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201 of 203 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing - The best netbook available as of 12/08., December 19, 2008
Fantastic aesthetics; the aluminum construction makes everything else out there look cheap. I have tried most every netbook, I mean literally have purchased them and tried them and this is the one that I carry. I also own the Eee 1000H, which does have a slightly brighter screen, but I gave it to my wife...
The Elantech trackpad is of a multi-touch/multi-gesture design and it just plain works. The mouse button is a single rocker design with short travel and a definite but light click and it oozes quality.
The BIOS includes a "boot booster" function (tied to a itty-bitty hdd partition), which helps the computer to boot significantly faster than any other brand out there (all new ASUS models appear to have this).
The keyboard is large enough to make touch-typing easy and for me the weird right shift button placement is not an issue as I am a left shift person (it is proportional to the rest of the keyboard).
The palm-rest is just big enough to allow most people to actually rest their hands on it when typing, which is much more comfortable than the half-on / half-off method necessary for most netbooks (although the Eee 1000H is even more comfortable).
Battery life is about 3 to 3.25 hours. Not class leading for sure (Samsung wins here) BUT the battery fits flush to the bottom of the computer which keeps the ENTIRE computer nice and thin. Once you look at a couple of netbooks, you'll see why the big barrel shaped batteries they use generally ruin otherwise beautiful aesthetics.
Some people will not like the power cord, SD slot, monitor out, kensington lock slot and ethernet port being on the back as opposed to the sides, but I love it because everything is out of the way (esp if you choose to use an external mouse).
Speakers are very good, but the Eee 900HA and the Eee1000H (Dolby) are better. I use earphones though, so its a non-issue.
Haven't tried the webcam so I can't offer much except to say its there.
The bloatware is within reason and is easily removed. The recovery DVD includes a bootable Norton Ghost recovery image and also includes the individual drivers, which are accessible from windows (if you have an external DVD drive).
I swapped the 160GB 5400RPM Seagate drive for an 80GB Intel X25M SSD drive and i just couldn't be happier. It boots from power switch to ready to use in 40-45 seconds (fully software equipped), runs Office 2007, plays movies stutter free and surfs the Internet all without complaint or issue. I would not recommend to anyone to spend the $500-600 for the Intel SSD drive though. It is faster, but NOT that much faster and the machine felt plenty peppy before.
The charger is of the two cords and a brick design (like everybody else). Fortunately, you can hit the very popular auction site out there and purchase a new ASUS branded wall charger for an Eee 900 (the original 900), which has the exact same specs as the one that comes with this and saves probably 1/2 the space. All for $20-25.
Anyway, I highly recommend this model, it is the best out there right now. Below are my experiences with other models in its class.
The Samsung NC-10 is ok, but nothing special and certainly not (IMO) worth the extensive press it has gotten. It is not user friendly from an upgrade standpoint (i.e. no bottom access to the hdd) and the chrome trim detracts from an otherwise classy finish (I tried the blue model). The recovery software consists of discs, which, DO NOT restore it to its factory configuration. Battery life is crazy long (5 to 6 hours)
The MSI wind is perhaps the PERFECT size, but its horrible construction leaves me bewildered as to why it is so popular. The hinges are so weak that the screen literally shakes as you type. I googled for answers and found that it is a common problem for these machines. I packed mine up after 5 minutes and sent it back. I can't imagine trying to watch a movie on it while bouncing around on an airplane.
The ASUS Eee 900HA is a great machine and even better for my frequent travel than this one (its quite a bit more compact), but the 8.9" screen makes for lots of vertical and horizontal scrolling and the keys are just too small. It is beautiful though and the size vs. features vs. price absolutely beats everything else out there (the 1002HA included). But only if you can live with the small screen and keyboard.
The HP mini 1000 is fantastic in every way, but its storage is too limited when you opt for the built in flash memory and its WAY too slow when you opt for the 4200 rpm 60GB drive. Worse is the fact that they used a legacy PATA (ZIF) connection on the hard drive, which rules out the use of the ultra fast Intel X18M SSD hdd. Very poor thinking on the part of HP. This one could have been the best out there.
The Lenovo S10 is very business like and is built very well. I eagerly anticipated this. It is marred ONLY by its ridiculously loud CPU fan. On top of the fan noise, the computer constantly "throttles" the fan making it sound as if the computer is going to take off at any minute. Again, a google search of the reviews out there revealed that mine was not an isolated case. Shame too, cus this one is ultra nice and has Lenovo's business/professional looks and build quality to go with it.
The Acer Aspire One is a nice netbook. Its deficiency lies mainly in its size/shape and the nightmare it takes to upgrade even the memory. I had the 3-cell 120GB model and found that its size was perfect for carry, but lousy for typing as it was too thick to rest your hands on a flat surface comfortably while typing (forget the palm rest, its almost non-existent). If you can find a good typing position, the keyboard is very nice with great feedback and feel. A complete dis-assembly is required for upgrading either the memory or the hdd (as in it voids the warranty)and if you choose to anyway, you'll find that the memory can only be bumped up to 1.5GB as there is 512MB built in to the machine. The power source is a "brick" design like everyone else, but seems to be larger than the others.
Good luck if you are shopping for a netbook and Happy Holidays.
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59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Asus 1002HA - A Very Impressive Netbook Indeed, December 21, 2008
I've had the pleasure of using the Asus 1002HA netbook for 4 days and have formed some definite impressions that I'd like to share with you. I'll comment on 6 areas that are important to me and hopefully to you as well.
1. Very 1st Impression - The saying "You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression" is very true and here the Asus 1002HA delivers right off the bat in its stylish packaging. The boxing is in a black tuxedo look - very sharp and compact. Reminds me of the meticulous attention Apple gives to its packaging in introducing its customers to its trendy products. Unwrapping and opening up the Asus 1002HA is indeed a pleasure - a very stylish, slim, light weight unit with an upscale brushed aluminum finish. I asked several friends to hold the unit in their hands and guess its weight. Their typical response was 1.5 lbs even though the 1002HA weighs 2.7 lbs. My guess for their low estimates is due to the 1002HA's wonderful balance and even weight distribution - not back heavy as many units are with a 6-cell battery. Note: the 1002HA has only a 2-cell battery. More on this later. One final point here, in the box is also a compact zippered black velvet case with a padded interior - a very suitable companion to the sleek 1002HA.
2. Powering It Up - A very easy and quick process for your initial arrival to the home desktop screen. I suggest at this time you review the included software that comes with your unit. Then remove what you know you won't use via the easy-to-access Control Panel. Also, this may be the right time to load in any software you prefer. Note: You will have to buy a separate external CD/DVD drive that can be purchased for about $50 on the Internet if you shop around.
3. LCD Display Screen - Simply a very vibrant and appealing 10-inch view. The screen is non-glare so you don't have to worry about reflections of indoor lighting or the bright outdoors. There have been negative comments (posted on other websites) stating that the .8-inch wide glossy black bezel surrounding the LCD screen is a magnet for fingerprints; a criticism made that I personally found to be true. What I did to reduce this fingerprinting problem was to apply a thin coat of fine, high quality liquid car wax to the casing only (not the screen). Result - fingerprints shown now are less noticeable and very easy to wipe off.
4. Keyboard - Pressing the keys is very comfortable and easy to do with little resistance. The 92% of a normal size keyboard presented no problem to me. What did however, which is amply noted by many, is the tiny size of the right shift key, particularly a problem for touch typists. The right shift key's tiny size is a challenge that can be largely overcome with practice. Lastly, the white print showing the characters on top of the keys is not very bright. I often do work very early in the morning in bed where the only light on in the room is being emitted from the LCD netbook screen. Clearly in this setting, I can't see the lettering on the keys so I purchased a USB powered notebook light for $3.99 at Amazon which should take care of the problem.
5. Trackpad - The 1002HA provides wonderful navigation via the Elantech Smart-Pad which offers a variety of easy to use gestures and is superior to the typical track pad offered by competitors. It offers 1, 2 or 3-finger gestures similar to the excellent gesture options and track pad Apple offers their customers. The track pad is rather large for netbooks and you can easily tell when your fingers move on or off its surface. This is especially important at night when you might have the netbook on your chest and the track pad may be too close to your chin to see it very well. In my mind the track pad is as important as the keyboard and the Asus 1002HA hit the bull's-eye in getting it right.
6. Battery Life - How would I describe its performance? IMPRESSIVE, especially for a 2-cell battery. It must be turbocharged because I get about 4 hours before I receive the 1st warning to power down. Your own mileage will vary depending on the type of processing you do and your preferred personal settings for screen brightness and processing speed. I do use the Power Saving Mode for processing speed and set screen brightness to about the 80% mark to achieve 4 hours of battery life. At these settings, performance is very acceptable and the screen is plenty bright. Lastly, I found the battery charger to be quite small and light. It easily plugs into the back of the 1002HA which I really like; sometimes my hand inadvertently hit the cord with other notebooks that are plugged into the side causing a disconnect.
7. Conclusion - I'm very pleased with my Asus 1002HA. It boots up rather quickly taking only 44 seconds from when you press the power on button to seeing your desktop screen. Front speakers have plenty of volume and you can modify the Realtek equalizer settings to satisfy your tone preference. The screen is bright and sharp, battery life is excellent for a 2-cell although not as good as what a 6-cell battery offers. The large easy to use trackpad and the many finger gestures offered are simply outstanding, especially for a netbook priced at $500. The keyboard has a deficiency with its tiny right shift key but can be overcome with some practice. I think Asus has a winner here. If you can afford $500, the Asus 1002HA should be on your short list in deciding what netbook is the right one for you.
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41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best for business travel, and coffee shops!, December 20, 2008
I am extremely happy with this purchase. Received it on December 18, and have been trying it out for 2 days now. I am a doctor and CEO of www.DoctorBook.com. I travel quite a bit for conferences, and spend a lot of time at Starbucks and other coffee shops. So I was looking for a netbook that was light, professional looking, with a goood battery.
This netbook is the best compromise between functionality and looks. The Eee PC S101 is the sleekest and the Eee PC 1000H is the best functional only because of its ridiculously long battery. But the S101 is short on battery (and high on price) while the 1000H is heavier. The 1002 is thus slim and light, with an average battery life. I have had to charge it only once in 2 days. The first initial charge provided almost 5 hours worth of browsing and MS Word processing at half screen briteness.
The default screen resolution is fine. I have yet to venture onto a web page that needed side scrolling.
Above all, the looks! Like I mentioned before the S101 is the sleekest but high price, and rather not that professional looking in my opinion. The 1000 has a glossy lid that is easily smudged with fingerprints. The 1002 on the other hand is a brushed aluminum that minimizes fingerprint smudges and looks professional.
My wife is already trying to take it off my hands. In fact, she has already placed another order for her older brother.
What you might consider purchasing with it:
1. 2GB RAM module is a great upgrade. The 1GB installed from manufacturer is fine but 2GB makes opening multiple programs and webpage loading a little faster. I bought the OCZ 2GB PC2-5400 667MHz DDR2 Value SoDIMM Module (OCZ2MV6672G)from Amazon
2. Targus PACMB010U USB 2.0 DVD/CD-RW Slim External Drive(USB powered). This is a light cd drive that can easily be placed in your laptop bag. very sleek. You will need this on travels since you never know when someone might pass along a CD during meetings and conferences. Most importantly, it is USB powered, thus it can be hooked up to the netbook via USB without the need for an AC adapter. Great for tavelling, no need for a wall socket.
3. Kensington K72330US SlimBlade Bluetooth Presenter Mouseand presentation pointer in one. I bought this off Amazon as well, and is a great looking mouse and a good compliment to the professional look of the 1002. It is flat shaped rather than the bulky generic mouse that I personally think looks ugly. The bluetooth feature eliminates the dongle that cordless mice need, thus, not taking away from the sleek look of the netbook. This Kensington model also doubles as a presentation pointer.
Personally, the best netbook on the market right now for both functionality (personal and business) and aesthetics.
well worth the money.
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