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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autoboy - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
Agreed. Why can't I buy a laptop under $1000 without a glossy screen? Frankly, I find it ridiculous that 99% of computer enthusiasts don't want a glossy screen, and yet you can't find a matte screen in any notebook on the market. Keep up the fight Anand.lemonadesoda - Sunday, March 21, 2010 - link
Anand, fighting against glossy visuals? I think not, see the new ANANDTECH logo: http://it.anandtech.com/default.aspx">http://it.anandtech.com/default.aspxAnand is as "glossy" as every other consumer bandwagon.
JarredWalton - Sunday, March 21, 2010 - link
Not even close; that's the IT section of the current AnandTech, and honestly a "glossy" logo isn't the same as a glossy LCD. This is such a silly comparison I don't even know how you can make it. A glossy LCD is a criticism of inherent hardware design; a "glossy" logo is a criticism of artistic design that can easily be changed (or avoided).afkrotch - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
I personally prefer the glossy screen. Not cause it's glossy, just cause it seems to be a lot sturdier. The matte screens seem to just pick up scratches like it was nothing.I eat and I tend to eat near my netbook. Crap hits the screen, I wipe it down. After time, you'll notice the screen starts to scratch up from being wiped down often.
On a non-mobile solution, I'm all for the matte screens, as I don't eat near my desktop. Only on my laptop/netbook, as I'm more prone to be using it in a restaurant or cafe.
Nomgle - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
Um...Was that a serious post ? You genuinely can't eat food without spilling it ?
afkrotch - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
I don't spill the food, it splatters. Like eat a piece of fried chicken, without a small drop of oil like fly off of it. Eat a bowl of curry udon, without it flying around. It's not like I'm eating and I smear the food onto my screen.Like take your keyboard and tap it upside down. See how much food particles come flying out of it.
AnnonymousCoward - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
What, you think manufacturers would actually make what we want? Things seem to be mostly driven by sales and marketing and what they think the masses are attracted to, which results in unoptimzed & inferior products. It's why 16:9 monitors are taking over, as well as glossy laptop screens.erple2 - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
The 16x9 is taking over because they are cheaper to produce that 16x10 screens - you can fit more of the screens per giant wafer, which means the savings of 50 cents per screen means something to someone.numberoneoppa - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
Oh, and one more thing: I bet it looks sexy without all of those stupid stickers on it.tmgp - Thursday, April 1, 2010 - link
you guys should try the samsung n210. with a 5900mAh battery and also a nice anti glare screen, it's one of the best netbooks out there in my opinion. it would make a good comparison