The newest version of Asus' popular Netbook, the $379 Eee PC 1005PE, is the first system to reach our labs with Intel's new Atom N450 processor--the long-awaited sequel to the Atom N270 and N280 CPUs found in nearly every other Netbook.
This new 1005 model, thanks to the re-engineered Atom platform, is extremely efficient, and ran for more than 8 hours on our grueling battery drain test. That's extremely impressive, although the N450 was more of a mixed bag in our performance tests, beating other Netbooks in some categories, but matching or falling slightly behind in others.
The Eee PC 1005PE definitely scores points for being the first laptop out of the gate with the new N450 CPU, and its battery life is nothing short of amazing--making this a very useful system for serious road warriors. But we would have liked to see a 1005 that was more fully upgraded across the board.
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With its attractive deep-red finish and roomy 10-inch screen, this Asus Netbook is a tough bargain to beat.
Update (10:55 a.m. PT): Sorry, folks, looks like the Netbook's already sold out. Stay tuned for a new deal later today! (In the meantime, the two backup deals below are still good.)
When it comes to super bargains, I have to confess I rarely think of Best Buy. But the store's been rocking some pretty solid deals of late.
For example, today only (and while supplies last), Best Buy has the 10-inch Asus Eee PC 1005HAB Netbook for $229.99. That's not including sales tax or shipping (the latter will run you $11.50).
This isn't your average, boring, black Netbook: the sale model has a stylish "deep red" lid and wrist rest.
Other than that, however, the specs are pretty standard: Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, and the aforementioned 10.1-inch screen. The OS: Windows XP Home, not Windows 7.
That's the only real ... Read more
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Asus)
Hot on the heels of the well-regarded HP Mini 311, Asus has moved the Netbook bar forward by taking a 12-inch Netbook chassis and including both Nvidia's Ion graphics and a dual-core version of Intel's Atom processor (called the Atom 330). We've previously seen dual-core Atoms only in a handful of Nettop desktops, because of heat issues, and it's unlikely we'd see one in anything smaller than a 12-inch laptop body.
While still small, the 1201N fits in a full-size keyboard and a 250GB hard drive (plus access to 500GB of online storage space). The system comes with Windows 7 Starter and 2GB of RAM. Asus claims the 6-cell battery should last up to five hours, similar to what we've seen in other Eee PC models.
In a brief hands-on demo, we noted that the Asus Eee PC 1201N looks very similar to the current Eee PC line, including the popular 1005HA, with a black glossy finish and textured touch pad.
Combined with a 1,366x768 HD ... Read more
Is this the 12-inch Asus Eee PC 1201n?
(Credit: pcpop.com)Several eagle-eyed bloggers noticed a new Eee PC from Asus popping up on a Chinese online retailer's storefront. The purported new model is called the Eee PC 1201n, and a rough translation of the product page indicates it will include Nvidia's Ion graphics.
That long-hyped new GPU should help with HD video streaming and media playback, an area your average Netbook struggles with. Other than that, the Intel N270 CPU, 2GB of RAM, and 1,366x768 display seem fairly standard for a 12-inch Netbook.
Obviously there's no price or US availability info yet, but we've seen similar configurations coming from other PC makers for around $399.
This image, which appears to be a conceptual drawing, shows an Asus e-reader with a backbone.
(Credit: Times Online)We're getting more details about that upcoming Asus Eee-book reader we told you about last month.
The company is looking at two versions: budget and premium, a spokesman for Asus in the U.K. told the Times of London.
But most intriguing is that at least one version of the reader, the higher-end one, would have a hinged spine, opening like a traditional book and closing into tablet form. This design would let users view the text of their book on one screen (turning its pages using the touch screen), while browsing a Web page on the other.
One screen could also act as a virtual keypad, according to the Times report, which would move the device into laptop territory.
The Asus e-reader would have a full color screen, and it may also feature speakers, a Webcam, and a mic for Skype, enabling cheap phone calls over the Internet, the Times reports.
As for price, ... Read more
These allegedly leaked roadmap documents from Asus purport to show the company's Netbook plans for the rest of 2009. The systems and specs indicated aren't terribly surprising, and are in line with what we expect to see from various Netbook makers around the Windows 7 launch.
The most noteworthy is a system called the Eee PC 1201N, which according to the chart below, has a 12-inch display, Intel Atom N270 CPU, 2GB of RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium, and Nvidia's long-promised Ion graphics chip, for $499.
Also listed for sometime in October are two new versions of the popular Eee PC 1005, with Windows 7 Starter and N270 ($349) and N280 ($399) processors.
All three of these new Netbooks have larger 250GB hard drives, a step up from the current 160GB standard. It's also worth noting that Asus, at least according to this roadmap, is staying out of the very bottom of the barrel $299 price territory inhabited by Acer, Dell and others.
Keep in mind this is a leaked roadmap, ... Read more
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Asus)
We first got a glimpse of the Asus Eee PC T91 back in January at CES, and at the time, the idea of combining a Netbook with a convertible touch-screen display seemed like a pretty good one. Seven months later, the final product has arrived, and it's a largely successful experiment, even if the system hits a couple of first-generation snags.
We liked the custom interface, which offers big finger-friendly icons for launching apps, and a full-screen version of Yahoo's widget engine. It wasn't as responsive (or accurate) as an iPhone or Palm Pre, but certainly on par with other tablet laptops we've seen. We also liked that despite the new hardware and software, Asus kept the price at a Netbook-like $499.
On the other hand, the use of a lower-end version of Intel's Atom CPU left us feeling a little...sluggish...at times, and the 8.9-inch screen will seem a bit cramped if you're used to 10-inch (or larger) Netbooks.
(Credit:
Disney)
Disney and Asus have teamed up to do something others have been doing wrong for a long time: they've developed an affordable and functional portable kids' PC, according to USA Today. It comes in the form of a Netbook with an Intel Atom processor; a small, 8.9-inch screen; parental control options; and desktops with customizable themes that revolve around the likes of Cars, Toy Story, WALL-E, and Hannah Montana.
The Netpal Netbooks will have an unknown clock speed (our guess would be 1.6GHz-2GHz) and will have a 16GB SSD or 160GB HD based on parental preference. They'll come preloaded with Windows XP. But they'll have another IO layer over XP so the kids can't break too much. We'd guess a locked-down Windows theme of some sort.
This means the computers can run actual commercial software, as well as access the Internet via Wi-Fi. Consumers can get one decked out in Mickey Mouse's "Magic Blue" or Ariel's flowery "Princess Pink" for $350 at Amazon or ... Read more
Despite practically inventing the Netbook market with the original Eee PC, Asus has faced some serious competition lately from mainstream brands such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Aiming to steal back some of the Netbook buzz, the company has a slick, new take on the Eee PC, called the 1008HA (which Asus also calls the "Seashell," in a fantastic display of awkward localization).
With a super-slim design and some clever engineering, from a custom-molded battery to a collection of hidden ports, this is arguably the best-looking 10-inch Netbook we've seen -- although at $429, it's far from the cheapest mini-laptop around.
The internal components are typical for the category, and perfectly functional for Netbook chores, as long as one's expectations are kept modest. Other companies are experimenting with adding newer technologies from updated AMD and Via CPUs to Nvidia's Ion graphics, to low-cost, low-power laptops, but for a traditional Netbook experience, Asus is again at the top of the pack.
The Asus Eee PC 1008HA
(Credit: CNET)The latest revision of the Asus Eee PC line, the 1008HA (also called the "Seashell"), is finally coming to the U.S., according to Asus. The revised model, recently released in the U.K., looks to be a fairly major overhaul of the Eee PC, with a slimmer design and a weight less than 2.5 pounds. CNET UK recently reviewed the 1008HA, and said:
"(The 1008HA) is a small, light, and sexy device aimed at the fashion-conscious Netbook fan who puts portability slightly above performance...The glossy black finish, the gently tapering lid, and the wedge-shaped profile all contribute to an overall design that's more aesthetically pleasing than that of rival Netbooks."
We got a sneak hands-on peek at the 1008HA earlier in May, and it's definitely the best-looking Eee PC yet (see pics after the jump). We liked the tapered design, along with the thin 10-inch LED display, and slightly faster Intel Atom N280 (most Netbooks have the N270).
The smaller chassis necessitates some compromises, and many of the ports are recessed into tiny pockets, hidden by flaps, including the video output, which requires a mini-VGA-to-VGA adapter. Also worth noting--the battery is of the non-removable type, to allow it to fit into the extra-slim body. Fortunately, the keyboard seems to have gotten plenty of attention, and we especially liked its full-size right shift key.
The Eee PC 1008HA will cost $429--which is close enough to our $399 sweet spot for Netbooks to be a contender--but keep in mind that Dell's just-announced $299 Mini 10v has potentially shifted the conventional wisdom on Netbook pricing.
Also newly announced from Asus are a pair of mainstream laptops, including one with Intel's new CULV (consumer ultra-low voltage) processor. The $1,199 UX50 uses the 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Solo SU3300 in a 15.6-inch 16:9 chassis, with a backlit keyboard and Nvidia's new G105M mobile graphics chip. The 14-inch U80V has a traditional Core 2 Duo T9550, along with ATI's HD4570 graphics, a backlit keyboard, and a cool-looking illuminated touchpad, all for $899.
After the break, more pics of the 1008HA, along with the UX50 and U80V. ... Read more
