Asus unveils new Eee PC netbooks at CeBIT

Asus launched new netbooks at the CeBIT conference in Germany this week, offering a look at the manufacturer's first device to use the latest version of Nvidia's ION platform.

The Eee PC 1201PN, pictured, is able to automatically switch between dedicated and discrete graphics by using the Optimus technology baked into the new ION. This technology is aimed at providing high performance for graphically intensive applications while falling back on more battery-conserving settings the rest of the time.

The 1201PN has a 12.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. It uses Intel's single-core 1.66GHz N450 Atom processor — as opposed to the dual-core Atom 330 processor used in the ION-less 1201N model — and comes with a gigabyte of RAM and a 160GB hard drive.

The netbook weighs 1.46kg when configured with a six-cell battery. Other features include 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a 0.3-megapixel webcam.

The Eee PC 1018P lacks the ION graphics capabilities of the 1201PN, and has a smaller, 10.1-inch screen. Accordingly, it has a lower screen resolution of 1,024 x 600 pixels.

The device can be configured with either of two new Intel Atom processors — the 1.6GHz N455 or the 1.83GHz N475 — and comes with either one or two gigabytes of RAM.

The 1018P has an "aluminium texture" body, according to Asus's specifications. It comes with either a 250GB or 320GB hard drive, augmented by 500GB of online storage. It weighs 1.2kg with a four-cell battery.

Connectivity options include 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and the new Bluetooth 3.0 standard, and the device also has a 0.3-megapixel webcam.

Like the 1018P, the Eee PC 1015PE netbook has a screen resolution of 1,024 x 600 pixels. It can come with the 1.66GHz N450 Atom processor or the 1.83GHz N470, although Asus says the N455 and N475 are possible configurations.

A gigabyte of RAM comes as standard, and hard-drive options include 160GB, 250GB and 320GB of storage, along with 500GB of online storage.

According to Asus, the netbook weighs 1.27kg or 1.1kg, depending on which type of six-cell battery is used. As with the 1201PN, connectivity options include 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and a 0.3-megapixel webcam is included.

The 1201PN, 1018P and 1015PE are all scheduled for release in June. Pricing has not yet been finalised, an Asus spokeswoman told ZDNet UK on Thursday.