Asus Eee PC 1000H 80G XP Mini-Notebook Review

Actually given that the Eee Laptop 4G opened up the mini-notebook market place final 12 months, Asus continues to be pumping out diverse flavors of the Eee, like variations from the original with XP and designs sporting marginally more substantial screens as well as a multitouch pad. Together with the $460 Eee 1000H 80G XP, although, Asus addresses many with the earlier problems we've had with earlier mini-notebook models--and it generates a solid second-gen machine in the approach.

The latest member of the Eee family offers exactly the same Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and 80GB challenging disk as MSI's Wind NB U100. It's a 10-inch exhibit and measures ten.five by seven.five by 1.5 inches (about the dimensions of the hardcover book, and only somewhat larger than the MSI Wind). The Eee 1000H can also be fairly major for the mini-notebook, weighing about 3.6 pounds which includes the six-cell battery packed underneath. (Within the in addition aspect, the battery lasted about 4 hrs, 32 minutes within our checks.) Using the Eee 1000H's layout the way in which it really is, you may as well call it an ultraportable--in heft, if not overall performance.

The Atom processor may possibly be passable for last-gen apps and little units, but it really is downright mopey if you're hoping to operate Vista. And it's not exactly a pace demon in XP, both: On our WorldBench six exams, the Eee 1000H received a score of 37, a point greater than MSI's Wind received. For the most part, though, this model's performance is regular for what we're finding with XP-based mini-notebooks operating an Atom processor and 1GB of RAM.

A single factor that sets the Eee 1000H other than one other mini-notebooks we've noticed is its spacious, comfy keyboard. I'd probably put it on a par with what you'd anticipate to seek out on a full-featured ultraportable laptop computer. The keyboard, coupled with an array of helpful shortcut keys, makes this mini-notebook quite easy to use. 1 important turns off the check, an additional switches the resolutions, the third adjustments the efficiency settings, as well as the last is person configurable. Along with the keys are not the one points that perform properly: The touchpad delivers a sensual experience and is fluidly responsive, and the mouse buttons are firm, metallic, and properly mounted.

The display's native 1024 by 600 resolution seems reasonably sharp within the 10-inch display. Using a rapid toggle of the shortcut crucial, it is possible to pop by means of quite a few "optimized" resolutions. The only true use I've found to the resolution gear-shifter is the fact that it is helpful for wanting to match some oddly formatted Websites to your display; otherwise, you are able to constantly output video clip with the VGA port. A firm, flush bezel surrounding the screen and also the one.3-megapixel digital camera securely locks every little thing in spot. The circumstance incorporates a smooth yet a bit textured sense.

Suprisingly, the Eee 1000H's audio sounded crisp, and richer than I had expected. Maybe that's the outcome of Dolby Sound Place technological innovation (which Dolby says extends the speakers' bass response up an octave, and widens the sound area the speakers task). Elvis's "Suspicious Minds" rang clear; Run DMC's "Walk This Way" sounded a bit tinny, but very good adequate that I used to be ready to forgo plugging in headphones. I'd even say which the Eee 1000H can fill up a tiny room (or workplace cubicle) with tunes.

One other surprising twist: Asus preinstalls some useful computer software, like Microsoft Works, StarOffice, and Skype.

In other respects, the Eee 1000H offers exactly what you might expect from a mini-notebook in expandability and layout. It includes 3 USB ports, an SD Card slot, VGA-out, headphone/microphone jacks, and an ethernet jack.

I liked the thorough manual, as well. It really is funny, genuinely: Several makers of high-end notebooks don't even bother--simply tossing a PDF within the box--and however this well-laid-out book covers each of the bases.

Asus' Eee 1000H is between the leaders in the mini-notebook marketplace. This model offers a sizable keyboard, a stable screen, and a clear and at ease layout, just beating out the MSI Wind. Consumers beware, even so: It really is a unit that is approximately the dimensions of an ultraportable however has half an ultraportable's energy (albeit at greater than 50 percent an ultraportable's price tag).