ASUS EEEPC 1000HE

A Winning Netbook





ASUS is well into the double digits in the numberof netbook variants it has launched, and this seasoning has finally paid off with its best one yet. The1000HE dethrones the MSI Wind as the leader of thepack of pint-size laptops. What puts it on top is notits revamped keyboard, its elegantly tucked-awaysix-cell battery, or its Intel Atom N280 processor(an industry first)—although these do help. The1000HE earns an Editors' Choice because it deliversall of these things at a low price.



The EeePC 1000HE resembles the vast majorityof netbooks, though a closer examination will reveal some design tweaks. In line with its rivals from MST,Acer, and Samsung, the 10001-IE offers only two colorchoices, solid black and navy blue. At 3.2 pounds, the10001-IE is heavier than most of its competition. Theframe is designed around the six-cell, 63-Wh battery,so the awkward protrusion you see on the backs ofothers are eliminated. Other design improvementsinclude mouse buttons that are substantially largerthan those of the Aspire One and MST Wind and agesture-based touchpad (a netbook first).

The 1000H E's 1.66-GHz Intel Atom N280 processor is rated slightly faster than the l.6-GHz Intel AtomN270 CPU found in its rivals, but on our benchmarktests I saw little speed difference. The new CPUallows for a bigger battery, however, and the 1000HE did excel on battery life, turning in a score of 6 hours36 minutes and 7:26 with the Power Saving settings.

All of these enhancements wouldn't mean a thing if the price weren't right. The 1000HE makes fewercompromises than other netbooks, and the value youget with design, typing experience, and battery life istough to beat.—Cisco Cheng



Specs: I.66-GHz Intel Atom N280; 1GB DDR2 SDRAM; 160GB, 5,400-rpm hard drive; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950; 10.1-inch, 1,024-by-600 LED widescreen; 3.2 pounds; three USB ports; 63-Wh, 8.6-Ah. lithium ion battery; Windows XP Home Edition.

PC Magazine April 2009