personal digital assistant. ASUS EEE PC? personal digital assistant Upgrade your system to suit your needs

IntroductionAs events during the first half of this year show, computer hardware manufacturers seem to have hit on new idea that can bring good dividends. The essence of this idea is to offer users a new family mobile devices, which can be conditionally classified as additional, “second” laptops, which are a cross between full-fledged mobile computers and handhelds or smartphones. According to the first impression, the concept was successful, the demand for such products, as it turned out, exists, and in the near future a boom awaits us in the nascent market. This will be facilitated not only by the zeal of mobile device developers, who expect revenue growth due to demand for new products, but also by the interest of such giants as Intel, NVIDIA and VIA, which have prepared specialized hardware solutions for use as part of “second laptops.”

The main driving force in the new market, obviously, should be the imminent appearance of Intel Atom processors, specially created by the engineers of this company for use in portable devices ah, the size of which is smaller than that of conventional mobile computers, and the battery life is significantly longer. When announcing Atom processors, Intel representatives talked about netbooks - inexpensive small laptops and mobile tablet computers, capable, however, of offering a full range of communication, office and multimedia capabilities.

The first devices based on new processor Intel should appear in the second half of this year. It is at this point that engineers are going to complete the development of the Centrino Atom platform, which will become a full-fledged basis for a new generation of portable devices. Around the same time, it may appear on sale and alternative solution VIA company – Nano processor (Isaiah). At the moment, hardware component developers cannot offer a sufficiently powerful, but at the same time economical, specialized platform for netbooks. However, this is not an obstacle for everyone. Seeing the promise of the new market, some laptop manufacturers tried to “get ahead of the curve.” Such attempts became the theme this review, in which we will get acquainted with an extremely popular miniature laptop that has almost all the features of a netbook today - ASUS Eee PC.

To be fair, it should be noted that miniature laptops are far from a new trend. At different times, many players in the mobile computer market offered such products. However, unlike ASUS Eee PC, all such offers turned out to be niche products and did not gain widespread popularity. This happened mainly due to the fact that ultra-portable mobile computers turned out to be too expensive, which was determined by the desire of their creators to make a kind of full-fledged laptop in a miniature design. As a result, there was a well-founded opinion about such products as expensive and fun high-tech toys, but they did not receive widespread recognition.

ASUS's merit lies in the fact that this manufacturer, apparently drawing inspiration from the ambitious OLPC project ("One Laptop Per Child"), has prioritized not size and capabilities, but size and price. Eee PC became a reflection of this plan, ahead of the netbook generation by at least six months. At first, ASUS wanted to ensure that the low-end Eee PC models would fit into the $200 budget. To achieve this goal, the manufacturer was ready to equip its computer with a small screen, a low-power processor and a minimum number of RAM, and also replace the hard drive with small flash memory. Naturally, this would impose restrictions on software, for which it was proposed to use the free Xandros operating system of the Linux family. However, subsequently the minimum price still increased to three hundred dollars, and more expensive models even acquired the ability to work with the Windows XP operating system familiar to many. And, as a result, ASUS managed to achieve unprecedented success: their miniature laptop, the Eee PC, has become a truly mass device, interesting not only for high-income enthusiasts and technomaniacs, but also for a wide range of users with different income levels and qualifications.

Naturally, our laboratory could not ignore such a phenomenon as the ASUS Eee PC. Unfortunately, the path of this “toy” to the Russian market turned out to be quite difficult. Faced with unprecedented demand for its new ultra-portable laptop, ASUS decided to push non-core markets into the background, so Russian users had to wait quite a long time for the Eee PC to appear in stores. However, in mid-May, Eee PCs became appear on sale, which we took advantage of. So, we have in our hands an Eee PC 4G (from the Eee PC 701 series) with a pre-installed Windows XP operating system - the older model of the device that can be bought in Russia.

First look

ASUS Eee PC even begins to surprise with its packaging. We are used to the fact that laptops are delivered in fairly massive boxes. However, the miniature Eee PC is unique: it comes in a box that is smaller in size than most motherboard packages.

Inside this compact box you can find a dwarf laptop, a power supply, a thick fabric case, the necessary minimum documentation and an auxiliary DVD.

The Eee PC itself makes an indelible impression with its dimensions and weight. It can hurt a person accustomed to living in a world of ordinary, even 14-inch laptops, to the very heart. To imagine the dimensions of the ultra-portable new product from ASUS, it is enough to compare it with a book: the latter will be no more than 2-3 centimeters in size in both main dimensions. Thus, the Eee PC works very well as a portable device. With all its intelligence, it is quite capable of fitting even in a jacket pocket, which will not weigh much, since the weight of the laptop does not even reach a kilogram.

Along with the laptop itself, the power supply is also striking in its toy size. IN in this case he looks more like charger for a phone, since it is made in symbiosis with a plug, and not in a separate case. This, by the way, makes the Eee PC, which weighs less than a kilogram, even more mobile, because the power supply often travels with the laptop, and here it not only takes up little space, but also weighs only 110 grams.

ASUS Eee PC makes a good impression even upon closer examination. Despite the low price and rather modest filling, the manufacturer did not skimp on plastic, for example. The body has sufficient elasticity for high-quality protection of the internals. Moreover, the Eee PC can even be classified as a shockproof laptop (within reason, of course), since it has no moving parts at all. In particular, for obvious reasons, it is deprived of an optical drive, and the hard drive is replaced with flash memory that is not afraid of overloads. So, perhaps, the Eee PC can be a good choice for not the most careful owners, for example, schoolchildren.

So, externally, the body of the machine does not give a cheap impression: it does not creak or rattle, and all its parts fit tightly together. We tested the black version of the device and can confirm that its exterior is on par with most mid-priced mobile computers. The plastic has a pleasant-to-touch roughness that successfully hides small scratches and greasy stains.

However, the unbridled delight that the external examination of the Eee PC causes is easy to nip in the bud. Simply lift the lid of this ultra-portable notebook, which is held closed by a flexible spring. After all, the 7-inch screen with a resolution of 800x480 located there, in its parameters, is more reminiscent of a digital photo frame than a means of displaying images of a modern mobile computer. Additionally, the negative impression is reinforced by the fact that there is enough space in the case cover for a 9-inch screen, but this is the downside of the low price. If you want an inexpensive computer, be content with a photo frame, not a screen with normal characteristics. It’s hard to say how relevant discussions about the image quality on this tiny screen will be, but perhaps it’s still worth mentioning that the matrix used in it is far from ideal. And if everything seems to be in order with the brightness level, then the viewing angles, especially vertical ones, clearly let us down.

In order to somehow justify the small size of the screen with a much larger lid, ASUS placed two flat speakers covered with fabric at its edges, providing quite decent sound in both volume and frequency range. Of course, you shouldn't expect powerful bass from them, but against the background speaker systems Typically found in laptops, the Eee PC's speakers make a good impression. Above the screen there is a webcam with a resolution of 640x480, but, unfortunately, the quality of the image it produces cannot even be called satisfactory.

Directly below the screen, on the bend of the case, there is a power button for the laptop; for some reason it remains accessible even when the lid is closed. LED indicators computer and battery status, activity hard drive and wireless networks are located on the front edge of the case so that they remain visible even when the laptop is closed.

The second sore spot in the ergonomics of the Eee PC after the screen is the keyboard. The fact that key size would become another victim of miniaturization was clear from the very beginning. But the quality of their mechanical parts, at a minimum, raises questions. Perhaps we were unlucky with a particular instance, but on our laptop the keyboard sagged unnaturally and creaked suspiciously when pressing the buttons. It is difficult to predict what can happen to it with prolonged use.

Natural inconveniences during work may also arise due to the dimensions. Although the manufacturer tried to use all the available space for the keyboard to the maximum, certain typing problems will inexorably haunt everyone who is used to using full-size keyboards. To make typing on the Eee PC more or less comfortable, ASUS resorted to a rather controversial solution - increasing the size of the main alphanumeric buttons by reducing the size of the remaining keys. If for the Latin alphabet such an approach could be called acceptable, then for the Cyrillic alphabet it leads to very strange results: some of the buttons with such legendary letters as X, Ъ, Ж, E and Yu, as well as the main punctuation marks, have a surface area of almost not half the size of the others. But the already long-suffering letter E is especially unlucky; it won’t be able to be found on the keyboard right away. Against this background, even the sparkling humor of ASUS engineers fades, who decided to clearly demonstrate that Russian users can easily do without the letter P. Of course, you can get used to everything, but there is no doubt that the number of errors when typing text on the Eee PC will exceed the statistical average. . This will probably be helped by the location of the “up arrow”: it is awkwardly squeezed to the left of the right Shift.

The exhibition of miracles of miniaturization is complemented by a touchpad with a working surface smaller than a “ghost” matchbox: 45 by 30 mm. But such a tiny space is enough to navigate on a screen the size of a photo frame, provided that the native resolution is used. So there's not much to complain about here. The touchpad buttons are made in the form of a single panel, pressing the right and left parts of which carry different functional loads.

From the above, it becomes obvious that the ease of use of the ultra-portable laptop in question raises at least some doubts. In other words, when closed, the Eee PC looks much more advantageous than when it’s working, so let’s hasten to slam it shut and return to looking at the outside of the new product – on the left and right, where all the slots and ports it has are located. There is one on the left edge of the Eee PC USB port 2.0, next to it there is a connector for a 100-megabit network card. Next door are two analog audio jacks for connecting headphones and a microphone. On the right there are two more high-speed USB 2.0 ports and an analog D-Sub connector, allowing you to connect an external monitor with a resolution of up to 1600x1200. There is also a card reader slot that supports MMC and SD cards.

There are no noticeable details on the front and rear ribs of the body.

Much more interesting is the bottom surface of the laptop. In addition to the built-in microphone, there are ventilation slots on it, and the exhaust air is discharged through the grille on the left side of the laptop.

Right there, exactly in the center, there is a compartment cover in which there is a SODIMM slot with a DDR2 SDRAM module. Thus, Eee PC owners have the opportunity, without losing the warranty, to increase the amount of RAM, which in the standard package is 512 MB, and also to supplement the disk space by installing additional flash cards in MMC or SD formats. Other upgrade options for ultra-portable ASUS computer does not provide.

Of the wireless interfaces, the Eee PC only supports WiFi standard 802.11b and 802.11g. The lack of compatibility of this miniature computer with the 802.11n standard, as well as with gigabit wired network, should hardly be considered a serious drawback. This laptop does not have a capacious hard drive or high-performance processors capable of decoding HD content in real time - therefore high speeds It simply doesn’t need network interfaces.

However, the insufficient capabilities of this computer for connecting with other devices still raise criticism. So, although ASUS engineers did not skimp on USB ports, they forgot about Firewire - an interface that developers of ultra-mobile computers usually do not neglect to support. But this is a small thing compared to the fact that the Eee PC lacks support for Bluetooth, the main wireless interface used to communicate with cell phones and other gadgets. It’s hard to forgive this flaw in an ultra-mobile computer, since it actually puts an end to the possibility of using the Eee PC as an Internet device away from points of contact. WiFi access. The only possible solution in this case is to stock up on an appropriate USB key in addition to your laptop.

Hardware filling

So, the first impression of the Eee PC 4G has been made, it’s time to pay closer attention to what lies inside this little one. At the very beginning of the review, we already said that in order to reduce the price of its ultra-mobile new product, ASUS sacrificed performance. This means that it is pointless to look for not only high-speed, but also modern components in the Eee PC.

So, this laptop is assembled from three main chips - the Celeron M 353 processor, the north bridge with an integrated graphics core i910GML and the south bridge ICH6-M.

All these components have been available on the market since mid-2004, so today, four years after their appearance, they are not enough stars from the sky. However, contrary to expectations, their power turns out to be quite enough to solve the main tasks that arise in front of an ultra-mobile laptop, even in the Windows XP operating system.

Speaking about the main components in more detail, it should be noted that the Celeron M 353 processor is based on the 90 nm Dothan core (the second Pentium generation M). This single-core CPU boasts a 512 KB L2 cache and standard clock frequency 900 MHz. Since the Celeron M 353 is an Ultra-Low Voltage modification, its standard supply voltage is 0.94 V, and the typical heat dissipation fits into a 5-watt thermal package. However, the creators of the Eee PC thought this was too much by modern standards (the heat dissipation of the same Intel Atom would be approximately half as much), so the processor frequency in the Eee PC was reduced to 630 MHz.

Reducing the processor clock frequency is done in the most elementary and straightforward way - reducing the FSB frequency from 100 to 70 MHz. However, since the Celeron M does not support SpeedStep technology, this is the only available method, although, of course, it also has a very unpleasant side effect, expressed in a decrease in the operating frequency of the memory.

Actually, this is why the single-channel DDR2 SDRAM used in the Eee PC 4G only operates in DDR2-280 mode, although the 512 MB module installed in our laptop, according to the standard specifications, is capable of operating at frequencies up to 667 MHz.

Thus, the artificial limitation of performance in the Eee PC occurs, as they say, on all fronts. I would like to hope that this is not all in vain, and such a decrease in performance will have a beneficial effect on the battery life of this laptop.

The fact that the main components underlying the Eee PC operate at values lower than their nominal frequencies involuntarily suggests the possibility of overclocking this laptop. Indeed, the first BIOS versions for the Eee PC allowed increasing the FSB frequency to 100 MHz, which led to an increase in the processor frequency to 900 MHz and memory to 400 MHz. But in later BIOS versions Overclocking options were, unfortunately, removed. However, no negative side effects other than reduced time battery life, did not cause such acceleration. The processor did not overheat, and the system remained absolutely stable even at 100% load.

Therefore, it is completely natural for utilities to appear that allow you to control the frequency of the Eee PC processor directly from operating system. In particular, we can recommend the eeectl program, which allows you not only to switch FSB frequencies between 70, 85 and 100 MHz, but also performs temperature control, and also, if necessary, makes it possible to increase the rotation speed of the laptop cooling system fan.

By the way, this cooling system is interesting in itself. Since it was problematic to place full-fledged coolers, albeit laptop ones, inside a small case, ASUS engineers simply placed an aluminum plate under the keyboard, in contact with all the heating chips. The air flow along this plate is created by a small fan located at the left edge of the laptop. The fan turns on when necessary, and its rotation speed in normal mode is apparently very low, since it is practically inaudible. But the keyboard, through which a fair amount of heat is dissipated, on the contrary, heats up noticeably during operation.

ASUS Eee PC uses graphics core Intel GMA 900 built-in north bridge logic set.

Unfortunately, the modest characteristics of this accelerator are aggravated by the fact that it takes away part of the RAM for its work. However, it is capable of hardware acceleration of 3D graphics and MPEG-2 video. Of course, the performance of this solution with four pixel pipelines is low by modern standards, but in some cases it is quite enough for a screen with a resolution of 800x480. In other words, many games of previous generations on the Eee PC 4G are not only fully functional, but also demonstrate acceptable speed: for example, we tested Age of Empires II, Diablo 2, Max Payne 2, Need for Speed Porsche Unleashed, Quake 3 Arena, Trackmania Nations and Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne.

Below are the results of the popular tests 3DMark 2001 SE and 3DMark03
obtained at the standard Eee PC 4G resolution of 800x480

The 4 GB mini-SSD used in the Eee PC 4G also deserves attention. Interestingly, it connects to south bridge via the Parallel ATA-66 interface, however, a faster interface is not needed in this case, since maximum speed reading from the selected SSD is no more than 30 MB per second.

It should be noted that this disk is not made in the usual form factor; it is soldered onto system board laptop, so it is impossible to find a replacement for it.

Speaking about the composition of the Eee PC hardware, we only need to mention two chips from Atheros, responsible for supporting Fast Ethernet and 802.11b/g WiFi, plus a dual-channel AC97 Realtek ALC662 codec. As we can see, here too ASUS has chosen some of the most inexpensive microcircuits, but, nevertheless, they have good driver support for various operating systems and cope well with the role assigned to them.

One of the most painful places in the ASUS Eee PC 4G hardware in the configuration provided to us for testing is the battery. While it's obviously chosen for weight and size reasons, ultra-mobile laptop users always expect relatively long battery life. However, the ASUS Eee PC 4G variants sold in Russia, and in many other countries, are equipped with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of only 4400 mAh, which is not enough for three hours even according to the manufacturer itself. Unfortunately, the best batteries with a capacity of 5200 mAh are not yet imported into our country through official channels.

Detailed Specifications

Below we present the basic characteristics of the laptop in question. It was in this standard form that it came to our testing laboratory.

Impressions from ASUS Eee PC with Microsoft Windows XP

The first modifications of the Eee PC that went on sale came with a pre-installed Xandros system of the Linux family with an extremely simplified user interface. In addition, the laptop already had the basic software configured. In other words, the original concept of the Eee PC assumed that this ultra-portable laptop would be aimed at inexperienced and novice users, who, by and large, are the least concerned about the operating system: the main thing is that it works. However, the experience of the first sales showed that such positioning is not the best option. The fact is that many potential Eee PC buyers with more high level qualifications and who, for various reasons, prefer the more common Windows, postponed the decision to purchase this extremely interesting device, if only because they did not want to deal with the rather problematic process of changing the operating system manually. ASUS itself undertook to solve the problems of this part of users, in April it began shipping Eee PC models with pre-installed Windows XP Home Edition.

At the same time, some delay in the release of Windows versions of the Eee PC turned out to be completely justified; it was caused by the selection of the most suitable hardware configurations. The fact is that Windows XP, compared to Xandros, is a “heavy” system that requires more powerful system resources. Therefore, it is offered exclusively in the crowning model range of ultra-portable laptops with a 7-inch screen, Eee PC models with at least a 4-gigabyte flash drive. And even then, from 4 GB disk space Immediately after purchase, only a little more than 2 GB is available to the user. True, along with Windows XP Home Edition, the Microsoft Works package (a kind of Office in miniature) is installed on the laptop and Windows Live(a set of interactive services that simplify work on the Internet).

The operating system itself, as standard, is quite skillfully configured; it occupies approximately 210 of the 512 available MB in memory immediately after loading. Of course, its loading time, which exceeds half a minute, is somewhat frustrating, but in practical work no serious problems are observed. The system reacts quite quickly to user actions and does not “slow down” when starting the main utilities (unless, of course, we are talking about some heavy software products).

The lack of free disk space can be compensated for by removing unnecessary operating system components and programs. However, it is not possible to achieve as much as we would like in this way. In particular, through the standard “add or remove programs” dialog in the control panel, we were able to clear no more than 2.7 GB of disk space – and this after uninstall Microsoft Works, Windows Live and less useful parts of Windows XP.

Therefore, for serious use, we would recommend reinstalling the operating system from scratch, removing all unnecessary components from the beginning. The seeming obstacle of the Eee PC lacking a drive for reading optical discs is actually easily overcome, since external bootable flash media can be used for installation, both in the form of MMC and SD cards, and in the form of USB key fobs. The simplest and most affordable option for most is to install the operating system on the Eee PC Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PC. This system, based on the Windows XP kernel (and fully compatible with it), is designed specifically for computers with limited hardware resources and allows you to avoid adding some components at the installation stage. But even in a typical configuration with all the necessary drivers for the Eee PC, this OS takes up just over 500 MB of disk space.

More experienced enthusiasts can even create their own Windows XP distribution using the nLite utility, which allows you to cut down the distribution of this OS even further. Thus, during testing, we were able to minimize the disk space occupied by the operating system to 300 MB while maintaining all the necessary functionality. At the same time, the system occupied no more than 120 MB of memory, and loaded in 19 seconds.

In other words, the Eee PC opens up enormous scope for creative software optimization for sophisticated users with experimental inclinations. So, instead of Internet Explorer you can install the increasingly popular Firefox, instead of Microsoft Works we would recommend using the more compact and more functional free office suite OpenOffice.org, and as graphic editor choose the compact but feature-rich Paint.NET program. The proposed ASUS Windows package Live in general seems to be unusable software that can be completely painlessly not installed at all.

Thus, the most significant problem facing Eee PC 4G owners is the rather low resolution of 800x480. It is obvious that Microsoft, when developing its operating system, did not count on such screen sizes at all, so often even standard dialog boxes do not fit entirely into the visible area. Similar difficulties can arise when working in familiar programs and even when visiting websites, most of which are currently optimized for a screen width of at least 1024 pixels.

In part, these troubles can be circumvented by the specialized utility AsTray Plus, which allows you to set resolutions on the Eee PC higher than the standard one, determined by the characteristics of the LCD matrix, up to 1024x768. However, it should be understood that this is a kind of “stub”; we cannot talk about full-fledged operation in such modes, since the image quality in this case is below any criticism.

If you close your eyes to the insufficient screen resolution and the noted problems in ergonomics, then it is not so easy to make any complaints about the operation of the ASUS Eee PC in Windows XP. It handles with dignity the typical tasks that may arise from an ultra-portable computer. The performance, disk space and amount of RAM are quite enough not only for simple surfing of web pages and viewing electronic documents, but also for full-fledged work in office applications, and for decoding DVD-resolution video files, and for Skype conversations, accompanied by receiving and transmitting video. But for playing video high resolution The power of the Eee PC is no longer enough. However, given that this ultra-portable mobile computer lacks an optical drive and has a small screen, watching HD video should hardly be considered a typical load for it.

While testing the hands-on capabilities of the Eee PC 4G, we tried to recreate a typical (from a technical writer's point of view) work environment. To do this, we launched OpenOffice.org Writer on the laptop, in which the text of this article was edited, and also opened several windows Mozilla Firefox by loading Gmail and a number of information materials from technical sites. During this experiment, in the background, in parallel with the main load, Winamp was running, broadcasting Internet radio, Miranda IM, Skype, uTorrent and avast antivirus! Home Edition. And surprisingly, in this case, the Eee PC did not have any critical problems. Even without overclocking, the processor load level did not exceed 50-60%. A much more in-demand resource turned out to be not CPU speed, but the amount of RAM, which, in our case, was almost completely occupied by running applications. So increasing its capacity beyond the standard 512 MB may become a priority for those users who plan to use the Eee PC quite actively.

However, in any case, ASUS Eee PC 4G running the operating system Microsoft Windows XP proves to be a well-balanced solution, in the sense that its feature set and level of performance are well suited to the size of this ultra-portable computer. All typical tasks that a laptop of this size may face are perfectly solved using the Eee PC 4G.

But, perhaps, with one offensive exception. The fact is that, given the hardware of the Eee PC, you expect that this laptop will be able to please its owners with a relatively long battery life. However, in practice the situation is completely different: we were never able to get battery life from the Eee PC 4G for more than two and a half hours. True, these tests were carried out with the screen brightness set to the maximum level, and WiFi adapter used to establish a connection to a wireless network. The built-in USB camera was disabled.

Testing with Battery Eater 3 in standard mode (under load) allowed us to achieve only a very modest result of 2 hours 13 minutes. In Reader mode, which puts little load on the system, the laptop worked a little longer - 2 hours 35 minutes. Separately, we measured the battery life of the Eee PC 4G when playing DivX video: it was 2 hours 21 minutes. In other words, in terms of autonomy, the Eee PC is frankly disappointing.

Conclusions

Despite the fact that the impression that the ASUS Eee PC left behind turned out to be very mixed, it is impossible not to praise the developers of this ultra-portable solution. The fact is that with its Eee PC, ASUS turned out to be a pioneer; it opened a new promising market for inexpensive and small laptops. And from this position, the Eee PC can be described as a real breakthrough. Such small laptops, the cost of which is not deterred by the number of zeros on the price tag, can be useful for both beginners and experienced users. The fact is that there are a lot of possible applications for such a computer, which explains its growing popularity.

ASUS did the right thing by releasing several varieties of Eee PC with different operating systems. It was with this step that the manufacturer managed to significantly increase its coverage target audience. As a result, the Eee PC's promised sales of 5 million units by the end of the year seems quite achievable, unless, of course, the dominance of ASUS's offerings is shaken by the imminent arrival of a motley squad of netbooks based on Intel Atom processors.

However, along with the undoubted success of the innovative Eee concept, one cannot help but note the shortcomings of the specific implementation - the 4G model we examined. Especially now that the Eee PC has been on sale around the world for more than six months and the euphoria about this product has already subsided. After all, it turns out that this model is far from flawless. For example, it makes a winning impression only when it is closed - under the lid of the laptop hides a miniature ergonomic nightmare, the main components of which are too small screen and an inconvenient keyboard, especially in the Russian layout. The insufficiently thought-out hardware capabilities are also frustrating: the lack of Bluetooth support and the amount of RAM that is too small to fully work in Windows XP.

However, some of these shortcomings have been corrected in the next Eee PC 900 model, which is already being sold with all its might in the priority markets for ASUS. Unfortunately, the Russian market is not one of them; in the situation with the supply of Eee PC, ASUS deliberately demonstrates its disdain to domestic buyers. And this applies not only to new models of ultra-mobile laptops, but also to configurations of older models. For example, the same Eee PC 4G reviewed in this review was equipped with the weakest of all possible batteries, with a capacity of only 4400 mAh. As a result, it is not at all surprising that during testing we received an indecently short battery life, significantly falling short of even three hours.

Thus, despite all the attractiveness of the Eee PC as an idea, we would recommend not rushing into the purchase and waiting. At least when ASUS releases the Atom-based Eee PC 901 with a nine-inch screen and a gigabyte of RAM, a larger flash drive, Bluetooth support and longer battery life. Well, in addition, numerous ASUS competitors are about to enter the market for inexpensive ultra-portable laptops, many of which will probably not be classified as Russian market as a secondary matter. So, in any case, the appearance on store shelves of netbooks that are more advanced and convenient than the Eee PC 4G is not far off.

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Asus was the first company to start producing netbooks and is still among the leaders in both the range and sales volumes of these inexpensive mininotebooks. True, in lately There is an increasingly common opinion that the design of Eee PC netbooks has become quite boring, and we completely agree with this. With the exception of the rather expensive (and therefore not very popular) modifications 1008, 1016 and 1018, all Asus netbooks look almost the same. And while consistency of style is welcome for corporate devices, it seriously hinders portable consumer models.

It is not surprising that in 2012 Asus decided to change the design, albeit not very significant. First, the budget thin X101 models were released, and then the revision of everything began model range. Our review examines new model series 25, "universal" the mid-price netbook Eee PC 1025C, which will become the basis of the Asus netbook lineup in 2012.

Specifications

As you know, numerous models of Asus netbooks differ from each other, firstly, in design external panels, and secondly, the composition of the interfaces and peripheral devices. The Eee PC 1025C will most likely be placed in the middle of the future line.

The netbook in question is built on the new Intel Atom platform, codenamed Cedar Trail. Currently, Intel produces only two third-generation Atom processors - N2600 and N2800, which differ in clock speed and power consumption, and both are installed in the Eee PC 1025C netbook. The amount of RAM is 1 or 2 GB depending on the configuration. The netbook has a thin 7mm hard drive capacity up to 320 GB, card reader with support for SD/SDHC cards, VGA webcam (0.3 MP), built-in microphone. The set of interfaces is almost standard for netbooks of the modern generation: three USB 2.0, wired and wireless network, VGA and HDMI. The manufacturer also promises modifications with the addition of a USB 3.0 controller. The netbook's functionality is reduced in only one aspect: the second speaker has been removed and there is no way to connect an external microphone.

Unfortunately, the new generation netbook is made not to be serviced by the owner himself. The case consists of two halves, there is no removable cover. There are no SO-DIMM slots inside for expanding RAM: the developers did not provide them in order to save space on the motherboard. The hard drive can theoretically be replaced, but only with an equally thin, low-capacity one (due to its design).

By tradition, Asus equips most netbooks with a high-capacity battery. Our device has a 6-cell battery with a nominal capacity of 56 Wh, "overclocked" manufacturer up to 57.7 Wh. The official website claims that the charge of such a battery will be enough for 12 hours of continuous operation, but, most likely, this result was obtained with no load at all. Knowing Asus's excessive optimism this issue, we would venture to suggest that in reality the results will be less impressive.

Thus, we are talking about a fairly standard new generation netbook, which differs from most analogues, firstly, in the increased battery capacity (not in all configurations), and secondly, in the reduced built-in sound capabilities. Obviously, a device can only attract the attention of buyers with an interesting design.

Design and Construction

The Eee PC 1025C netbook belongs to the new Flare series: it can be distinguished from the previous Seashell series by its index "25" in the model number. New design, in our opinion, turned out to be more elegant, modern and at the same time practical. The netbook body has become flatter (although it still has a rounded, plump shape), the corners are not rounded, but slightly cut, like laptops Asus series U. Neat chrome-plated sides appeared, slightly beveled down, and the ends were more carefully designed.

The interior has finally gotten rid of the boring gloss: the panel under the wrists and the keyboard area are made of one piece of rough matte plastic. The touchpad is located in a small recess, has the same texture as the panel surrounding it, and is equipped with a solid chrome button. The screen frame is matte, embossed, with an imitation of rough polishing; the bottom is also embossed, but to resemble rough fabric. All materials are very practical, do not get dirty at all from fingers, and are easy to clean - caring for the device has become much less complicated than with previous Asus netbooks.

Since the 1025C model is universal, it is available in several discreet colors: black, white, blue, dark red. The netbook's cover can be rough matte, like our test unit, or smooth, glossy, without patterns. There is also a pale pink and brown option, available only in matte finish. The Eee PC 1025CE netbook, which is completely identical in characteristics, design and design, is also being produced, having a more eye-catching color scheme.

In general, the design of the case makes a favorable impression. The very rigid hard lid is mounted on fairly tight hinges with a confident move and no play. All panels fit well and are firmly connected; the existing gaps are used in the design and do not spoil the appearance of the device. The body has a good reserve of rigidity, does not bend when squeezed, and does not crunch. The keyboard is less securely fixed - when pressed hard, the keys are recessed more than usual, but in general there are no problems when typing.

Having meticulously assessed the design of the model, we found only two drawbacks: firstly, the battery protrudes down 6 mm, raising the netbook above the table, and secondly, the tilt angle of the screen, including due to the battery, is limited to 130°. Otherwise, the Eee PC 1025C is a fairly light, compact and neat device with a convenient body shape and practical finish.

Screen

Our test unit was equipped with a matte LCD matrix from a not very well-known manufacturer IVO (Infovision). Let us immediately note that we did not like the image quality: firstly, the viewing angles are very limited, with strong distortions of color and brightness when the view is slightly deviated from the perpendicular, and secondly, due to the low contrast, the image seems fuzzy and cloudy.

The color gamut of the matrix is small; only green shades are reproduced normally, while blue and red shades are not pure and bright enough. The picture on the screen is too cold and generally has an unpleasant tint. Despite the finely tuned gamma and brightness margin, the overall image quality was below average.

Sound

Unfortunately, in the Eee PC 1025C netbook the developers skimped on one speaker. Therefore, the built-in sound is suitable only for the most simple tasks- sound indication, dubbing of videos, etc. The netbook also has one audio connector, designed to connect headphones, external speakers or a headset. On the other hand, to transmit sound to good quality you can use HDMI, and for video calls the capabilities of the built-in devices are quite sufficient.

Keyboard

New models of Asus netbooks have inherited the keyboard from their predecessors without changes. Except that the glossy backing has given way to a more practical matte one, the same color and texture as the rest of the panels. The location of the flat, rough keys is quite convenient: the horizontal pitch of the keys is 92% of the norm, the vertical key is 86%, the layout is almost complete, with all the service keys retained. A shortened right Shift may cause some inconvenience. The keyboard is equipped with easy-to-read color symbols: the Cyrillic alphabet is green, the icons for “hot” combinations are gray-blue.

The keyboard mechanism didn't seem ideal to us. It’s good, of course, that the key travel is normal, not shortened (2 mm). However, the membranes have excessive elasticity, they are very springy, the response threshold is felt approximately in the middle of the key stroke. I also didn’t like that the keys were slightly loose and rattled noticeably in some places.

Buttons, indication

The Asus netbook does not have additional keys, although many Eee PC models previously had a key for switching power saving modes. The indicators are implemented in the same way as most other Asus laptops: colored LEDs with contrasting markings are located under the touchpad. When the lid is closed they are clearly visible, and this is a definite plus.

Touchpad

IN Eee netbooks PC 1025C is equipped with Elan or Sentelic touchpads; our copy had the former. The touchpad area seems quite large, but the actual dimensions of the touch area are smaller, approximately 70x32 mm. The rough surface is not very pleasant, and it is difficult for a finger to glide over it, although in general the ease of use is at an average level for netbooks.

The controller supports 2- and 3-finger actions, but due to the small size of the touchpad (especially in height), it is difficult to use them. The chrome-plated solid button has a fairly long stroke and a quiet click, but is not particularly convenient.

Performance

Having previously tested several netbooks with the Atom N2600 processor, we did not get a satisfactory result: the performance of the new Intel platforms for netbooks remained at the same low level as before. Maybe the Atom N2800 processor, whose frequency is 15% higher, will rehabilitate the platform?

Alas, according to several tests, a netbook with an Atom processor still loses not only to cheap laptops with Celeron processor, but also netbooks on Amd platform. We compared with data obtained during testing (Amd E-450) and (Atom N2600).

In MobileMark 2007, Asus's netbook performance score is 10% lower than Sony's and just 11% higher than HP's.
In PCMark 7, the Asus netbook performed well only in the data processing speed test (video encoding), and even then thanks to the support of its video accelerator. In other tests from this package, the Asus netbook was inferior to Sony by 30 to 45%.

In the built-in test Windows processor Atom received high marks for the same video processing, but was inferior in other respects Amd processor E-450.

As before, attempts to run graphic benchmarks and games ended in failure.

Battery life

A 56 Wh battery plus a new Atom processor - and the netbook runs for more than 7 hours without any problems. using Wi-Fi and more than 8 hours - without access to a wireless network.

The average power consumption of an Asus netbook in the MobileMark 2007 test, however, turned out to be higher than expected - about 6.2 W. The maximum operating time without recharging that we were able to obtain in the MobileMark 2007 test (brightness at 125 cd/sq.m., network interfaces disabled) turned out to be noticeably less than the promised 12 hours.

Noise and heat

In the new Asus netbook, the cooling system is smaller than in previous models from this manufacturer, but the processor, thanks to a larger modern technology production consumes much less. In our opinion, in this model the developers have achieved an optimal balance between heat removal efficiency and noise level. Yes, the netbook heats up a little more than its counterparts: when idle, the processor temperature is 50°, and the panels under the wrists and the bottom are constantly warm, but at maximum load the processor temperature does not exceed 67°, and the noise remains quite weak, inaudible in conditions such as , office.

The case warms up significantly only in the radiator area at the bottom (40-44°) and at the top (34°, left side of the keyboard), the bottom is noticeably warm (32-37°), but the wrist area does not heat up above 32°. Let's remember that we had a configuration with the N2800 processor, the heat dissipation of which is much higher than that of the N2600 processor, but at the same time it was quite comfortable to use the netbook under load. The same cannot be said about devices of the previous generation.

Conclusion

The next Asus netbook will certainly find its buyer, despite the relatively high cost. We liked its neat, discreet design, durable, practical body, and large selection of color options. The device is quiet, has performance adequate to its hardware platform, and runs up to 9 hours on battery power. I didn’t like the screen, the keyboard mechanism, the tilt angle of the screen, and the inability to easily disassemble the case for upgrading and cleaning. It turns out that in this model more attention is paid to appearance, practicality and functionality and less to ergonomics. Well, this approach has a right to exist.

Advantages:
new neat design;
matte non-staining panels;
durable one-piece lid and body design;
HDMI and three USB ports;
familiar keyboard layout;
capacious battery;
quiet work.

Flaws:
low screen quality;
inconvenient keyboard mechanism;
protruding battery;
small screen tilt angle;
one speaker, one audio jack;
quite high cost.
Source of information:

A very beautiful 10.1-inch netbook based on the Intel Cedar Trail platform. The manufacturer has once again managed to create an impressive, lightweight (1.008 kg) and practical netbook. The new product is available in several colors, but the red and black version given to me for testing looks the most impressive. He will become a great gift for a daughter, wife or girlfriend.

A very beautiful 10.1-inch netbook based on the Intel Cedar Trail platform.

Design

The manufacturer has once again managed to create an impressive, lightweight (1.008 kg) and practical netbook. The new product is available in several colors, but the red and black version given to me for testing looks the most impressive. It will be a great gift for your daughter, wife or girlfriend.

The new Eee PC does not have a single glossy panel, and this decision makes the computer more practical. The owner will not have to remove dust and fingerprints from it every day. The convex battery protrudes slightly beyond the dimensions of the case, and thanks to this solution, the closed netbook is very comfortable to hold with one hand. Another design feature is a barely noticeable bulge at the top of the display frame, which will help you open the netbook with one hand.

Display

The 10.1-inch screen of the netbook has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and is of great interest due to its matte finish. Why? Lightweight and compact netbooks were created primarily for remote work: in a cafe, in a school classroom, on a park bench.

This means that the owner of a netbook must work comfortably regardless of the location of the light sources, and this can only be achieved using a display with a matte finish, since gloss will always cause glare.

Ergonomics

I liked the keyboard and touchpad. All the buttons on the main layout are separated and made quite large, and the touch field has a textured coating, which significantly improves tactile sensations during operation. At the same time navigation buttons For some reason, the touchpads are made glossy and quickly become covered with fingerprints.

The opening angle of the netbook is close to 180 degrees, so when working remotely you can easily find the right angle. There are two rubber protectors attached to the display frame, which will help avoid contact between the matrix and the keyboard, which could result in scratches. By netbook standards, the sound of this model is good. In any case, the built-in speakers allow you to listen to music and watch YouTube videos without the help of an external audio system. We also note that the new product supports Instant On technology, which helps the computer wake up from sleep mode in just two seconds.

Performance

The main intrigue of testing was hidden at this point. After all, the netbook works on Intel based Cedar Trail, and we haven't had to tinker with devices based on this platform before.

ASUS Eee PC X101CH is equipped with a dual-core Inel Atom N2600 processor with a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz, 1 GB of RAM (this figure should be increased), an Intel GMA 5600 video card and a 320 GB hard drive. We were unable to run the 3DMark 06 test, but in PCMark 05 the computer scored 3112 points, and this result looks much better than the results of previous generation netbooks. Visually, the model based on Intel Cedar Trail began to work faster and, first of all, this will be reflected in the loading speed of Internet sites.

Software

The laptop comes with a licensed Windows 7 Starter operating system pre-installed Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Windows services Live, and a free antivirus is used to protect data Microsoft Security Essentials.

In addition, there is a signature ASUS utility, which is called up by clicking on the arrow tab at the top of the display and provides quick access to web services, including ASUS WebStorage, web camera, applications, and also changes the size of characters.

Communications

The X101CH communications suite is standard for most netbooks.

There are two USB ports (one of them supports USB 3.0), VGA and HDMI ports, a card reader, a connector for network cable and an output for connecting standard headphones.

Opening hours

The 2200 mAh lithium-ion battery will last only 3 hours 17 minutes in text reading mode and an hour less when using the Internet with the Wi-Fi module turned on.

For an ultra-light model, this is a very low result, and we can only hope that the new product will be available at retail with a high-capacity battery.

Advantages: Successful design, thoughtful ergonomics, increased level of performance;

Flaws: Glossy touchpad buttons, short battery life;

Grade: 4.

Testing:

PCMark 05 3112

Battery Eater Pro 3:17

Specifications:

Model: ASUS Eee PC X101CH;
CPU: Intel Atom N2600, 1.6 GHz;
Weight: 1.008 kg;
Dimensions: 26.2 x 18.4 x 2.3 cm;
Display: 10,1”;
Permission: 1024 x 600 pixels;
RAM: 1 GB;
Hard drive: 320 GB;
Video card: Intel GMA 5600;
Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, web camera;
Ports: USB 2.0, USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, Headphones Out, card reader;
OS: Windows 7 Starter.

Over the past few years, the popularity of laptops has only increased. Manufacturers began to massively develop models designed for different audiences. This is how gaming, media, office and just work laptops appeared.

But just 10 years ago, the laptop market wasn't so diverse. Each model turned out to be special, and was noticed by everyone who followed the production of devices. At that time, users preferred compact and autonomous models.

This device appeared on the market in 2008. At that time it was announced as an innovative solution. Its main features were its compact size, budget cost and versatility.

The specs of the Asus EEE PC 4G weren't outstanding, and in this day and age they would turn off any buyer. But in 2008, the device’s power was enough for all everyday tasks. Office workers and students bought a netbook as an assistant.

Now, looking at modern models, the Asus EEE PC 4G would be called mobile, since even some smartphones have already acquired a 7-inch diagonal, not to mention tablets. But at that time, not everyone could afford such a luxury as a stand-alone and compact laptop. Therefore, releasing such a model at a low cost turned out to be the best option.

Supply

Asus EEE PC 4G comes in a soft blue box. Everything looks very beautiful and attractive. On the front there is a photo of the Asus EEE PC 4G netbook, while the characteristics are indicated on the side. It is immediately clear that the model is focused on work, study and play. This is exactly what the manufacturer wrote on the box.

The front also indicates that the netbook has an operating system installed. Windows system XP. On back side The packaging shows the main characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G. Since the device is compact, the box is also small in size, so they didn’t even attach a handle to it for transportation.

By the way, you can also understand from the packaging why the netbook has three letters “E” in its name. The manufacturer mentions the word “easy” - “easy”. He wants to convey to the buyer that this device will be easy to operate, easy to learn and easy to play.

Equipment

But the fun begins with unpacking. The visual characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G can already be seen upon opening the box. Inside, in addition to the device itself, there is a battery, a power supply, and documentation for the netbook. The manufacturer also offers a CD with a manual, a software license from Microsoft, and a warranty card.

Many users noted the presence of a folder for transportation. This is a fabric case with no handles or locks. It looks like a folder and closes with Velcro. It is made in black, and the Asus logo is on the tongue.

Appearance

Description EEE PC 4G should start with its appearance. Nowadays such a model would not attract attention: the body is too thick and at the same time small. Rough lines are no longer in fashion, and the lack of graphic elements makes the design unremarkable.

The body is made of matte black plastic. There is a silver logo in the middle. Also visible are large hinges that hold two parts of the device. Next to one of them the series is indicated - Eee PC.

The case does not have rounded corners, so the appearance seems more businesslike. Most likely, because of this, many people think that the device is designed for businessmen. But if someone didn't like this color scheme, you could buy a netbook with a white body. In this case, the model looked brighter and more stylish.

There are several ventilation holes on the bottom of the netbook. There is a cover in the middle that provides access to the processor. To get to the rest of the system components, you need to use a screwdriver. Thanks to it, you can easily unscrew the lid. The battery is hidden in a small plastic roller, and you can open it using a spring lock.

Body parts

The characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G netbook include the presence of various parts on the body. For example, it’s immediately worth noting that the device does not have an optical drive. However, this is not surprising, since the dimensions of the case are so small that it is impossible to install a disk reader inside.

But on the right side you can find two USB ports, a VGA connector for connecting a monitor, as well as a card reader for various memory card formats. There is a Kensington lock on the edge.

On the left there is a grille through which warm air exits the housing and cool air enters. There is also a network port for connecting an Internet cable. The user has access to a third USB port, as well as two slots for a microphone and headphones.

Work surface

If you just open the Asus EEE PC 4G, you won’t be able to appreciate its technical characteristics; to do this, you still have to turn on the device. But you can consider work area netbook and understand how ergonomic it is.

The keyboard takes up the most space. It is made of plastic, does not have an island design and a separate digital unit. Since the device is compact, it was not easy to recreate a full-size keyboard. Therefore, some had to get used to the absence of some keys for a long time.

The Latin alphabet here is colored in white, but the Russian layout is green. Function buttons are indicated in blue. There is a number pad at the very edge, but it is inconvenient because it is not highlighted. The Enter button was also reduced in size.

But the manufacturer did not forget about function key Fn, which in combination can help adjust screen brightness, sound volume, wireless network operation, etc. There are 80 buttons in total.

The keyboard takes up two-thirds of the working area, so the touchpad feels a little cramped. It is placed in the middle. In addition to the touch area, it has acquired a silver button, which is responsible for the operation of the right and left mouse buttons.

To the left of the touchpad there are stickers that describe the technical characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G. On the right are indicators of the operation of various system options: battery charge, wireless network, Caps Lock and turning on the device.

As mentioned earlier, the keyboard took up almost the entire working area. If in conventional devices there is a place on top where the manufacturer places volume controls, player buttons and, finally, the power button, then in the case of this model everything turned out differently: the power key was moved to a plastic roller in which the battery is located. Next to the right hinge that holds the screen in place, you can find a silver power button.

Display

Since the characteristics and features of the Asus EEE PC 4G imply a compact device size, it was not possible to accommodate a large display. The user received a 7-inch diagonal screen. Now even tablets with similar sizes have ceased to be popular.

The display resolution can be of two options: 800 x 600 and 800 x 440 pixels. Since mirror coating had just been developed at that time, budget model They decided not to install it. And in many ways this helped the netbook become popular. Even now glossy screens get a lot of negative reviews, since they oblige the user to constantly stay in the building and not work outdoors.

The matte display does not collect glare or reflections. It’s comfortable to work with him, so this model received positive reviews about the characteristics of Asus EEE PC 4G. The viewing angles were also quite good.

Audio system

Of course, netbook speakers cannot be called such a big word. If you visually look for them, you might think that the manufacturer forgot about them, because their location is rather unusual.

It was decided to place the acoustics in the lid on which the display is located. This helped save space in the base of the cabinet, but had little impact on sound quality and appearance.

The speakers were placed to the left and right of the screen. They stand out and visually make the display even smaller. Due to the fact that the cover of the device is relatively thin, the speakers turned out to be compact, which affected the sound.

But despite this, the sound of music and other sounds of the system seems decent, especially if you perceive the situation objectively. The sound is loud and clear.

Specifications

It so happened that in Asus review EEE PC 4G device specifications and descriptions may vary. This is due to the fact that this is the name of the entire series of models. In fact, several netbooks with this name were sold at once. Some of them received certain “chips”, others seemed absolutely ordinary office devices.

The most budget version was the Asus EEE PC 4G 701. The characteristics of the model generally remained the same, but the netbook was deprived of a number of useful options.

Processor in the system

This version ran on the Mobile Intel Celeron M processor. This chip operated at a frequency of 900 MHz. All models of the Eee PC series ran on this processor. All chips had a second level cache memory of 512 KB. Also, all devices were equipped with the 910GML chipset from Intel.

Netbook memory

RAM could vary depending on the modification. The characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G 701 assumed the presence of DDR2 RAM modules with a frequency of 400 MHz and a capacity of 512 MB. In other models you could find 1 and 2 GB RAM.

There was also a working hard drive inside. The most remarkable thing is that the manufacturer decided to use not a classic HDD, but a newfangled SSD. At that time, this was a real innovation and significantly added to the overall performance of the device.

Although it’s worth saying right away that the internal memory was only 4 GB, which today seems completely unrealistic. Even the 8 GB versions seem completely ineffective now. Nevertheless, at the time this was a good indicator, but the statement that the user will be able to “play easily” with this model seems to be just a publicity stunt. However, let’s not forget that games back then weren’t so “heavy”.

As mentioned earlier, there was a card reader on the right side. Its peculiarity is that it was a 3-in-1 module. It worked with all flash cards that supported Secure Digital.

Other device characteristics

It is worth mentioning that the system was paired with a graphics adapter. This is an integrated Intel GMA 900 video card with a memory capacity of 64 MB. The adapter made it possible to connect a third-party monitor to a netbook, and also switch the resolution from 800 x 600 to 1600 x 1280 pixels.

We continue our review. The Asus EEE PC 4G had higher display specifications. As already mentioned, the display has a diagonal of 7 inches. LCD matrix installed. Standard resolution can be 800 x 600 or 800 x 480 pixels. In more expensive modifications the situation does not change.

The built-in sound system from Realtek was responsible for the sound. The fact that the manufacturer provided two speakers at once is a great bonus.

Network technologies

To work on the Internet it was necessary to equip an Asus EEE PC 4G network technologies. Manufacturer installed network card, which worked on the new controller. There was also a wireless adapter. It coped with its tasks, although it sometimes slowed down the loading of browser pages. It was necessary to place an adapter on the board to access wireless networks new standard.

In more expensive versions it was possible to find built-in adapters operating at speeds of 10/100/1000 Mbit/s.

Multimedia capabilities

It's hard to call a netbook multimedia device, since it is equipped with simple components. Very rarely, buyers considered it as a device for watching videos or listening to music. But thanks to two speakers, it became possible to enjoy the sound of your favorite songs.

There is also a built-in microphone, the hole of which can be found on the top frame of the display. You can also see the webcam here. It has 0.3 megapixels. Considering that current devices are equipped with 5-8 megapixel camera modules, this figure seems completely deplorable. But at that time even it was enough for calls on Skype.

Testing

Not only reviews about the characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G netbook, but also test results can help you understand everything about performance. Despite the poverty of the netbook market in 2008, it was easy to find competitors for the model under review. For example, the Asus UMPC R2E laptop was quite good at that time.

There is a difference in the hard drive and more memory, while the processor and graphics adapter are practically no different. To ensure fair testing, the second netbook model was equipped with the resource-intensive Vista operating system.

Performance testing, again, hints that not everything is so easy for the Asus EEE PC 4G. A netbook is definitely designed only for office work and study. He copes with other tasks very difficult. Its performance is extremely low.

The video system also did not show good results and turned out to be weaker than the chipset. The video card can't handle 3D. Therefore, in general, the system is saved only by RAM and a processor at an acceptable frequency.

IN disk subsystem device in use solid state drive for 4 GB. This is evidenced not only by the manufacturer, but also by analysis of the components. The SSD works like a charm. Takes only 4% of the CPU.

Few could argue that Asus created something special when it launched the Eee PC series. But the idea of making a truly mobile and very affordable computer was positively received by consumers. Although the Eee PC 4G 701, released in 2007, was a success, there were still issues that marred general impression. By creating the Eee PC 900, Asus coped with its task almost perfectly.

Model history

The concept of a simple laptop computer with solid state drives and no moving parts is nothing new. In the 5 Psion series, the company introduced convenient device, which could be used, for example, for typing while sitting on a train. Then the manufacturer expanded the boundaries by introducing the world to the 7th series - a netbook.

Psion netBook managed to balance the main functionality, small size and long battery life. Over time, however, full-fledged laptops became smaller and lighter, and end users wanted feature-rich operating systems. All of this led to decreased demand for Psion (although its EPOC OS continued to live on as Symbian).

For a long time there were no devices like the 7 series and NetBook. Luckily, Asus realized there was room in the market for a simple, affordable machine that didn't have to run the latest Windows versions- this is how the Eee PC netbook was born.

Frame

For those who have not heard of Eey PC, some explanation is in order. This is a very small device measuring 225x165x35 mm and weighing about 1 kg. With such parameters, the model truly belongs to the ultraportable sector. The device is designed for use on the go and does not take up much space in your bag. The netbook comes in two colors: pearl white and black, like Apple's MacBook. But this is the only similarity that connects them. The assembly of the case and hinges is of high quality, but there is no transport lock, so the device requires careful handling when carrying.

Display

Although the chassis Asus Eee The PC 900 is the same as the 701, just open the lid to see the first significant difference. The screen took a huge step forward and gave the Eee PC an even more attractive look than its predecessor. The original netbook's 7-inch display was 800 pixels wide and forced the user to constantly scroll sideways on the vast majority of web pages.

The PC 900's 8.9" screen has corrected this problem by increasing the image resolution. 1024 pixels wide allows you to display web pages without the need for additional manipulation. Full resolution display size is 1024x600 pixels. This means it uses a wide format, like most full-featured laptops on the market.

According to user reviews, quality Asus screen The Eee PC 900 is great. The display, while not as light and bright as the Sony TZ, is evenly lit, has wide viewing angles and doesn't suffer from dead pixels. It fills the lid of the netbook much better than before - back then it looked tiny, with speakers on the sides and surrounded by a wide black bezel. Along with the improvement in functionality, the aesthetics of the model have also improved.

Keyboard

Considering the overall size of the Eee PC, it's not surprising that the keyboard is quite small. Anyone who can barely cope with the reduced key size of traditional ultraportable laptops will not enjoy the Eee PC. If your fingers are thin, then there should be no problems with input. The good travel of each key is surprising and feedback after each press, which ensures that the finger bounces back and is ready for the next press. If there is a significant drawback, it is the reduced size of the enter key. Although it can take some time to get used to, users would prefer to have a normal sized button.

Touchpad

Below the spacebar is the touchpad, which is another change from the Eee PC 701. Not only is it much wider, but it also supports multi-touch. You can zoom in and out by spreading or pinching your fingers. Laptop users who are accustomed to using the right edge touchpad scrolling documents will likely be disappointed to learn that the Eee PC 900's touchpad does not support this feature. But you shouldn’t despair, because the manufacturer has come up with much more best way. Instead of moving your finger along the edge of the touchpad, the Asus netbook allows you to do this anywhere on the touchpad - just use two fingers. Scrolling works in both vertical and horizontal directions.

Speakers

Asus was criticized for the huge speakers on the edges of the screen on the original model. This time, the display frame has narrowed significantly, and the speakers have moved to the base of the netbook. The sound quality is good, but if you place the device on your lap, it becomes muffled.

Asus Eee PC 900: specifications

There are some big internal changes too, although the processor isn't one of them. Despite the fact that many hoped that the model would receive Intel Atom, this did not happen. The main platform remains unchanged. Intel Celeron 900 MHz and motherboard on the 915GM chipset do not demonstrate miracles of performance, but they do their job without any complaints. The RAM has been upgraded - it has doubled and reached 1 GB. The webcam has also been upgraded from 0.3 to 1.3 megapixels - ideal for those who want their friends to see them better when chatting on Skype.

Another important update was the data storage capacity. The 701 model's 4 GB of internal memory is now offered in two variants - 12 and 20 GB. There is no difference in price between these two versions, as the 12GB version comes with Windows XP pre-installed on the Asus Eee PC 900, while the 20GB version comes with the operating system Linux system. The manufacturing company used the money saved by installing an open source OS to increase the size of the ROM. Of course, there is the option of purchasing a device with Linux and then simply installing Windows yourself.

Software

Users who have been running the 20GB version running Linux are not sure they need Windows XP. The beauty of the Asus Eee PC 900 lies in its simplicity, so there is simply no need to load it with a heavy OS, and most of the features it offers will be unclaimed. Except in cases where it is necessary to run such Windows applications Like Microsoft Office, there's nothing you can't do with the Linux version.

The Asus Eee PC 900 handles tasks with lightning speed where users of the Microsoft operating system are accustomed to heavy CPU work. Unlike Windows, 1GB of RAM is enough for a well-configured Linux build, and the fast SSD ensures that the netbook will respond instantly to all commands.

Working with Linux

Navigating the Linux GUI is incredibly easy. The user is faced with a desktop with tabs; clicking on each of them changes the icons on the desktop. The first one is called "Internet" and contains icons related to Internet access. World Wide Web. Among them there is also an email shortcut that opens a page with various icons mail clients, such as Gmail and Hotmail. There are pre-installed Firefox browser, Skype and Google Docs. The messenger button will launch Pidgin, which is a multi-program instant messaging protocol. Users especially like the fact that all conversations take place in one window with tabs for each interlocutor - this is very convenient when desktop space is at a premium.

The Work tab gives you access to OpenOffice, which allows you to edit text, tables and presentations, which can be saved in MS Office format. There are also applications for reading PDF files, writing notes and Thunderbird, which will satisfy all your needs. email. There is also a file manager, which basically corresponds to Windows Explorer and allows you to search all folders.

The Education tab is clearly aimed at the education sector, which is a large part of the Eee PC market. Here are games and software that can help you improve your vocabulary, spelling, and even math skills. There's also a basic graphics application called Paint, which is similar to the Windows program of the same name, and the Science shortcut gives access to the periodic table and planetarium.

The Game tab contains entertainment programs, such as media player, audio file manager and webcam utility. There's a voice recorder and a shortcut that will give you access to several pre-loaded games, including the obligatory Solitaire.

The Settings tab contains all system utilities and application settings. Here you can set touchpad settings, change the date and time, monitor disk space usage and the operation of the anti-virus system. The button for removing and adding programs is located right there and allows you not only to install or remove applications, but also to check for updates for all existing programs. Finally, the Favorites tab is where all your favorite links and shortcuts are stored.

Equipment

Asus has supplied the netbook with a small neoprene case that will help maintain the glossy surface of the device while carrying it. There is also a network adapter, a user manual, entire sections of which are devoted to working with Windows, a system recovery DVD with drivers for XP and a Linux installer.

Connectivity

Despite the very small body, the manufacturer managed to place a surprising number of ports in it. On the right is the D-Sub interface for connecting an external monitor. Next to it are 2 USB 2.0 connectors and an SD card slot. Considering the cheapness of flash memory, it should be noted that the presence of such a slot means that even if the Asus Eee PC 900 runs out of memory, increasing it will not cost much. On the left is the third USB 2.0 port. That's more than most full-featured ultraportable laptops.

There are also jacks for headphones and a microphone. You can choose which headset to use: traditional or USB when working with a webcam in the preset Skype application. Of course, there is a microphone built into the cover, but the headset will always be best choice. The last port on the left is the Ethernet connector for network adapter 10/100. It is worth noting that MacBook Air does not have it, despite its significantly larger size. Of course, it also supports wireless Asus connection Eee PC 900. WiFi is implemented according to the 802.11 b/g standard.

Battery life

One area where the Eee PC 900 doesn't really beat its predecessor is in battery life. With the improvements that the manufacturing company has made, battery life remains the only gap in great design, but it is still significant. According to the manufacturer, the Asus Eee PC 900 battery allows the netbook to work for 2.5 hours. According to user reviews, the charge is barely enough for 2 hours. However, at full screen brightness and with wireless communication. Perhaps optimization of energy consumption could extend the operating life to the time declared by the manufacturer, but even 2.5 hours is very little by today’s standards.

Ideally, users would like to see at least 4 hours of battery life, especially considering that the Sony TZ ultrabook is operational for more than 6 hours. On the other hand, the Asus Eee PC 900 has a very small power supply, so it will not be too burdensome to carry it with yourself. But this will not help much if you want to work in the garden or in a park where there is no outlet. Of course, you can buy more powerful battery, but this will increase the cost and weight of the netbook. The Asus Eee PC 900 has a universal charger and is designed for voltages of 120 or 230 V with a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz.

Conclusion

The manufacturer has made enough changes to make the netbook very attractive to those who are thinking about buying a small, thin and light laptop. Of course, these improvements increased the cost of the Asus Eee PC 900 - the price of the device increased to 23 thousand rubles from 15,000.

The manufacturer has done a brilliant job updating an already excellent netbook. The engineers listened to all the comments regarding the original Eee PC and tried to satisfy them. The 1024 pixel wide screen makes it easy to use, especially if you spend a lot of time using the browser. Additional operational and internal memory were a welcome change and allowed the Eee PC to become a real alternative to full-fledged laptops.

Despite the significant price increase, Asus's small, light and affordable netbook is still a bargain.