The Eee PC (pronounced as a single E) is marketed as an "Easy to Learn, Easy to Work, Easy to Play" computer. Due to its size, it is classified as an Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC).
Whilst ultra-portable notebooks often weigh about 2kg,
the Eee PC is a featherweight 0.92kg. It is therefore an ultra-mobile machine in the true sense of the expression. The machine is small enough that it can be used in just about any environment. However, this is a full PC, not just a 'mobile Internet' device like Nokia's Internet tablets.
This review aims to provide readers with an in-depth treatment of the Eee, using an actual retail unit, instead of a pre-production model. This is important in a number of respects. Earlier models had different BIOS, which, for example, did not provide full speed USB2.0 ports. Hopefully, having tested an actual retail model, the review should give a true representation of what this machine can actually do.
The 7" display uses an active matrix LCD which does not fill the top panel. This is because the LCD screen is flanked by a pair of stereo speakers. You might be asking whether a 7" display is usable. Fortunately, Asus has sensibly limited the resolution to 800x480, so that text is clearly readable. This resolution makes the display far easier to read than other ultra-mobile PCs like the Sony Vaio UX1XN which crams a 1024x600 resolution into a mere 4.5" display. Ideally, I would have preferred a bigger display with the speakers moved to the base of the machine.
Even though the display is small, it is very impressive, producing a clean and crisp-looking image. Colors are faithfully reproduced and there were no bad pixels. The screen has an anti-glare finish that helps to reduce reflections from overhead lighting, which was helpful when using the Eee on the train. Another noteworthy feature of the display is its extremely wide viewing angle, although I found that this aided nosey train commuters spying on what I was doing, especially as their attention had already been drawn to the minute size of the machine.
The display can be set to 16 different levels of brightness, which is more than enough for whatever environment the machine is being used in, with the exception of very strong sunlight. Both the screen and the chassis are sturdy and do not flex under pressure. The hinges are sturdy and fairly stiff; a sign of solidity. They certainly belie the inexpensive price tag.
Ultra-small, ultra-lightweight computers have previously carried a huge premium, making them very much a niche market for those individuals willing to spend outrageous amounts of money. Not only does the Eee PC massively undercut its Ultra Mobile PC competition, it even retails for less than a budget laptop.
Of course this would mean little if the Asus device had any major shortcomings. It doesn't. The slick interface can be mastered in a few minutes by any novice PC user, the hardware is more than capable of doing its job, and everything just works out of the box. At the same time, the appliance can be turned into a full computer for computer enthusiasts who enjoy tinkering under the bonnet.
The Eee PC may be targeted at children and students, but it should also entice anyone needing a compact, low cost, yet fully functional PC. It is featherweight, far easier to use than a Windows machine, starts up three times faster, and costs about a quarter of anything in its weight class.
I therefore give the Asus Eee PC my highest recommendation. There's so much to like about this remarkably versatile computer. In fact, I like it so much I bought a second one!
EeePC 701 Specification:
- Display 7"
- CPU & Chipset: Intel mobile CPU & chipset
- OS: Linux/ Microsoft Windows XP compatible
- Communication: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet; 56K modem
- WLAN: WiFi 802.11b/g
- Graphic: Intel UMA
- Memory: 512MB, DDR2-400
- Storage: 4/ 8/ 16GB Flash
- Webcam: 300K pixel video camera
- Audio: Hi-Definition Audio CODEC; Built-in stereo speaker; Built-in microphone
- Battery Life: 3hrs (4 cells: 5200mAh, 2S2P)
- Dimension & Weight: 22.5 x 16.5 x 2.1~3.5cm, 0.89kg
