personal digital assistant. ASUS EEE PC? personal digital assistant Asus eee pc year of manufacture

Asus Eee PC is a very interesting product from the point of view of its positioning in the electronic devices market. It belongs to a rather specific class of devices, occupying an intermediate position on the market between ultra-mobile (with a 10-12-inch matrix) laptops and PDAs. In general, this market is populated by enough a large number of the most different devices, including web tablets, small devices with a 5-7 inch screen and pull-out keyboards (UMPC), various monofunctional devices (for example, GPS navigators or e-readers), etc. The main characteristics for devices in this segment are size and weight; on the one hand, there are universal laptops with screen sizes of 10 inches and above, where you can already place an almost fully functional keyboard; on the other hand, PDAs, which, although not so functional (in particular, have quite a small screen), but they can be carried in a pocket or a small pouch on your belt.

Figuratively speaking, products in this sector are aimed at users who need small and light electronic device, so that they can carry it with them all the time, and at the same time they are not satisfied with the functionality of a PDA or the portability of a small laptop. The problem is that the circle of such buyers is quite narrow; the majority are quite happy with a PDA or a laptop (or both devices together). Therefore, the main circle of buyers is a narrow niche of enthusiasts who actively use various mobile gadgets, or an equally narrow category of professional users who need such devices for work. And since the sales volume is small, it is difficult to recoup the costs of development and organization of production. Therefore, almost all devices in this market niche are relatively expensive and have a poor price-functionality ratio, which further reduces their consumer appeal.

ASUS Eee PC, aimed specifically at this market segment, has two very important features that make it unique: firstly, it is positioned not as a niche, but as a mass device, and secondly, it has a fairly low price.

What makes the Eee PC unique is that ASUS is trying to bring to market a model that is versatile and simple enough to satisfy the basic needs of non-professional users, and at the same time extremely cheap. Only a fairly wealthy person who does not count money can afford to buy the same web tablet for $2,000, when it is quite possible to do without it. And at a price of $300, you can buy such a device by simply going to the store to do some shopping - it will still be “useful around the house.” And the Eee PC is practically a fully functional laptop.

And here we come to the main thing why ASUS’s marketing was so successful. The company announced very early on that retail price The Eee PC will cost only $199, which is what almost anyone is willing to pay for a computer capable of performing all the basic tasks assigned to it. The power of marketing is so great that to this day one of the synonyms for the Eee PC has become “a $199 laptop.”

Of course, in life everything turned out to be not so rosy; prices at the beginning of sales ranged from 350 to 500 dollars, even in the USA, where such electronics are traditionally inexpensive. However, even for this money, a functional alternative to the Eee PC is only some old models of used ultraportable laptops, imported from countries where there is generally a demand for them (in Europe, for example, the volume of this market is minimal).

ASUS Eee PC

Externally, ASUS Eee PC is extremely reminiscent of old ASUS models, S200 and S300. At one time, ASUS had a whole line of such devices and supported them on the market, although the market niche for them was not very large. You can read reviews of these models on our website:, S300. By the way, it’s worth taking a closer look at the “representation” of the Eee PC on the Internet.

Internet resources

Long before its release, ASUS Eee PC had a fairly large army of people who liked the device and were looking forward to its release.

ASUS has created a special website to support the Eee PC; it is located at the third level in the asus.com– domain. Here you can find out basic information about the device, select the model you are interested in, and also get support or download the necessary drivers and programs.

In the English-speaking segment of the Internet there are quite a lot of sites dedicated to the Eee PC, for example,. This site contains a lot of interesting information about the model, there are also forums. There is also a similar Russian site. A Russian-speaking community dedicated to the Eee PC is also associated with this site; it is located here http://community.livejournal.com/eeepc/.

Finally, don't forget about our forum. There is a fairly voluminous thread dedicated to the Eee PC. In it you can read discussions of the model, and ways to solve emerging questions and problems with installing additional programs and devices.

As you can see, the Eee PC has a fairly serious presence on the Internet. Well, let's take a look at the model that we tested.

ASUS Eee PC case

So, let's take a look at our Eee PC.

The first thing that surprises is that at such a stated price, the case does not at all give the impression of being cheap; the plastic of the case is of quite high quality. Moreover, the Eee PC is available in several colors! We tested the “white mother-of-pearl” option; this Eee PC has a completely white body with a mother-of-pearl tint. There is also a fairly common black version. In addition, ASUS offers several “color” options with covers made in various pastel colors green, blue, pink... The design is not far behind it is made in a much more high level what do you expect from budget model. Beveled edges, a round central part, a silver insert near the touchpad, a battery integrated into the design of the case - everything is done to a good standard.

True, due to the cheaper design, we had to resort to some tricks. So, instead of big screen a screen with a larger diagonal, probably 9 inches, could fit into the case; the screen installed is only 7 inches. By the way, a new Eee PC model should appear on the market quite soon, which will have a larger screen.

To fit a small display into the case, in white frame another one (black) is inserted. It also houses the laptop's speakers. This arrangement is convenient because the sound goes directly to the viewer. But the speakers are very quiet, it’s difficult to use them in any noisy room, and the sound quality is poor. At any time active work With sound you have to connect headphones. The frame itself does not look very good in combination with the white color, and the small screen in a large body creates the feeling of a budget model.

Of course, the main attention in such a model is paid to weight and size parameters. The case dimensions are very modest: 22.5 × 16.4 × 2.15~3.5 cm. Specification weight 0.92 kg, the weight of our laptop with battery is 1050 grams. In this indicator, the Eee PC outperforms even a paper diary. As a convenient multifunctional notebook this laptop will look very good.

By the way, the Eee PC has an interesting included power supply. It looks like a power supply from mobile phone, and not from a laptop - small and plugged directly into the outlet. The power supply unit has a universal plug onto which an adapter for sockets in different countries can be attached.

It’s worth mentioning the included case as well; the Eee PC can be carried without the risk of being scratched.

The laptop has built-in speakers (albeit small), a microphone and a webcam with a resolution of 0.3 megapixels, as well as an output for external headphones and a microphone input it is quite suitable for conveniently conducting web conferences and calls over the Internet (this is an option, it was present in our sample ). The package already includes Skype.

Connectors, housing layout

As for expandability, the laptop is very well equipped for its size, positioning and price. Firstly, it has as many as three USB 2.0 connectors, this is enough for almost all occasions, for example, you can connect a flash drive and external mouse and a keyboard. EeePC also has a standard VGA output; when working on a desk, you can connect a large external monitor, and “away”, you can connect a projector, for example, for making a presentation yourself.

The EeePC has a card reader for SD/MMC format cards; it can be used both for working with flash drives (for example, for a camera) and for increasing the laptop’s own memory; the card can easily be used as an additional drive.

To connect to networks, the laptop has a port for a wired network and Wi-Fi. The model we tested does not have a modem. There is also no Bluetooth interface that could be used, for example, to communicate with a phone, but then the model would become even more expensive...

Let's take a closer look at how the connectors are located on the laptop body.

There is nothing on the front edge, only indicators.

On the left there is a network connector, a plug instead of a modem connector, a USB port, a ventilation grille, and audio connectors. Everything is conveniently located.

On the right is a card reader, two more USB ports, an output for an external monitor or projector, and a Kensington lock.

By the way, pay attention to the contours of the case; from these angles you can see its real thickness. The beveled corners detract from the size, making the Eee PC appear even thinner than it actually is.

On the back there is only a power connector.

Bottom of the laptop. In the last two photos, pay attention to the location of the battery in the case; it is largely responsible for both the weight and thickness of the laptop.

The indicators, as already mentioned, are located on the right front edge of the keyboard panel and are made in the form of LEDs located under special holes in the case. There are 4 of them in total: operation, battery status, hard drive access, WiFi status. When working, laptops are blocked by the wrist of the right hand and are not visible.

Model specifications, configuration

The Eee PC is built on Intel's new mobile platform, aimed at low-cost laptops and gadgets. Processor Celeron 900 ULV, runs at reduced voltage. According to current information, the processor is in standard mode It operates at 630 MHz, thanks to which it has very good power consumption and heating performance. Perhaps in new BIOS versions the ability to enable the maximum operating mode (at the required 900 MHz) will be implemented. In general, the Eee PC does not work very quickly, this is especially noticeable when starting and loading applications. However, during office work this is not annoying.

The Intel 910GML platform with integrated GMA900 graphics, although quite old, has good performance even by modern standards, and its “obsolete” status allows it to set an attractive price.

The amount of installed RAM depends on the model. In the “younger model” and, according to available information, in all surf models, this memory is soldered directly into the motherboard and cannot be upgraded. In 4G and 8G models, you can rearrange the modules yourself; the connector allows this. However, to do this you need to open the case, or rather a special hatch. And there is a seal on this hatch. ASUS initially stated that damage to the label would void the warranty. For some countries (USA, UK, etc.), clarifications have been issued that you can open the hatch and replace the memory yourself, and this does not void the warranty of the entire device. For Russia, it is not yet clear whether this is true or not.

The situation with the “hard drive” is no less interesting. All ASUS Eee PC models use SSD memory Flash analogue, seemingly different big amount read-write cycles (flash memory fails after a certain, albeit quite large number of write cycles). The memory can either be soldered directly onto the device board, or inserted as a module into a PCIe slot, where it can be upgraded or replaced. Size varies 2, 4 or 8 GB, upgradeable only in 8G model. In principle, even 8 GB is very little for a computer, especially with installed system windows. However, the Eee PC is still unlikely to be the only computer; it should rather work in tandem with a larger computer or laptop so it is better to store all the information there, and load onto the Eee PC only what is needed on the road. In addition to the built-in disk, it is quite possible to use external storage With USB interface, or buy an additional flash memory card and insert it into the Eee PC card reader.

As standard, the Eee PC has a connector for a 10/100 Mbit wired network and a card wireless network, supporting 802.11B/G standards. Both use Atheros chipsets. There is no modem (although there is a plug on the case; perhaps the modem will be available as an option in other models). No Bluetooth either. I would like to have this wireless interface, but this would definitely lead to an increase in the cost of the design, and besides, we should not forget that Bluetooth is a closed standard, unlike Wi-Fi.

Finally, here is a table that brings everything together specifications different models Eee PC.

	Eee PC 2G Surf	Eee PC 4G Surf	Eee PC 4G	Eee PC 8G
CPU	800 MHz Intel Celeron M ULV @ 571 MHz	900 MHz Intel Celeron M ULV 353 @ 630 MHz
RAM	512 MB (DDR2 soldered)	512 MB (DDR2 SO-DIMM)	512 MB (DDR2 SO-DIMM)	1 GB (DDR2 SO-DIMM)
Flash drive	2 GB	4 GB (soldered)	4 GB (soldered)	8 GB (PCIe)
battery	4 el.: 4400 mAh, 2.8h		4 el.: 5200 mAh, 3~3.5h
Expansion slots	MMC(plus)/SD(HC) card reader
Display	15.25 × 9.15 cm, 7” diagonal (17.78 cm); WVGA (800x480)
Net	10/100 Mbps Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi (PCIe)
Ports	3 USB 2.0, VGA D-SUB
Sound	High Definition Audio, built-in speakers and microphone
Dimensions and weight	22.5 × 16.4 × 2.15~3.5 cm, 0.92 kg
web camera	No		VGA (640×480) 30 fps
OS	Linux OS (Xandros); Windows XP Home

Operating the Eee PC

The key characteristic of the Eee PC is that it is small. This has its pros and cons.

The small keyboard allows you to type with only two fingers. All the keys are the same size, so if you get used to it, there aren’t too many misses. Personally, this printing mode still seems extremely inconvenient to me, but colleagues who do not know touch typing have a different opinion: typing is only slightly more inconvenient than on a large laptop, but the size and weight make the Eee PC perfect choice for business trips, so if possible, they would definitely buy such a device.

The screen also seemed too small to me for example, in word processor Too few lines are displayed, making it inconvenient to print and edit text. In addition, our version did not support the Russian language at all. The widescreen screen has a non-standard resolution of 800x480 pixels; it requires its own driver (this is especially true when installing Windows yourself).

The Eee PC has a flaw that is, to one degree or another, common to almost all ultra-compact laptops. The heaviest part of the case is the battery, and it is located under the matrix. The Eee PC still stands quite confidently on the table, but when you hold it on your lap and open the matrix to the maximum angle, the laptop wants to tip back.

During the operation of the Eee RS, there were no problems with noise. I personally still don’t understand whether it has a fan or not, but on the Internet opinions are divided. The downside of silence is heating - the case heats up quite noticeably even in standard office mode. After an hour and a half, the laptop was noticeably warm. The palm rests and the bottom of the laptop in the middle also become warmer.

The software part of the Eee PC is based on a reworked version of Xandros Linux - a rather exotic distribution. To perform some functions fine tuning operating system non-trivial actions are required. Out of the box, the number of settings for the system’s operation is minimal: output to an external monitor, its resolution, two energy saving settings—that’s probably all that’s interesting.

Working in “office” mode in principle does not cause problems. The Eee PC starts up quickly enough and responds to actions (for example, launching new applications), although with a delay, but not critical. In general, it is usually not annoying.

One of the “jokes” that can be noted (by the way, the same thing was practiced with the S200) is that the recovery system is written to a CD when the Eee PC does not have a drive. So system recovery is only possible if you have an external drive or a laptop or computer.

Operation programs and Eee PC shell

The EeePC does not come with the market's traditional Windows laptop, but with the option of a free Linux OS simplified assembly of Xandros Linux (however, now there seems to be no delivery option with Windows).

The laptop has a fairly simple and functional software shell for calling required applications. The shell has several tabs in which programs are grouped by functionality:

Internet applications (browser, Skype, mail, messenger, Internet radio),

applications for work (all Open Office, dictionary, file manager and other applications),

programs for training (a set of some utilities, for example, the periodic table of elements, planetarium, other applications for students),

entertainment (games, media player, catalogers for music, photos and videos), application for webcam and sound recording.

A separate tab is allocated for favorite applications.

In general, the shell is quite convenient for the niche “between a laptop and a PDA”; applications are conveniently sorted and easy to find.

Ease of use personal opinion

In my opinion, the Eee PC is too small to be comfortable to use all the time. This is a device for traveling and traveling, when you can “do something”, but you don’t have to do anything seriously. In this niche he looks quite confident.

In any activity, the Eee PC is a compromise option. The keyboard is too small, you can only type on it with two fingers. The screen resolution is enough to view email or briefly work with text, but when trying to do something more serious, the lack of screen space is a big hindrance. It seems that a model with a larger screen size and resolution will be more convenient in permanent job, especially since there is room even in this building. In general, theoretically you can do everything on the Eee PC, but in practice it is inconvenient for serious work. Although “clicking”, surfing ICQ or the Internet, or looking at a cheat sheet at a performance is quite an option.

Due to the fact that the laptop does not have a hard drive, it is insensitive to vibrations and shocks and can easily work, for example, in a car. This is a big plus specifically for a traveling device - all sorts of troubles can happen on the road that a delicate hard drive may not survive.

Since we're talking about traveling, it's worth saying a few words about the battery. We tested a model with a large battery, 5200 mAh. From it the laptop worked for 3 hours in reading mode (i.e. with one running application and disabled wireless interfaces). For a short trip or traveling, this battery life is enough, but you shouldn’t count on a full day of work “on battery” with the Eee PC.

Positioning

ASUS Eee PC is not a laptop, but rather an all-in-one personal digital assistant as it should be more convenient than a PDA and having smaller sizes than a full-featured laptop.

It is unsuitable for constant everyday work, so it is hardly worth positioning it as a student laptop or a laptop for poor users; in this case, it will turn out to be the only computer and will not cope with all the variety of tasks that fall on it. And in order for it to be at least somehow convenient to use, you will have to purchase an external keyboard, mouse and monitor, which will significantly increase the price. The Eee PC doesn't even have an external optical drive. So if it's about the only computer, it’s better to buy a budget laptop that costs about $800, which already has everything you need.

But the Eee PC is a good addition to your main desktop or large laptop, which is difficult to carry with you all the time. It is convenient to take it with you on short trips and business trips. It is lightweight, takes up almost no space and is quite suitable for passing the time - review (and slightly edit) a document or presentation, check email, surf the Internet, and finally play a little.

The Eee PC can be used in a bunch of other cases, for example, chatting briefly in ICQ, talking to someone via Skype (especially since it’s included in the software), using the Eee PC as a handset, reading something at home before bed etc. By the way, when discussing the Eee PC at our conference, another application was proposed as small laptop for setting up and testing the operation of various industrial and server equipment. He would also be quite at home in this role.

Finally, it is worth mentioning separately a very special category of users who may like the EeePC - women. A small, light and elegant toy that easily fits into a handbag and is capable of performing the vast majority of tasks of an undemanding user: Internet, mail, communication, working with documents. Plus, the Eee PC is nice looking.

At the same time, it seemed that thanks to the announced low price of the EeePC, the user would not even have to rack his brain as to whether it would be useful or not; such a purchase could well be made under the influence of the impulse “I liked it!”

Price

Unfortunately, the situation with the price turned out to be a little different than expected. From a marketing point of view, everything is very cool; publications still use “Eee PC” and “$199 laptop” as synonyms. But in reality, everything is not very good even in the USA, with their affordable prices, models with normal characteristics cost $400 this is not much lower than the price for a “full-size”, albeit very cheap, laptop. Because of this, the Eee PC is dangerously close in cost to cheap laptops, to which it will clearly lose in functionality if a poor user buys his main and only laptop “for the household.” However, even for a “gadget” the difference between 200 and 400 dollars is quite significant, and already makes the buyer think, “do we need this joke?”

Therefore on this moment it is more likely that the new product will not become an “ultra-cheap laptop for poor users”, but another gadget that complements a laptop or desktop computer, and interesting mainly to users traditionally interested in this kind of gizmos. Perhaps it will be interesting as a “buy as a gift”, but again, it’s one thing to buy a gift for 200 dollars, another for 400. Moreover, users who are not particularly familiar with computers and are accustomed to Windows are almost The Linux operating system with the proposed shell will probably be intimidating (although in general it is quite convenient)..

At the moment, the Eee PC will most likely be sold only through the Eldorado retail chain; the average price for a 4G model should be about 10-11 thousand rubles (on sale the model goes for 9999 rubles). The preliminary announced price for the 9th series of Eee PC, which should appear in the summer, is about 400 euros.

Conclusion

EeePC occupies an intermediate niche between a laptop and a PDA. This is a good addition to another computer, convenient tool to do a little work or while away time on trips, business trips and short business visits. With some additions, the EeePC almost matches the functionality of ultraportable laptops, but costs less.

However, at current prices and positioning, the EeePC most likely will not become super popular, and it will remain a niche product for gadget lovers who need just such a hybrid.

2012 has already ended, and the final victory tablet computers over netbooks, as most experts predicted, has not yet happened. Of course, tablets have squeezed out competitors, but there is no talk of completely ousting them from the market. Tablets are more convenient for surfing the Internet, watching videos and photos, but when it comes to use for work purposes, netbooks have a design advantage - a keyboard. Writing articles, drawing up reports and graphs, in general, one way or another, working with text on any netbook is more convenient, even taking into account the fact that modern tablets have options for external keyboards. Why invent something when there is a ready-made working solution that will also be cheaper?

It is not surprising that major market players continue to produce “workhorse” netbooks, devoid of external gloss and glamor, crazy graphics, but very convenient for long business trips and trips due to their low weight, relatively compact dimensions and power, which is enough for office applications. .

In this article we look at ASUS 1015 - a 2012 device that opened up new series and gave the company a chance to become a leader in the compact netbook segment. The model is available in two versions - with the letters C and CE. The second is a little more advanced and expensive. We got acquainted with the simple version, but there are not many differences between them. This allows us to talk about two models at once in one article.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Atom N2600 or N2800 (1.6 or 1.8 GHz), 2 cores.
Display: 10.1 inches, 1024x600 pixels, matte.
RAM: 1 GB or 2 GB, DDR3-1333.
Storage device: 320 GB or 500 GB.
Video adapter: Intel GMA 3600 (integrated graphics).
Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.
Battery: 6 cells, 5200 mAh, or 3 cells, 2600 mAh.
Ports and connectors: 3xUSB 2.0 (there are options with 1xUSB 3.0), combined microphone and headphone jack, network port, HDMI, VGA, card reader.
Webcam: 0.3 megapixels
Operating system: Windows 7 Starter.
Dimensions: 262x178x21~34 mm.
Weight: 1.08 kg.

Frame, appearance

Design for a modern netbook is almost the most important thing. In conditions where the hero of the review and his competitors from Acer and HP have identical power characteristics, buyers have to make a choice based on other criteria. And appearance is the most important of them. ASUS has its own style, and almost all of the company's computers look like twin brothers. Knowledgeable people can identify the brand even without a nameplate on the lid.

But it was with the 1015 model that ASUS launched a new Flare series, which finally received a slightly modified design. The body of the netbook has become flatter (although the side in which the battery is located is still wider), the corners are not rounded, but rather cut off. The sides received a chrome finish and were more carefully designed. The general style is businesslike and laconic, which, given the purpose of the netbook, is a plus: you don’t go to the club with it, but work.

However, there are color options. If the model with the letter C is available in calm colors (black, white, gray, red, brown and blue), then the CE has more “playful” shades (pink, lilac and sea green). Plus, in some color variants of this modification the battery is painted silver. True, it’s unclear why.

The dimensions of ASUS 1015 are quite modest. For clarity, we photographed a netbook next to an ordinary book. It turned out to be a little larger and thicker (especially in its wide part), but it still easily fits in a woman’s bag, not to mention traveling suitcases. The weight - just over a kilogram - is also pleasing: such a computer can be carried with you all day without any problems.

The build quality is traditional for ASUS high. The gaps between the panels do not play a role, and the lid opening mechanism inspires confidence. The only pity is that the lid itself does not tilt 180 degrees: the maximum opening angle is 130 degrees. Considering the characteristics of the display, this may not be enough for working on your knees.

The most pleasant thing about the appearance of the netbook is the finishing materials. Finally, the bright and terribly impractical gloss has received a matte finish. It doesn't shine as much in the light, but it's convenient in everyday life. The most important advantage is resistance to pollution. Of course, anything can get dirty, but to work with this netbook, you don’t necessarily need to wash your hands with soap to avoid leaving fingerprints on the case. For the most part, this applies to the top cover, but the plastic interior is not easily soiled. Top cover, in addition to relative cleanliness, can boast of good tactile sensations. The netbook feels good to hold in your hands, which is a good thing anyway.

The rear plastic is rougher and more grooved. In appearance, it should resist well not only dirt, but also scratches. We did not check the latter on a test sample.

Continuing the theme of design, let's say a little about the charger. It turned out to be very modest in size and harmonious in appearance. From a distance it can be confused with charging a mobile phone. This adapter is very convenient to take with you on a trip.

Ergonomics and interfaces

If the design of the ASUS 1015 has changed a little compared to its predecessors, the keyboard has remained exactly the same as we saw, say, in the 1215 model. The ASUS keyboard is quite specific. In terms of the location and purpose of the keys, it is very good. Except that right Shift a little smaller than usual, but there are full-fledged shooters, for which special respect. The keys themselves are not small and do not require much getting used to. It is only necessary for their operating mechanism. Some people like the small stroke and specific sensations from pressing, but others do not. These features are preserved from model to model, so if you have already encountered ASUS keyboards at least once, you have formed an opinion about them. There is no point in conveying impressions in words - it’s better to try it once.

The touchpad is also made in the company's traditional style - the material does not differ from the rest of the panel. The boundaries of the touchpad are indicated by only two edges, but this does not cause any problems. There are no complaints about the operation of the buttons. True, some users complained that the touchpad was too small, saying that they had to be “aimed” very precisely. The author of this material did not experience any problems.

There are practically no keys above the keyboard itself. Only on the right top corner power button. When the netbook is operating, it is illuminated in blue, and this does not depend on the color of the case.

The interfaces on the sides are quite traditional. On the left side there are HDMI, one of three USB, D-sub, charger socket and cooling system radiator. The right side contains an SD card reader, a combined audio jack, two USB ports, a Kensington lock and an RJ45 network. There are modifications in which one of the USB pair supports data transfer standard 3.0. There is no disk drive in any version.

Accessories

Like all its main competitors, ASUS 1015 is built on the Intel Atom platform, codenamed Cedar Trail. Intel produces two third-generation Atom processors, N2600 and N2800, and both of them can be installed in the ASUS 1015. The difference between them is like between two engines in a car of the same model: the N2800 is a little more powerful, a little more power-hungry and a little more expensive. The last “slightly” is what makes it more interesting compared to the N2600. The model we tested had an N2800, and we didn’t want to swap it for its younger brother, even if it could potentially last a little longer on battery power.

The amount of RAM on board can also vary. There is an option with 1 GB, and there is with 2 GB. Let's discard the first one: one gigabyte of RAM for modern computer not enough even for normal work on the Internet and office applications. 2 GB is already enough. Another thing is that in this option there is a certain imbalance in resources. The author of this material worked on a netbook equipped with an N2800 processor and 2 GB of RAM and monitored the use of resources. In most tasks, the processor power ran out before the RAM was fully occupied. This is confirmed by the index Windows performance. The processor is almost the bottleneck (after graphics), but RAM is in the lead. But this is hardly a serious minus. “RAM” is such a thing that it is better to have an excess of it than a shortage.

Overall, the performance of the version we tested is not bad: the system not only copes with all basic operations, such as web browsing, video and office tasks, but will also allow, for example, editing images in Photoshop.

The subjective feelings of the author of the material coincided with the assessment of Windows: the video card here is the weakest link. It is integrated - Intel GMA HD 3600. Its capabilities are enough for working with video and playing HD format, but Full HD is already slowing down (on the other hand, why play Full HD on this netbook with its screen resolution?). You should also forget about resource-intensive games. It is clear that ASUS price 1015 requires savings even compared to the class of expensive netbooks, and it is logical that the video card fell under this savings. You don't need an expensive one to work.

Another rather weak point of the ASUS 1015 is the display. The ten-inch screen provides a resolution of 1024x600 pixels. For this size, this seems to be the norm, but this is little consolation. If you don't have a lot of experience working with monitors of this resolution, then having to frequently use the scroll bar will be annoying. Even in Word you have to change the usual scale so that the A4 page fits completely in width.

This, however, is nonsense. The real problem is in the viewing angles. Everything is really bad here. What can I say if even viewing photos and videos together is already uncomfortable. You need to look only at a right angle and nothing else. The screen has only one plus - it is matte, so it has less glare than its competitors. However, we tested the version of the netbook with the letter C. The CE modification, according to reviews, has a slightly better screen.

The model comes with two options hard drives: 320 and 500 GB. They differ only in price.

The netbook uses a six-cell lithium-ion battery. It has a capacity of 5200 mAh. The manufacturer claims that this volume will be enough for owners to work for twelve hours, but this, of course, is a very optimistic forecast: if you really work, then even in economy mode you will get ten hours, which, however, is still a very decent result. By the way, there is a package with a smaller three-section battery. It is lighter, but we didn’t see much point in it.

Above the display is a webcam with a resolution of 0.3 megapixels. In various modifications the camera is the same, only the CE has a mechanical shutter for closing, while the C does not. Did you save money? CE is also distinguished by the presence of Bluetooth.

The functionality of both modifications of the netbook is reduced in the audio aspect: they have lost the second speaker, although all competitors have exactly two “speakers”. This affects the sound quality, but not the volume: the ASUS 1015 has one speaker, but it’s loud.

As a feature of the netbook's operation, we note minimal noise. The company's engineers managed to find a compromise between the temperature and volume of the coolers. They can only be heard in complete silence.

conclusions

ASUS 1015 is a worthy representative of the class of compact netbooks, designed for work when separated from the main computer. Considering its class and price (about 10 thousand rubles), both performance and build quality can be considered quite good. Separate advantages are the design and matte finish of the case and screen, which does not get very dirty and glare. The main disadvantage of this netbook is the screen. At least in modification C, which we tested. Whether this is a serious drawback and whether it can force one to abandon the model is up to the buyer to decide.

http://site/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG_0799.jpg 559 1024 Alexander Nechaev http://site/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/logo_AN-1.pngAlexander Nechaev 2013-05-07 09:00:30 2016-05-24 20:06:40 ASUS Eee PC 1025 netbook review

The successive addition to the Eee PC family could not go unnoticed. At the annual CES 2012 exhibition, a model from ASUS was presented - the Eee PC 1025CE Flare series. This series is the successor to the Eee PC Seashell line, in which we could see netbooks that captivate at first glance with their body colors and stylish appearance. Most likely, the new 1025CE Flare, which has replaced it, will join the ranks of similar devices designed for everyone who needs a functional and relatively inexpensive “machine” on business trips and other trips. But the main thing is that such a netbook will appeal to connoisseurs of style and elegance, since it has smooth body lines and generally looks fashionable and will be remembered, as they say, by anyone.

Specifications

CPU:	Intel Atom N2800 1860 MHz
RAM:	2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
Data storage:	500 GB 5400 rpm SATA II
Display:	10.1" 1024x600 WXGA LED
Video card:	Intel GMA HD 3600
Drive unit:	absent
Wireless connection:	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0,
Interfaces:	2xUSB 2.0, USB 3.0, VGA, HDMI
Additionally:	0.3 MP webcam, mono speaker
Battery:	6-cell Li-ion 5200 mAh
Dimensions, weight:	262x179x21-38 mm, 1.16 kg
Operating system:	Windows 7 Starter

Design

Most recently, we tested the ASUS Eee PC X101CH netbook, a little earlier than the HP Mini 210. At first glance, the ASUS Eee PC 1025 CE is very similar to these models. In fact, these devices are different, although not so radically. Here the difference in color and, if we take the same PC X101CH as an example, the lack of texture are barely noticeable. Let's see what makes the Eee PC 1025CE attractive?

Let's start right away with the fact that users are offered three colors: blue (Mysterious Blue), pink (Addict Pink) and purple (Plucky Purple), unlike the 1025C model, which also has classic colors. Therefore, ASUS Eee PC 1025 CE will most likely appeal to young girls rather than boys.

Having examined the netbook's body from the outside, we noticed that it is made of plastic. Although, some parts from a distance look like metal. For example, side ends. The lid of the device bends slightly, the bottom, on the contrary, is more rigid. By the way, the lower panel, like the upper one, is practically not decorated with anything. Except that the ASUS logo is located on the lid.

The bottom of the netbook has the same matte finish as the outside. The bottom panel is solid, not a single screw is visible on it, not a single compartment to get to internal components. On the bottom there is only a 6-segment battery protruding beyond the body, and two grilles. Behind one of them, the longer one, you can see a mono speaker. Note that the manufacturers have not forgotten about the rubber feet on which the netbook will stand. They are located around the perimeter and have a rounded upward (convex) shape.

By the way, when deciding on the shape of the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE case, the designers deviated a little from the traditional design. In particular, streamlined panels “tend” towards each other on all sides. Closer to the edges, the distance separating the upper and lower parts of the body becomes very small. In general, this solution makes the netbook seem thinner than it actually is. Although, of course, its dimensions are not too large - 262x179x21-38 mm. Note that the official ASUS website indicates a thickness of 34 mm, so most likely the discrepancies in measurements are a consequence of the installation of a protruding 6-cell battery. And one more nuance - the “folding” connector of the network controller. Undoubtedly, this is a kind of “contribution” to reducing the thickness of the body.

The interior is quite interesting. The designers here chose to use three colors at once. The main one, of course, is pink. Against its background, the steel-colored keyboard buttons and the black frame around the display look great. Although, probably, the same gray color on the frame would be appropriate. By the way, the bezel around the display is quite wide, and it also visually looks like polished metal. The frame at the top has beveled corners.

As for the use of gloss and matte surfaces, preference is clearly given to the latter. In any case, on the work platform only the key under the touchpad is mirrored, and on the outside there are the right and left ends, the logo. By the way, all these parts are chrome, so the netbook looks very impressive. All other surfaces are matte, on which fingerprints are not visible at all. Interestingly, even scratches on such a surface are not so noticeable. So the model is not just fashionable, but also quite practical.

Display and sound

The ASUS Eee PC 1025CE netbook is equipped with a 10.1-inch M101NWT2 R3 LCD display with a resolution of 1024x600 pixels. Note that the LED-backlit screen is bright, has good contrast and reproduces colors at a decent level. The screen also has an undeniable advantage - a matte surface, which is so important especially when working outdoors in bright daylight.

As for viewing angles, this is a problem with most laptop and netbook displays. Our model also suffered from this fate. Horizontal viewing angles, like vertical ones, are not wide enough. For example, tilting the screen of the Eee PC 1025CE back a little reveals color inversion and darkening of the image. If two people try to view the same photos, the one sitting off-center will see a slightly distorted picture. And as you move away, you will eventually see an image that is too dark and unclear.

On the display frame you can see the lens of the built-in smart camera. It has a resolution of 0.3 megapixels and four times digital zoom. Using the shutter, you can open or close the lens, as well as zoom in or out. It is worth noting that the picture will be clear until you start scaling up. Then it will become more blurry.

Note that on one side of the camera there is a built-in microphone, which will help with Skype calls and chats, and on the other there is an indicator showing when the webcam is on.

Like the ASUS Eee PC X101CH model we tested earlier, this netbook has good acoustics. It is noteworthy that the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE also has one speaker, but we hear very decent sound in both volume and quality, of course, for a netbook. It is worth noting that the high-quality mono speaker is located on the bottom, so the volume is partially lost during playback. This is especially audible on the street, where there are quite a lot of extraneous noise. However, such an audio system will be enough for background sounds, but for more comfortable listening you will need to connect headphones.

Keyboard and touchpad

Note that, despite the small size of the working platform, the keyboard buttons turned out to be quite large, as for a netbook. For comparison, the keys on a standard 15.6-inch laptop measure 15x15 mm, while the keys on the Eee PC 1025CE are 14 mm. True, not all buttons have such dimensions. For example, the pointer block of a netbook is highly compressed. Moreover, a separate panel function keys no, so , , , and are adjacent to the arrow buttons and work in combination with the key.

A few words should be said about the surface of each key. Firstly, it's worth knowing that you will have 83 buttons at your disposal. They are all clearly labeled and have a matte flat surface. Our test sample did not have a Russian layout, but all other models, of course, will have both Cyrillic and English characters.

By the way, there are practically no keys above the keyboard itself, only one – the power button located on the right. When the netbook is operating, it lights up in a pleasant blue color. On the left side there is only an inscription indicating that this netbook belongs to the Flare series.

The ELAN PS/2 touchpad is located barely noticeable to the left. Its surface is smooth, deepened by a couple of millimeters, the boundaries are observed only on three sides. The touchpad area is small - 79x37 mm, but quite consistent with the size of a netbook. In practice, such a manipulator turned out to be quite sensitive. Moreover, I was pleased with the responsiveness not only during normal positioning or vertical scrolling, but also when scaling, scrolling and rotating images. In any case, when performing multi-touch gestures, you didn’t have to wait for the touchpad to “figure out” what to do with the picture, but quickly did everything that was required. The only thing I had to deal with was when my fingers got stuck on a smooth surface, which reduced the speed of cursor control. In fact, it is typical for wet fingers to glide more slowly. However, if you do not want to use the touchpad for work, you can disable it using the + key combination.

Separately, I would like to say about the operation of the “rocker” key. It is as small as the sensory area. It is convenient to use because it is pressed very clearly. True, you can hear a characteristic clicking sound, and the button only works when you press the edges. By the way, the key differs from the touchpad in its glossy surface, but this does not affect the ease of use.

Immediately below the touchpad key are located LED indicators. This group contains the battery charge status indicator, work hard disk, wireless network. Finally, a traditional indicator showing the operating status of the netbook. Note that when the netbook is closed, the LEDs are clearly visible, so you will always know whether, for example, your Eee PC 1025CE needs charging or not.

Performance

Let's start with the fact that the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE netbook runs on a pre-installed 32-bit Windows 7 Starter operating system. In addition, technology from ASUS – Express Gate – is also used. This function will help you gain access to the network literally in five seconds from the moment you turn it on. Thanks to the launch of this branded shell you can always quickly view the weather forecast, read or send emails, watch videos online. Note that when you turn on the laptop, you are offered a choice: run Windows 7 or Express Gate.

After starting Windows, we did a performance index test. This operating system rated the netbook low - 3.4 points. At the same time, graphics earned the least number of points. However, the processor is not far behind it. Its capabilities were rated at 3.6 points. But other components received higher ratings. You can see detailed results in the screenshot.

In general, this performance index indicates that the system will not only cope with all basic operations, such as web browsing, video, office tasks, but will also allow, for example, image editing.

Let's look at the hardware of the ASUS 1025CE. This netbook has an energy-efficient Atom N2800 processor with a clock frequency of 1.86 GHz and a 1 MB L2 cache. Let us immediately note that this processor is aimed at installation in netbooks. It is built using 32-nanometer technology on the Cedar Trail platform and has two computing cores. In general, such a CPU can handle most operations that do not require a lot of processing power. By the way, the TDP coefficient is small, it is 6.5 W.

The technical characteristics of the Atom N2800 can be seen in the screenshot.

The processor is complemented by RAM (Hunix HMT325S6CFR8C-H9), the volume of which in this netbook is 2 GB. The RAM is DDR3-1333 MHz standard. By and large, this best option to ensure productive operation of the netbook.

But the graphics in this mini-laptop have very limited capabilities. In principle, the integrated Intel GMA HD 3600 is ideal for standard computing operations, can decode video, and play Full HD. But games and more complex graphic tasks are unlikely to be capable of this video card. Although, I don’t think that the owner of this netbook will engage in video editing or, for example, play modern demanding toys. Most likely, the matter will be limited to web surfing, viewing photos, videos, or ordinary work with documents. And in this case, you must admit, “great intelligence” is not required from the video card.

By the way, the low potential of the built-in video card is confirmed by a test in Cinebench R11.5. This application provides its own assessment of CPU and GPU, which is based on measuring 3D graphics performance in complex scenes using textures, effects. As a result, in OpenGL mode the HD 3600 video card received less than 1 fps (0.59). The processor earned almost the same number of points – 0.61 pts.

Let's consider another important hardware component- Winchester. If you are going to store a large amount of information, you can completely rely on it. The package includes a 2.5-inch Hitachi HTS547550A9E384 hard drive connected via SATA II. It has a capacity of 500 GB and a rotation speed of 5400 rpm. You can fill this HDD with your favorite photos, movies, and other documents. Of course, there will still be room for software. The only thing is that having a higher speed of 7200 rpm would not only improve throughput, but also reduce access time.

Those who want to protect their most important data from loss can additionally use web storage resources. ASUS provides 3 GB for this. And you can access the storage thanks to Eee Docking - a panel for quick access to various services and the necessary set of applications.

In order to measure the performance of the hard drive and obtain information about it, we tested Hitachi using the HD Tune Pro 5.00 application. As a result of the diagnostics, the following data reading speed results were obtained: minimum – 21 Mb/s, maximum – 84.3 Mb/s and average – 57.3 Mb/s. Access times were also determined. It was 18.5 ms.

In addition, the HD Tune utility gives detailed information not only about serial number hard drive and its size itself, but also about the buffer volume.

In addition, CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 was launched, testing the performance of drives. In particular, the speed of performing various operations is tested here. For example, sequential or random copying and recording. By the way, the screenshot below clearly demonstrates the result of sequential read speed - 71.12 MB/s and write speed - 70.64 MB/s.

If we compare the results with the performance of other hard drives installed, for example, in the HP Mini 210 and ASUS Eee PC X101CH, then their sequential read and write speeds are much higher - 108 and 106.7 MB/s and 94.75 and 91.98 MB/s.

And this is what a comparison graph looks like, showing the data transfer speed of hard drives installed in other netbooks.

In addition to separate testing of the hardware, a comprehensive PCMark 7 test was carried out, the results of which can be used to judge the capabilities of each component separately and the operation of the system as a whole. So, the final score was 806. The highest number of points, 1514, was obtained in the Storage test, which directly assessed the performance of the drive. The Productivity test ended with a minimum score of 524 points. But the ability to work with graphics “turned out” in an honorable second place with 1269 points.

In general, testing confirmed that the netbook's performance is good only for standard tasks that do not require complex computing operations.

Ports and communications

Quite often in netbooks there is such a set of interfaces that you involuntarily understand: “Manufacturers saved money.” Our case is different. The ASUS Eee PC 1025CE has enough ports and connectors, although, again, they are not very diverse.

Let's start looking at the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE from the right side. There are two USBs “gathered” here. One of them has the 2.0 standard, the second is the faster 3.0. Also on the right side there is a combined connector for connecting a microphone and headphones, and a built-in card reader that reads SD, MMC, SDHC formats. It is noteworthy that the Kensington lock hole is not at the end of the right edge, but between the RJ-45 network port and USB 3.0.

If we compare the level of filling with interfaces, there are slightly fewer of them on the left side. First you can see a digital HDMI port, a USB 2.0 port, and an analog VGA video output. At the very end there is a connector for connecting the power supply. It is worth noting that on the left there is also space for a ventilation hole through which warm air exits.

It should be noted that various devices can be recharged via USB ports. This is possible thanks to USB Charge+ technology. Charging occurs while the netbook is in sleep mode and even if it is completely turned off.

In principle, all interfaces in the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE are distributed relatively evenly, so there are no inconveniences when connecting to it external devices there shouldn't be.

Note that, with the exception of the side ends, there are no more ports anywhere, neither front nor back.

Kit wireless communications presented in full. To transfer data to a short distance you can use Bluetooth 3.0, and to access the Internet there is Wi-Fi Atheros AR9002WB-1NG standard 802.11 b/g/n. By the way, support for DLNA technology also contributes to the functionality. Thanks to it, you can transmit data or receive content. The main condition is device compatibility (each must support the DLNA standard).

Heat

Working on a very hot netbook, and even on a hot summer day, is not a pleasant pleasure. Therefore, the potential user will not ignore the heating level, so as not to blame the unstable operation of the system and discomfort during operation later.

We tested the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE at 28 degrees Celsius. Without a doubt, this, one way or another, affected the heating of the case. As a result, temperatures below 31 degrees were not recorded during measurements either at idle or, naturally, under load.

To confirm this: during idle time, the working area heated up to the maximum in the lower left corner to 34.3 degrees, and on the bottom the hottest “spot” was the lower right corner, where the temperature was 38.5°C.

When compared with heating under load, the increase was small - by 1-3 degrees. As in idle time, the lower right corner on the bottom heated up the most. Here the temperature rose to 41.5 degrees Celsius. But the bottom left corner turned out to be the coolest - 33.8°C. In fact, such heating is felt, but not so much that it bakes your knees or palms.

By the way, comparing it with the heating of the same ASUS Eee PC X101CH, it can be noted that the average temperature of the working area under load for the Eee PC 1025CE was lower - 33.8 degrees, the bottom - 37.2, while for the X101CH 36.1 and 37.9 degrees, respectively.

Battery

The netbook is equipped with a 6-cell lithium-ion battery. It has a capacity of 5200 mAh (56 Wh). Manufacturers claim that with such a battery, the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE can operate for up to 12 hours. Undoubtedly, the maximum time the battery will “show” in standby mode is up to 3 weeks, according to ASUS. By the way, if your netbook is not in standby mode, but in hibernation, then Instant On technology allows you to wake it up in literally 3-5 seconds.

We tested the battery using the Battery Eater app and got the longest idle time of 9 hours and 6 minutes. This is not to say that in other tests it was too low. In contrast, the battery lasted 7 hours and 58 minutes in Read's mode on the Energy Saver power plan. And in “High Performance” we also saw a good result – 6 hours 18 minutes. Undoubtedly, time offline mode under load in both power plans it will be less.

Note that ASUS also supplies the netbook with 3-section batteries with a capacity of 2600 mAh (28 Wh). It is clear that the operating time from such a lightweight battery will be shorter, but you will get another plus - less weight. By the way, the weight of a netbook with a 6-segment battery is 1 kg 16 grams, although in reality it feels more. This is not too much for a trip, however, it is worth considering that, taking with you a 30-watt Charger, which looks like charging a regular mobile phone, will add another 156 grams to the weight.

Before talking about power consumption, it is worth noting that the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE uses the Super Hybrid Engine II control system. Using this proprietary utility, you can increase the operating time of the battery by selecting the desired mode: either energy saving or high performance. We took measurements in the latter mode and obtained the following results. The average power consumption of a netbook is quite low. Almost all indicators are approximately the same. For example, when idle, the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE consumes only 13 W, a little more when surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi - 15 W, and, finally, the maximum power of the netbook when running FurMark and the AIDA stress test - 18 Wh. We saw similar power consumption when testing the HP Folio 13, where the power during idle and web surfing was 13.4 and 16.5 Wh.

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Conclusion

Having examined the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE netbook, we can first of all note its youth style and its belonging, most likely, to a female audience. Although, despite its very attractive appearance, the mini-laptop has other advantages, including the presence of USB 3.0, an ergonomic island keyboard, energy efficiency and a long battery life. Of course, we must remember that this is a netbook with its typical configuration, so you should not expect “crazy” speed from it when performing various tasks, incredibly high-quality acoustics, as well as support for complex graphics programs. In fact, such a device is not purchased for this at all, but, for example, for periodic trips in which there is a need to check email. And during a long flight, the Eee PC 1025CE will be needed to brighten up several hours of watching movies. The main thing is that this netbook can become one of the brightest and most memorable purchases.

We thank the ASUS representative office in Ukraine www.asus.ua for kindly providing the laptop for testing.

Few could argue that Asus created something special when it launched the Eee PC series. But the idea of ​​making a truly mobile and very affordable computer was positively received by consumers. Although the Eee PC 4G 701 released in 2007 was a success, there were still issues that marred the overall experience. By creating the Eee PC 900, Asus coped with its task almost perfectly.

Model history

The concept of a simple laptop computer with solid state drives and no moving parts is nothing new. With the 5 Psion series, the company introduced a convenient device that could be used, for example, for typing while sitting on a train. Then the manufacturer expanded the boundaries by introducing the world to the 7th series - a netbook.

The Psion netBook manages to balance core functionality with small size and long battery life. Over time, however, full-fledged laptops became smaller and lighter, and end users wanted feature-rich operating systems. All of this led to decreased demand for Psion (although its EPOC OS continued to live on as Symbian).

For a long time there were no devices like the 7 series and NetBook. Luckily, Asus realized there was room in the market for a simple, affordable machine that didn't have to run the latest Windows versions- this is how the Eee PC netbook was born.

Frame

For those who have not heard of Eey PC, some explanation is in order. This is a very small device measuring 225x165x35 mm and weighing about 1 kg. With such parameters, the model truly belongs to the ultraportable sector. The device is designed for use on the go and does not take up much space in your bag. The netbook comes in two colors: pearl white and black, like Apple's MacBook. But this is the only similarity that connects them. The assembly of the case and hinges is of high quality, but there is no transport lock, so the device requires careful handling when carrying.

Display

Although the Asus Eee PC 900 has the same chassis as the 701, you only need to open the lid to see the first significant difference. The screen took a huge step forward and gave the Eee PC an even more attractive look than its predecessor. The original netbook's 7-inch display was 800 pixels wide and forced the user to constantly scroll sideways on the vast majority of web pages.

The PC 900's 8.9" screen has corrected this problem by increasing the image resolution. 1024 pixels wide allows you to display web pages without the need for additional manipulation. The full display resolution is 1024x600 pixels. This means it uses a wide format, like most full-featured laptops on the market.

According to user reviews, the screen quality of the Asus Eee PC 900 is excellent. The display, while not as light and bright as the Sony TZ, is evenly lit, has wide viewing angles, and doesn't suffer from dead pixels. It fills the lid of the netbook much better than before - back then it looked tiny, with speakers on the sides and surrounded by a wide black bezel. Along with the improvement in functionality, the aesthetics of the model have also improved.

Keyboard

Considering the overall size of the Eee PC, it's not surprising that the keyboard is quite small. Anyone who can barely cope with the reduced key size of traditional ultraportable laptops will not enjoy the Eee PC. If your fingers are thin, then there should be no problems with input. The good travel of each key is surprising and Feedback after each press, which ensures that the finger bounces back and is ready for the next press. If there is a significant drawback, it is the reduced size of the enter key. Although it can take some time to get used to, users would prefer to have a normal sized button.

Touchpad

Below the spacebar is the touchpad, which is another change from the Eee PC 701. Not only is it much wider, but it also supports multi-touch. You can zoom in and out by spreading or pinching your fingers. Laptop users who are accustomed to using the right edge touchpad scrolling documents will likely be disappointed to learn that the Eee PC 900's touchpad does not support this feature. But you shouldn’t despair, because the manufacturer has come up with much more The best way. Instead of moving your finger along the edge of the touchpad, the Asus netbook allows you to do this anywhere on the touchpad - just use two fingers. Scrolling works in both vertical and horizontal directions.

Speakers

Asus was criticized for the huge speakers on the edges of the screen on the original model. This time, the display frame has narrowed significantly, and the speakers have moved to the base of the netbook. The sound quality is good, but if you place the device on your lap, it becomes muffled.

Asus Eee PC 900: specifications

There are some big internal changes too, although the processor isn't one of them. Despite the fact that many hoped that the model would receive Intel Atom, this did not happen. The main platform remains unchanged. Intel Celeron 900 MHz and motherboard on the 915GM chipset do not demonstrate miracles of performance, but they do their job without any complaints. The RAM has been upgraded - it has doubled and reached 1 GB. The webcam has also been upgraded from 0.3 to 1.3 megapixels - ideal for those who want their friends to see them better when chatting on Skype.

Another important update was the data storage capacity. The 701 model's 4 GB of internal memory is now offered in two variants - 12 and 20 GB. There is no price difference between the two versions as the 12GB version comes with Windows XP pre-installed on the Asus Eee PC 900, while the 20GB version comes with Linux operating system. The manufacturing company used the money saved by installing an open source OS. source code, to increase the ROM capacity. Of course, there is the option of purchasing a device with Linux and then simply installing Windows yourself.

Software

Users who have been running the 20GB version running Linux are not sure they need Windows XP. The beauty of the Asus Eee PC 900 lies in its simplicity, so there is simply no need to load it with a heavy OS, and most of the features it offers will be unclaimed. Except in cases where it is necessary to run such Windows applications, How Microsoft Office, there is nothing that cannot be done using the Linux version.

The Asus Eee PC 900 handles tasks with lightning speed where users of the Microsoft operating system are accustomed to heavy CPU work. Unlike Windows, 1 GB of RAM is enough for a well-configured Linux build, and a fast solid state drive ensures that the netbook will respond instantly to all commands.

Working with Linux

Navigating the Linux GUI is incredibly easy. The user is faced with a desktop with tabs; clicking on each of them changes the icons on the desktop. The first is called “Internet” and contains icons related to access to the World Wide Web. Among them is an email shortcut that opens a page with various icons for email clients such as Gmail and Hotmail. There are pre-installed Firefox browser, Skype and Google Docs. The messenger button will launch Pidgin, which is a multi-discipline exchange protocol instant messages. Users especially like the fact that all conversations take place in one window with tabs for each interlocutor - this is very convenient when desktop space is at a premium.

The Work tab gives you access to OpenOffice, which allows you to edit text, tables and presentations, which can be saved in MS Office format. There are also apps for reading PDF files, writing notes, and Thunderbird for all your email needs. There is also a file manager, which basically corresponds to Windows Explorer and allows you to search all folders.

The Education tab is clearly aimed at the education sector, which is a large part of the Eee PC market. Here are games and software that can help you improve your vocabulary, spelling, and even math skills. There's also a basic graphics application called Paint, which is similar to the Windows program of the same name, and the Science shortcut gives access to the periodic table and planetarium.

The Game tab contains entertainment programs such as a media player, audio file manager, and webcam utility. There's a voice recorder and a shortcut that will give you access to several pre-loaded games, including the obligatory Solitaire.

The Settings tab contains everything system utilities and application settings. Here you can set touchpad settings, change the date and time, monitor disk space usage and the operation of the anti-virus system. The button for removing and adding programs is located right there and allows you not only to install or remove applications, but also to check for updates for all existing programs. Finally, the Favorites tab is where all your favorite links and shortcuts are stored.

Equipment

Asus has supplied the netbook with a small neoprene case that will help maintain the glossy surface of the device while carrying it. There is also a network adapter, a user manual, entire sections of which are devoted to working with Windows, a system recovery DVD with drivers for XP and a Linux installer.

Connectivity

Despite the very small body, the manufacturer managed to place a surprising number of ports in it. On the right is the D-Sub interface for connecting an external monitor. Next to it are 2 USB 2.0 connectors and an SD card slot. Considering the cheapness of flash memory, it should be noted that the presence of such a slot means that even if the Asus Eee PC 900 runs out of memory, increasing it will not cost much. On the left is the third USB 2.0 port. That's more than most full-featured ultraportable laptops.

There are also jacks for headphones and a microphone. You can choose which headset to use: traditional or USB when working with a webcam in the preset Skype application. Of course, there is a microphone built into the cover, but a headset is always the better choice. The last port on the left is the Ethernet connector for network adapter 10/100. It is worth noting that the MacBook Air does not have it, despite its significantly larger size. Of course, it also supports wireless Asus connection Eee PC 900. WiFi is implemented according to the 802.11 b/g standard.

Battery life

One area where the Eee PC 900 doesn't really outperform its predecessor is in battery life. With the improvements the manufacturer has made, battery life remains the only dent in an otherwise otherwise great design, but it's still a significant one. According to the manufacturer, the Asus Eee PC 900 battery allows the netbook to work for 2.5 hours. According to user reviews, the charge is barely enough for 2 hours. However, at full screen brightness and with wireless communication. Perhaps optimization of energy consumption could extend the operating life to the time declared by the manufacturer, but even 2.5 hours is very little by today’s standards.

Ideally, users would like to see at least 4 hours of battery life, especially considering that the Sony TZ ultrabook is operational for more than 6 hours. On the other hand, the Asus Eee PC 900 has a very small power supply, so it will not be too burdensome to carry it with yourself. But this will not help much if you want to work in the garden or in a park where there is no outlet. Of course, you can purchase a more powerful battery, but this will increase the cost and weight of the netbook. The Asus Eee PC 900 has a universal charger and is designed for voltages of 120 or 230 V with a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz.

Conclusion

The manufacturer has made enough changes to make the netbook very attractive to those who are thinking about buying a small, thin and light laptop. Of course, these improvements increased the cost of the Asus Eee PC 900 - the price of the device increased to 23 thousand rubles from 15,000.

The manufacturer has done a brilliant job updating an already excellent netbook. The engineers listened to all the comments regarding the original Eee PC and tried to satisfy them. The 1024 pixel wide screen makes it easy to use, especially if you spend a lot of time using the browser. Additional operational and inner memory were a welcome change and allowed the Eee PC to become a real alternative to full-fledged laptops.

Despite the significant price increase, Asus's small, light and affordable netbook is still a bargain.

2 years ago 0

I bought it as a compact one that would be convenient to carry when traveling. Requirements: Office installed, browser, Skype, photo viewer. I carry it in my backpack, in a folder, and my wife puts it in her handbag. Very fast USB.

2 years ago 0

Great model. After buying a laptop, I realized that I would never touch desktop computers! And after buying Asus, I realized: the less, the better! I use it at work, for surfing. The battery charge is sufficient. In short, I really like it and the battery and hard drive are enough! Everything is great, I carry it in my bag all the time.

2 years ago 0

1. Mobility. 2. Sufficient performance (they work normally, without any brakes or glitches, MS Office, not the one that was installed initially, but the usual 2003, 1C 7.7, there are no problems with Wi-Fi and the browser, the alcohol is fine). 3. Price. I expected the worst from the keyboard and screen - but no, everything is OK, it took a little getting used to the keyboard.

2 years ago 0

As a netbook, it’s very good, everything you need works, for example, office, autocad, photoshop, movies also go great. In general, an excellent toy, the battery lasts for 3 hours with Wi-Fi when you crawl on the Internet. adequate model, I recommend it to everyone...

2 years ago 0

For office work and the Internet - the most the best choice. It works great with MS Office 2007, the browser flies. You can also play old games. The advantages also include small size and weight. Carrying with you is a pleasure. Bright screen, stable Wi-Fi, system boots in less than a minute, good keyboard, sensitive touchpad.

2 years ago 0

Perhaps this is one of the closest mobile devices to the ideal. The fact that inside the SSD allows me, as a user, to drop it without the risk of losing data, I fell on it twice and nothing happened, and most importantly - the size. 22 centimeters, to the detriment of the keyboard, just fits it into any bag for A5 notebooks, which is important for a student. The battery lasts as long as needed for autonomous operation - 4 hours with communications turned off, so it’s perfect as a study companion. We demolish Linkus and install a highly polished WinXP on a 4GB disk, it works tolerably well. The power is quite enough for the same thing that communicators and office computers were invented for.

2 years ago 0

convenient, compact, wifi works great, the keyboard is normal, not easily soiled, I tried video on a 32-inch LCD TV in 720 quality and it works fine.

2 years ago 0

All the advantages are described above, good price, convenient touchpad, good Wi-Fi reception, power connection at the back, so no wires get in the way.

2 years ago 0

Eee PC 900 is the golden mean in the ASUS line of subnotebooks. Combining only 990 grams of weight with very modest dimensions, it has a 9” screen with a physical resolution of 1024x600 pixels, allowing you to comfortably perform most everyday tasks. But the keyboard, although it has increased in size compared to younger models, has not become much more convenient for typing and still requires a lot of time to adapt. Of course, we can't help but mention the multi-touch that appeared in the Eee PC 900 - a useful feature for a small subnotebook touchpad. This model comes with a pre-installed Xandros Linux OS, specially adapted to save space on a small screen. Overall, the system leaves a pleasant impression, but its interface, created by ASUS, is not very functional, and

2 years ago 0

High-quality display Weight Size Convenience Reliability Wi-Fi

2 years ago 0

It takes quite a long time to load - you need to get used to it. If you hold it on your knees, your knees just close the ventilation outlets and the fan turns on.
In standby mode (where it goes after closing) it does not work long enough.
Linux stubbornly refused to see WiFi. I had to install WinXP.

2 years ago 0

Sometimes the RMB (right mouse button) on the beech panel fails.

2 years ago 0

2 years ago 0

It gets hot, there is play on the batteries, still not enough 4 gigs for the system, taking into account 1 gig of RAM. There is no room in the bag for an adapter

2 years ago 0

Small amount of memory, Web camera is not of the best quality.

2 years ago 0

Fan. It wheezes desperately, after flashing it became smarter, it turns on for 5 seconds and turns off. The netbook heats up very well; in the cold season, the netbook tucked under the belt serves as a help in not catching a cold, but somehow I am afraid of the ventilation holes on the bed or knees. SSD drives have their own erasure limit, so you need to write to them carefully and meaningfully, and the small size system disk is trimmed by another 1GB due to the hibernation file. There are also disadvantages of hardware and assembly - USB ports They are springy, and some devices (bluetooth dongle) wander around in them; if you are careless, you can cut off the connection. The touchpad buttons periodically behave poorly (no pattern has been identified), so you have to press them with force. And the lack of built-in bluetooth is frustrating, although the dongle is mi