Asus has delayed their Android-running Eee PC several times, but it now looks like they are getting ready to follow through with a launch early in 2010. This Android device will run with a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, and is being marketed as a smartbook. Asus has high hopes for the gadget, and called it their “secret weapon” in a statement to Shanzai (via Gizmodo).

The itty-bitty smartbook could be a breakthrough in the development of netbooks. With the introduction of CULVs and other ultra-portable notebooks, netbooks have shifted towards smaller, lower-priced machines. When consumers buy a netbook, they want a device that is good for browsing, word processing, and social networking. A netbook needs to boot fast and have great battery life. That is pretty much it.

The Android Eee PC should be very battery efficient, thanks to its ARM-based processor. This thing is basically a high-end Android smartphone in the body of a tiny netbook. Oh, and it's only going to cost around $180. The cheapest you can find most new netbooks is $250-$300. If Asus brings a fast efficient netbook to the table for less than $200, they'll have a hot seller on their hands.