 Amazing - The best netbook available as of 12/08. |
| Review Date: December 20, 2008 |
| Reviewer: J. Allison, New Mexico |
Fantastic aesthetics; the aluminum construction makes everything else out there look cheap. I have tried most every netbook, I mean literally have purchased them and tried them and this is the one that I carry. I also own the Eee 1000H, which does have a slightly brighter screen, but I gave it to my wife...
The Elantech trackpad is of a multi-touch/multi-gesture design and it just plain works. The mouse button is a single rocker design with short travel and a definite but light click and it oozes quality.
The BIOS includes a "boot booster" function (tied to a itty-bitty hdd partition), which helps the computer to boot significantly faster than any other brand out there (all new ASUS models appear to have this).
The keyboard is large enough to make touch-typing easy and for me the weird right shift button placement is not an issue as I am a left shift person (it is proportional to the rest of the keyboard).
The palm-rest is just big enough to allow most people to actually rest their hands on it when typing, which is much more comfortable than the half-on / half-off method necessary for most netbooks (although the Eee 1000H is even more comfortable).
Battery life is about 3 to 3.25 hours. Not class leading for sure (Samsung wins here) BUT the battery fits flush to the bottom of the computer which keeps the ENTIRE computer nice and thin. Once you look at a couple of netbooks, you'll see why the big barrel shaped batteries they use generally ruin otherwise beautiful aesthetics.
Some people will not like the power cord, SD slot, monitor out, kensington lock slot and ethernet port being on the back as opposed to the sides, but I love it because everything is out of the way (esp if you choose to use an external mouse).
Speakers are very good, but the Eee 900HA and the Eee1000H (Dolby) are better. I use earphones though, so its a non-issue.
Haven't tried the webcam so I can't offer much except to say its there.
The bloatware is within reason and is easily removed. The recovery DVD includes a bootable Norton Ghost recovery image and also includes the individual drivers, which are accessible from windows (if you have an external DVD drive).
I swapped the 160GB 5400RPM Seagate drive for an 80GB Intel X25M SSD drive and i just couldn't be happier. It boots from power switch to ready to use in 40-45 seconds (fully software equipped), runs Office 2007, plays movies stutter free and surfs the Internet all without complaint or issue. I would not recommend to anyone to spend the $500-600 for the Intel SSD drive though. It is faster, but NOT that much faster and the machine felt plenty peppy before.
The charger is of the two cords and a brick design (like everybody else). Fortunately, you can hit the very popular auction site out there and purchase a new ASUS branded wall charger for an Eee 900 (the original 900), which has the exact same specs as the one that comes with this and saves probably 1/2 the space. All for $20-25.
Anyway, I highly recommend this model, it is the best out there right now. Below are my experiences with other models in its class.
The Samsung NC-10 is ok, but nothing special and certainly not (IMO) worth the extensive press it has gotten. It is not user friendly from an upgrade standpoint (i.e. no bottom access to the hdd) and the chrome trim detracts from an otherwise classy finish (I tried the blue model). The recovery software consists of discs, which, DO NOT restore it to its factory configuration. Battery life is crazy long (5 to 6 hours)
The MSI wind is perhaps the PERFECT size, but its horrible construction leaves me bewildered as to why it is so popular. The hinges are so weak that the screen literally shakes as you type. I googled for answers and found that it is a common problem for these machines. I packed mine up after 5 minutes and sent it back. I can't imagine trying to watch a movie on it while bouncing around on an airplane.
The ASUS Eee 900HA is a great machine and even better for my frequent travel than this one (its quite a bit more compact), but the 8.9" screen makes for lots of vertical and horizontal scrolling and the keys are just too small. It is beautiful though and the size vs. features vs. price absolutely beats everything else out there (the 1002HA included). But only if you can live with the small screen and keyboard.
The HP mini 1000 is fantastic in every way, but its storage is too limited when you opt for the built in flash memory and its WAY too slow when you opt for the 4200 rpm 60GB drive. Worse is the fact that they used a legacy PATA (ZIF) connection on the hard drive, which rules out the use of the ultra fast Intel X18M SSD hdd. Very poor thinking on the part of HP. This one could have been the best out there.
The Lenovo S10 is very business like and is built very well. I eagerly anticipated this. It is marred ONLY by its ridiculously loud CPU fan. On top of the fan noise, the computer constantly "throttles" the fan making it sound as if the computer is going to take off at any minute. Again, a google search of the reviews out there revealed that mine was not an isolated case. Shame too, cus this one is ultra nice and has Lenovo's business/professional looks and build quality to go with it.
The Acer Aspire One is a nice netbook. Its deficiency lies mainly in its size/shape and the nightmare it takes to upgrade even the memory. I had the 3-cell 120GB model and found that its size was perfect for carry, but lousy for typing as it was too thick to rest your hands on a flat surface comfortably while typing (forget the palm rest, its almost non-existent). If you can find a good typing position, the keyboard is very nice with great feedback and feel. A complete dis-assembly is required for upgrading either the memory or the hdd (as in it voids the warranty)and if you choose to anyway, you'll find that the memory can only be bumped up to 1.5GB as there is 512MB built in to the machine. The power source is a "brick" design like everyone else, but seems to be larger than the others.
Good luck if you are shopping for a netbook and Happy Holidays. |
Asus 1002HA - A Very Impressive Netbook Indeed
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| Review Date: December 21, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Mike Trojanowski, Pinebluff, NC USA |
I've had the pleasure of using the Asus 1002HA netbook for 4 days and have formed some definite impressions that I'd like to share with you. I'll comment on 6 areas that are important to me and hopefully to you as well.
1. Very 1st Impression - The saying "You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression" is very true and here the Asus 1002HA delivers right off the bat in its stylish packaging. The boxing is in a black tuxedo look - very sharp and compact. Reminds me of the meticulous attention Apple gives to its packaging in introducing its customers to its trendy products. Unwrapping and opening up the Asus 1002HA is indeed a pleasure - a very stylish, slim, light weight unit with an upscale brushed aluminum finish. I asked several friends to hold the unit in their hands and guess its weight. Their typical response was 1.5 lbs even though the 1002HA weighs 2.7 lbs. My guess for their low estimates is due to the 1002HA's wonderful balance and even weight distribution - not back heavy as many units are with a 6-cell battery. Note: the 1002HA has only a 2-cell battery. More on this later. One final point here, in the box is also a compact zippered black velvet case with a padded interior - a very suitable companion to the sleek 1002HA.
2. Powering It Up - A very easy and quick process for your initial arrival to the home desktop screen. I suggest at this time you review the included software that comes with your unit. Then remove what you know you won't use via the easy-to-access Control Panel. Also, this may be the right time to load in any software you prefer. Note: You will have to buy a separate external CD/DVD drive that can be purchased for about $50 on the Internet if you shop around.
3. LCD Display Screen - Simply a very vibrant and appealing 10-inch view. The screen is non-glare so you don't have to worry about reflections of indoor lighting or the bright outdoors. There have been negative comments (posted on other websites) stating that the .8-inch wide glossy black bezel surrounding the LCD screen is a magnet for fingerprints; a criticism made that I personally found to be true. What I did to reduce this fingerprinting problem was to apply a thin coat of fine, high quality liquid car wax to the casing only (not the screen). Result - fingerprints shown now are less noticeable and very easy to wipe off.
4. Keyboard - Pressing the keys is very comfortable and easy to do with little resistance. The 92% of a normal size keyboard presented no problem to me. What did however, which is amply noted by many, is the tiny size of the right shift key, particularly a problem for touch typists. The right shift key's tiny size is a challenge that can be largely overcome with practice. Lastly, the white print showing the characters on top of the keys is not very bright. I often do work very early in the morning in bed where the only light on in the room is being emitted from the LCD netbook screen. Clearly in this setting, I can't see the lettering on the keys so I purchased a USB powered notebook light for $3.99 at Amazon which should take care of the problem.
5. Trackpad - The 1002HA provides wonderful navigation via the Elantech Smart-Pad which offers a variety of easy to use gestures and is superior to the typical track pad offered by competitors. It offers 1, 2 or 3-finger gestures similar to the excellent gesture options and track pad Apple offers their customers. The track pad is rather large for netbooks and you can easily tell when your fingers move on or off its surface. This is especially important at night when you might have the netbook on your chest and the track pad may be too close to your chin to see it very well. In my mind the track pad is as important as the keyboard and the Asus 1002HA hit the bull's-eye in getting it right.
6. Battery Life - How would I describe its performance? IMPRESSIVE, especially for a 2-cell battery. It must be turbocharged because I get about 4 hours before I receive the 1st warning to power down. Your own mileage will vary depending on the type of processing you do and your preferred personal settings for screen brightness and processing speed. I do use the Power Saving Mode for processing speed and set screen brightness to about the 80% mark to achieve 4 hours of battery life. At these settings, performance is very acceptable and the screen is plenty bright. Lastly, I found the battery charger to be quite small and light. It easily plugs into the back of the 1002HA which I really like; sometimes my hand inadvertently hit the cord with other notebooks that are plugged into the side causing a disconnect.
7. Conclusion - I'm very pleased with my Asus 1002HA. It boots up rather quickly taking only 44 seconds from when you press the power on button to seeing your desktop screen. Front speakers have plenty of volume and you can modify the Realtek equalizer settings to satisfy your tone preference. The screen is bright and sharp, battery life is excellent for a 2-cell although not as good as what a 6-cell battery offers. The large easy to use trackpad and the many finger gestures offered are simply outstanding, especially for a netbook priced at $500. The keyboard has a deficiency with its tiny right shift key but can be overcome with some practice. I think Asus has a winner here. If you can afford the price, the Asus 1002HA should be on your short list in deciding what netbook is the right one for you.
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Best for business travel, and coffee shops!
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| Review Date: December 20, 2008 |
| Reviewer: H. Ayoub, |
I am extremely happy with this purchase. Received it on December 18, and have been trying it out for 2 days now. I am a doctor and CEO of www.DoctorBook.com. I travel quite a bit for conferences, and spend a lot of time at Starbucks and other coffee shops. So I was looking for a netbook that was light, professional looking, with a goood battery.
This netbook is the best compromise between functionality and looks. The Eee PC S101 is the sleekest and the Eee PC 1000H is the best functional only because of its ridiculously long battery. But the S101 is short on battery (and high on price) while the 1000H is heavier. The 1002 is thus slim and light, with an average battery life. I have had to charge it only once in 2 days. The first initial charge provided almost 5 hours worth of browsing and MS Word processing at half screen briteness.
The default screen resolution is fine. I have yet to venture onto a web page that needed side scrolling.
Above all, the looks! Like I mentioned before the S101 is the sleekest but high price, and rather not that professional looking in my opinion. The 1000 has a glossy lid that is easily smudged with fingerprints. The 1002 on the other hand is a brushed aluminum that minimizes fingerprint smudges and looks professional.
My wife is already trying to take it off my hands. In fact, she has already placed another order for her older brother.
What you might consider purchasing with it:
1. 2GB RAM module is a great upgrade. The 1GB installed from manufacturer is fine but 2GB makes opening multiple programs and webpage loading a little faster. I bought the OCZ 2GB PC2-5400 667MHz DDR2 Value SoDIMM Module (OCZ2MV6672G)from Amazon
2. Targus PACMB010U USB 2.0 DVD/CD-RW Slim External Drive(USB powered). This is a light cd drive that can easily be placed in your laptop bag. very sleek. You will need this on travels since you never know when someone might pass along a CD during meetings and conferences. Most importantly, it is USB powered, thus it can be hooked up to the netbook via USB without the need for an AC adapter. Great for tavelling, no need for a wall socket.
3. Kensington K72330US SlimBlade Bluetooth Presenter Mouseand presentation pointer in one. I bought this off Amazon as well, and is a great looking mouse and a good compliment to the professional look of the 1002. It is flat shaped rather than the bulky generic mouse that I personally think looks ugly. The bluetooth feature eliminates the dongle that cordless mice need, thus, not taking away from the sleek look of the netbook. This Kensington model also doubles as a presentation pointer.
Personally, the best netbook on the market right now for both functionality (personal and business) and aesthetics.
well worth the money.
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Solution for the right shift key position
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| Review Date: March 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: LGM, New York, New York United States |
I've had this netbook for about 2 months and am highly satisfied. I bought it just for traveling but like it so much that it's become my primary laptop at home.
PROS
--Quiet and cool. I am amazed how cool and quiet this runs compared to all the other notebooks I've owned which have included an HP, Sony Vaio, Dell, and an Acer (my other current notebook) Maybe it's the chip. Or maybe it has to do with Asus' Super Hybrid Engine which can shift the processor into various modes as needed. I keep mine on Auto Mode. At any rate, I am so impressed with the silent operation I am going to look into Asus first when I buy my next larger sized notebook. This netbook also doesn't get hot on the bottom -- a little warm, but not hot.
--Looks & construction. This netbook is not only well made, with well finished sturdy surfaces, but it looks smart too. Unlike the shiny glossy finishes of some netbooks, the nice brushed aluminum surface of the 1002HA doesn't show smudges and fingerprints as much. The dark gray color is nice too.
--Price & features. I think you get a lot for the relatively low price -- ie, a non-glare quality screen, good usable keyboard, good trackpad, generous 160gb drive.
--Comes with a nice black neoprene case
--AC adapter is nice and small too
CONS
--I'm not crazy about the single mouse button. It's easier making right and left clicks when there are two separate ones.
--I wish they had extended the aluminum finish to the bezel surrounding the screen. That is the only place they use a glossy finish which shows up dirt.
The cons I listed were so relatively minor it was not worth knocking off a star for them. This is really a great netbook.
ABOUT THE RIGHT SHIFT KEY POSITION -- I've seen many complain about the right shift key position and it is awkward. But there is a very EASY fix. Download the free utility SharpKeys from the web. Then simply use this application to reconfigure the keyboard so that the up arrow becomes the right-shift key and the right-shift key becomes the up arrow. This is what I did and it works very well. I have even read where someone exchanged the hardware keys on their keyboard to reflect this change, but it's not worth it to me and I don't recommend that. You could break your keyboard if you're not careful. During typing, I rarely forget about the newly reconfigured keys, and when I do it's no biggie.
Three other tips:
When browsing the net, some sites are hard to navigate with the smaller screen, an issue common to ALL netbooks. If you use Firefox, press F11 when you need the extra screen space and the menus will be hidden. Press F11 again to bring back the normal menus.
I had a problem with the cursor jumping around when typing text. I went into the options for the Elantech Smart Pad and disabled some of the fancy features like "Tapping" and "Rotation" and the problem was instantly fixed! I didn't use them anyway. Some smart pad features like "Scrolling" I did use so I kept it enabled. Apparently, with all the extra options enabled, the touchpad gets very sensitive to the slightest contact from your palm and fingers when typing, and that's what was causing the flying cursor for me. So if you have typing problems also, disable everything you don't use.
Get an external CD/DVD drive to load up software and play movies. If you do, go for one that can be powered solely by the USB port. Not all of them can. Ones by LG usually can and I have an LG GSA-E50L which works great with it. However, if you don't have an external drive, and you are on a wireless network at home, you can set up other computers on the network to share files and even disc drives with the 1002HA. This lets you share documents and install software all from another computer. Just be sure to change the sharing privileges of the shared partitions back to their original state after you finish.
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One of the Best Netbooks Available - Comprehensive Review
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| Review Date: May 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Red Peters, Sterling, Virginia United States |
There's a lot to love in this little netbook, but prospective buyers first need to understand the limitations common to these devices. Not to state the obvious, but netbooks are intended for a different purpose than full featured laptops, and compromise on certain features to reduce the power drain and keep them small and light. I have other computers for power use, but needed a small, lightweight portable for simple word processing, email, and internet, and just couldn't justify the price of a full powered 12" or 13" laptop at $800-$1200.
Aluminum vs. Plastic:
I did all the typical research and easily settled on Asus for my firsthand experience with their outstanding products and reputation. I then opted for the 1002HA over their other models solely for the dark gray brushed aluminum skin. I don't like the glossy plastic finish on other netbooks as it shows every fingerprint, smudge, and scuff. I also needed something that I could take to business meetings that didn't look like a toy. My expectations were far exceeded by the 1002HA - the aluminum finish and overall quality of build top to bottom is exceptional, and far preferable in my opinion to the HP, Dell, MSI, Acer, and other Asus models that I considered.
Battery Life:
Battery life was not a huge concern for me as I'm usually close to an outlet. The 2 cell is indeed a little skimpy compared to most other netbooks, but it still provides about 3.5 hours of realistic use and keeps the device thin.
Keyboard:
The keyboard layout (mainly the right shift key) is admittedly a little funky as others have noted, however, I realized before purchasing that I never use the right shift key (do you?), so it really isn't an issue for me. I'm a 6' 220 lb guy, and the keyboard size is fine. More important, the "feel" of the keys is outstanding - again exceeding my expectations. The touchpad is very crisp, perhaps just a little jittery, but is fine.
Wireless and Ports:
The 1002HA is very well appointed, with features comparable to other netbooks. It really shines in offering 802.11b/g/n wireless (backward compatible), whereas most others offer only 802.11b/g. Connectivity, speed, and range in and around my home is excellent. Setup was a snap - I had it connected to my DLink router in minutes. The built in Asus utility for turning the wireless and bluetooth on and off is easy to use and convenient. Port placement - 3-USB, VGA out, headphone, power cable, etc. is all well thought out, with the exception of the multi-card reader slot. This is located on the rear instead of the side or front, a minor annoyance.
Display Screen/Webcam/Audio:
The matte finish display screen is crisp and bright and had no dead pixels. Yes, like everyone else I wish the resolution was higher than 1024 x 600, but this is consistent with all other netbooks currently offered, and again, this is not a full sized laptop. I reduced the icon sizes on the desktop where it was most noticeable, and use small icons and minimal toolbars in applications, all of which helps a great deal. The 1002HA has a 1.3 megapixel web camera built in. I've not used it yet, so can't comment. The built-in speakers are ample. Hard to get too excited over even the best laptop speakers. For me, they are a utility, nothing more.
Processor and Memory:
I find the single core 1.6 GHz processor to have ample speed to handle all the tasks for which netbooks are designed. It boots up very quickly and multitasks just fine. I replaced the stock 1GB of RAM with a 2GB module for about $25, a no-brainer in my opinion. This should help with system overhead and provide relief for the shared graphics memory. Asus should just sell it this way to begin with. Given economies of scale I imagine the price premium would be less than $15.
Software:
All retail computers today come with some amount of crapware - trial versions of anti-virus software, offers for this, that, and the other. Asus is better than most about this, and it only took me an hour or so to clean it all off and update Windows XP and IE to the latest security patches, etc. The included Sun office suite is surprisingly sufficient as an MS Office substitute, enough so that I decided not to bother installing Office 2007 as I had intended. As a side note, I highly recommend the variety of useful applications from portableapps.com - they are designed to run from thumbdrives but work the same from a folder on any computer. They are small, fast, and don't require "installing." Just unzip to a folder.
Optical Drives
I've read some people complain about the lack of a CD/DVD drive. Funny how all the features that people complain are missing on netbooks are found on full sized laptops. Netbooks are designed with compromises in mind to be small, light, and lower powered to meet basic computing needs. If you want a DVD drive, just buy an external USB drive such as the LG Electronics GP08LU10 8X Slim LightScribe DVD+/-RW External Drive (Black). Personally, I just connect the 1002HA to my network and map the shared DVD drive on my desktop.
Summary
Pros:
- Superior case design and quality - no fingerprints!
- High quality build and feel
- Thin and light, yet also solid
- Matte display doesn't reflect like the glossy screens
- Excellent keyboard quality and feel
- Superior wireless connectivity
- Very small AC power brick
Cons:
- Mediocre battery life compared to other models
- Right Shift key in an odd place
- Multi-Card reader located on rear a tad awkward
- Included sleeve/cover attracts dust like a magnet
Bottom Line:
I highly recommend this netbook. The tradeoff of battery life for the aluminum exterior is worth it to me, otherwise, the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE 10-Inch Netbook (1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 10 GB Eee Storage, Bluetooth, XP Home, 9.5 Hour Battery Life) Black would be my second choice. The quality of build, breadth of features, and surprisingly nimble performance of the 1002HA is hard to beat, and the aluminum skin seals the deal. Compared to all the other netbooks I considered, this is certainly among the best of the bunch to date. If you need higher screen resolution, a built in CD/DVD, or plan to do more than basic computing, a full featured laptop may better suit your needs - just be prepared to spend 2 to 4 times as much money.
Pair it with a Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks (Black) and the Targus TSM097US 10.2" CityGear Netbook Case - Black/Yellow, and you'll be ready to hit the road.
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