This is pure speculation. Moreover, business isn't war and companies don't "hate" each other; they just happen to be in competition on some markets.

The article written like link-bait. In fact, the only news-worthy item in there was that ASUS had released a flash-based laptop with a fairly cheap price.

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=24&l2=0&l3=0...

Even the short engadget review on it was better than the link provided above.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/eee-pc-review-roundup/

I think it's good speculation.

Besides - if someone eats into your livelyhood I can't imagine you liking them very much.

Mini-PC or not, normal PCs are also getting so cheap that it might become difficult to charge much money for Operating Systems.

Also, I wonder if Bill Gates timed it deliberately so that his followers will fail, to cement the myth of his leadership? I guess not, but in general, it might be a consideration of CEOs when stepping down. Or maybe in general they tend to step down when prospects are poor.

As for the mini-PC, it might be cute, but so far I don't see why I would need one.

yeah but i'm thinking it might be perfect for my mum. her old imac is running 9.2 and she just wants to surf her email and bid on trademe - for this price, i can buy her one for xmas every other year and never need to update her software! i'm not an early adopter but i'm going to keep an eye on this for later. also - a great school pc for kids (?)

I got my mum a decent laptop from ebay for 300EUR, and installed Linux on it. At first I also thought she would only email and surf the web, but recently she asked for Google Earth and got herself a digital camera. On average, my parents do more weird stuff with the computer than I do (for example my mum keeps scanning things to email them to friends).

Maybe the OLPC would be better than the eec? I think the eec's display looks ugly, what's up with the big borders?

It has a little screen. Does she have good eyesight?

hmm, good point, i really need to see one in the plastic

Interesting -- i'm reading this on my eee pc. I love it!

The only problem I can see with this is only 4 GB or 8 GB of HD space and no CD/DVD drive. Also no mention of USB. Otherwise I would buy one tomorrow to have as a 2nd travel laptop.

I ♥ ASUS and thought back in 2004 they were on a hot streak of promising products:

http://gojomo.blogspot.com/2004/12/i-asus.html

At the time, it seemed they only needed more native-english-marketing-savvy to achieve mass appeal in North America. I hope the Eee PC will be their brand breakthrough.