Sony leery of the Eee PC?LAS VEGAS--As a computer, the Eee PC from Asus is intended to be the opposite of intimidating--it's made for children after all. But its potential as a market force is apparently giving chills to its larger industry peers.
 The Eee PC at its US launch last fall. (Credit: Erica Ogg, CNET News.com) If the Eee PC just catches on with Linux developers, enthusiasts, and the tech-savvy early adopter crowd, that's fine by him. "But if mainstream buyers buy it, then, whoa," Abary said. So should Sony, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and their ilk be frightened of Asus? So far, the version of the Eee PC in the US comes only with Linux, but that will soon change. Japan got its Windows XP version last month, and the US should be getting one in the next few weeks. And even with just the open-source version available stateside, the numbers say it's striking a nerve: The company reported moving 350,000 units of the Eee in the first quarter it was available last fall. Sony's not the only one taking notice. Acer is reportedly readying an Eee competitor, and the yet-to-be-officially announced HP Compaq 2133 was developed with the Eee firmly in mind. As for Sony, though it did start offering lower-priced notebooks last year in the S$2,000 (US$1,472.50) range, don't expect the company to go any lower just yet. Abary says so far the company is just "keeping an eye" on the Eee's activity. Sony has always positioned itself as a premium brand, and will continue to do so, as was evident in the rest of its PC offerings on show here.  A Vaio to match your crocodile-print shoes. (Credit: Erica Ogg, CNET News.com) People who buy their Vaio at the Sony Style store online have as many as 36 different choices for personalizing their laptop. The Graphic Splash line has three different patterns and multiple color combinations, as well as a choice of font on the keyboard. "That's what consumers really, really want," Abary told a gathering of reporters earlier in the day. Sony also said that Vaio as a brand sells particularly well with women, which could also explain Sony's increased emphasis on personalization. Though 80 percent of notebooks sold industry-wide are owned by men, Abary estimated, Vaios' percentage ownership by men is in the low 70s, indicating a higher-than-average ownership rate by women. But it's not all about appearances. Sony is also pushing its lineup of home theater PCs, which are not primary PCs, but still start at around S$2,500 (US$1,840.63).  The TP series home theater PC is now a Blu-ray player too. (Credit: Erica Ogg, CNET News.com) Though it was released in the fall, the all-in-one PC from Sony, the LT, is part of the same strategy. Again, though it's a PC like Gateway's One or Dell's XPS One, Sony positions the product as a TV with PC capability instead of the other way around. Doing so is likely to lure more high-end customers, with the LT's Bravia-like bezel echoing Sony's line of LCD TVs.
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ferdiei says...
Eee might end up in the "sweet spot" between ultraportables i.e. pda, umpc.. (but hey, this one is an ultraportable) & mainstream notebook pc. then all will be in trouble really, not because of every manufacturer's concern abour their profit margin, but how this turn of event could lead everybody to a new level of everyday computing as the PC is becoming ubiquitous. this way, people will discover the practical uses of a computer, electronics industry shall be more environment friendly (remember SSD versus HDD?), enhanced connectivity...then it will "gone are days" of expensive / over-developed pc-related products. with a shift in focus, there would be less products' needed to cater for specialize application/s or customers with more discerning taste in style (who are willing to pay more)-niche market!
Feb 29, 2008 08:14
Eee might end up in the "sweet spot" between ultraportables i.e. pda, umpc.. (but hey, this one is an ultraportable) & mainstream notebook pc. then all will be in trouble really, not because of every manufacturer's concern abour their profit margin, but how this turn of event could lead everybody to a new level of everyday computing as the PC is becoming ubiquitous. this way, people will discover the practical uses of a computer, electronics industry shall be more environment friendly (remember SSD versus HDD?), enhanced connectivity...then it will "gone are days" of expensive / over-developed pc-related products. with a shift in focus, there would be less products' needed to cater for specialize application/s or customers with more discerning taste in style (who are willing to pay more)-niche market!
Feb 29, 2008 08:14
archon1975 says...
Asus Eee has created a special niche in the current dead pool laptop market. Most of the average laptop users do not required the high end CPUs for their simple internet surfing or word document editing on the move.
There are a group of people who are willing to fork out around S$3000 for a dual core CPU with SLI graphic chip for gaming purposes, but so far the mainstream laptop manufacturers had turned a deaf ear, citing low demand as it would hurt the fat profit margin.
Large companies that are ready to hear from the lroad base consumer tend to win out in today ever changing conumer market. It is good that at least Asus has decided to take the first move to the next stage of mobile computing developement by giving the mass market a choice - affordable one for the mass.
This is important in positioning Asus as a market leader in conumser lifestyle IT product - a move that Asus Co needs as it has out grow its sub-con role, and to seek back-end intregation of its business model. Asus has taken the first step to assume a larger role of defining the consumer lifestyle product in its own unique style. This will be another successful story as Asus can be the next Sony in Taiwan:) Cheers!
Mar 01, 2008 13:48
Asus Eee has created a special niche in the current dead pool laptop market. Most of the average laptop users do not required the high end CPUs for their simple internet surfing or word document editing on the move.
There are a group of people who are willing to fork out around S$3000 for a dual core CPU with SLI graphic chip for gaming purposes, but so far the mainstream laptop manufacturers had turned a deaf ear, citing low demand as it would hurt the fat profit margin.
Large companies that are ready to hear from the lroad base consumer tend to win out in today ever changing conumer market. It is good that at least Asus has decided to take the first move to the next stage of mobile computing developement by giving the mass market a choice - affordable one for the mass.
This is important in positioning Asus as a market leader in conumser lifestyle IT product - a move that Asus Co needs as it has out grow its sub-con role, and to seek back-end intregation of its business model. Asus has taken the first step to assume a larger role of defining the consumer lifestyle product in its own unique style. This will be another successful story as Asus can be the next Sony in Taiwan:) Cheers!
Mar 01, 2008 13:48
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