No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the famous Irish rock band. Taiwan’s Asustek looks like it’s trying to get a jump-start on all the product introductions sure to spill out of early January’s CES show in Las Vegas, announcing its new U2 notebook computer, combining a slim portable profile with a Core Duo processor and an 11.1-inch, 1,366 by 768-pixel LCD display with LD backlighting.
The U2 updates Asus’s popular U1 notebook configuration, aiming to bring a little bit of luxury and class to the sub notebook market. The U2 features a hand-polished stainless steel frame, copper etch detailing, and premium leather. But it’s the under-the-hood features that might make the true road warriors swoon: besides that LED-backlit display, the U2 sports an Intel Core Duo ULV U7500 processor, Intel 802.11a/g/n or a/b/g Wi-Fi, any flavor of Windows Vista you’d want, support for up to 4 GB of RAM, and an 80 to 120 GB hard drive—although a 32 GB SSD is also an option. Users will be able to accessorize using three USB 2.0 ports, VGA and micro-DVI outputs, onboard Ethernet, and an integrated Webcam module that drops right into the U2’s LCD panel. The U2 will also be available with an optional fingerprint reader for secure access. And the unit weights just 2.76 points, and is just 1.1 inches thick.
Asus hasn’t released any pricing or availability information—or offered any details about an optical drive—but we expect those details will come to light when the U2 notebooks get closer to retailers.
