Amazon has begun shipping the ASUS Eee T91 — the world’s first netbook to double as a Web tablet with a touch-sensitive screen. The hybrid device is priced at $499.
Measuring 8.9×6.5×1.1 inches and tipping the scales at just under one kilogram (2.11643 pounds), the new netbook sports an 8.9-inch backlit LED screen that pivots on a single axis. Users swivel the display to convert the device into a svelte, lightweight Web tablet that can be cradled in one arm when reading documents, scribbling ideas into digital notebooks with the built-in stylus, or surfing the Internet.
Customized Touch Interface
Under the hood, the T91 integrates a 1.33-GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1, a 0.3-megapixel camera, a 16GB solid-state drive, and a 16GB SD card. U.S. buyers also receive 20GB of free online storage through the first 18 months of ownership.
Although ASUSTeK Computer initially announced that the T91 would feature several advanced wireless options, the model currently shipping to U.S. customers only offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, said ASUSTeK spokesperson Josh Norem. “The GPS and TV tuner as well as 3G connectivity are not included in products slated for U.S. release, but may be included in” products that ship to “other parts of the world,” he said.
The T91 sports two USB ports, a VGA port for an external monitor, and a slot that supports the use of MMC/SD/SDHC memory cards. The svelte book-sized device also integrates a mouse pad as well as a QWERTY keyboard that is 83 percent of full size.
The T91 incorporates a lithium polymer battery that can keep users connected for up to five hours per charge, depending on the nature of the tasks at hand. The netbook lets users select from several power-saving modes to maximize battery life.
Though the T91 ships with…