Computing: Asus Eee PC 900 Notebook Computer Review – 72

Big screens and full-sized keyboards are brilliant for day-to-day use, but carrying around a full-sized notebook computer is sometimes more trouble than it’s worth. Unfortunately, tiny notebooks usually cost a whole lot more than regular-sized ones. ASUS has broken this pattern with its low-priced Eee PC, a brilliant little notebook for anyone who doesn’t require a 17-inch screen just to check their email.

Weighing in at under a kilogram and slightly larger than an A5 sheet of paper, the Eee PC is certainly more portable than the average notebook – even the power adapter is light and tiny. Despite its size, the Eee PC features three USB ports, a full-sized VGA connector for an external screen or projector, and support for both wired and wireless networks; this is actually better connectivity than Apple’s MacBook Air offers.

The screen is a decent size at 8.9 inches; the 1024 x 600 resolution is a little low but it’s fine for browsing the web, word processing and similar tasks that don’t require all that much screen real estate. The keyboard is surprisingly usable, though like any notebook keyboard the layout takes some getting used to. The touchpad supports multi-touch, which means you can use two- and three-fingered gestures to scroll, zoom and rotate things on screen – easy to learn and very nifty indeed.

While the processor isn’t the fastest, a gigabyte of RAM and the speed of the solid state disk make the Eee PC fly along faster than machines twice its size and price; the Windows XP model boots in just under 40 seconds.

The Eee PC has two solid state drives, a 4GB drive on which the operating system is installed and an 8GB or 16GB drive for programs and user storage. I found this limiting on the Windows XP model as many programs require space on the main (4GB) drive, which can fill up pretty quickly between added software and Windows updates.

Battery life is fair – between three and four hours depending on usage. This tops most cheap full-sized notebooks but not some of the high-end models out there. The battery also tends to run down when the Eee PC is completely switched off, draining in less than a week.

Personally, I bought the Eee PC 900 the day it hit the shelves. If you’re after a high-portability, low-cost notebook then I suggest you give one a try.

Harley Ogier

What they said

“Ultimately, if you want a notebook that’s small, light and still very affordable, the Eee PC 900 should be top of your list” – Riyad Emeran, TrustedReviews.com

Specifications

Asus Eee PC 900 Notebook Computer

$749

OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows XP Home or GNU Linux

DISPLAY: 8.9-inch, 1024 x 600

CPU: 900MHz Intel Mobile

MEMORY: 1GB DDR II

STORAGE: 12GB total (Windows XP model), 20GB total (Linux model)

CARD READER: SD (SDHC)/MMC

CONNECTIVITY: 802.11b/g wireless LAN, 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet, 3x USB, VGA-out, audio out/microphone

CAMERA: 1.3MP webcam with microphone

SIZE: 225 x 170 x 338mm

WEIGHT: 0.99kg

PROS

• Tiny price for a tiny laptop

• More than one USB port

CONS

• Storage split across two disks

• Battery isn’t perfect

VERDICT

For once, I actually bought this

This review is from Tone issue #72.