The Eee PC ... what's the deal?
In another (impossible) possible world, if Sony VAIO PCG-U1/U3 (or any other similar devices) was sold somewhere higher than the current price range where the Eee PC is in, say US$600, I bet it will be even far more successful than what Asus has achieved now and be hacked even more seriously.
Compared to the U1/U3, in terms of battery life, size, resolution, weight, capabilities, the Eee PC is not really such a big surprise.
Just saw a couple of U1 an U3 ebaying for around US$700 and US$800 ...
If my 701 cost me more than US$400, probably I simply wouldn't have bought it.
So the thing is, those older ultraportables, however decent they are, failed to capture a big enough target market for consumer electronics.