Small but perfectly formed? (Asus Eee PC 1000H)

Member Name: prosser1

Product:	Asus Eee PC 1000H
Date:	23/10/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great quality, good price, many features, works well, decent battery life

Disadvantages: No HDMI/DVI

INTRODUCTION

Asus are a relatively old company in the PC business, and previously focused exclusively on just desktop PC components. In the last few years they have branched out and launched everything from PC monitors to laptops.
One of their more recent releases is the new range of netbooks, which they were at the forefront of - the Asus Eee PC 700 was the first mass produced netbook. With that history, you might expect great things of the 1000H model reviewed here.

What is a netbook anyway? Also known as a "mini notebook" or "mini laptop", they are essentially small laptops for general use and web browsing on the go, being light and with long battery lives.
Specifications
The Eee PC 1000H is itself available in a variety of different specifications and models - the most notable differences are Windows or Linux, and an 80GB or 160GB hard drive. I'm reviewing the 1000H-BLK067X, which comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows XP and has a 160GB hard drive.

All 1000H models share identical specifications in all other ways - a 10.1" display (1024x600 pixels), 1GB of memory, 802.11n wireless support, Bluetooth, and a small 1.3mp webcam above the screen. All this while weighing just 1.45k and offering a battery life of up to 7 hours!
It also comes in a range of 4 colours - the traditional black and white, plus green and pink. The last two also have some small patterns on them on the lid. I went for the boring black option.


THE LAPTOP ITSELF

Upon unpacking, the Eee PC makes a great first impression. It's small with a glossy paint finish, and a small "Eee" PC logo in the top corner. The hinge is rounded and large, and both looks and feels solid. Two small shiny silver end caps look good too. On the under side there are a couple of rubber feet and the removable battery pack - the battery also acts as a stand, propping up the back slightly so the keyboard is at a more comfortable angle.
Opening it up, the small screen is the first thing that greets you, with a webcam above and small logo below. The keyboard is comprehensive and clearly labelled - while not quite full size (it's 92%) it certainly doesn't look tiny. The trackpad is positioned centrally at the front, with two metal buttons, while a silver stripe above the keyboard contains 4 buttons (configurable) and the power switch.

On both sides of the laptop are a plethora of connectors. On the left:
A hole for a lock (purchased separately)
Ethernet (LAN) connection
1 x USB
Microphone
Headphones

On the right:
Power connection
VGA connector
2 x USB
Card reader

Some things to note:
- There are only 3 USB ports. This might sound like a lot, but I like to connect a USB keyboard, USB mouse, and external CD drive when I'm working at my desk. This leaves a grand total of 0 ports for USB drives, etc! It's not really a problem, but one more would have been nice.
- There is only a VGA out. Most high end notebooks + laptops these days have HDMI or DVI. You can purchase adapters though to change the connector if your TV or monitor doesn't have the suitable VGA connector.


IN USE

I've owned the netbook and used it daily for several months now, so feel I am in the right place to comment on it.
Overall, it is excellent. It isn't extremely fast, but it has enough oomph to run web browsing and general office stuff happily. The keyboard and keypad both work well, although the touch pad can seem a bit small at times; a way to make it more sensitive would be useful. Build quality is excellent and it feels robust, although I worry about it receiving a knock to the lid as it seems quite flexible.

There are 4 selectable modes - Super (only available when plugged into the mains), High, Power Saving and Auto. Obviously, Power Saving gives the maximum battery life - in my experience, towards 5 hours, which is definitely decent, but not quite the 7 hours claimed by Asus. Auto speeds up and slows down the netbook depending on what your using it for at the time - High/Super are noticeably faster than Power Saving, but it is usable on all modes.
The wireless signal is surprisingly strong despite there being no aerial, and the Windows XP wireless configuration utility works well. Bluetooth is a nice feature, and I've used it several times to transfer files from a friend's phone onto my PC, such as photos. The webcam is decent, but not great - expect similar quality to that of a reasonably cheap desktop camera. Skype is bundled and makes good use of the webcam.

The netbook also comes with online Eee PC storage - 10GB to be exact - which is accessible from anywhere in the world. It is neatly integrated into the 1000H and acts like just another folder, but you can then log on online and download the contents of this folder anywhere. It's a nice feature, although you only get 12 months free - after that, it either goes down to 1GB or you have to buy unlimited for $39.99. Also note that the English used on the site is terrible and sometimes very hard to understand.


OVERALL

The Asus Eee PC 1000H is an excellent netbook, and I'd recommend it to anyone. It must be viewed in relation to its competitors though - the Samsung NC10 series is available at a similar price with similar features and a slightly bigger keyboard, and the Dell Mini 10 has also been released in the same price range. Despite this, the Asus Eee PC 1000H is definitely worth consideration.

© prosser13 2009.

Summary: Recommended - a good netbook but not top of the range