Posted on Monday, April 07 2008 @ 2:05 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Asus
shared some details about its Mobile Internet Device plans, the firm is planning to release a 5.6" R50 MID before June. This device will be manufactured by Pegatron Technology and will run both Linux and Windows Vista.
The R50 will be priced above US$500 and the company expects to launch an updated version in November, which will have a keyboard.
With Intel expecting MIDs to target final ASPs at around US$500, Chen pointed out that if Intel can actually bring down costs, the MID market in 2008 will definitely see a surge. Meanwhile business opportunities should start jumping in 2009 when second-generation devices show up. The market will take off within three years, according to Asustek estimates.
Asus also said the sub-prime mortage crisis will have a negative impact on its notebook shipments in Q2 2008 but they believe shipments will recover in the third quarter due to back-to-school demand.
