EeePC 1000H: Heavier, But Worth It
Liliputing reviews the Asus EeePC 1000H and gives a positive verdict. While the 1000H is heavier than most other netbooks, the main come ons are the bigger screen, bigger keyboard and the long battery life.
Overall, I’m quite happy with the Eee PC 1000H. When I have some time i’ll try to run some more scientific tests on things like battery life. But there’s very little that my 6 pound, 15.4 inch laptop can do that the 3 pound 10.2 inch Eee PC 1000H cannot. And the Eee PC gets about 3 times the battery life, which makes it my current notebook of choice for working away from the confines of my home office.
The 1000H is usually compared with the MSI Wind, because it’s a 10-incher, but is heavier and heftier. The 1000H is also compared with the HP Mini note, because the Mini note’s heft almost makes it a 10-incher, but the Asus is definitely faster and more power-efficient because of its Atom processor.
MSI to Compete with Asus Eee PC?
The Asus Eee PC currently faces some competition with various similar-sized alternatives like the XO, the Intel Classmate PC, the Everex Cloudbook and (for some) even the Apple Macbook Air. And recently rumors have it that Acer is planning an ultraportable release.
Here’s another rumor: MSI might come out with an ultraportable of its own. Via HLWT:
MSI looks like it is going to utilize Intels new 45nm Diamondville processor for its rumored ultraportable. The new Intel processor has been specifically engineered for low power portables but it looks like MSI may be the first out of the gate with an actual product with this new chip inside. The Diamondville will be officially announced in April yet but MSI has already gave word that when the chip is “ready” then their own project will be “ready”, too. Expect the new MSI ultraportables to be in the market by July or August this year.
Smallest MSI notebooks I’ve seen so far are sized 11-plus inches. So I think they won’t be far behind in developing an ulraportable close to the size and specs of the Eee. Question is–how soon?
Acer Plans to Launch an Eee Competitor
I haven’t been much of a fan of Acer laptops until recently, when they launched their Gemstone-line of notebooks. I always went for IBM Thinkpads, HP/Compaq Presarios, and now the Asus Eee.
However, Acer seems to be getting in the game of ultraportable notebook computers, with their rumored release of a 8 inch and 9 inch notebook later this year.
Acer plans to launch low-cost notebooks available with 8- and 9-inch displays late in the first quarter or early second quarter of this year, with the products aimed at competing directly at similar sized Eee PCs from Asustek Computer, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report. Prices of Acer’s low-cost notebooks will be as competitive as those of the Eee PCs, the paper said.
To me, this is good news. More competition only means (1) better innovation, and (2) lower prices.
Asus is in a good position to have been the leader in all this. Sure, there have been a handful of ultraportables before the time of the Asus Eee (like those from Fujitsu, Toshiba and even Sony). But the price point was what made the game for Asus.
At $400 you’re paying about 20% of the price of other similar-sized notebooks. Sure, specs-wise you’re at a disadvantage. But I wouldn’t expect too much from a diminutively-sized notebook, anyway.
So Acer, bring it on! Maybe you can send me beta or production units for review sometime! You know where to contact me.
[via Eee site]
