Follow us on TwitterTMCnet.com is reporting that Intel’s shortage of Atom processors is so severe that Asus has been forced to product Celeron-powered versions of the latest Eee PCs.
Asus recently introduced Atom processors in their 901 and 1000 series Eee PC models. However, since the launch of those lines, Asus has also added similar models that contain the older Celeron processors.
In the Eee PC 1000 series, the 1000 and 1000H have an Atom CPU, while the Eee PC 1000HD has a Celeron processor.
Asus got creative with the Eee PC 904HD. They took the larger case from the 1000 series, but instead of a 10″ screen, they put in the 8.9″ display from the 900 and 901 series. The keyboards is the nice, big one from the 1000-series. But the processor is not an Atom (like the 901, 1000 and 1000H).
At this point, the Eee PC 904HD and the 1000HD are not yet available in the USA. It appears that Asus is working to keep their high-end Eee PCs with Atom processor available here. The alternative Celeron-based units will probably see more distribution in parts of the world.
The shortage of Atom processors is a concern for all netbook manufacturers. This new processor allows the netbooks to operate faster while drawing much less power (meaning longer battery life) and generating less heat.
This is something that we will keep watching.
