By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net
IT’S just over an inch bigger than the first model but it still is a tiny thing and it works really well.
Asus really took the ultramobile PC (UMPC) business by storm (though technically the Asus Eee PC is not a UMPC). Worldwide, the Taiwanese firm had wanted to target a very specific niche market and did not intend to land itself into the mass PC market. Instead, it made a name for itself, even farther from its success as a motherboard maker and basically boosted the idea that a UMPC is a viable product. The company launched the first Eee PC (model 701) in the middle of 2007. Few thought that a solid-state drive (SSD) could present itself as a replacement for mechanical hard disks, especially with the upper limit of 8 gigabytes, which was relatively small capacity at the time. But since then, it became obvious that SSDs would spur manufacturers to integrate SSDs into their own notebooks.
Now there are copycats of other UMPCs using SSDs but with almost nothing coming close to the Eee PC. Blame it on being mesmerized by a fully working notebook on such a small scale but as long as it actually worked then it’s fine by me. Besides, the first Eee PC was pretty cheap (at least P16,000 for the 4-gigabyte model) and it worked quite well even with just a Linux operating system. A few tweaks and it could even be installed with a Microsoft Windows XP operating system though it was a bit risky as the remaining space on a 4GB SSD might not be able to fully accommodate any other application.
Out-of-the-box feel
Those familiar with, or who own a previous Asus Eee PC model, will feel right at home with the new Eee PC 900 model. The box containing the Eee PC is nothing spectacular but the contents are neatly tucked inside. The Eee PC comes with its charger, an application CD, its manuals and the battery pack. If you’re the nostalgic type, you’d want to keep the box but I suppose that’s impractical because keeping a clunky box defeats purpose of buying a UMPC.
The Eee PC 900 comes in two colors: black and pearl white. For this review, Asus provided the white version. It’s surprising how differences in color can affect how one perceives the Eee PC 900: is it for girls or for boys? Regardless, both have the same functions and form.
The Eee PC 900 also comes in two models: the 12 GB SSD with Windows OS and the 20 GB with a Linux OS. One would wonder why the 12GB only uses Windows and the 20 GB doesn’t. The target market of the Eee PC might not bother to get the 20GB because they need Windows
This hardware is slightly larger than the Eee PC 700 series, at 225 millimeters x 165 mm x 35 mm. Still, it is small enough to fit in a bag. Even ladies’ bags or children’s bags would do well for the Eee PC 900. Asus claims that their new model is tough enough to survive a three-foot drop, which could happen more regularly because how light the notebook is (barely 1 kilogram). Better be careful not to accidentally drop the bag where the Eee PC is stored.
Playing with it
Using the Windows XP version Eee PC 900 can be summed up in two things: it’s very portable and works like a breeze. Even the robust system requirements of Windows doesn’t affect the device’s operations. People who have used Windows XP know how notorious it is during startup. But with the Eee PC 900, the startup is just around 15 seconds, or nearly half the time Windows XP loads on an ordinary notebook. This is because of the use of an underclocked 900 Megahertz Intel Celeron processor and a 1GB memory module, which essentially speeds up operations. This is coupled by the fact that the SSD has a faster load time compared to ordinary hard disks.
Not surprisingly the Eee PC does slow down a bit when applications are being installed and these become active during startup. Instant messaging applications such as Yahoo! Messenger, which install on Windows’ startup applications list, have to be turned off to lessen the slowdown. It is recommended that users opt for customized installation instead of automatic installation.
A user can cradle the Eee PC in one hand and type away with the other. The keys are nearly a third smaller than in a full-sized keyboard and some of the keys are not placed as they should be. It does take some getting used to especially for touch typing. It’s actually easier to use just three fingers on each hand as there’s a tendency for fingers to bump each other while pressing some keys.
Normally, people would find it hard typing even with two hands on the Eee PC but the point of having the device is to have a secondary notebook instead of lugging around a huge laptop. While the Eee PC may have all the basic laptop functions, and then some, it is still primarily for quick document editing, Internet browsing and chat. Nevertheless, there are still some advanced functions that it could do. One in particular is video editing. Using software such as SolveigMM AVI Trimmer and MPEG Streamclip, I was able to edit and convert videos on the Eee PC. However, there was a noticeable lag but it was not enough to cause concern. In fact, while I was splicing videos together, I was already uploading one of them to a media sharing site.
Larger screen, louder speaker
A major improvement of the Eee PC 900 over the Eee PC 700 series is a larger LCD screen at 8.9 inches, about 1-inch longer diagonally. It is also brighter and has better resolution. Whereas the Eee PC 700 could only render up to 800×480 pixels, the Eee PC 900 can render 1024×600 pixels, or about 1 megapixels. This is just about the same quality as many 32-inch LCD TVs. Because of the larger screen and better resolution, it becomes a treat to actually use the Eee PC 900 for watching video files. Depending on the available video software and codecs installed that have to be installed separately, the Eee PC 900 can view AVI, MPEG and MPEG-4, MOV and WMV files. The video quality on its screen is not top notch but users might still be able to enjoy watching a few homemade or downloaded videos for a while.
The size of this model doesn’t hide the fact that it’s louder than many other notebooks. In fact, it can turn up the volume high enough to be heard within 50 feet. The speakers are hidden beneath the unit but that doesn’t muffle the volume. The only drawback is that the speakers, despite being touted as stereo, do not sound that good compared to other basic notebooks. A better-sounding earphone or headset can be plugged into an audio jack on the left side (facing screen), which is also joined by a microphone jack.
Incidentally, the loud, monotone-sounding speaker is best used when using the Eee PC 900 to make voice-over-IP calls, whether though Skype or Yahoo! Messenger. The audio is pretty clear but nothing too fancy and the built-in microphone can capture even ambient sounds but only in front of it. According to Asus, the VOIP calls can work well with the Eee PC’s webcam functions (a 1.3 megapixel webcam is on top of the screen). Surprisingly, there are some problems using the VOIP functions along with a two-way video call, which can be noticed in Yahoo! Messenger. This may be because of my Internet bandwidth or some limitations with Windows XP or even because of the low 1GB memory. I had no way to compare its performance with the Linux version for two-way video calls and VOIP. Hopefully, it’s a problem of the software and not the hardware.
Battery life
Battery life has always been the main weakness of all handheld devices and the Eee PC 900 is no exception. It still uses the same 4-cell battery pack that gives only a maximum of 2.5 hours operational period, with all the wireless connectivity and USB devices turned off or removed (it has up to 3 USB slots, one conveniently placed on the right side for a USB mouse and the other two on the opposite side for external peripherals). If the wifi receiver is turned on, the unit could last at exactly an hour.
An external USB device, especially a 2.5-inch hard disk, would significantly affect battery life as it drains power through its USB connection. Normally, it would take nearly 40 minutes before the battery runs out when an external disk drive is connected. It would have been truly a treat if the Eee PC 900 used the much more energy-efficient 6-cell battery. However, a longer-lasting battery means using a larger and heavier battery pack, which may not be the most efficient way to go. Regardless, a user can just bring out the Eee PC 900’s power supply cable and plug it into a wall socket. The power cable itself isn’t that big and can be mistaken for another toy.
Overall, the Asus Eee PC 900 is a reliable piece of equipment for those looking to do nitty-gritty work on the road or anywhere else. It’s not among the bigger laptops in the market and cannot do much of the same work that other notebooks do, yet it serves its purpose for specific target markets. Asus says its primary market includes ladies, students and those needing secondary laptops, but the Eee PC 900 can be used by anyone.
They just need to get past the P24,990 selling price. If so, they’re better off with this one.
8 Feedbacks on "A toy even for the big boys: Asus Eee PC 900 review"
Clayton Hallmark
This is really getting away from the concept that made the eee 7-in. model revolutionary:
Small-Cheap-Easy.
The new version is not cheap. Microsoft software is not easy: easy to use, easy on the pocketbook, easy on computer resources, easy on not requiring updates.
I would recommend sticking with the cheap, open-source 700 and quit trying to make the eee into just another laptop, as this review apparently would like to do.
FJ
“IT’S just over an inch bigger than the first model”
In no dimension is it 1 inch bigger, it is 7mm (0.27in) bigger front to back and that’s it. The keyboard, for example, is exactly the same size.
“the Eee PC 900 can render 1024×600 pixels, or about 1 megapixels”
1024×600 is 0.6 megapixel. You’d need 1344×768 for 1 megapixel.
“(it has up to 3 USB slots, one conveniently placed on the right side for a USB mouse and the other two on the opposite side for external peripherals”
Other way around: there are two on the right, one on the left.
Mark Smith
> This is really getting away from the concept that made the eee 7-in. model revolutionary
Not so.
The eee 900 still has the small form factor, still has the SSD disc and comes in Linux as well.
> The new version is not cheap.
This is due to a much larger SSD disc which are expensive. However keeping with the SSD disc is good for the long term and will contribute to bringing down the price of SSD’s. Hopefully all notebooks will use SSD’s instead of HDD’s. The advantage of no moving parts is quite obvious.
> Microsoft software is not easy
Buy the Linux version then. Everyone loves it. Plus you can run Windows software on Linux so no need to change.
Want to know how to run Windows apps on a Linux Eee PC? - visit this link
http://www.laptopmag.com/advice/how-to/eee-pc-wine.aspx
> quit trying to make the eee into just another laptop
No need for this criticism. Asus will probably have 9″, 10″ and 11″ models which will be kept current. One can then choose a size that one is happiest with.
With regards to the price increase - the larger monitor, extra RAM, larger SSD, etc. are well worth the extra cash. If cash is a problem - then either work harder or wait and save up.
The form factor and light weight makes this a winning system which a great deal of people aren’t passing up.
Technograph
Speaking of price, PC Corner’s selling the Asus Eee PC 900 for only P22,300.
Mark Madsen
When reviewing a product it should be given the fairest chance to shine. Choosing the XP version in this case was not fair. The Linux versions get longer battery life and have perfectly good sound quality when using Skype, for example, especially given the size of the hardware.
it looks like the review totally missed seeing the EeePC at its best.
INFO: SSD News Bulletin (Solid State Drive/Disk) | Reviews & Technical Information
[...] A toy even for the big boys: Asus Eee PC 900 review Inquirer.net - Philippines Few thought that a solid-state drive (SSD) could present itself as a replacement for mechanical hard disks, especially with the upper limit of 8 gigabytes, … [...]
peter
it is just another bondage to human…..
could someone construct something uhmmmm that lasts?
bodydetox
i love the Asus Eee PC, it is very light, cheap and portable. I also bought another unit for my girlfriend and she really likes it.
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