Asus Eee PC 1201N coming with Windows 7 Home Premium

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According to this leaked Asus Eee PC Roadmap, it looks like Asus has lined up 3 new netbooks to launch around the time Windows 7 is scheduled for release on the 22 October 2009.

Two of these are variations of existing models (1005HA-P and 1005HA-M) but with the addition of Windows 7 Starter Edition to replace the current Windows XP versions.

The new model that we find particularly interesting is the new Asus Eee PC 1201N, the 12" big brother of the current 1101HA...

The new 1201N will feature:

Display: 12" LCD screen (the largest yet in the Asus Eee PC line-up)
Processor: Intel Atom N270 1.6Ghz
Graphics: Nvidia ION
Hard Disk: 250 Gb
Memory: 2 Gb
Battery: 6 Cell
Connectivity: 802.11 N Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Software: Windows 7 Home Premium

The Nvidia ION graphics will be a welcome addition, especially with the larger 12" screen. The extra hard disk space (250 Gb instead of the usual 160 Gb) will also come in handy, and so will the 2 Gb RAM, breaking through the current 1 Gb licensing limitation imposed by Windows XP on current netbooks.

The Asus Eee PC 1201N is the only one in this roadmap that features the Home Premium edition of Windows 7. The others will be loaded with the Starter Edition. Asus is obviously positioning this unit as a more powerful, professional netbook on top of the list, in the "Elite" category.

Asus Eee PC 1201N Roadmap

Source: EeeUser Forum

Are netbooks getting bigger?

I'm not sure if the short green line of the 1101HA indicates that Asus expects that the 1201N will quickly replace the current 1101HA, or maybe I'm reading too much into it. Either way, I find it interesting that Asus is joining Samsung (NC20), Lenovo (S12), iiView (A2), and others in the 12" Netbook Lineup.

Is 12" the sweet spot for the ultimate portable, yet comfortable, computing on the move?