The Asus R50 is one smoking looking little device. It’s long been rumored but no information has appeared in over a year until - now. Yes kiddies, check inside for the first official look at the Asus R50.

Asustek Computer is planning to launch the R50, a 5.6-inch MID (mobile Internet device), before June this year. The device will be manufactured by Pegatron Technology. In addition to Linux, the company will also adopt Windows Vista for the device, according to Tony Chen, general manager of Asustek’s notebook business.

The R50 will be priced above US$500 and the company expects to launch an updated version in November, which will have a keyboard.

With Intel expecting MIDs to target final ASPs at around US$500, Chen pointed out that if Intel can actually bring down costs, the MID market in 2008 will definitely see a surge. Meanwhile business opportunities should start jumping in 2009 when second-generation devices show up. The market will take off within three years, according to Asustek estimates.

In other news, the sub-prime mortgage crisis will negatively affect the company’s notebook shipments in the second quarter of 2008, however in third quarter shipments will recover due to back-to-school demand, noted Chen.

The price of this device is on the high side, and around $500 doesn’t instill condifence that it will be anything less than $550+.. we’ll see in a few months I’m sure.

[digitimes]

Tags: Asus, Asus R50, Electronics, gadget, UMPC