At the time of its introduction in late 2007, it was noted for its combination of a lightweight, Linux-based operating system, solid-state drive (SSD), and relatively low cost.

Newer models added the options of Microsoft Windows operating system and rotating media hard disk drives (HDD), and initially retailed for up to 500 euros.

[3] In January 2013, ASUS officially ended production of their Eee PC series, citing declining sales due to consumers favoring tablets and Ultrabooks over netbooks.

[8] ASUS released a version of the Eee PC with Microsoft Windows XP pre-installed in January 2008.

The Eee 900 series was launched in Hong Kong on 16 April 2008, and in the UK on 1 May 2008 for £329 (approximately 410 € or 650 US$ including VAT).

The machine has a multi-touch touchpad allowing two-finger scroll and zoom via a "pinch" gesture, and is available with Linux and/or MS Windows XP configurations, depending on the market.

The 901 is otherwise similar to the 900, shipping in Linux or Windows XP configurations with flash memory storage of different sizes.

The CPU is an Intel Atom N270 @ 1.6 GHz, and the standard model came with 1 GB DDR2 RAM occupying the single memory slot.

Also standard are the 6-cell battery, the 1.3M pixel webcam and integrated microphone, and both Ethernet and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g network connections.

Part of the above problem extends from the fact that the entire range was substantially more successful than Asus had originally anticipated.

In February 2009, Asus unveiled the 1000HE, using the new Intel Atom 280 processor, with a 10-inch LED-lit display at 1024x600 physical but 1024x768 virtual, 6-cell battery with an advertised 9.5 hours of battery life, 160 GB HDD running at 5400RPM, Bluetooth, 802.11n wireless networking, 1.3-megapixel camera, and revised keyboard similar to Apple's keyboards.

Although the screen resolution on the 1000 series is 1024x600, it has pixel mapping (memory addressing) which covers a virtual 1024x768 desktop.

It also freed more screen real estate for other tasks, such as web browsing or office applications, by allowing the user to move some things, like the top empty grey window frame area (otherwise wasted) off-screen.

With only 1 GB memory, standard USB2 ports and sluggish performance, these were not especially notable releases other than for their exceptional battery life.

Asus Eee PC series models 1005HA, 1005HAB, 1008HA, and others use Varta ML1220 or equivalent Maxell, Sanyo and Panasonic ML1220 lithium ion coin cell rechargeable batteries, terminated with a two-pin Molex connector plug.

The screen does not cover the entire space within the lid; instead it is flanked on the sides by stereo speakers, and above by the (optional) camera in the trim at the top.

On some early models this connector lacks the screws to secure it to the Eee PC, which some consider a safety precaution.

Models that ship with Xandros do not have access to the full capacity of the external VGA output by default, allowing only 'mirroring'.

Users must reconfigure their xorg.conf file, or install a more recent OS to allow the higher resolution output.

This is repairable but depending on exact replacement unit sometimes needs the eight-pin EEPROM moved from the old display to the new one, and a single track linked to regain picture and brightness control after the new one is fitted.

The 700 and 900 series are equipped with similar keyboards; these are 82% of the size of a generic one, meaning that the Q–P keys measure 155 mm (6.10 in).

The 1000 series, as it fits in a more spacious case, has 92% of a full size keyboard, where the Q–P keys measure 175 mm (6.89 in).

This problem can be partially mitigated by intelligent wear leveling, resulting in a MTBF similar to conventional platter-based hard drives.

The SSDs used in early Eee PCs also had extremely poor random write performance; the S101 does not have this problem.

The Eee PC 900 comes with a removable PCI Express Mini SSD module, with or without four additional 1 GB memory chips soldered on the main board.

[citation needed] Some models, such as the 1000H and 904HD, do not have a SSD, and instead have a SATA internal hard drive of either 80 or 160 GB, which can be upgraded by the user.

Asus reverted to soldering RAM directly onto the mainboard in their later releases of the Eee PC range.

The Asus technical data for the 1025c and 1025ce models is seen as erroneous by certain online retailers offering RAM upgrades.

Most Eee PC models were shipped with either Windows XP or a Linux distribution called Xandros.

Asus may offer upgrades for the SSD storage via the empty Mini PCIe slot, which has been shown to be labeled FLASH_CON in take-apart photos of the 4G.