Hamburg  – Netbook pioneer Asus has expanded its popular EeePC series to include a new lightweight model that is thinner than ever.

The EeePC 108HA “Seashell” is available starting immediately in a variety of countries. It comes in either black or mother of pearl, says Joerg Schlaefke, the company’s regional director for Germany and Austria.

The unit stands 26 millimetres high and weighs 1,100 grammes. It draws its name from the seashell-like design of its 10-inch, matte screen.

The three-cell polymer battery provides up to six hours of operating time, claims Joerg Wissing, product manager for the EeePC family. The device works with a so-called multi-touchpad that allows for two-finger zooming functionality familiar to Apple iPhone users. The touchpad can also be switched off at the press of a key.

The heart (CPU) of the new Seashell is an Intel Atom N280 processor running Microsoft’s Windows XP Home operating system. A 160 GB SATA hard drive is included for storage. The base version of the netbook costs 400 dollars. (dpa)