Looks like we will be getting an Eee-branded UMPC at some future date. It almost has to come to pass, what with these drool-worthy pics of an Eee PC 701 prototype, inspired by the original Origami R2H device found on Mobile1.

It does away with the keyboard and loses some weight, at just 1.68 pounds and even comes with a stylus. Sadly there’s no word yet on any release date. It may or may not ever make it into production, but it sure looks awesome and we’ll keep our fingers crossed.

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.

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a good car mod. The last one was an Xbox 360 modded into a Suzuki. Now, thanks to some crazy Ruskie hacker, an Eee PC gets crammed into an automobile dashboard. He’s posted an article showing how to take a 7 inch Eee PC apart and turn it into a carputer that hooks into an auto stereo system and it even acts as a graphic equalizer.

The finished product is a computer in your car with 1GB of RAM, 4GB of built in storage plus an 8GB SDHC card, a 7 inch, 800 x 480 pixel display, Bluetooth, a slot-loading DVD-RW drive, GPS, 5.1 channel audio, a touschreen, and a boatload of USB adapters that string the whole thing together.

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.

Meet the new best keyboard ever. The official Eee Keyboard. It features wireless HDMI, and it’s a “fully functional PC” with full QWERTY and an awesome mini secondary touchscreen.

Asus is mum about if and when we’ll actually see the Eee Keyboard come to market (It looks like a very real product), but if it’s a concept for a home theater PC, it is an amazing one. With wireless HDMI you could probably make any television into your monitor without having a huge PC taking up space.

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.

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?

Looks like Asus has been working on an official handwriting recognition add-on for the Eee PC. Which is good news if you’ve been trying to mod your DS to do the job, but failing miserably. It was demoed at last weeks Computex show, and it accepts English and simplified Chinese characters via the Eee’s USB port.

The touch pad is just over 2-inches across, with the whole thing measuring 4.3 x 4.4 x 0.7 inches. If you’re big on handwriting, you’ll have to wait. How long we’re not sure. No launch date or price info yet.

If you’re a fan of the Asus Eee portable PC you’ll probably be happy to hear that Asus may have a desktop version of the popular notebook in the works. According to Asus president Jonathan Tseng, the new desktop Eee PC will launch in 2008 most likely running Linux and will come with no monitor and an affordable price since it will save by not paying fees for a pricey OS.

Digitimes