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ASUS branches out with a new Windows XP Home variant of the Eee PC

DailyTech first reported in late March that a new, Windows XP-based version of the Eee PC would be in store during the opening days of April. Reports from around the web pegged the price of entry at $399 despite the fact that the hardware specs appeared to be identical to the similarly-priced Eee PC 4G which is available with Xandros Linux.

Today, the reports were confirmed when BestBuy.com launched a product page for the Eee PC 4G-X. As expected, the 4G-X includes a 4GB SSD, 900MHz Intel Celeron M processor, 512MB of DDR2 memory, 7″ (800×480) display, and Windows XP Home.

Likewise, the price is listed at $399.99. With a price tag that is identical to its Xandros Linux-equipped counterpart, one wonders exactly how much Microsoft is subsidizing the cost of the operating system on the Eee PC.

News of the newly available Eee PC 4G-X on BestBuy.com comes just days after Microsoft announced that it would extend the sales of Windows XP Home until at least June 30, 2010 for what it calls ultra-low-cost PCs (ULPCs). Microsoft acknowledged that it just couldn’t ignore the growing demand for low-cost notebooks and insisted that “Windows XP Home provides an effective solution on these devices from a performance and cost perspective.”

According to the Best Buy website, the Eee PC 4G-X is currently in stock online and ships within one business days. In-store pickup for the 2-pound notebook is also available in select Best Buy brick-and-mortar stores.

dailytech.com