Asus upgrades the Eee PC

Author: Richard Swinburne
Published: 5th June 2008
Comments (20) Stumble
The 1000H Eee PC in white with some funky case flowers.

The 1000H Eee PC in white with some funky case flowers.

The original Eee was cheap and cheerful – it broke into the market at a super low price and has gained huge popularity, but the quality of product left a lot to be desired for many.

The new 8.9” Eee PC 901 and 10/10.2” 1000 and 1000H raise the quality to a new high standard to match the MSI Wind and other competing products, and also introduce a ton of new features too. However, our immediate concern is cost – the biggest attraction to the Eee in the first place.

After having nosed at them for a little while, we reckon the 901 is definitely the one to go for because the 10” screen really doesn’t look that much bigger than the 8.9” but seems physically bulky.

The 901 features an 8.9” LED backlit screen with an Intel Atom processor, 1GB of DDR2 and the choice of a 20GB SSD with Linux and 12GB SSD with WinXP Home. The sound has improved to offer HD audio stereo speakers and the Asus Array Microphone, as well as Dolby Sound Room too. There’s wireless LAN in the form of 802.11b, g and surprisingly n, as well as 10/100 Ethernet and Bluetooth thrown in for good measure. It’s also got a 6-cell battery, 1.3MP webcam and weighs just 1.1kg.

The 1000 and 1000H offer the larger 10” LED backlit screen and much the same features, apart from the SSD in the 1000 which has been upgraded to a whopping 40GB (only the Linux version is available here), whereas the 1000H includes Dolby Sound Room and a normal 80GB/160GB (WinXP/Linux) 2.5” hard drive instead. They both have the same six-cell battery, but naturally the SSD model quotes a few hours longer life – from 3.2 to 5.0 hours with the 1000H to 4.5 to 5.5 hours with the 1000.

Asus upgrades the Eee PC Asus upgrades its Eee’s Asus upgrades the Eee PC Asus upgrades its Eee’s

Asus upgrades the Eee PC Asus upgrades its Eee’sWe’d love to know how much these are going to cost, because with plenty of new competition and the fact that licensing Dolby Sound Room and building in 802.11n wireless and a 40GB SSD can’t be cheap at all.

So the quality is up, features are up, but is the cost up too far as well? Will the Acer One, HP Mini-Note, MSI Wind, Dell or any number of other companies take the spotlight instead? Let us know your thoughts, in the forums.
Quote docodine 5th June 2008, 15:43
A 40GB SSD? This thing will be pushing $700...

Any word on screen resolution?
Quote steveo_mcg 5th June 2008, 15:53
It make a bit of sense to cover all the bases, from ~£200 all the way through to "real" laptop money, if people are prepared to pay make sure you have something to sell them.
Quote Veles 5th June 2008, 16:14
Looks like these will be pricey, shame, I thought the whole point of the Eee was it was cheap as chips. Although it is still small so I gotta give it that.
Quote UncertainGod 5th June 2008, 16:39
If the 901 hits the same price point as the 900 I'll get one.
Quote fathazza 5th June 2008, 16:41
acer aspire one seems to be the best value at the moment, tho you only get the 3 cell battery on the £199 ssd/linx model :(
Quote steveo_mcg 5th June 2008, 16:49
The screen on that acer seems much better than the eee, 1024 puts it in real computer territory.
Quote Tile 5th June 2008, 17:03
My biggest question - are there SSD chips o the motherboard? If all the SSD chips are on the SSD unit and not on the motherboard then is a good thing.
Quote Jipa 5th June 2008, 17:07
TBH I already lost track and interest in all of the el cheapo laptops... When the Eee first came out it was "OMG" and seeing even the original model has yet to hit the markets here in Finland I just don't care if there will be new models within the next two-three years. Sure I could order one from Germany or somewhere else, but...
Quote Jordan Wise 5th June 2008, 17:22
trusted reviews are saying that the 10.2'' one with 40gb ssd is going for round about 330, which isn't bad at all and whups the competition
Quote UncertainGod 5th June 2008, 17:38
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tile
My biggest question - are there SSD chips o the motherboard? If all the SSD chips are on the SSD unit and not on the motherboard then is a good thing.

They are using ssd units now and there is space for one more.
Quote Jammeramd64 5th June 2008, 18:32
The 1000 wont put Asus over the top, but it'll be a big step in the right direction, if they can sell it for around three hundred like the first one, I know i'd buy one, or two...jammeramd64
Quote wuyanxu 5th June 2008, 19:01
Quote:
Originally Posted by UncertainGod
If the 901 hits the same price point as the 900 I'll get one.
same!

completely sold on the fast wireless + bluetooth + atom + 20GB hard drive combination. im willing to go as high as £350 to buy it
Quote MrMonroe 5th June 2008, 21:28
And yet it is still too small to type on or use comfortably. Sigh.

"But it's so tiny!"

<< Doesn't care.
Quote Tile 5th June 2008, 23:57
To be convinced that there are no SSD chips soldered directly to the motherboard I want to see one of these cracked open. I am saying this because SSD chips have a limited lifespan.
Quote turretgun 6th June 2008, 21:36
The new eee pc logo is very ugly!!! please some one tell Asus to put back ASUS logo or use something else, their designer in chief should be fired if they have one? great product deserve great looking, I'll rather get eee pc 900 not 901!
Quote turretgun 6th June 2008, 21:37
The new eee pc logo is very ugly!!! please some one tell Asus to put back ASUS logo or use something else, their designer in chief should be fired if they have one? great product deserve great looking, I'll rather get eee pc 900 not 901!
Quote veryevil 7th June 2008, 11:27
When is it going to be available in the UK any release dates as of yet?
Quote eldiablo 8th June 2008, 18:48
Am i reading over it, or did you forget to mention it has HSDPA (3.5g, see picture), i think this is one really important upgrade, reading your mail on the train, surfing, etc. I must say the first version didnt really speak to me, but the upgraded versions really seem nice though.
Quote Xir 9th June 2008, 09:01
Bah...the 900 Model isn't available in Germany yet...and only the XP version is announced.
Sure new features are cool, but availability should be a lot better
Quote calking13 9th June 2008, 19:14
found 2 linux 901models for sale on ebay from an aussie seller going for about $700 USD a piece. US shipping will cost a good $40 USD. found one of them by searching "eeepc 901"
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