Asus Eee PC 1000H
I’m currently writing this post on a newly acquired Asus 1000H mini-notebook. I have to say that, so far, I’m really impressed with the device. The first thing I’ve noticed is the weight - it weighs about 1.2 Kg. It has a nice screen (10 inches), that has a maximum resolution of 1024x600. However, if you connect the device to an external monitor, it is capable of doing 1280x1024. On top of the screen there’s also an integrated 1.3 megapixel camera for video conference.
I’ve looked at several mini-notebooks and most ones have the sound speakers to the sides of the screen or the keyboard, which reduces screen size or requires smaller (or less) keys. The 1000H has the speakers on the underside of the case, facing the user. The keyboard is a 92% keyboard, meaning that the keys are just a bit smaller and has less keys than a regular laptop keyboard. However, after a few days writing on this keyboard, I’m almost up to my usual productivity level (I just have a hard time hitting the right Shift key).
There is so much more about this equipment that I’m really enjoying. It comes with a 160Gb SATA drive and a 10Gb SSD (solid state drive) built in. It features a stereo microphone and a multi-touch track pad. It has Bluetooth and a wireless-B,G, draft N network card. The main feature is, of course, the Atom 1.6 GHz processor, which makes the six cell battery pack last for over five hours. It has an SD card reader, a VGA-out connector, three USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet card and a Kensington lock port.
The device comes with 1Gb of RAM, but I upgraded it to 2Gb. I’m running Windows Vista Business edition, with Office 2007 Ultimate. I’m using the notebook for meetings and note taking, for mail, editing some documents, doing presentations, and running Excel. I think this covers most professional uses. With the present configuration, the device gets a 2,8 Windows Experience Index (just due to the 3D acceleration capabilities of the graphics card). However, Windows runs with Aero glass smoothly and the overall experience is great (after a few tweaks).
When I’m at the office, I have the notebook connected to an external monitor with an USB Keyboard and mouse. It’s a really great, highly portable work machine. Not for the power user, or hard core developer. Also not for video editing or gaming. Strictly for office use – documents, spreadsheets and the occasional web surfing.
The main thing with this device is, of course, that the price is unbeatable. It’s a really low price for a machine with these characteristics. It’s a great value for money.
