You wouldn’t know it from its identical-looking chassis, but the Eee PC 1201PN improves upon its 12-inch predecessor in two major ways. It lasts 40 minutes longer on a charge than than the 1201N, and the next-generation Ion graphics under the hood boasts considerably better 3D performance. We also continue to appreciate the comfy keyboard and HDMI output. However, what’s missing here is just as important. Asus decided to swap Intel’s dual-core Atom desktop processor with a single-core mobile Atom CPU (presumably to increase endurance). So, yeah, this souped-up netbook delivers plenty of value for $499, but did Asus make the right trade-offs?
The Asus booth here at Computex is like a netbook design museum with literally dozens of models with different shapes, sizes, and colors on display. We took a few moments to examine the two most interesting systems on display, the Eee PC 1016p and the Eee PC 1018g. Both were first shown at CeBit it Germany, but they haven’t shipped in the U.S. yet and this was our first time seeing them in person.
The 1016p (pictured at the top of this post) has an attractive chassis that reminded us a lot of the HP Mini 5102 or the HP ProBook 5310m. Like the HP systems, the Eee PC 1016p has brushed surfaces on the lid and the bezel, though the 1016p’s are brushed plastic instead of metal. The deck is a soft plastic that is soft, but not quite as nice as the rubberized deck on some HPs.
We really live the look of the touchpad, with its smooth surface and textured button area. We wish there was a divot to separate the left and right buttons, but they have a good feel anyway.
The 1016p also has a 10-inch, 1024×600 screen, either an Atom N455 or Atom N475 CPU, 1GB of DDR3 RAM, and USB 3.0. That’s not a typo; Asus is putting USB 3.0 in some of its netbooks now, which is a great step forward that we hope to see from other vendors. В Check out our hands-on video with the 1016p for a closer look.
<!-- Begin Adify tag for "OnePixel" Ad Space (1x1) ID #7752307 -->
sr_adspace_id = 7752307;
sr_adspace_width = 1;
sr_adspace_height = 1;
sr_ad_new_window = true;
sr_adspace_type = "graphic";
<!-- End Adify tag for "OnePixel" Ad Space (1x1) ID #7752307 -->
Asus Eee PC 1018pg
Where the Eee PC 1016pg uses brushed plastic that looks like metal, but feels like plastic, the Eee PC 1018pg actually has real brushed metal on its deck and even on its touchpad. Its blue status lights give it a near, futuristic look. Unfortunately, the sidess, bottom, and lid are not metallatic. Instead, they are covered covered in white plastic that has the texture of a golf ball. Many people will like the two-tone contrast of the white lid with the metal interior, but we we would have preferred that ASUS keep the metal throughout the design. The bezel is the most boring, because its made of the same shiny black plastic we see on most Eee PCs.
The Eee PC 1018pg has a 10-inch, 1024×600 screen, an Atom N455 or N475 CPU, a choice of 160/250/320GB hard drives, 1GB of DDR3 RAM, and USB 3.0. In addition to 802.11n Wi-Fi, this netbook has built-in 3G,though we’re not sure what carriers it will support. The Eee PC 1018p (without a “g”) is the same netbook, just without mobile broadband.
Check out our hands-on video below for a closer look at the Eee PC 1018pg. We also have a photo gallery, featuring the 1018pg, the 1016p, and a few other Eee PCs we spied at the Asus booth.
We’ve now seen three netbooks with Broadcom’s Crystal HD graphics accelerator chip inside. It’s supposed to allow netbooks to deliver a superior HD video experience and, coupled with Flash 10.1, smoother web video at full screen. But just as with the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 and the HP Mini 210, the ASUS Eee PC 1005PR didn’t really wow us as a multimedia machine. The speakers are great, and the hi-res display is beautiful. But the Broadcom chip just didn’t up the HD video quality enough to justify the extra cost, especially when it came to web video.
This Eee PC has some other appealing features –including another great touchpad and long battery life — but we’re not convinced they outweigh the extra cost the Broadcom chip adds to the price.
Though ASUS has yet to officially announce the Eee PC 1218 or fill in details like specs, price, and availability, pictures of the fancy-looking netbook have appeared on asusdesign.com, which says the Eee PC 1218 has won a Red Dot Design Award for 2010. The only description we have for the netbook is what appears in the image above:
The ultra-slim EeePC 1218 series delivers an optimal balance of usability and portability. A unique internal layout allows for a full array of ports to be positioned on the rear of the device. This means that the front and sides of the device are completely smooth making it easy to carry and visually uncluttered. The visual simplicity continues inside with the one piece aluminum palm rest and keyboard frame, a sliding cover on the webcam assures privacy.
We can tell a few things from this text and the accompanying pictures. This picture of the ports on the back clearly shows an Ethernet jack, VGA-out, 3 USB ports, and what looks like HDMI-out. Engadget’s Sean Hollister speculates that this HDMI-out port means that the system will have Nvidia Ion graphics, maybe even Ion 2.
The last picture ASUS has doesn’t show us much, just that the device is really thin and the lid may be made out of В brushed metal (we hope).
We can’t tell if this is a 10 or 11.6-inch system, though we hope it is the latter. We’re not sure how we feel about the ports on the back. Sure they clear up “visual clutter,” but do they really make the netbook any easier to carry.
More importantly, what’s with the cover on the webcam that “assures privacy?” Why would you need to be protected from being viewed by your own webcam, unless of course, the Lower Merion School District is planning to give these out to its students.
Whatever the case, we eagerly await more details about this stylish new Eee PC. Hopefully, we’ll hear more soon.
When I first heard that Acer was pricing their Aspire One 532h at $299 I figured they were looking to attain the#1 selling netbook status for 2010. With its excellent keyboard and decent performance, the low-cost machine was likely to attract a lot of fans. Oh, but wait. Here comes the Eee PC 1001P. Same price, similarly great design and ergonomics, plus decent performance. It’s on.
Not only does the 1001P do well on overall performance benchmarks, this awesome little machine lasted 8 hours and 23 minutes during our battery test. That’s 13 minutes shy of the Aspire One 532h. But here’s the real kicker: the version of the Acer that achieved this score costs $349. It’s $299 cousin has a lower capacity battery, so it probably won’t last as long. The Eee PC managed its time on a 4400-mAh, 6-cell battery and at $50 less. That’s why it’s an Editor’s Choice.
ASUS, the same company that brought you the original Eee PC 701, has broken another barrier by releasing the first dual core netbook on the block, the Eee PC 1201N. Featuring a 1.6-GHz Atom N330 dual core CPU that has previously been featured only in low-power desktops, along with discrete Nvidia Ion graphics, 2GB of RAM, and a generous 12.1-inch display, the 1201N is the fastest netbook we’ve ever reviewed.
However, with the added power provided by the N330 CPU comes added power consumption. The Eee PC 1201N lasted just 3 hours and 53 minutes, which is on par with the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 ($488.99), but an hour less than the Ion-equipped HP Mini 311 ($399.99) and over 2 hours less than similarly-priced ultraportables like the Acer Aspire 1410 ($473.39). Does the faster performance justify the lower battery life? Check out our full review of the Eee PC 1201N and decide for yourself.
Ten years ago this week is was still the 90’s, people were freaking out about the Y2K Millennium bug, and though preparations were well underway for a massive end of millennium party, there were still a few people muttering that the 21st century didn’t actually begin until 2001. Now here we are on the cusp of 2010 and though we still don’t have flying cars, you have to admit that it’s great to finally be living in “The Future”.
The LAPTOP staff recently combed through the archives to present you with the Best and Worst Gadgets of the Decade, and what a trip that was. Remember when PDAs and cell phones were two distinct types of gadgets? Remember buying your first laptop with wireless G inside and connecting to the Internet outside of your house? Remember the first Year of the Tablet? (2003, in case you don’t.)
As we were going through the years and lists of tech to come up with our winners and finalists, I found myself trying to think back on what I was doing technology-wise at those different points in time.
For instance, in 2002 I distinctly remember wishing that I didn’t have to carry a phone, PDA and MP3 player around all of the time. The first smartphones were just coming on my radar at the time, but most were too expensive or didn’t combine the functionality the way I wanted. In 2003 I bought a wireless card for my laptop for the first time. My old Dell wasn’t exactly super-mobile, but at least I now had the option! In 2007 I scooped up an Eee PC the second I had the cash. I’d been looking for a mobile writing device since 2003, actually, when I bought an AlphaSmart, but what I really wanted was a tiny, inexpensive computer that let me get writing and research done on a decent screen.
Which years of this decade are particularly memorable for you tech-wise? Did you own any of the gadgets on our list?
Add ASUS to the growing list of vendors developing tablet devices. Digitimes is reporting that the Taiwanese computer maker is preparing to launch an Eee Pad with a 4 to 7-inch panel. Other than that, there are no additional details on this rumor.
In the past few months, rumors of an Apple tablet have dominated the tech industry and, even though Apple has yet to confirm it is developing a product, a number of other vendors have jumped on the tablet bandwagon. Archos has recently launched its Archos 5 ($209.99) internet tablet with Android, and a little known company named Fusion Garage has started showings its Joojoo device, among others. Could tablets be the new netbooks?
It seems everyone is enamored with the Nvidia Ion-powered HP Mini 311–and rightfully so. This Graphics chips are responsible for processing all images sent to your computer?s display. Learn Moregraphics chip has changed the game for mini-notebooks, enabling full HD video playback, mainstream 3D games, and even video editing chops without adding too much cost. And while we’ve yet to review the Ion-enabled Samsung N510 or Lenovo IdeaPad S12, ASUS’ new entry could trump them all.
Today we got a first look at the Eee PC 1201N, which will sell for $499 with Windows 7 Premium. This 12.1-inch system looks a lot like a larger 1008HA, a design we like. It’s a sleek 1.3 inches thick, only 3.2 pounds, and sports the same dimpled trackpad as the 1008HA but the chiclet-style keyboard seen on the 1000HE.
The port spread is standard but includes HDMI for attaching the 1201N to a high-def monitor or TV. With this GPU and the addition of Flash 10.1, owners will be able to output full 1080p video from the 1201N and watch full screen HD Hulu and YouTube clips without a hitch, as we’ve proven.
In addition to the Ion GPU there’s an intriguing CPU: a dual core Intel Atom N330. This processor is usually found in nettops, and we’re psyched to see how this processor will affect performance and battery life. Add in 2GB of RAM and a 250GB The storage device that holds your OS, programs, and data. Learn Morehard drive and you have a very well equipped machine for $499. In fact, the 1201N costs $80 less than a similarly configured HP Mini 311, and that netbook has a single-core processor.
This is shaping up to be one compelling Ion netbook.
ASUS Eee PC 1201N Specs:
Display size/resolution: 12.1 inches/1366 x 768
CPU: Intel Atom 330 dual core processor
Memory/Expandable to: 2GB/3GB
Graphics: Nvidia Ion
Hard drive: 250GB (plus 500GB online storage)
Ports: VGA, HDMI, 3 USB 2.0, Ethernet, headphone/mic
Card Slots: MMC/ SD(SDHC)
Wireless: 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Size: 11.7 x 8.2 x 1.3 inches
Weight: 3.2 pounds
Battery Life: Up to 5 hours with Super Hybrid Engine
Available colors: Black, Silver
The 1201N will also come with ArcSoft SimHD, which upscales standard definition video content to high definition, according to the ASUS press release. What remains to be seen is how energy-efficient the 1201N’s Atom 330 processor is; the Mini 311’s single core Atom N270 processorВ saw 4 hours and 45 minutes of runtime on Windows 7 Premium.
Check out the images and hands-on video below and tell us how you think the 1201N stacks up to the Mini 311. Stay tuned for a full review.
<!-- Begin Adify tag for "OnePixel" Ad Space (1x1) ID #7752307 -->
sr_adspace_id = 7752307;
sr_adspace_width = 1;
sr_adspace_height = 1;
sr_ad_new_window = true;
sr_adspace_type = "graphic";
<!-- End Adify tag for "OnePixel" Ad Space (1x1) ID #7752307 -->
On November 1st two years ago, the first Eee PC 701 arrived on American shores just a couple of weeks after its debut overseas. The 7-inch, Linux-based mini-notebook garnered a lot of attention and a great deal of praise. At the time, laptops that small usually came with soaring price tags. The Eee PC changed the game, offering true mobile computing for around $400.
This year we’re once again celebrating the birth of the Eee PC and the netbook revolution it began. In just two years the mini-notebook category has grown from a small family of computers running Linux to an entire category of systems running several different Linux distributions plus Windows XP, 7, even Vista. Screen sizes quickly shot up from 7 to 8.9 to 10, 11.6 and even 12 inches. Netbooks have changed the tech world from manufacturers down to journalists and, of course, consumers. The new category has taken 20 percent of the market in two years, and netbooks keep evolving.
Just as with last year, we wanted to mark the occasion with an Eee PC birthday bash at LAPTOP HQ. We filmed the occasion and took the opportunity to ask our writers and editors, who have viewed more 10-inch screens than most people, what netbooks have meant to them and what they expect from netbooks in the future. Check it out:
<!-- Begin Adify tag for "OnePixel" Ad Space (1x1) ID #7752307 -->
sr_adspace_id = 7752307;
sr_adspace_width = 1;
sr_adspace_height = 1;
sr_ad_new_window = true;
sr_adspace_type = "graphic";
<!-- End Adify tag for "OnePixel" Ad Space (1x1) ID #7752307 -->
Help us celebrate the birth of the netbook: create a video telling or showing us how netbooks have changed your life, which netbook is your favorite, or describe your ideal netbook. You can post videos to our Facebook page wall (you’ll have to become a fan first) or on YouTube.
Author: 
61 Views 
When I first heard that Acer was pricing their 
Ten years ago this week is was still the 90’s, people were freaking out about the Y2K Millennium bug, and though preparations were well underway for a massive end of millennium party, there were still a few people muttering that the 21st century didn’t actually begin until 2001. Now here we are on the cusp of 2010 and though we still don’t have flying cars, you have to admit that it’s great to finally be living in “The Future”.
For instance, in 2002 I distinctly remember wishing that I didn’t have to carry a phone, PDA and MP3 player around all of the time. The first smartphones were just coming on my radar at the time, but most were too expensive or didn’t combine the functionality the way I wanted. In 2003 I bought a wireless card for my laptop for the first time. My old Dell wasn’t exactly super-mobile, but at least I now had the option! In 2007 I scooped up an Eee PC the second I had the cash. I’d been looking for a mobile writing device since 2003, actually, when I bought an AlphaSmart, but what I really wanted was a tiny, inexpensive computer that let me get writing and research done on a decent screen.
Add ASUS to the growing list of vendors 
