Initial thoughts on this news about an a new ASUS EEE device was that it would be just a keyboard, screen and battery ‘shell’ that you could slot an Eee PC module into. I can’t help thinking about a high-end Android MID/Smartphone that slots into the ‘shell’ to turn it into a netbook but i’m sure my thoughts are 12 months away from reality.
In reality (at least in Digitimes’ world) it’s going to be a thin 10″ netbook. If it’s light light light, I might raise an eyebrow otherwise, this will probably be the last you hear of it from me ;-)
ASUS Eee PC ‘Shell’ ultra-thin netbook launching in April? – Engadget.
ASUS Eee PC ‘Shell’ http://www.umpcportal.com/?p=5962
Seems really cool and i love the MID/smartphone-slide-in thought.
I would be okay with a Shell as Desktop replacement and therefor without any Battery though. Add a gfx-card to the shell to support the MID/smartphone with processing games or a more complex OS and we are where i want us to be.
The idea of a laptop shell for a PocketPC/UMPC/MID/… has been around for a long time. I wonder who has the patent on it?
Looks like i-mate is implementing the concept with a WinMo phone.
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/02/25/i-mate-prepping-warrior-netbook-to-complement-legionnaire-handse/