Netbook Review – Acer, Asus Netbook Review

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Netbook Review – 6 /7

With its previous model, the 1008HA, ASUS introduced a radical design change from the boxy Eees’ of yore. But the price tag of $429 put it beyond the reach of many a pocket and the non-removable battery didn’t pack that much of a punch.

The latest offering, the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA, keeps the slim design intact with a more traditional 6-cell battery. This makes it one of the leaders in battery life and potentially the new go-to netbook choice. Rather than a smaller SSD, it has the standard 160GB HDD. And at $349.95, it’s a steal.

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Netbook Review – Top Features

• Battery Life – This is the real star here. The 1005HA’s battery can run upto 8 hours on power saver mode, and past 6 hours with heavy surfing  on WiFi (with screen on maximum brightness). The battery is removable and a carry-on pack will give you some serious usage time.
• Lots of ports – The left side features a VGA out, USB 2.0 port, power jack, security lock and a heat vent. On the right, there’s a 4-in-1 card reader, headphone jack, microphone jack, 2 more USB 2.0 ports and a ethernet. Satisfying for a standard netbook.
• Quality sound - The 1005HA has above-average sound quality, with ample high and mid range tones. It lacks a bit in bass though. The distortion at high levels was miniscule and this netbook will make the audiophiles out there a happy bunch.
• Build – A solid and sleek design with barely any use of flex plastic.

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Netbook Review – Drawbacks and things to keep in mind

• Thickness – The ASUS Eee PC 1005HA has a seashell design, but it’s slightly bulkier than the average netbook.
• Average graphics – This model features the Intel GMA 950 Graphics, which is fine to view web videos in 720p, but definitely not 1080p in its 1024×600 screen. Also, viewing its glossy screen can be a bit difficult in strong light.

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Netbook Review – Ratings

1. Price and Value for money – 1.0 Star. The 1005HA is not a drastic upgrade, but all the little things that ASUS have tweaked really add up. Its excellent battery life with only standard pricing is where this netbook draws ahead.
2. Speed and Performance – 0.75 Star. With Intel’s N280 Atom CPU, the 1005HA performs on par with other netbooks.
3. Screen – 0.75 Star. Color contrasts are rich,  and horizontal viewing angles don’t cause distortion.
4. Keyboard, Touchpad, Usability – 0.75 Star. The keypad is quite long with large keys, making this comfortable to type on. The full-sized shift key is a plus. The touchpad is average though.
5. Portability and Battery Life – 1.0 Star. Lasts long. Really long.
6. Looks and Design – 0.75 Star. It’s quite sleek, even though its thicker than average netbooks.
7. Connectivity and Extensibility – 1.0 Star. The ASUS 1005HA performance in this arena are pretty standard.

That gives the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Netbook has an overall rating of 6 Stars out of 7.

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Netbook Review – Our Recommendation

All in all, the ASUS 1005HA is extremely satisfying and one of the best 10″ netbooks on the market. It comes with all the features that one could want and has the longest battery life on any netbook. With it’s current price tag of $349.95, it packs a whole lot of bang for buck. However, some customers have complained that the AC charger just dies on them. You can buy the ASUS 1005HA at amazon (free shipping).

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Netbook Review – What have buyers on Amazon said?

Pros:

1. “The glossy LED display offers excellent colour and contrast when used indoors”
2. “Incredible road warrior”
3. “Battery has a whopping run time”

Cons:

1. “The AC charger just stopped charging the battery. No amount of unplugging, replugging, letting it rest, whatever, would bring it back to life.”

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Netbook Review – Technical Specifications

• OS: Microsoft Windows XP
• CPU: Intel Atom280
• RAM: 1GB DDR-2 (Memory size is upgradable to 2GB)
• Storage Space: 160GB HDD
• Screen: 10.1-inch 1024×600 LED-Backlit Widescreen LCD
• Connectivity: 1 x VGA connector, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 2 x audio jacks: Headphone & Mic-in
• Battery : 10.5 Hrs Li-Ion
• Weight: 2.81 lbs (with battery)

Filed under: Asus Netbook Review