Netbook Review – Acer, Asus Netbook Review

ASUS Eee PC 1001P Netbook Review – 6/7

The ASUS 1001P is a sibling to the more publicized 1005PE from ASUS. And its not bad at all. We’ve mentioned before that the 1005PE is an update to ASUS’s fantastically popular 1005HA. The 1001P is more or less familiar to it, but with a few differentials in styling and features (Read the review of the ASUS 1005PE here). One major difference, and something which we quite like is in the chassis. The 1001P looks similar to its elder brother, but the material used is a cooler looking textured latticework. Apart from looking good, it means you don’t get those annoying smudges and fingerprints.

The keyboard is the more traditional non-island style, and the touchpad is not glossy but matte. The screen is similarly a matte screen which means performance is a bit off, but the netbook screen makes outdoor viewing much more bearable. There are two separate 1001P models – and the differences are a 160GB vs 250GB hard drive, about 3 hours of battery life  (9 vs 12 actual) and the wireless connections.

ASUS Eee PC 1001P Netbook Review – Top Features

• Pretty Solid Build – Like the 1005HA and 1005PE, this netbook feels compact and doesn’t have much give. At this price point, it’s a stylish and quality chassis.
• Battery Life improved – Pretty much the one big outcome of the industry-wide upgrade to the Atom N450 series of processors, is that the 1001P sees battery lives over 9 and 12 hours for its two different models.
• Speakers – One of the best sound qualities amongst netbooks. Although the bass isn’t prominent, the volume it reaches is enough for a small room.
• Not Expensive – You’re getting quite good value on this stylish netbook which features standard components and an impressive battery life at under $300.

ASUS Eee PC 1001P Netbook Review – Drawbacks and things to keep in mind

• Slightly bulky design – With the upgrade,we were hoping for a bit of slimming. ASUS though have kept the same slightly thick body.
• Matte screen – Makes for a sub-par viewing experience compared to glossy screens, but compensates with consistency in different surroundings (outdoor).

ASUS Eee PC 1001P Netbook Review – Ratings

1. Price and Value for money – 1.0 Star. We like the looks, specs and sub $300 pricing. Especially for a netbook with one of the highest battery lives out there.
2. Speed and Performance – 0.75 Star. Average specifications and average performance. Fine for browsing, emailing and the like – not for any heavy duty action.
3. Screen – 0.75 Star. Like I mentioned, theres an advantage with better outdoor capability but viewing experience does suffer a bit overall.
4. Keyboard, Touchpad, Useability – 0.75 Star. Even though the keyboard and touchpad are old school, there’s nothing wrong with them.
5. Portability and Battery Life – 1.0 Star. Light at 2.8lbs and with a long battery life.
6. Looks and Design – 1.0 Star. The latticework lid and inner latticing works for us. It feels nice to the touch as well.
7. Connectivity and Extensibility – 0.75 Star. Misses out with the wireless weakness and lack of bluetooth in the base model. The higher-end one has both these features.

This gives the ASUS 1001P an overall rating of 6 out of 7 Stars.

ASUS Eee PC 1001P Netbook Review – Our Recommendation

The 1001P is a stylish netbook with a good battery life and no major flaws.  It’s comparable to the 1005PE with a few body/styling changes that aren’t substandard, merely a matter of personal opinion. The prices though are a bit lower, and so this is quite a good deal. We recommend this netbook strongly.

Available on amazon in two models – the higher storage/battery one and the lower storage/battery one. Costs $299 and $329.79

ASUS Eee PC 1001P Netbook Review – What have buyers on amazon said?

Pros:

1. “I really like the Asus 1001p. The non-”chiclet” keyboard feels big and spacious. Very easy to type on.”
2. “I’m really glad I went for the matte non-glare screen. It is easier to read in less-than-ideal lighting conditions while traveling.”
3. “I was absolutely surprised by how well fabricated this little netbook is. The quality is excellent.”
4. “My wireless downloads come in as fast as my athlon multicore desktop. IE launches quickly, as well as other applications. Windows 7 Starter runs superbly.”

Cons:

1. “One major gripe is that since it has such a heavy 6 cell battery that is all the way to the rear of the unit, I found the computer wanting to tilt backwards, its front end lifting off my lap.”
2. “I don’t like the silver touchpad button(s), it requires you to press hard and despite being 2 buttons, it seems like it’s only 1 whole button plus.”
3. “The one thing I DO not like about this netbook is opening it. It’s very awkward to open the lid, because there’s just a very small lip to put your finger under and lift it up. ”

ASUS Eee PC 1001P Netbook Review – Technical Specifications

• OS: Windows 7 Starter
• CPU: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 Procesor
• Display & Graphics: 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 Matte Display, Intel GMA 3150
• RAM: 1GB DDR2
• Storage: 160GB /250GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
• Connectivity: 2-in-one card reader, 802.11b/g (n in higher-end model), Ethernet LAN (RJ-45),VGA, 3 x USB 2.0 Ports, Bluetooth (in higher end model)
• Battery: 6-cell Li-ion Battery, (11/14 hour battery)
• Weight: 2.8lbs
• Colors: Black, White, Blue, Pink
• Price: $299 / $329.79

Filed under: Asus Netbook Review