A Netbook that can handle games? We test the Asus N10J

We may think of Atom-powered Netbooks as the most basic of computers, good for Web surfing and e-mailing - but what would happen if someone stuffed a discrete graphics chip into one of these low-power, low-price systems?

It took Asus, the guys who pretty much created the Netbook market with the original Eee PC, to do it with the new N10J. It's a 10-inch Netbook (which curiously doesn't carry the Eee PC brand name), with the usual Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, and Windows XP. What makes the $699 N10J different is the addition of an Nvidia GeForce 9300 graphics card.

So, can you actually play games on it? No one should expect much from an Atom CPU with 1GB of RAM, but we were still able to milk some acceptable frame rates out of Unreal Tournament III. To get 29 frames per second, we had to dial the resolution all the way down to 800x600, which is close to the display's native resolution of 1,024x600, and we kept the detail level at medium. The result was a reasonable experience, but your milage may vary.

Read the full review of the Asus N10J.

[tehrani625]

A vista laptop of the same price could do the same thing. Although it would be nice if they stuffed this type of graphics in the Eee box. Then it might be able to stream video. That is the significance of this. Also would it be easier to spend the money on some good desktop upgrades, so you would not have to send that to the dump?

[zgreenwell]

Can it play DOOM?

[guest86]

Yes, It should work on it. DOOM 1,2 and 3. Install DOOM 3 on Netbook and fix game to running without CD. Because Netbook don't have CD or DVD drive, you can use external hard drive or external CD, DVD drive to install game come from USB port. When game done install on it, copy .exe then replace in game folder then play game! Like we did it in path - C:\Programs\>your game list in here<\ to replace exe fix. Like No CD, etc, that are old news. DOOM 3 can use 1.5 GHz processor speed and 512 MB of RAM, and 128 MB video card. Set on very highest should work prefect on it. This Network should play Quake 4 too. Because of Dual Core Atom processor have 2x1.6 GHz. Atom have two core running 1.6 GHz per core. Total 3.2 GHz with two processor should be enough. You can play Fable game on it at very highest setting. Fable is similar to Zelda game. Very funny game that what I play that. You can play old Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, GameBoy Color/Advance, Nintendo DS, GameCube games on Netbook to bring old memories back and play all games again since 1985. Look for ROMS and Emulators on Google and will make us excite have old memories back. Get on gaming and enjoy our life on it.

Funny for DOOM 3 to install on Netbook and scare people away! Good idea! LOL :-D Let bring Doom 3 back. Doom 4 can't install on it because need 1 GB of RAM, Pentium D with 3 GHz or Core 2 Duo with 2.4GHz or higher, 256 MB video card (Nvidia 6800 or higher) I think Doom 4 will running very slow on Netbook. Just buy powerful laptop or desktop computers like gaming. DOOM 4 should work on Windows XP, Vista and 7. Doom 4 not release yet, maybe end of this year or next year 2010. Keep eye on News on Google and Gamespot website for more update.

[iaznbumi]

how come no one ever mentions the expressgate feature within this laptop that boots up a UNIX environment?

[jouno53]

Why on earth would you pay $699 for this when you can get a much better dual core notebook, easily with a Core 2 Duo, 4GB of ram and a large hard drive, and a better or equilalent video card for the same price? Even if you want portability, a 14.1" notebook at that price would have the similar specs as mentioned above.

Honestly, I think netbooks should be 200 or less for them to actually be worth the price. Anything more and they lose every ounce of worth for your money.

[MacDellMan]

What this shows you is that there is NO market for the Netbook. It's kind of like Apple building a iPhone but leaving out the music player, app store, and...phone...just to make it cheaper. People want power & portability! Laptops are already cheap enough. These small devices where originally designed for emerging markets...but even there they failed. Can we put these stupid machines to rest already and move on. It's like OEMs are trying to force a crappy product into a market that will never accept it. Put a fork in it...the netbook is DEAD!!

[canberra_photographer]

They dropped the name eePC for this one hopefully so they can give it cooler branding... the GeePC

[AppleSuxLeo]

If I use one will I grow Ackerman-sideburns ? And get cool trendy glasses too ?

[Dan_Ackerman]

No, that requires special sideburn-transplant surgery.

[kirk4365]

I have a 10" Azus netbook which I use all the time...a pefect blend of function and portability. No. it won't set any speed records, but it does everything I need it to do and more. Netbooks were one of the hottest selling items on black friday, so you can pull the fork out.....netbooks are far from dead.

[Crazywulf]

I know...I know, I could have bought a laptop with much more power for about the same money, but there is one thing that a laptop can't do that a netbook can....fit in a backpack or a purse with room to spare, and I tell you what, muy little Acer Aspire One does everything I need to do and more....I really don't miss the DVD drive and sometimes the screen size can drive me a little nuts...but when I remember lugging a laptop all over the place I feel this is a small price to pay...I mean, in many cases I wouldn't even bring anything but my Axim....and I was getting tired of trying to write on this thing, looked into a keyboard for it and thought....why not a netbook...so in actuality, my netbook isn't a replacement for my laptop, but a replacement for my Axim.