Tech In Style Issue 6

Discover the fascinating history of ASUS

Turn on the Eee PC touch-screen tablet

ANNIVERSARYISSUE

From motherboards to the Eee PC, find out how

good design puts ASUS ahead

ISSUE 6 SEPTEMBER 2009WWW.TECHINSTYLE.TV

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY

Three incredible new ASUS laptops

touch down

2 | ISSUE 62 | ISSUE 6

Contents

Hello and welcome to the Tech in Style summer issue. In previous issues, we’ve talked about the benefits that technology can bring; in this issue, we’d like to explain how such technology is created, starting with an initial idea. The key is design.

Design is almost everywhere within our daily lives because the

products you choose to use reflect your personality. So on page 4 you can read about how design skills led ASUS’ five-man operation in Taiwan to become a multinational company.

Design is also crucial for research and development, as the consideration that goes into creating good designs also makes for a much smoother user experience.

Finally, we’ve introduced a new section that gives you a peek at the people who work in different jobs. In this issue, you can read about the service department and find out what your company’s MIS team can do for you.

We hope you enjoy the issue!

Helen Ling, Editor

04 How four Taiwanese computer engineers

and one motherboard made ASUS into a global success story

06 From motherboards to Eee PCs, discover the

secrets of the ASUS design team

08 Meet three incredible new laptop ranges from

ASUS — the U, UX and UL Series

About ASUSASUS is a leading company in the new digital era that employs more than 10,000 people globally, and its revenue in 2008 was US$8.1 billion. It ranked in the top 10 IT companies in BusinessWeek’s InfoTech 100 for 2008, and has been on the listing for 12 consecutive years. ASUS was also selected by the Wall Street Journal Asia as No.1 in quality and service in Taiwan.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.co.uk

EDITORIALEditor Helen LingCreative Director Quawn HsuProduction Kate Faulkner

MANAGEMENTGroup Art Director Bill BagnallManaging Editor James KidderSub Editor Nathalie Colvey

PRODUCTIONProduction Manager Mark YoungProduction Co-ordinator Liz Moores

Copyright: ASUSTek (UK) Limited, 2009. All editorial content in this magazine has been sponsored by ASUS. While every care was taken preparing this magazine, ASUStek Limited cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information nor any consequences arising from it.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

3ISSUE 6 |

TECH IN STYLEISSUE 6

Credits

12 If you’re looking for a lightweight laptop that’s as easy to use as

a notepad, and perfect for kids to use at school or home, then the ASUS Eee PC T91 is the right — or write — choice

14

Prepare to be blown away by the staggering performance of the new ASUS ROG MARS graphics card and its twin NVIDIA GTX 285 graphics chips

16 ASUS made its name in the PC motherboard business and still

reigns supreme — find out the secrets of its success

20 Though barely two years old, the Eee PC has

turned laptops on their head — read how the very first model was developed

23 Say hello to Nick Vora, Internal

Systems Support specialist at ASUS UK

4 | ISSUE 6

y 1989, Taiwan was already producing components to fuel the rapidly expanding PC industry, but it was a highly competitive business. Those components were

produced for a handful of PC manufacturers who dominated the market and Taiwan’s own fledgling computer industry was struggling to make its mark.

The problem was that while Intel was quick to supply engineering prototypes of its latest processors to long-established computer companies, Taiwanese PC and component makers often had to wait for up to six months for samples. And when it came to designing a motherboard for a new processor, a six-month delay might as well have been six years.

Unhappy with the way the Taiwanese PC industry was being marginalised, four Taiwanese computer engineers turned to their

mentor, Jonney Shih, for advice on how to establish a company capable of bringing the country’s industry forward.

Based in Taipei, ASUS started life as a company offering consultancy services to motherboard manufacturers.

The idea was that by working with local industry to produce strong designs, Taiwan would soon be recognised as a leading producer of PC components. Unfortunately, ASUS missed one crucial detail in their business plan — in an industry geared solely to producing generic parts for sale under someone else’s brand, there was little demand for innovation. Undeterred and propelled by their convictions, the ASUS founders went back to the drawing board.

In 1989, a small team of computer engineers launched a company which went on to put Taiwan on the PC map.

The first leather-bound laptops

The first bamboo concept laptop

Good design was instrumental in getting ASUS off the ground in 1989 and it’s been at the heart of its success ever since. All ASUS products are designed with one person in mind — the user — and it’s this focus that allows it to continuously innovate.

By targeting specific types of user, ASUS has been able to develop many groundbreaking products over the years — here are just a few highlights.

5ISSUE 6 |


Intel announced its new 486 PC processor at the beginning of 1989 — but there still wasn’t a chip to be seen in Taiwan. Using the extensive motherboard design experience of its founders, together with technical information published by Intel, ASUS decided to take a risk and design a 486 motherboard without having access to a 486 processor. The idea sounded like madness but, by the end of 1989, the first ASUS 486 motherboard was finished and made ready for testing.

The problem was that ASUS didn’t have a processor, so the company approached Intel in Taiwan. After they arrived at its headquarters, the Intel team were slow to greet the visitors — and for good reason. Design flaws had left Intel desperately trying to get its own 486 motherboard to work.

Keen to make a good impression, ASUS offered to lend a hand. Much to Intel’s amazement, the ASUS team fixed the motherboard problem within minutes, so Intel agreed to try their 486 processor on the ASUS design. When it was plugged into the ASUS motherboard — a motherboard that, remember, had been designed without previous access to the 486 — the

processor worked perfectly.This defining moment established ASUS as a key partner

of Intel, and set the company on a path that would lead it to become the world’s leading motherboard manufacturer. Today, one in every three PCs uses an ASUS motherboard and over 24 million were sold in 2008. Needless to say, ASUS is now one of the first companies that Intel sends its new processors to.

High-end graphics cards for unbeatable performance

The innovative Eee PC Series opened a new chapter in IT history

ASUS laptops are tough enough to take anywhere

Never be without power with true all-day computing

The motherboard that started it all. Its expertise meant that ASUS was able to design this 486 motherboard without having access to a 486 processor

6 | ISSUE 6

ood design is at the heart of ASUS’ success. It was the reason that ASUS was able to impress Intel with its first 486 motherboard in 1989, and it’s the reason that

ASUS products garner such high praise from the industry — ASUS products received 3,056 awards in 2008.

Until recently, the ASUS Design team in Taipei, Taiwan designed all ASUS products. Established in 1998, the team has around 100 designers from around the world, but ASUS recently opened offices in Singapore and China with another 30 people.

The design headquarters is split into nine teams that

are responsible for such areas as market research, material development, mechanical design, industrial design and packaging. Regardless of their area of speciality, though, the design teams always work with one thing in mind — the user experience. All design is ultimately about people and a successful product is one that people love to use.

Although most new products are designed according to ASUS roadmaps, inspiration for some comes from ASUS Design’s annual brainstorming sessions. Each session has a theme to help generate ideas and these themes subsequently exert a

Meet the team who are key to ASUS’ ongoing product innovation

7ISSUE 6 |


strong influence on key ASUS products. For example, the ‘luxury’ theme of 2006’s

brainstorming session led to the development of the high-end ASUS-Lamborghini gaming laptops and the leather-covered S6 ultraportable. Both the U6 Bamboo and original Eee PC laptops were the result of 2007’s ‘green’ theme, while this year’s theme of ‘user experience’ has turned ASUS Design’s attention to software and innovative user interfaces.

Design, of course, is never static and products must constantly

evolve in order to meet the ever-changing needs of users — and to create new openings in the market. One perfect example of how ASUS is constantly seeking new ways to innovate is with the development of the Eee PC 1008HA

Seashell. The stunning, slimline industrial design came first and then it was down to the ASUS R&D department to figure out how to squeeze a motherboard into it…

Despite its significant success to date, ASUS Design is never content to rest on its laurels. Product design is a key factor for any well-recognised brand and, as the design team says, the product to be most proud of is always “the next one”.

Where great minds get to work: the ASUS Design headquarters

in Taipei is home to 100 talented designers responsible for coming up with the next groundbreaking product for ASUS to launch

8 | ISSUE 6

ASUS launches three stunning new laptop ranges — the UX, U and UL UnLimited Series — with performance to match

"


9ISSUE 6 |


ncompassing more than 10 years of technological innovation, the ASUS U Series sets a new benchmark for

laptop design. Inspired by one of nature’s most graceful creations, the butterfly, the U Series consists of three ranges — the U Series, UX Series and UL UnLimited Series, each catering for different mobile needs and each delivering exceptional performance and unrivalled power-saving features.

Proof that style can go hand-in-hand with performance, the ASUS UX30 is an ultraportable for mobile professionals who demand the ultimate in portability.

Weighing a mere 1.45kg and with a case that tapers from 19.6mm to a razor-thin 6.8mm, the ASUS UX30 has an immediate air of sophistication — but its beauty is more than skin deep. Despite its slimline design, the UX30 has a full set of sockets that include HDMI, three USB 2.0 ports and Ethernet, so you don’t need to sacrifice connectivity for the sake of portability.

A choice of Intel processors, up to 4GB of memory and hard-disk capacities up to 500GB ensure a no-compromise computing experience, while the sheer expanse of the frameless LED-backlit screen provides a perfect view, whether you’re working on a spreadsheet or watching a movie.

10 | ISSUE 6

ASUS U SeriesThe ASUS U Series combines stunning good looks with equally

impressive specifications. Whether you’re sipping a cappuccino in a café or catching an international flight, the sleek piano-black

finish and attention to detail are destined to impress. Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors, hard drive capacities up to 500GB

and a choice of discrete and integrated graphics mean that there are models to cater for every mobile need. Onboard N ready Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR provide seamless wireless connectivity, while ASUS ExpressGate 2 lets you get online within seconds of pressing the power button.

ASUS Light in Motion technology automatically adjusts the brightness of the frameless LED-backlit screen and keyboard to suit ambient

conditions, enhancing visibility and extending battery life. The trackpad is similarly illuminated and glows to follow

your touch, making the U Series the perfect travelling companion.

ASUS U20A Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor SU7300 Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 4GB memory 12.1” WXGA (1280x800, Colour-Shine), AI Light

Sensor embedded 500GB hard drive DVD Super Multi DL 298 x 225 x 22~29 mm 1.9kg with six-cell battery

11ISSUE 6 |


ASUS UL SeriesI f you work on the move, you need a laptop that can

last for more than just a few hours away from the mains and that won’t weigh you down after a long

day. Step forward the ASUS UL50. Less than an inch thick, its sophisticated power-saving features make the UL50 capable of true all-day computing — with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor and up to 12 hours of use on a single charge*.

The UL50’s 15.6" LED-backlit widescreen display measures a mere 3.5mm — that’s around 40% thinner than traditional laptop displays. Discrete NVIDIA GeForce G210M graphics provide 3D acceleration when you need extra

gaming performance, while onboard Intel® GMA graphics can be easily enabled for those times when you need to prolong battery life. ASUS GraphiX Boost technology also means you can switch between the two modes without rebooting.

Despite its wonderfully slim profile, the UL Series still packs an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor for no-compromise computing. A full-size chiclet keyboard with separate numeric keypad makes for great typing wherever you are, while a large multi-touch trackpad lets you achieve more without the need for an external mouse. * Based on the eight-cell, 84WHr battery

UL50VG Intel® Core™ 2 Duo SU7300

processor Genuine Windows® 7

Professional Switchable Graphics: NV

G210M w/ 512MB DDR3 VRAM + Intel GMA 4500MHD

4GB memory 15.6” HD TFT (1366x768,

Color-Shine), AI Light Sensor embedded

500GB hard drive 386 x 259 x 26.4mm 2.4kg with eight-cell battery

12 | ISSUE 6

Small and light, the Eee PC T91 with touchscreenis ideal for children to use at school or home

y daughter, Leah, already uses our home PC for schoolwork, but I’d like to buy her a computer of her own.

I’m thinking of a laptop so that she can use it anywhere in the house and maybe take it to school. Inexpensive laptops all seem to be big and heavy, though. Can you recommend something small and light that won’t break the bank?”

When it comes to laptops, “small and light” used to mean “extremely expensive”, since that was the realm of the ultraportable. ASUS redefined this class of computer with the launch of the original Eee PC in 2007, though, and it’s an Eee PC that will be an ideal choice for Leah.

The ASUS Eee PC T91 is the latest in the Eee PC range and, like other models, it’s extremely portable. Just 1" slim and weighing under a kilo, it’s easily carried and is small enough to slip into a school bag.

The Eee PC T91 also has a touch-sensitive screen that can be folded back on itself to create a tablet laptop. In tablet

Maria Parker and Leah 41 and 12

Stourbridge, West MidlandsAccountant (Maria), at school (Leah)

Leah is in Year 7 at school and is particularly interested in art and history. She likes to draw, and has been learning to use painting programs on the family PC. She’s also been using genealogy software and the internet to research the Parker family tree.

13ISSUE 6 |


Powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor, the Eee PC T91 has an 8.9" touch-sensitive screen with a matte finish that makes it clear and bright to use both indoors and out. It runs Microsoft Windows and the 32GB SSD (16GB on board, 16GB external SSD Card) is large enough to install your favourite applications. With a battery life of up to five hours, the Eee PC T91 is ideal for use anywhere.

ASUS laptops have something called Power4Gear technology that’s claimed to prolong battery life. Is this a hardware or a software feature, and how does it actually squeeze more power out of a battery?

ASUS Power4Gear technology uses a combination of hardware and software to make a laptop’s battery last for longer. Activated by a dedicated button, Power4Gear works with the laptop’s BIOS to alter the speed of the processor to suit the task in hand.

Power4Gear offers four modes. ‘Power-saving’ mode underclocks the processor to reduce its speed — on the Eee PC 1008HA, for example, the Intel® Atom™ processor’s speed is reduced from 1.6GHz to 1.2GHz. This decrease only makes a small difference to overall performance

but has a big impact on power consumption, extending battery life by up to 53% as a result.

‘Super High Performance’ mode overclocks the processor — up to 1.7GHz on the Eee PC 1008HA — for times when extra performance is needed. This mode is best used on mains power, since it drains the battery more quickly.

Finally, ‘Auto’ mode automatically switches a laptop’s processor between its usual speed and the underclocked speed, according to the power source, while ‘High Performance’ locks the processor at its default speed, regardless of power source.

With a similar size and weight, the Eee PC 1008HA Seashell is just as compact a laptop as the Eee PC T91, but it has a near full-size keyboard instead of a touch-sensitive screen. The 160GB hard disk is also better suited if you need to install lots of software.

The EeeTop PC ET16 Series makes an ideal second computer for the home. Its all-in-one design makes it easy to move from room to room, and its high-

resolution 15.6" screen is touch-sensitive for easy operation by children and adults alike.

mode, the Eee PC T91 can be ‘written’ on using the supplied stylus. The Eee PC T91 runs Windows XP, which means Leah can use her favourite applications. Three different modes — XP, Widget and TouchSuite — also provide a flexible way of working.

Finally, the Eee PC T91 has a solid state drive rather than a hard disk, which means that Leah’s data will be kept safe no matter how much the laptop is shaken around.

The Eee PC T91’s small size and ‘kid-proof’ SSD make it ideal for Leah. The touch-sensitive screen and three user-friendly operating modes are the icing on the cake.

Send us your questions at the following address:

14 | ISSUE 6

SUS has quite a track record when it comes to groundbreaking graphics cards. Its designs have been setting new standards ever since it produced the first

graphics card with advanced overclocking capability in 1997. This year, however, saw ASUS launch its most spectacular card to date.

The name may be out of the ordinary, but that’s because the ASUS ROG MARS is far from a run-of-the-mill graphics card. At its heart lie not one, but two NVIDIA GTX 285 GPUs — and that makes this card something special.

Alone, the NVIDIA GTX 285 is the most powerful single graphics processor money can buy, but when two are combined — and expertly overclocked by ASUS — the result is the fastest graphics card on the planet. Undeniable proof of the graphics card’s might comes from the industry-standard 3DMark Vantage Extreme Preset

DirectX 10 benchmark. The ROG MARS yields an astounding 23% improvement in terms of single card performance when compared to reference boards, setting eye-popping 3DMark Vantage Extreme Preset scores of X25949 with Quad SLI®.

Benchmarks are one thing, but gamers are more concerned with real-world performance. The ASUS ROG MARS can achieve frame rates of 28fps when running Crysis Warhead at 2560 x 1600, compared to 16fps for reference boards. The ROG MARS increases its performance by 75% to allow users to fully enjoy games without lag or stuttering. At Computex 2009, ASUS had a test rig with twin ROG MARS cards running Far Cry 2 at silky-smooth frame rates at an unbelievable 3840 x 2160 on a huge 52" display.

Available in a strictly limited edition of 1,000 units, the ASUS ROG MARS is a superior piece of cutting-edge technology that any gamer in pursuit of the ultimate in performance will want to possess.

If you’re looking for peerless gaming performance, you need thenew ASUS ROG MARS graphics card

15ISSUE 6 |


Creating such a phenomenally powerful graphics card was not without its challenges. Perhaps the biggest was figuring out a way to cool the two NVIDIA GTX 285 GPUs effectively.

After abandoning the initial idea of water cooling as being impractical, the ASUS research and development team finally came up with a new air-cooling system that uses eight heat pipes. This new design covers an area that’s 65% larger than on the NVIDIA reference board, ensuring that the ROG MARS can cope with the most demanding games without breaking a sweat.

1024-bit memory interface for amazing graphics

Twin NVIDIA GTX 285 GPUs (648MHz)

EMI shield reduces electro-magnetic interference by up to 66%

4GB DDR 3 video memory (2.3GHz) per GPU

16 | ISSUE 6

Two decades of innovation have kept ASUS at the forefront of motherboard technology

ince developing its first 486 design in 1989, ASUS has grown to become the biggest motherboard manufacturer in the world and a

pioneer in cutting-edge motherboard technology.The last 20 years have seen the development of

many ASUS innovations, from the introduction of stringent testing for electromagnetic interference that surpassed industry standards of the time, to the first 16-phase power design that improved motherboard power efficiency and provided a more stable platform for overclocking.

Not content with past achievements, though, ASUS is constantly striving to create motherboards

that will help their users to reach greater heights, whether at work or at play.

Keep up to date with the latest ASUS Xtreme Design Products — designed especially for

your needs — by following ASUS on Twitter via www.twitter.com/asusxtreme.

17ISSUE 6 |


The key to a successful motherboard is good design, and ASUS has a world-class research and development team that’s responsible for the development of groundbreaking new technology. Let’s take a look at some fundamental design innovations to see what sets ASUS motherboards apart from the competition.

Overclocking has become more than just a hobby, and most motherboards now offer

the option to squeeze more performance out of a PC by gently increasing the speed of its components.

The problem is that overclocking needs to be done in the BIOS, and the experimental nature of the tweaks means that it can take many reboots to find a stable set-up for Windows. But what if you could overclock a PC within Windows itself? That’s the thought which occurred to the R&D team at ASUS, which is how TurboV came about.

When combined with a specially designed motherboard, the TurboV utility can push a PC even further. “Without running system power-on self tests and the Windows self test, we can reach even higher frequencies,” said one ASUS engineer.

A simple interface takes overclocking out of the realm of BIOS black magic and puts it within everyone’s reach. Customisable profiles also mean that different set-ups can be created to suit different applications — and activated with a click of the mouse.

The increasing popularity of overclocking, not to mention the rising power consumption of PC components, has placed great emphasis on the need for a solid motherboard power-

supply system. Poorly regulated motherboards are unable

to maintain a constant voltage as power demands increase, and

this can lead to instability — or worse.

With its long experience in motherboard design and

overclocking, ASUS was able to address this problem with the

development of the eight-phase power design. Such multi-phase power systems

minimise voltage variances on a motherboard and the resulting ‘clean’, constant power delivery means a more stable system when overclocking — and less heat generated.

To meet the exacting demands of overclockers, ASUS introduced the 16-phase power design in 2008. This takes the idea of a clean, solid motherboard power supply to a new level and offers unparalleled performance and stability for overclocked PCs.

Electromagnetic radiation is an essential part of modern life — we rely on it for TV and radio broadcasts, Wi-Fi, microwave ovens and a host of other technologies. The problem is that every

electrical device emits electromagnetic radiation, which can lead to electromagnetic interference, or EMI.

EMI is what makes loudspeakers crackle when there’s a mobile phone nearby, and PCs are particularly prone to it. The sheer number of electronic components used on a typical motherboard can make EMI a real problem and, while a well-shielded case is one solution, that only addresses the symptom, not the cause of EMI.

So ASUS went back to the drawing board for motherboards and came up with a number of innovative solutions. EMI interference is drastically reduced by electrically isolating certain components on the motherboard, while a new shielded port-blanking plate prevents signal leakage from the PC case.

Coming soon — the new ASUS Xtreme Design ASUS P7P55D Deluxe motherboard

18 | ISSUE 6

Due to obvious space constraints, laptop motherboards need to be designed to a set of different criteria than those for desktop PCs.

The lack of expansion slots means that components need to be tightly integrated, and cooling needs to be considered right from the very

start. The shape of a laptop case also affects the placement of external

ports — ports may need to be placed at the sides if a battery

occupies the rear of a laptop, for example.

The size of a laptop motherboard is also

dictated by the size of the laptop case

— or vice versa, depending on how a laptop design is initiated.

Its long experience with motherboard design has meant that ASUS has always been on the forefront when it comes to laptop innovations. Nowhere is this more clearly shown than with the development and miniaturisation of successive Eee PC™ motherboards.

Introduces EMI testing that’s 30% stricter than the industry standard

ASUS designs its first Intel 486 motherboard — without access to the processor

First eight-phase power motherboard design

Stack Cool PCB technology uses four extra PCB layers to improve the cooling efficiency

Stack Cool2 technology further reduces motherboard temperatures

19ISSUE 6 |


"

This is a typical 15" laptop motherboard, measuring approximately 260 x 250mm. The processor socket is clearly visible, as are the empty memory slots, together with the USB and other expansion ports on two edges.

When it came to designing the revolutionary Eee PC™ 1008HA Seashell, ASUS faced a new challenge. Not only is this stunning netbook barely 1" thick, but the case tapers to just a few millimetres and so there simply isn’t room for a more traditional motherboard design — no matter how small. The ASUS R&D team was able to solve the problem by creating a completely new — and incredibly small — motherboard design. Measuring just 83 x 110mm, the Eee PC™ 1008HA motherboard is a fraction of the size of the Eee PC™ 901’s and is the size of a credit card!

Develops ‘Q-Shield’, which increases EMI protection by four times

Launches motherboards with onboard EPU controller for improved energy efficiency

First true 16-phase power motherboard design with hardware power regulation

TurboV utility provides reboot-free overclocking, boosting performance in real time

Introduction of Turbo Key technology for one-touch processor overclocking

20 | ISSUE 6

lthough barely two years old, the Eee PC has revolutionised the laptop market and created an entirely new category of portable that other

manufacturers have been quick to copy. For ASUS, the original model acted as a springboard for

an entire range of Eee-branded computers that now includes desktop PCs as well as laptops. Whatever the shape, all models

have been designed in line with the core Eee PC philosophy — technology that makes it easy to learn, work and play.

Although light, compact computers were nothing new in 2007, all fell firmly into the category of the ‘ultraportable’ — laptops that used cutting-edge mobile technology to cram lots of power

Two years ago, ASUS created a whole new concept of laptop and took the market by storm. The Eee PC is still setting trends today — here’s why

A popular choice for anyone who wants the ultimate in portability at an affordable price. The Eee PC 701 is available with Linux or Windows XP, has a 7" screen and uses SSD storage for reliable mobility.

Based on the power-efficient Intel® Atom™ processor, the Eee PC 901 is the same size as the 701 but has an 8.9" screen. Available with either SSD or hard disk, it can last for up to eight hours on battery power.

Recognising that small keyboards don’t suit everyone, ASUS launched the Eee PC 1000 with a 10.1" screen and a near full-size keyboard. With battery life stretching up to eight hours, it proved a popular model.

21ISSUE 6 |


into the smallest possible package. The problem was that such laptops ended up being phenomenally expensive and were well out of reach of all but the most affluent users.

Spying an opportunity to open up laptops to a wider market, ASUS approached the problem from a different angle. Rather than use costly, cutting-edge mobile technology to shrink a computer, ASUS opted for commonly available components to create a portable PC that would serve the basic needs of most mobile users. The result was the Eee PC 701.

Barely bigger than a paperback book, the Eee PC 701 was a laptop like no other. Capable of browsing the web, working with email, word processing, spreadsheet work and even playing games, the Eee PC 701 could do almost everything that a traditional ultraportable could — but at a fraction of the price.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Eee PC 701 was a resounding success and everyone from schools to offices found it to be both the perfect low-cost primary PC and the ideal mobile partner for a more traditional set-up. The rest, as they say, is history.

With a pearlescent paint job and high-capacity SSD, the Eee PC S101 is a design change for people who want to make a serious style statement, without spending a fortune on a standard ultraportable.

The Seashell takes the Eee PC range in a bold new direction. Less than one inch thick and with a streamlined shape, the Seashell uses a next-generation Intel® Atom™ processor and a host of innovative touches.

The Eee PC design takes a new twist with the T91 — literally. Similar in size to the Eee PC 701, the T91 is a tablet laptop with a touch-sensitive screen that makes it as useful for handwritten notes as it is for typing.

22 | ISSUE 6

Designing a portable PC is one thing — making it easy to use is another. In order to make the original Eee PC as easy to use as possible, ASUS developed a bespoke version of Linux that was geared to both small screens and novice users. This had all the power of a 21st-century operating system and came with a full set of productivity and educational applications, but had a user interface that was far less intimidating than other Linux distributions.

Although models are now available with Microsoft Windows,

ASUS has continued to develop software that makes Eee PCs easier to use, from Easy Mode and the Eee Bar on the Eee Top PC to the TouchSuite software on the new Eee PC T91 tablet.

Build quality is also a critical component in the Eee PC range. ASUS uses the strongest materials, the greenest processes and the latest technology to ensure that each model is built to last — and easily recycled at the end of its life.

Of course, the best technology is more than just a machine — it has a personality that helps create a bond with its user. Each Eee PC is designed to make that personal connection, from visually pleasing exteriors and colours to software that raises a smile each time you use it.

The original Eee PC has now expanded into a full range of innovative laptop and desktop computers. All adhere to the core Eee philosophy and there are models to suit every user and application…

If scaling the side of a mountain, trekking off-road on foot or pedalling far away from the beaten track is your idea of a good time, then built-in 3G and GPS will keep you in touch and on track wherever you go.

Professional portables need to make a good first impression. Always stylish and sophisticated, Eee PC models are available in a range of stunning finishes and colours.

Low noise and incredibly compact designs mean that the Eee PC won’t attract unwanted attention — clients can focus on the content, not be distracted by the computer.

Eee PCs mean you can take your work with you wherever you go. Spend a lot of time travelling for business or pleasure? All-day battery life means you won’t need to hunt for a mains socket on long journeys.

Full wireless support makes the Eee PC the perfect portable gateway into the wider world for both teachers and students. Pre-installed productivity software also makes models a low-cost addition to any classroom.

Mobile executives don’t want to be weighed down by a large laptop. Eee PC models are small enough to slip into a briefcase and won’t tire you out after a long day on the road or train.

23ISSUE 6 |


If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work in the Internal Systems Support team for a large company, Nick Vora explains all

Q How did you get started at ASUS?I wanted to work for a global technology company that’s

at the forefront of innovation — and I wanted to play with the latest gadgets! I started at ASUS UK as a service specialist, then quickly joined the Internal Systems Support team.

Q What’s your current role with the company? I manage our repair partners and maintain ASUS’ high

standards for after-sales service.

Q If your department had a motto, what would it be? Providing reliability and satisfaction the ASUS way.

Q Which departments do you work with the most?Internal Systems Support, who maintain the

computers used by ASUS UK staff; and Sales to act as a technical liaison for our retail partners.

Q What’s the most satisfying part of your job?I like learning about new products and

technologies, and knowing that I’ve made a difference when a customer calls about a repair.

Q What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Finding the time to fit everything into each day!

Q What accomplishment are you most proud of

in your work so far? Assisting with the restructuring of the ASUS

UK service model, which resulted in an improvement in the turnaround time for repairs.

Q What’s the biggest change you’ve seen while you’ve been working at ASUS?

Seeing ASUS move into the top five laptop vendors in the UK.

Q How do you unwind after a hard week at work? I like to spend time with friends and go out for a few drinks.

I also enjoy climbing, though at the moment much of my time is spent planning my upcoming wedding.

Q Where’s your favourite place to go to lunch or after work? I try to do something different each day for lunch and I like

to spend time with friends after work — the venue isn’t that important.

Q Are you a gadget fan? What one gadget can’t you live without?

I love gadgets, but I can’t choose just one — can’t I have all of them?

Q If you could have ASUS make any product for you, what would it be?

A gadget that does everything, to save carrying several

different ones! I’d really like a gadget that could listen to a conversation in a foreign language and translate it into your native language so that you could listen on headphones.

Tech In Style Issue 6

Documents

Transcript of Tech In Style Issue 6