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
(Credit:
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
This 10-inch Netbook is loaded, and it sells for a mere $239.99 (with coupon).
(Credit: Mwave)I'll cop to posting a lot of Netbook deals these days, but that's only because the deals just keep getting better. Witness Mwave's latest: a refurbished Asus Eee PC 1005HAB 10-inch Netbook for $239.99 shipped.
(Don't be alarmed when you see $249.99 on the product page. You need to apply coupon code FALLSVG09 to get the lower price.)
This midnight-blue Eee PC sports a 10-inch screen (which I consider the minimum for computing comfort) and the usual core-spec suspects: a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and Windows XP Home.
The Eee also features a Webcam, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and a multitouch touch pad, so it's actually a bit ahead of the curve, spec-wise. Only the three-cell battery disappoints, though Asus promises better than 4 hours of runtime.
Because this is a refurb, the warranty tops out at 90 days. (Also, take note of ... 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
A mere $189.99 buys you a Windows XP-powered Netbook.
(Credit: Asus)New rules for Netbooks: Don't pay more than $300 for a model with a 10-inch screen, and don't pay more than $200 for an 8.9-incher.
Mwave has a pretty sweet deal on one of the latter: A refurbished red Asus Eee PC 900HDB for $189.99 shipped.
What are the specs? They are solid, starting with a 900MHz Intel Celeron M 353 processor (which may not be faster than the more common Atom CPU--I've read varying opinions), the Eee offers 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Windows XP Home, and the aforementioned 8.9-inch screen.
And it's red! It's pretty rare to find a cheap Netbook that's anything but black (or occasionally white). This one's downright purty.
It's also a refurbished unit, meaning the warranty is a fairly typical 90 days. I'm going to state once again for the record that I don't consider that a negative, especially considering the $60 ... Read more
A 10-inch Netbook for $249.99? Act fast: they won't last the day.
(Credit: Woot)Update: Sorry, sports fans, but it's already sold out. Check back later for another deal. Hint: free stuff!
Remember the $279.99 HP Netbook from a couple weeks ago? Here's an even better deal: Woot Sellout has the Asus Eee PC 1000H for just $249.99. Shipping will run you a very reasonable $5.
Because this is a Woot deal, it expires when the clock strikes midnight--and may well sell out before then.
As Netbooks go, this one's pretty loaded. In addition to the 10-inch screen, you get 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Windows XP.
Other perks include a 1.3-megapixel Webcam, Bluetooth, and a keyboard that's only a fraction smaller than a standard laptop's. The 1000H weighs 3 pounds and measures 1.5 inches thick.
Because it's a refurb, the warranty ends after 90 days.
That's the only area where the Asus doesn't ... Read more
(Credit:
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.
