Asus Eee PC 901
Review by Julian Prokaza on Mon 16 June 2008
Page 1 of 3
Summary
- Guide price
- £319
- Rating
5 out of 6- Good
- Same Eee PC winning formula; high capacity battery
- Bad
- Heavier than the Eee PC 900; keyboard still cramped
- Verdict
- Hardly a revelatory upgrade, but the Eee PC 901 is still a sterling little laptop – though the bigger battery arguably makes the most difference to battery life than the Intel Atom processor.
- Manufacturer
- Asus
Review
Asus may have only launched the Eee PC 900 a couple of months ago, but it’s already defunct. Its 900MHz Celeron-M chip is effectively obsolete now that Intel has launched the cheaper, more frugal Atom processor, and existing stock will be sold off at a discounted price to make way for the all-new Atom-powered Eee PC 901.
Actually, the Eee PC 901 isn’t really ‘all-new’– it’s essentially just an Eee PC 900 with a different processor. Asus has made a few cosmetic tweaks to the case to mark the upgrade, but the 8.9in screen, small keyboard and other specifications remain the same.
The Eee PC 901's lid is now more rounded and has a slightly shinier finish than on the Eee PC 900, and the hinges sport a new design, too. The touchpad is the same size as before (with the same faux Multi-Touch features) but the buttons are now cut from a single piece of aluminium that frames the whole pad.
Asus has resisted the urge to improve the keyboard and the Eee PC 901 has the same cramped keys as both the Eee PC 900 and 701. This isn't a laptop for extended bouts of typing, but the keypad isn't anywhere near as useless as you might think and it doesn't take much time to become accustomed to the small keys.
Of course the competition has already recognised the value of a netbook with improved ergonomics and models from Acer, HP and MSI all have larger and much more comfortable keyboards. They're all around 20% wider as a result, which runs the risk of making them 20% less portable – though we're inclined to think that the small increase in size is worth it. And in any case, anyone looking for a larger laptop from Asus will soon be satisfied with the launch of the Eee PC 1000 – a bigger, heavier netbook with a 10in screen and a consequently higher price tag.
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Asus Eee PC 901 specification
- Processor
- Intel Atom N270 (1.6GHz)
- Memory
- 1Gb DDR2
- Graphics
- Intel
- Hard disk
- 12Gb onboard flash + 8Gb/4Gb SSD (Linux/Windows XP)
- Optical drive
- NA
- Floppy drive
- NA
- Screen
- 8.9in (1024 x 600)
- Connectivity
- 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11n, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 ports x 3, VGA, 3.5mm mic & headphone sockets, SD Card slot
- Other
- 1.3mp webcam, slip case
- Operating system
- Linux or Windows XP
- Size
- 225 x 176 x 31/40mm
- Weight
- 1.14kg
- Battery life
- Light use: 8h 3m; heavy use: 4h 32m (6600mAh)
- DVD playback
- NA
Comments
Hey Jules, What speed was the processor running when those tests were done? All previous benchmarks on the Atom 1.6 showed it less capable than the Celeron M on many things - for example poeple said the Celeron would be better for gaming.... Maybe Asus sent it to you \\'overclocked\\'? Just a thought. Lucky this time at least they confirm the battery WILL be 6600 - I wonder if that is the \\'Global standard\\' like the 5800 was supposed to be for the 900! Ha ha
One thing I don't like about new laptops: they run hot and noisy. How's the 901 on these regards? I have not seen any review mentioned these yet.These aspects are far more concerned than how fast it runs.For now I stick to IBM X20, it is sooo cold and quiet!!!
Nothing was said about the Bluetooth. It is suppose to have bluetooth. I assumed it could then use wireless headphones, and get files from my PDA. Maybe touch on this next time. I plan to get the Linex model. I have a 900 now. Wil likely leave it at work and keep the 901 at home.
This is at the stock 1.6GHz, Adam. We haven't been able to test overclocked & underclocked performance yet - there are no Windows XP drivers. I'll update the review with this info as soon as I can.
Hey Jules - have you been 'inside' the machine? We 900 guys really need to know what the bluetooth module is and a high res shot of the components atatched around the BT-connector - as I suspect it is teh same bluetooth module that the original 900 in teh FCC application had ( https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=940941&fcc_id=%27MSQEPC9GE780%27 )see internal pictures.Thanks
You post this image:[img]http://www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk/images/stories/reviews/2008/06/eee-pc-901/size-comparison.jpg[/img]and you remove sizeasy's logo (www.sizeasy.com). They make it easy for you to compare sizes of different objects, create the images for you, allow you to distribute them freely, and ask you only [b]not to remove their logo[/b]! and you do exactly that![quote=sizezy.com][b]images[/b]Feel free to copy the images from this page and use them in websites, reports, blogs, wherever you like. We do ask that you make the image a link and use the permalink (created above) as the target url when possible. [b][u]Please do not remove the logo from the bottom of the images.[/u][/b][/quote]Very uncool
Hey Jules,I steel don't get it...the price you noted was £319=$500 (lower than the $550 of the Eee 900 - as you said -"...aggrieved by the 901's slightly lower price..."),even though, everywhere i looked (amazon for example),the price of the 901 is $600 while only $550 for the 900. did i miss something? :roll: Thanks
When is the Windows XP version of the 901 available to purchase?
The people who run this website have [u]not[/u] removed the sizezy logo from the image if you look carefully.
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