Netbooks are getting incredibly popular these days, because so many people don’t want to bother lugging around a larger notebook PC just to check up on some email or to watch a random YouTube video. At the same time, the mobile experience of a BlackBerry or iPhone can leave a lot to be desired too.
The first few netbooks to reach the market were remarkably basic and underpowered, so they weren’t nearly as popular as they could have been. These days, netbooks are almost as good as cheaper, smaller laptops in their own right and easily one of the best that I have encountered to date is the Asus Eee PC 1000HE.
While it may sound like just another addition to the expanding Eee PC line from Asus, the 1000HE is a huge step forward for the segment. Better still, it doesn’t really cost any more than some of its lesser compatriots.
Features and Specifications
So, what kind of features can you expect from the Asus Eee PC 1000HE. The new Intel Atom N280 processor isn’t quite the dual core Atom processor that we would have liked to see, but it does offer two notable upgrades over the N270 that preceded it. First, the clock speed has been bumped from 1.6GHz to 1.66GHz. Second, the FSB has been increased from 533 to 667. These sound like minor upgrades, but there is a noticeable difference in performance.
Checking out the rest of the specifications sheet, you’ll find the following:
- 10.1-inch WSVGA LED-backlit display
- 160GB hard drive
- 10GB free Eee Online Storage
- Large chiclet-style keyboard
- Built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Multi-touch trackpad
- Up to 9.5 hours of battery life with Super Hybrid Engine
- Integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam and microphone
- Spring-loaded multi-flash card reader
- Microsoft Windows XP Home with Microsoft Works
Included with the Eee PC
There’s not much in terms of included accessories when you crack open the box for this Eee PC. You get the necessary power brick and cable, of course, but the only other accessory inside the box is the velvet-like zippered sleeve. I guess you really shouldn’t expect much, since regular laptops don’t usually come with extras either. The sleeve is pretty great though.