101 will be landing in the States on November 1st. Landing with a thud thanks to it’s hefty $699 price tag, not due to it’s weight. You’ll get a new super-slim enclosure that’s just 0.75-inches thick, but the specs are pretty standard.

It sports an Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, matte 10.2-inch 1024 x 600 LED-backlit display, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, multi-card reader, multi-touch touchpad, VGA webcam, 5.4 hours of quoted battery life that you can believe when you see it and Windows XP. No Linux option in the States. It all weighs only 2.3 pounds. This expensive laptop comes in copper brown and graphite varieties. Are you impressed?

Asus ups it’s LCD inventory with four new high-end displays arriving this month. The VK266H and VW266H are 25.5 inches, making them the largest Asus has offered. The VK246H and VW246H are the new 24 inch models. All feature the company’s new Splendid Video Intelligence Technology, 1,920 x 1,200, Full HD 1080p video playback via an HDMI input, with a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, a nice improvement over the current 3,000:1 of Asus’ flagship. Specs are identical on all four, with the VK266H and the VK246H having built-in webcams. No word on pricing just yet.

ASUS just announced a dedicated videophone. The AiGuru SV1 lets you get in on virtually unlimited video calls without using a computer. Oh my. It sports a “simple-to-use, icon-based interface” too. Oh dear. I hope my grandson can explain this to me.

The SV1 features an 800 x 600 pixel 7-inch LCD, integrated speaker and mic (or jacks for your own), a VGA-quality webcam, and connects to the Internet over 802.11b/g WiFi or Ethernet. If you need to, it can even run off battery for a whopping 20-minutes should you absolutely need to. It’s available for pre-order in Europe and North America today for $300 and ships in October. Basically, it all adds up to a very grandma friendly phone…That she may still be scared of. It all sounds so difficult dear. Forget the phone, I’m just going to play Bingo.

Check out this shot of an Asus device that might challenge the Samsung Omnia when it’s released. Apparently it’s called the Asus Glaxy7. It runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro and the display looks very similar to the Omnia. Other features are a 3.5 “WVGA 800X480 / 65K Color TFT, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, microSD memory card slot, mini-USB, 200 hours standby, 4 hours talk time, and a trackball that acts like a D-pad. On the back is a 5 megapixel camera with no flash for low light conditions.