By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net
THEY’RE small, fast and inexpensive. They’re also among the first truly ultramobile PCs that are based on the new Intel Atom processor. We test them side by side to see which comes out the best in the litter. Not surprising, they’re all made in Taiwan.
MSI, Asus and Acer are among the strongest Asian computer brands in the market today. They are also among the least expensive compared to more established Western brands like HP and Dell. When Asus introduced the Eee PC in 2007, it pointed to a new direction that few computer manufacturers dared to go: small form factors notebook.
Among, if not the first, true ultramobile PC (UMPC) is the Toshiba Libretto, which used an Intel Pentium processor, a Microsoft Windows operating system and a hard disk drive. Its small size, equally small keyboard (about 60 percent of a full size keyboard), and less than 1 kilogram weight made it appealing to people who wanted mobility. However, it was priced much higher than a full-size laptop. Since then, many manufacturers have attempted to create small form-factor notebooks at less than stellar prices but most opted to go for powerful electronic personal digital assistants. The archetypal RIM Blackberry also led to a revolution of PC-like mobile devices, which pushed back motivation to create UMPCs.
However, Asus’s Eee PC generated a huge demand in the market that some manufacturers have started going small. MSI, Redfox, Blue, HP, and Acer took notice and launched their own UMPCs. Via and AMD also got into the fray as it tried to go after Intel’s Celeron processor. Intel eventually moved on to develop the Atom. In mid-2008, notebook manufacturers like MSI and Asus took the plunge and immediately deployed their first Atom-based “netbooks,” as Intel would have wanted to call them.
For this review, we test the Asus Eee PC 1000H, the first generation Acer Aspire One and the MSI Wind, three of the first UMPCs that incorporate the Intel Atom. However the Acer Aspire One will be given a different set of tests since the unit provided by Acer did not include Microsoft Windows XP and a hard disk. We’ll get to that later.
Configuration
The Asus Eee PC 1000H is the third generation of Eee PCs but is the second to have an Intel Atom-based processor (the first one was the Eee PC 901) at 1.6 Gigahertz. This UMPC comes with a configuration of 1 Gigabyte RAM module, an 80 Gb 2.5-inch laptop hard disk (the first model to have a hard disk as previous models used solid state drives), and Windows XP operating system. This UMPC’s screen is 10.2 inches, which makes it easier to view Windows.
The MSI Wind comes with similar hardware and software configuration as the Eee PC: 1.6 GHz Atom processor, 80 Gb hard disk drive partitioned to 40 Gb each, 1 Gb RAM, a 10-inch LCD screen, and Windows XP operating system.
The Acer Aspire One, the first UMPC from Acer, is much closer to the original configuration of the Eee PC 701. Other than its 1.6 GHz Atom processor, the Aspire One uses an 8 Gb SSD, 512 megabyte RAM module, a fairly smaller 8.9-inch monitor and a Linpus Linux operating system. Acer will be launching a Windows XP version of the Aspire One that will be more competitive with the MSI Wind and Eee PC 1000H soon.
Dimensions, weight
Size and weight is a major consideration when it comes to UMPCs.
Of the three, the Acer Aspire One is the smallest at 170 millimeter (width) by 249 mm (depth) by 29 mm (height). It also has an 8.9-inch screen. It is lighter at just about 0.900 kilograms. The gleaming plastic surface of the Aspire One also makes it more appealing compared to the three Atom UMPCs, giving it a sturdy look. However, the plastic is also prone to hand smudges, which become obvious when handled by moist hands. Even the dark screen is prone to smudges so users would need soft cloths to constantly wipe clean the entire unit.
Meanwhile, the MSI Wind is larger due to its 10-inch screen. It is 180 mm by 260 mm by 19 mm, and weighs 1.18 kg. Its entire body is made of plastic although the top cover has a much thicker plastic surface to protect the LCD components. The unit INQUIRER.net tested also comes in pink color!
Not surprising, the once small Asus Eee PC 1000H is now noticeably bigger and heavier. Its “vital statistics” are 265.9 mm by 191.3 mm by 38.1 mm. It weighs 1.450 kg due to a standard 6-cell battery pack.
Keyboard, screen, and webcam
Despite the varying dimensions of these three UMPCs, there are minute differences in the keyboard sizes of each. The Eee PC and the MSI Wind keyboard have the largest key sizes at about 98 percent ratio to a full-size keyboard. This is followed by the Acer Aspire One at 95 percent keyboard size — this is despite having smaller dimensions, the Aspire One managed to fully utilize the entire length of the lower half of the notebook. Using almost normal-sized keys is a boon for most users. Keyboard size is often an issue among users, even those used to detachable keyboard for pocket PCs or handheld devices.
The LCD screens of each UMPCs differ. The Aspire One had the smallest at 8.9-inches, but it was the brightest at the highest settings. However, there is a noticeable flicker when we tried it at lower the brightness levels. Acer has already released a BIOS that can solve this problem but this can be a problem especially for ordinary users who do not know how to “flash” their BIOS. Too bad because units like these are supposed to be for people who do no want to do anything with little notebooks other than work or play with it and not bother with its configuration.
The Asus Eee PC 1000H and the MSI Wind share nearly the same screen size. The Eee PC has a slightly bigger screen size at 10.2-inches, while the MSI Wind uses a 10-inch LCD screen. Both handle resolutions at 1024×600 pixels but the Eee PC has a better brightness control scheme than the Wind.
All three units come with webcams but with different resolutions. Both Eee PC and MSI Wind use a 1.3 megapixel webcam, while the Acer Aspire One only uses a 0.3 megapixel webcam. While this does not pose any problems for users especially those using it for Yahoo! chat or other similar applications, some users might want to use bigger webcam screen sizes that does not compromise quality of resolution.
Graphics and sound
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 is the primary graphics processor for the MSI Wind, Asus Eee PC 1000H, and Acer Aspire One. The GMA 950 is laudable for being equally power-efficient as the Intel Atom processor. However, like all components intended for low-power consumption, this graphics processor has its shortcomings. This is not a graphics accelerator meant for gaming. The only games that would run here are casual online Flash games. Then again, few would want to play any MMORPGs on a small screen, right?
The three UMPCs do not have major differences when it comes to the quality of their graphics but they show distinction in sound quality. Of the three, the Eee PC uses a Dolby Digital logo. However, this does not mean that the Eee PC’s sound is any better than the Wind or the Aspire One. All three can execute left-and-right stereo sound. Unless you’re a big fan of audio hardware and applications, there is little distinction among the three units. Surprisingly, the MSI Wind had the loudest sound without the
crackling noise common among small form factor devices. Nevertheless, they all have respectable audio output.
Connectivity
In terms of connectivity, the most complete is the Eee PC 1000 H. It has the standard 10/100 megabit LAN port, Bluetooth and the latest 802.11N wireless fidelity (WiFi) support, otherwise known as Wireless N. This is not a WiFi standard yet but can already be integrated into existing wireless local area devices. The Wireless N has a maximum bitrate of 248 megabits per second. Compare this to the Wifi A, B and G, which have maximum bitrates of 54 Mbits, 11 Mbits, and 54, Mbits, respectively, the Wireless N can allow more users to access a single WiFi base station (if integrated with Wireless N) and download or upload more data from Internet at faster speeds.
On the other hand, the MSI Wind and Acer Aspire One support 802.11 B/G WiFi connectivity. The Aspire One does not have any Bluetooth connectivity but the Wind only features Bluetooth in the Windows XP version.
Battery life
The challenge of most UMPCs is battery life. They should last longer than their bigger notebook cousins. Asus, Acer and MSI use 6-cell battery variants for their UMPC models. Most notebooks today only use 3-cell batteries. Having a 6-cell battery doubles the time you can use a notebook without plugging into a power outlet. When put in a UMPC that uses low-power processors, 6-cell batteries can ideally run much longer.
The MSI Wind and Asus Eee PC 1000H 1000 were tested with all their wireless connectivity switched on while running video files on continuous loop. The hibernate modes were also set to off and LCD screens were also set to active during this test. The Wind ran for about 1 hour and 48 minutes while the Eee PC 1000H ran for a slightly shorter period of 1 hour and 35 minutes. Some might scoff at the shorter running time but remember that both Wind and Eee PC have hard disks, which are moving parts that drain your batteries. Having a UMPC that allows users to work without the need for wires and power cables is a plus.
On the other hand, the Aspire One’s running time is slightly longer than the two; as it operated for approximately 2 hours with WiFi active and the unit connected to the Internet while a video file plays in continuous loop. The hibernate mode was also turned off. The running time for Aspire One proved longer because it uses a solid state drive instead of the regular hard drives. Solid state drives do not have moving parts and thus consume lower energy, giving the Aspire One longer operating time. The Aspire One is only using a 3-cell battery.
Verdict
The MSI Wind and Asus Eeee PC 1000H clearly have an advantage over the Acer Aspire One in terms of additional features. The MSI Wind and Eee PC 1000 are nearing the functionalities of traditional 12-inch or 13-inch notebooks. However, they have gone beyond the principle of the UMPCs when they integrated hard disks and bigger screens. These features have made them bulkier now since they have gone beyond the 1 kilogram threshold. The Aspire One has that advantage (NOTE: Acer is also releasing a hard disk based variant of the Aspire One with a 6-cell battery pack) but it does not have Windows XP, which is familiar to most users.
With that in mind, it will be harder to predict which one of the three Intel Atom-based UMPCs will dominate the market. In fact, it seems that it’s better now for the UMPC consumer since they have a wider choice based on their needs. The bout for the best UMPC in the market won’t end yet until the next group of UMPC manufacturers, especially Dell and Lenovo, come into play. For now, it will be dependent on the user’s preferences that will decide which of the three is considered the best UMPC available in the local market.
15 Feedbacks on "Atomic Kitties: Asus Eee PC 1000H, MSI Wind and Acer Aspire One review"
Ryan
As far as I know, the MSI Wind is still using a 3-cell battery unless you individually purchase a separate 6-cell battery. 6-cell batteries are only expected to be shipped out mid September.
Melanie
This is good. I like notebooks with equivalent capability like Western laptops.
May I know how much is the EEE pc 1000H?
Thanks.
Dominic
Hmm, I,m not pretty impressed by these UMPC’s… Small,..yes,..but for power users like me not very useful! Very limited capabilities as well, and no dvd? tsk tsk tsk! And the price? Believe me you can buy a full size laptop with their prices. Just bought my Compaq Presario C700, definitely more powerful, upgradable, and actually cheaper than these midgets. It’s got a sweet 15.4 widescreen too! Now how do like them apples?
The author needs to update his verdict you know.
Alan
Eee PC is generally $549.99 street price as of 9/5/08. Very nice feature set and excellent customer reviews. I just ordered one from Costco.
iceman9
@ Melanie
The asus eee pc 1000 rough estimate might cost around P26k
iceman9
@ Melanie
price almost the same as msi wind.. but don’t worry i’m sure these price will drop considering the mass production of affordable umpcs
Poli
MSI Wind actually comes with 6 cell battery, at least the one I have. One major advantage of MSI Wind over the rest is LED PANEL LCD screen, like the ones in VIO TXs and MacBook Pros, the author missed to distinct this.
enjag
Please compare prices also.
Ghanthun
Acer Aspire One already available in the states for 350$ with 120gb hd, 1.5gb ram and installed windows XP.
Very Nice.
Ryan
@Poli
Where in the Philippines can you get a 6 cell Wind? I have been looking for that particular model and still have to find a 6 cell on sale at major stores.
James
@Dominic
I don’t think you get the point of Netbooks. It addresses the need of a different group of people. People who want a paperback size computer where they can tote around effortlessly for web surfing and do basic office work everywhere. Not everyone wants to carry a huge 15 inch laptop. And not anyone needs Core2Duo performance to do web surfing and office work. As for screen real estate, I have a 22 inch Samsung LCD at home where I plug in my EEEpc 1000 and it works like a charm.
Also it is more practical in the Philippine setting where laptop thieves are rampant. I doubt you’ll have any trouble concealing a small Netbook VS a huge 15 inch laptop.
Mae
@Dominic
Haha, are you from the year 1999? Who uses their optical drive except for installing programs these days?
ken
Cebu City, Philippines: Thinking Tools in SM Mall and Ayala are selling the 1000H for 26,500 at 6 months zero interest credit card.
I’m positive this will go down in the next few months, maybe reaching even 20,000 pesos. Very nice if you have to make a lot of conference presentations.
The heavier weight is good exercise to strengthen your arms and back.
Atomic Kitties: Asus Eee PC 1000H, MSI Wind and Acer Aspire One review « The Way
[...] small, fast and inexpensive. They’re also among the first truly ultramobile PCs that are based on the new Intel Atom processor. We test them side by side to see which comes out [...]
Michelle
i recently bought a white Asus Eee PC and i am very surprised about the size of this machine. it is very small and lightweight compared to my Toshiba laptop
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