Technology without Costing the Earth ASUS EcoBook points the way forward with nature-inspired aesthetics and environment-friendly design and construction

Few technologies can rival the impact of electronics in how they have changed the landscape of human existence, so much so that it would be difficult to imagine life without computers and integrated circuits. Planes would stop flying, cars would not be as safe, and the Internet would not exist. Computers and integrated circuits are everywhere, from medical equipment, home appliances, to toys and the very tools by which the world communicates and trades.

Yet for all the modern miracles that electronics and Information Technology has brought us, there is a cost to the environment, in the materials and processes used to manufacture computers and electronics, and increasingly, in their disposal. In the light of this, ASUS has undertaken a bold initiative that could point the way forward for the rest of the industry. Its groundbreaking concept notebook – the EcoBook, is unique as the first notebook to be made using bamboo; it is built according to environmentally friendly principles, reconciling the world's reliance on computers with the need to preserve the Earth.

EcoBook
On the surface, the EcoBook represents yet another triumph in a longstanding tradition of materials innovation by ASUS. Evolving from the use of polycarbonate, aluminum-magnesium alloy, carbon fiber and leather in earlier notebook models, each material bringing its own unique combination of physical and aesthetic properties that enhance the look, feel and durability of ASUS notebooks, the EcoBook is a concept notebook that is the world’s first to use bamboo paneling.

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Bamboo has great significance for Asia; it is a beautiful material and a natural choice for evoking the Asian Zen minimalist design that informs the EcoBook. As a natural material, each piece is unique, making each EcoBook distinct from another. It can undergo several treatments to achieve a variety of colors or even laser etched with designs limited only by the imagination. It is also tough and resilient. Moreover, bamboo is found in abundance, grows very quickly, and as opposed to plastic, it is biodegradable.

Design Flair
Beyond its environmental soundness, the EcoBook sparkles with design flair that not only enhances its look, but its usability as well. With the right treatments, bamboo is a beautiful natural material with a personal, warm touch that industrial materials can hardly replicate.

EcoTech
To complement these environment-friendly factors, ASUS also tackles from the technology approach. All ASUS notebooks feature an exclusive power management technology that can extend battery life by 20-30 percent for operation time on the go.

About EcoBook
ASUS EcoBook is the First Notebook to Reach the Top of Mount Everest
Taking Environmentally Friendly Technology to New Heights
The use of new materials and methods, like charting unknown territories, is fraught with unknowns. But a sure indicator of success is how the EcoBook has passed the ultimate test with flying colors: it is the first notebook ever to reach the top of Mount Everest – known to the locals in Tibetan as the Qomolangma Peak. Located at the border between China and Nepal, capped with snow all year, at 8,848 meters, this region boasts massive glaciers extending to 26 kilometers, and is a choice locale for the world's mountaineers to test their mettle.


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That the EcoBook successfully accompanied an expedition to the Qomolangma Peak is litmus proof for the EcoBook's robustness, even under extreme conditions. This success is also symbolic to the dedication that ASUS puts in developing technologies and IT solutions that not only enhances the daily operations but also with care for the environment in mind.

About ASUS
ASUS is a leading provider of 3C total solutions. With a global staff of more than 100 thousand and a world-class R&D design team, the turnover for 2006 was 17.4 billion U.S. Dollars. ASUS has been ranked in Business Week InfoTech 100 for 9 straight years, and was ranked No.1 by the Wall Street Journal Asia for best quality products in Taiwan.

Media Contacts:
ASUSTeK Computer (Thailand) Co., Ltd.:
Ms. Kittithida Prakasukarn
Tel: 662-679-8376-78 # 18 Fax: 662-679-8371
E-mail: kittithida_p@asus.com.tw

ASUS Communications Team: Professional Media Business Co., Ltd.
Mr.Thanom Jitthammasatian and Ms.Nakhun Kaoian
Tel: 085-157-2713, 086-536-0306 Fax: 0-2559-0650
Email: thanom_j@pmb.co.th; nakhun_k@pmb.co.th