The ASUS EeePC 1000HA is arguably the best mobility-for-your-dollar out there. If you're not concerned about high-end graphics, or gaming, and just need something that will speed through web surfing, MS Office, and basic programs, then this netbook is for you. In this review, I'll go over the major aspects of netbooks that people look for, and why this EeePC excels in all of them.
Hardware: Sporting the Intel Atom N270 processor, 1.6GHz at first glance may sound slow, but the EeePC takes advantage of all of it. It uses less power and has better efficiency than the Celeron, which is what the original models of the EeePC used to have, which means more battery life, lower temperatures, and better multitasking. This model comes with 1GB of DDR2 RAM installed, however I would definitely recommend upgrading to a 2GB stick, which is the maximum that the EeePC can handle. Most of the EeePC models come with a SSD, however it limits storage space. I chose this model with the 160GB HDD for two reasons. First, I need the extra storage space since I handle alot of data for both school and work. Second, I could always upgrade to a SSD in the future, when prices go down. The EeePC uses a standard Intel GMA graphics acceleration. This gives you the best picture possible, but do not expect it to perform if you want to play games on this laptop.
Comfort: One of the biggest concerns with netbooks is the keyboard size. The 1000HA has a almost-full size QWERTY keyboard, which is great for any size of fingers. The only problem I have with the key layout, just like others who have used this netbook, is the placement of the right shift key, which is awkwardly placed next to the Up arrow key. If you're paranoid about carpal tunnel, the battery on this EeePC is a little large, so it raises the netbook at an angle towards you, which is helpful for long periods of typing. The touchpad is very useful, and has multi-touch technology, just like what you see on Macbooks (except $1000 cheaper). This helps eliminate the need for a mouse by putting all the functionality in one place - pointing, scrolling, zooming, rotating - it can all be done on the same touchpad with finger gestures. Don't let the 10'' wide screen bother you because of it's small size. It's native resolution is 1024x600, and text is still easy to read. With the right tweaking, you can get the most out of your screen, which surprisingly, can fit a lot.
Features: The function keys on the EeePC are what you would normally see on any laptop. Brightness, output selection, volume, PgUp/PgDown, Sleep, WiFi, NumLK/ScrLK are all there. The EeePC also includes Super Hybrid Engine, which automatically decides how much performance to assign to your hardware, maximizing battery life as much as it can. The EeePC has a built in 1.3MP webcam, which is an added plus. Even though I don't use it that much now, it may come in handy later. ASUS boasts "Dolby" Surround sound on the 1000HA, but with the small speakers, it's hard to tell. With headphones on, it's definitely more noticeable. Another reason why I chose this model is because it comes with Windows XP, even though I'm not using it, it's always nice to have a license around just in case. Even though the chassis is plastic, it's still very sturdy, and feels like it can take moderate everyday stress. Also, the outer cover is glossy, which is nice for looks, but a finger-print magnet, if you're concerned about that (I'm not).
Mobility: Battery life is advertised "at up to 7 hours", but that's with the most minimal usage as possible. That would be sitting at the desktop, WiFi turned off, screen is turned off, CPU downclocked to save energy. A more realistic estimate would be 5 hours, because the average user would probably have 2 browser windows, 2 word documents, WiFi, and maybe music in the background running. Still, 5 hours still kicks butt. As a side note, I do want to mention that I'm using Windows 7 Beta on this, and the battery life is still, on average, 5 hours. There are tricks to save your battery, such as just turning off the screen when idle, or turning off your WiFi when you're not using it. The EeePC weighs about 1.5 kg, which is awesome because toting around a laptop that doesn't weigh you down is a big plus.
Overall, this netbook is simply amazing. I rated it 5/5 because it's just what I wanted in a netbook - Super mobility, Speedy Multitasking, and it's easy to use. Also, ASUS's customer support is great. As a system builder, I've been using their motherboards for years now, and they've always helped me out when I hit a roadblock. Also, if you're already familiar with Windows XP, there's no learning curve, so anyone can easily pick it up. If you're looking for the best all-around value for a netbook, the ASUS EeePC 1000HA is your best match.
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