Windows XP-running Eee PC launches in Japan

Last week Asus North America confirmed that they would offer channel-wide availability of Windows XP-running Eee PCs by the end of this quarter, but potential Japanese buyers won’t have to wait much longer as the tiny notebook will finally go on sale tomorrow in Japan, pre-loaded with Windows XP Home Edition instead of Linux.

Called the Eee PC 4G-X, the machine has the same specs as the original 4G model introduced last fall including a Intel Celeron M processor clocked at 900MHz, 4GB of storage, and 512MB of DDR2 memory. But Asus is reportedly tossing in a 4GB SDHC card as well, allowing it to claim the 4G-X comes with 8GB of storage. The tiny notebook goes on sale in Japan on Friday for about $468 – that’s a $68 premium for Windows XP plus an extra 4GB of storage, not bad.