Asus Eee PC 901

Review by Julian Prokaza on Mon 16 June 2008

Page 2 of 3

 

As with the Eee PC 900, the 901 will be available with either Linux or Windows XP. The specifications of both are almost identical apart, but the Linux model has a 12Gb SSD to complement its onboard 4Gb flash drive. The Windows XP model has an 8Gb SSD and the money saved is spent on Windows itself – both models are priced at £319 inc VAT.

 

Since it’s effectively the same as its predecessor, we’ll avoid rehashing our thoughts on the Eee PC 900 for the sake of space-filling here – just read the original review if you want run-down on the rest of the Eee PC 901’s components. Instead, we’ll focus on most interesting new new feature – its processor.

So far, the only real clue we've had about the Intel Atom's performance are reports based on the MSI Wind desktop PC and in short, they weren't too complimentary. The Atom isn't intended as a portable powerhouse, though – it's merely a cheaper, more frugal chip than the Intel Celeron-M that currently finds favour with cheap laptop makers.

The Atom N270 ‘Diamondville’ chip inside the Eee PC 901 runs at a higher clock speed than the Celeron-M used in the Eee PC 900 – 1.6Ghz compared to 900MHz – and supports Hyper-Threading, too (dual-core Atom processors are on the Intel roadmap). The Atom draws just 2.5w at maximum load, compared to the Celeron-M’s 5w though, and since it also supports enhanced deep sleep states for even greater power conservation, it looks tailor made for a device like the Eee PC 901 – which, of course, it was.

Asus Eee PC 901 battery

Unfortunately, direct battery life comparisons with the Eee PC 900 aren't easy – Asus is supplying the Eee PC 901 with a much larger 6600mAh battery (and yes, Asus has assured us that this is the battery that will be supplied when the laptop goes on sale on 1 July).

A bigger battery is bound to result in better battery life, but the Eee PC 901 also has another feature designed to make the most out of its time spent away from the mains. One of the shortcut keys that runs above the keyboard is mapped to Asus "Super Hybrid Engine technology" and each press puts the laptop in "Super Performance", "High Performance", "Power Saving" and "Auto High-performance" modes.

When running on mains power, the Intel Atom N270 processor has a stock speed of 1600MHz under load and 800MHz when idling; and this drops to 1200MHz/600MHz on battery power. The various Super Hybrid Engine technology modes simply modify this behaviour – “High Performance” locks the processor at 1600Mhz/800Mhz on both mains and battery power, while “Power Saving” locks it at 1200MHz/700MHz. “Super Performance”, on the other hand, overclocks the processor to 1800MHz/900Mhz, though it makes  little difference to overall performance.

 

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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

Comment 1
neutral
Adam Elphick 22:51 on 16 Jun 2008

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

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Comment 2
neutral
Fixup 22:53 on 16 Jun 2008

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!!!

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Comment 3
neutral
James G. DuPuy 22:55 on 16 Jun 2008

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.

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Comment 4
neutral
Julian Prokaza | registered | 58 posts 22:57 on 16 Jun 2008

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.

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Comment 5
neutral
Adam Elphick 23:06 on 16 Jun 2008

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

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Comment 6
neutral
saab_rider 10:15 on 20 Jun 2008

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

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Comment 7
neutral
Steffen 21:16 on 20 Jun 2008

Ist the display LED backlit display?

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Comment 8
neutral
tomer 16:38 on 8 Jul 2008

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

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Comment 9
neutral
John Taylor 08:06 on 30 Aug 2008

When is the Windows XP version of the 901 available to purchase?

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Comment 10
neutral
Adam Hansen 17:59 on 18 Dec 2008

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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