I know this sounds like a commercial, and I don´t even own shares in Asus but here it goes anyway. I just saw this laptop (site loads slowly but it´s worth the wait) that went for sale in Taiwan for NTD 7000 or around 160 euros and I am in awe. I want one!
Follow Martin Varsavsky on Twitter: twitter.com/martinvars
Posted on General | 12:45 pm
| 
Trackbacks(0)
TrackBack URL:
This is the year in which Europe will either fall apart or emerged stronger. I give it 75% that it emerges as a stronger union but the risk of collapse is still there. Germany has the key to solve the problem because of the size of its economy, its saving rate and its export volume. Germany has to decide on whether it continues to transfer some of its wealth in order to create markets for its exports or it let’s Europe fall apart and ends up with an overvalued currency and deteriorated markets. Already today it started paying negative interest rates which is a prelude in my view to a huge rise in the DM should it be born again. Tough choice. I think Germany can actually both save Europe and make money by buying underpriced Italian and Spanish bonds and selling them after stabilization. It can do what the FED did with many financial institutions, make a profit by providing much needed liquidity at a critical time.
Feed subscription (RSS) 
Posted by Alberto - November 14, 2007 2:31 pm - #
Give One Get One promo of OLPC has been launched
http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/give-one-get-one.php
Posted by Martin Varsavsky - November 14, 2007 6:02 pm - #
Yes Albeto! I ordered OLPC!
Posted by Klaus Ernst - November 15, 2007 12:24 am - #
Hi,
I bought an Eee PC 701 when it was introduced here in New York at J&R Computer World on Nov. 1. It’s $399.99. Very nice. Works well at FON spots. Let’s me watch the video to get 15 free minutes. My Nokia 770 or iPAQ 2215 couldn’t do that. The bad news: Eee PC out of stock at J&R.
Klaus Ernst (alien)
Posted by Gustavo L - November 15, 2007 3:49 am - #
WOW! Incredible…..
What caught my attention is that the specs show the operating system to be Linux (really no surprise). I wonder what the corporate strategy is for Microsoft. There are going to be tens of millions of these low priced laptops circulating the world in the coming years loaded with Linux OS, Google Doc’s and Firefox browser.
Perhaps a good strategy for Microsoft is to capture the “connectivity piece” to the internet and make up the revenues with targeted ads. Now I can see why Google is paying such a heavy premium for DoubleClick. In order to capture that connectivity piece Microsoft would have to acquire a player such as Clearwire, TowerStream or build it themselves (never happen). However, there is another way and that is to acquire a company that has a model to seed any global destination with a proprietary router thatis carrier independent, that is once turned on can give 10x access to other consumers in the vicinity. As we all know by controlling the access (keys to the palace) to the internet you control first point of contact with the consumer —– I’ve read some good things about a company by the name of FON that could fit this mold. Hmmmm!
Even the “indios” in the Yungas Altiplano range of Bolivia can receive relevant direct targeted ads all becuase of an IP address.
Posted by Marc - November 17, 2007 1:19 am - #
Look at this: http://www.expansys.es/p.aspx?i=158485
In Spain in more expansive than in U.S.
389€ in Spain
399$ in U.S.
WHY???
Posted by Charbax - November 18, 2007 11:11 am - #
This Asus laptop is not 160€ but rather 400€ and $400.
Asus managed to get lots of bloggers writing that the Eee is a $200 laptop.
But in fact Asus does not deliver it at that price in any volume that would make it available to consumers.
A few selected bloggers might be able to buy it at $200 or $300 to have them writing about it, but Asus is most likely loosing money when they sell it at anything lower then $400.