Asus Eee PC 1001P: Our Favorite Netbook
by Vivek Gowri on March 16, 2010 11:30 PM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
In May 2009, Asus took the wraps off its new Eee PC 1005HA, the latest and greatest netbook model from the company that pioneered the segment. The 1005HA was the mainstream implementation of the Seashell design that garnered much praise in the form of the gorgeous but ultimately flawed 1008HA. The 1005HA set out to correct those flaws, with more ports and a larger battery in a slightly thicker but similarly sleek and attractive package. It delivered on those fronts and ended up as a resounding success for Asus.
Naturally, when it came time for Asus to update the Diamondville-based 1005HA to the new Pine Trail platform, Asus didn't want to mess with success. Beyond the new processors, the 1005PE was very nearly identical to the 1005HA, except with some minor changes to the keyboard and mouse.
Now, why is any of this relevant to the 1001P? The newest member of the Seashell line has strong roots in the 1005, sharing the same basic chassis and internal components as the more expensive model. Gone is the reflective, glossy finish of the 1005, replaced by textured, matte plastic. The screen also has a matte finish, thankfully one of the few computers to forego the trend of featuring a glossy screen. In terms of hardware, the two share the same basic components, headlined by Intel's new Pineview Atom N450 processor and a large 6-cell battery.
As noted in previous coverage of the new Atom chips, Pine Trail consolidates the entire platform into a two-chip solution—the Pineview processor and the Tiger Point chipset controller. Pineview moves the 45nm GMA 3150 core and memory controller onto the same package as the Atom CPU, reducing the overall power consumption of the platform significantly while offering a slight performance increase.
| ASUS Eee PC 1001P Specifications | |
| Processor | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz + SMT, 45nm, 512KB L2, 533FSB, 5.5W) |
| Chipset | Intel NM10 |
| Memory | 1x1024MB DDR2-667 @ 4-4-4-12 Timings |
| Graphics | Integrated Intel GMA 3150 |
| Display | 10.1" LED Matte 16:9 WSVGA (1024x600) |
| Hard Drive | 2.5" 250GB 5400RPM 8MB (Seagate ST9250315AS) |
| Networking | Atheros AR8132 Fast Ethernet Atheros AR2427 802.11g WiFi |
| Audio | Realtek AL269 2-Channel HD Audio (2.0 Speakers with headphone/microphone jacks) |
| Battery | 6-Cell, 10.8V, 4400mAh, 48Wh |
| Front Side | None |
| Left Side | Heat Exhaust Kensington Lock 1 x USB 2.0 VGA AC Power Connection |
| Right Side | SD/MMC reader Microphone/Headphone Jacks 2 x USB 2.0 100Mb Fast Ethernet |
| Back Side | None |
| Operating System | Windows 7 Starter |
| Dimensions | 10.31" x 7.01" x 1.02"-1.44" (WxDxH) |
| Weight | 2.80 lbs (with 6-cell battery) |
| Extras | 1.3MP Webcam Super Hybrid Engine (software over/under clocking) Available in White, Black, Blue, and Pink |
| Warranty | 1-year standard ASUS warranty (USA) Extended warranties available |
| Price | White 1001p-PU17-WT starting at $327 |
Spec-wise, the Eee PC 1001P doesn't do much to differentiate itself from the rest of the netbook crowd. It follows the same tried-and-true netbook formula, with an LED-backlit 10.1" WSVGA screen, the now-obligatory 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and GMA 3150 integrated graphics, a standard 1GB of DDR2 memory, and Windows 7 Starter edition to top it all off. To that, the 1001P adds a 250GB hard drive, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, a 0.3MP webcam, and a 4.4Ah (48Wh) six cell battery rated for 11 hours of battery life in a slim and sleek 2.80lb chassis.
If this all sounds familiar, that's because it is. The 1005PE shares nearly identical specs, only adding wireless-n and a larger 5.8Ah (63Wh) battery worth 14 hours of runtime. In all fairness, when constrained to the 10"/Atom/Windows specs, there's only so much hardware variation that can be created, which is why many netbooks have such similar components. And, when you make as many different netbooks as Asus, such overlaps are inevitable.
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hotbunz - Friday, March 26, 2010 - link
This looks really nice. Hope I win, could use this for school!afkrotch - Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - link
My netbook is mostly just a PMP. I'm just watching my tv on it.EddyKilowatt - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
Thanks for the review, appreciate your comments about the superiority of the matte screen.Now, could I get you to also direct some journalistic ire toward another fashion-driven faux pas: those filled-out flush-fitting keys on the keyboard! Completely unnecessary, and twice as difficult to keep your fingers aligned by touch, as a practical keyboard with a decent 5mm gap between the key crowns.
My HP2140 is plagued with a similar keyboard design and I can't see any reason for it. It saddens me to see decades of progress (in functional keyboard design) thrown out, apparently for nothing more than a stylish look. Let's keep the style on the outside of the computer, and the functionality on the inside!
AnnonymousCoward - Friday, March 19, 2010 - link
That's a great point, and one I haven't thought of before.Stokestack - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
Come on. It's time to put VGA to rest.The0ne - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
So by saying favorite you like the netbook right? I was under the impression, and Anand confirmed this in his ipad review, that no one like any netbook and tablet PCs.Maybe semantics is different by whom is using it?
ric3r - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
It means that it's the best netbook on the market. Netbooks are netbooks, they're not a particularly enjoyable class of devices to work with, but if you were looking to get one, this is our favorite of the lot and thus we recommend it.I'm pretty sure you can find people out there who like netbooks and tablets. While I'm not the hugest fan of netbooks, they definitely have their place in the market. I do genuinely enjoy tablet PCs though, so I hope I can do some tablet reviews in the future :)
MamiyaOtaru - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
the first eee I would consider buying since the 900 (though I do miss the dearly departed 9" form factor). Thanks Asus for offering at least one option with matte case as well as the even more important matte screen.I'd get this and slap Easy Mode for XP on it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyMn92mQSns">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyMn92mQSns
Jellodyne - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
HDMI is certainly capable of sending a high def signal, but it's also just as capable of pushing 480p to a TV set. So it's not like an HDMI would be a pointless port.SSquirrel - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
I'd be curious to see what kind of numbers the 1005PE and 1001P produce if you replace Windows 7 Starter with Home Premium. People have reported that the extra accelerations in Aero have actually extended their battery life. Drop some of the excess crap from Aero but let the accelerations function.