ASUS confirmed on Friday a U.S. launch date for its Eee PC 900 as well as a price for the lightweight and ultra compact notebook: starting May 12, Eee PC will become available throughout the U.S. and will have a retail price of $549.

Whether consumers prefer Microsoft’s Windows XP or Linux, ASUS said it will accommodate to their demands for the same price. However, the Linux version will benefit from a 4GB SSD and an extra 16 GB internal flash memory, adding up to a total of 20 GB, while the Windows module will have an 8GB internal flash module, due to licensing fees, which adds to a total of 12 GB of storage.

ASUS spokesman Charlton Ho explained the difference to Computer World: “Cost would be one of the reasons, but not the main one,” he said, adding: “Also, [the] Linux version is our main Eee PC model with our unique interface, so the consumer not only can get the great and easy-to-use interface on the Linux version but extra storage space.”

With that being said, Jonathan Tsang, Vice Chairman of ASUS, said last month: “The Eee PC has been a tremendous success since our initial launch in October last year, and feedback gathered from consumers have aided us in providing even greater enhancements with our new range of Eee PCs. With the new Windows-based offerings, a greater amount of work ease is expected through full compatibility with Windows applications, while Windows Live and Microsoft Works features will certainly add to greater online interaction and work efficiency."

ASUS’ Eee PC will feature an 8.9-in 1024x600 display, with 1 GB of DDR2 memory , an 1.3 MP webcam and a multi-touch trackpad, as well as 3 USB 2.0 ports and an Intel Celeron-M processor at 630 or 900 MHz, and it will rival Apple’s MacBook Air or HP’s Mini-Note PC.