Asus T91 Review
Rating: 5/7
The Asus T91 was hyped up for months prior to its release: a netbook which combined a touch screen, a tablet, and number of useful applications – all in a portable 8.9 inch, 2 pound machine for available for purchase at $490.
Thin, light and sturdy, the ASUS T91 is one of few Netbooks to offer a tablet feature. ASUS has also included its own applications, which means that using the Netbook in tablet mode is a very smooth. Add this with the fact that you can use your finger instead of using the stylus, and you get a very natural and fun experience.
However, much like the highly popular ASUS 1008HA, the size of the ASUS T91 creates large flaws and setbacks. One example is that the T91 only has an Intel Atom Z520 1.33 GHz. This means that you will not have the capability to run heavy duty applications and operating systems such as Windows 7 or even Windows Vista. On Windows XP, the T91 does run unexpectedly well and we can hand this down to the ASUS applications and the “Touch Gate” Interface which use up far less memory.
If you can afford the $490 price tag, the ASUS T91 is a high-quality netbook to have. It doesn’t come with the built-in GPS, TV Tuner or 3G module – these features will be available in the next model, the T91 GO.
ASUS T91 Review – Features
- Touch Screen: Very responsive and smooth.
- Design: Well Designed.
- Weight: It only weighs 2 pounds.
- ASUS Software: The excellently built Touch Gate Interface.
- Design: A Tablet which rotates with ease in comparison to more expensive tablet netbooks and laptops.
- Screen: Resistive Interface screen, meaning you won’t be forced to use the stylus alone.
- Webcam: Integrated Webcam.
- Upgrades: Upgrading the RAM is simple.
- Keyboard and Touchpad: Small but surprisingly well built for ease of use.
- Standard netbook Features: BluetoothV2.1 , 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Windows XP etc.
Drawbacks and things to keep in mind
- Price: For a Netbook, it is fairly expensive.
- Hardware: Slow processor means you’re forced to use low level operating systems like Windows XP.
- Design: Only two USB ports and not the Netbook standard of three.
- Screen: Glossy screen creates glare when in areas with strong lights.
- Touch Screen: When using the ASUS T91 as a tablet, the size makes the virtual keyboard difficult to use.
Asus T91 Netbook Ratings
1. Price and Value for Money – 0.5 stars. Although the price is high, the touch screen and tablet feature are definitely worth it.
2. Speed and Performance – 0.5 stars. The Intel Atom Z520 1.33 GHz makes it slower than standard Netbooks which run with N270 1.6 GHz processors. The problem is slightly countered through the use of ASUS applications.
3. Screen – 0.5 star. Again, this is another ASUS Netbook which users a glossy screen which is harder to use outdoors in comparison to matte screens.
4. Keyboard and Usability – 1 star. Although the touchpad and keyboard are small, they have been built well and therefore they are relatively easy to use.
5. Portability and Battery Life – 1 star. Good battery life ranging from 4-5 hours. Very light at 2 pounds.
6. Looks and Design - 1 star. Very well designed, and built.
7. Connectivity & Extensibility – 0.5 stars. You will see everything essential. There are a few problems concerning battery upgradability, and there are only 2 USB ports.
Overall the ASUS T91 gets 5/7 stars.
ASUS T91 Review - Our Recommendation
If you want a tablet machine which is portable, thin and light – I definitely recommend the ASUS T91. While the flaws and the price will put off a few users, it is still another great innovation from ASUS when looked at carefully.
It is important to note that the ASUS T91 is expensive for a netbook. However, when you look at it in terms of a tablet machine – it is very cheap.
Tablet machines range from around $790 – $4100. The ASUS T91 is only $490 in comparison. If you can afford it, and you are looking for a tablet machine, the ASUS T91 is a brilliant buy.
Asus T91 netbook – Technical Specifications
- Windows XP Home
- 8.9″ LED-backlit display with resistive touch panel
- CPU Intel Atom Z520 (1.33GHz, 533MHz FSB)
- Intel US15W chipset
- Graphics: Intel GMA 950
- LAN onboard 10/100 Mbps Ethernet controller
- Wireless: 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth V2.1
- Memory 1GB (DDR2 533MHz)
- Storage Total 52GB (16GB Solid State Drive + 16GB SD Card + 20GB Eee Storage)
- Webcam: 0.3 Megapixel (VGA)
- Media Readers: 3-in-1 MMC, SD, SDHC flash card slot and SD card expansion slot
- Dimensions 225mm (W) x 164mm (D) x 25.2 ~ 28.4mm (H)
- Weight 2lbs (0.96kg)
- Battery: Integrated Lithium Polymer (estimated 5 hours battery life)
- Warranty: 1-year
Filed under: Asus Netbook Review