Customer Reviews

ASUS Eee PC 1000H 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 6 Cell Battery) Fine Ebony

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Some of the reviews for these mini notebook computers just amaze me. People want to see everything under the sun added to them and yet pay the same price! Or they want $1,500 to $2,000 laptop quality embedded in these little wonders. Get real. The computers marketed by Asus and others are geared into a specific price point in order to make "portable" computing more available to everyone along with functionality that allows you to be productive when you don't have either your supercharged desktop or high-priced 15" or 17" laptop with you. And they have succeeded at this admirably. So, keep your expectations reasonable and you won't be disappointed. Sheesh!

If you check around, there are vendors selling the PC 1000H for lower prices than what is showing here to-date on Amazon (around $549 - in stock).

I received my 1000H on August 5. The screen is of sufficient size and resolution for even the most optically-challenged individuals. No dead pixels. The keyboard is nearly full size so you can touch type on it. Although this little guy is somewhat heavier than other minis, you get a whopping 6 cell battery that can give you up to 7 hours of computing when the power saving features are activated. So, is that an adequate trade-off for the added weight? Yes! With the power saving features off and running the computer full bore, I still get over 4 hours on a full charge (a lot better than my 14" Acer that can't even provide 2 hours). The wireless (internet) works like a charm - exactly as advertised (even with my WPA security-enabled network). I've had no problems with it, and sensitivity is very good. The 80GB HD is more than adequate for this mini, and the speed of the system with the Win XP OS is just fine and provides me with a fully compatible system (with my other laptops and desktop). Yes, the 1000H (and other mini-notebooks) don't come with DVD/CD drives, but keep in mind the cost factor. Also, why do you really need an internal DVD drive with such a system (if you don't watch movies)? You can load all your programs into this little wonder with an external DVD drive at home. I take along 2 or 4 GB flash (jump) USB drives to upload or save files. And, if you do need a DVD drive with you, just get one of the portable USB drives (Sony makes a great one). They are not that cumbersome.

Looks like Asus listens to other reviewers and continuously tweaks their models. I do not have the keyboard flex that others have complained about, nor the clicking keys. And the 1000H runs incredibly quiet for a system with a hard drive. I barely hear it. There were complaints about a noisy or clunking hard drive, but it's not a problem with mine! And, on top of all that, my mini does not run hot (as some have mentioned). It runs warm, as is typical for notebook computers. The Intel Atom processor seems to be doing its job, and doing it well. And the build is better than I expected for this computer at this price point.

I have no concerns with this mini notebook,and can recommend it without reservation. Take the plunge!

Length:: 4:27 Mins

Great machine. Very happy with it. It is powerful enough for a computer programmer to run software that usually requires quite a bit of power and resources.

Economics, the Social Order, and the Ron Paul Revolution

I have this notebook for about a week. I love it. It is tiny and you can always carry it around in your handbag. I am a researcher and three main programs that I use are MS office, Acrobat Reader and statistical analyses software (such as SPSS). The computer has no problems running those and performs well. It is great to have everything you need on the go.

As you probably know, it doesn't have a DVD drive. If you already have a desktop computer, then you don't need to buy an external DVD. Just setup a small home/office network from your desktop computer (you can do it with a few steps in Windows). Then open your DVD drive to sharing by right clicking on your DVD drive under "My computer" and choosing share. Next, from your laptop connect to your home wireless internet.Change Workgroup of your laptop to the same workgroup name you assigned while setting up home/office network. Then you would be able to see and access the shared folders on your desktop PC from your notebook. You can also use your PC's DVD drive to install programs. After you are done you can turn off sharing your DVD drive.

Secondly, the laptop has an automatic power saving mode when you unplug it, however unlike my previous laptop, it doesn't adjust the brightness. My old laptop would go dim to save power while running on batteries. Don't just assume that ASUS does it automatically because it doesn't. Mine came with the highest brightest setting,so make sure to adjust it manually if you want the batteries to last more.

Lastly, if you are going to run several programs at the same time, just buy and install a 2GB ram, which will cost less than $40 as of now. XP runs great with 2GB and it is worth it. What you need is a 2GB 667 Mhz SoDIMM module like this one OCZ 2GB PC2-5400 667MHz DDR2 Value SoDIMM Module (OCZ2MV6672G).

I travel a lot and over the past few years I have been on a quest for a laptop that was small enough not to be hassle to drag around (which for me means 12" wide or smaller, and 4 lbs or less), but was also fully functional. I need a gig of RAM to run the graphics programs I use, and 40 gigs of storage is not enough anymore.

I have used a series of ever-smaller laptops from Gateway and Dell, but I really, really like this little Asus. I have a little satchel that I use when I go in the field, which is designed to hold maps and a compass. It's a small satchel--you can't fit a normal-sized magazine in without it bending. And yet the Eee fits inside (just barely).

How small is it? It can sit on an 8.5x11 piece of paper without overhanging the edges. The keyboard is big enough that it doesn't impair my typing. The 1024x600 screen takes a little getting used to--the other little laptops I've used have been 1200x800. Still, for me the slightly smaller screen is a fair trade for the improvement in portability.

I can see how a lot of people wouldn't like this machine because it's too small. Most of my friends think I'm crazy, but I look at their 8-pound monsters with screens almost a foot and a half wide, and all I can think about is what a pain those must be to take on an airplane.

So far I haven't had any performance problems at all. There is a faint hum from the hard drive fan, which probably only jumps out at me because my last laptop had a fan-less solid-state drive, which is silent. I doubt if it is something most people will notice; it's no louder than other fan-equipped laptops I've used. The built in megapixel webcam is a nice touch in a machine this small. The speakers are great, too.

I prefer to use open-source software, so the first thing I did was get online (it detected and connected to my home Wifi immediately and with no problems) and download Firefox and OpenOffice. I moved my files over from my external hard drive, and in an hour I was fully up and running with everything I need. Eee stands for "easy, excellent, and exciting"; I think Asus has achieved all three with this little gem.

So I purchased this Asus Eee 1000H model in black at an electronics chain store in Taipei, Taiwan. I believe the local prices are slightly cheaper than the US retail price, but not by much. Don't worry.

I'm a MAC enthusiast. I currently own the regular MacBook and do all my hardcore writing on it. But when I travel to meetings or conferences, I needed a smaller laptop. Yeah, Apple's 12" macbook is still too bulky imo. I'm female and with 3 inch heels, every little pound counts! Besides, other than my regular handbag, I hate to carry an additional laptop bag. So Eee was my best bet.

I looked around similar offerings by HP, Dell, and Acer. For the specs, price, and the roomy enough 10" screen, I opted for Asus.

Did consider MacAir, but it's just too expensive right now, and I'm waiting for the 2nd generation to roll out with glitches fixed.

10" screen is the smallest I can go, because with smaller Eee models, I can't type without making a ton of mistakes and doing so hurts my hands.

The power up speed is extremely fast. Love Windows XP. This model comes with Microsoft Work, not Office. But for basic writing, and excel I don't mind Works.

Connects to my broadband in a heartbeat, detects wireless networks too.

The aesthetics is great. I love it in black. White can get dirty too easily. Yes, it does accumulate fingerprints, but you can easily wipe it down with the cloth they've included in the package.

Powerful, flexible, inexpensive, little unit. I love it, and it comes with a black microfiber sleeve to store your Eee inside your bigger carryon.

Great for kids too.

But for handsome 6 feet tall 200 pound men, I suspect not too suitable! =)

The Asus EEE PC 1000h really lives up to the hype as usable well designed netbook. I have been using it at the office on the road and even in bed with for a week now. It has a really wonderful keyboard that I can actually type on comfortably. Seriously, I'm not the greatest typist but it's nice not to have to look at you fingers while you're typing an email. Generally the key are in the right place including the FN key. The battery life is also most satisfactory. I get about 3-4 hours surfing the net with the screen turned down to a low but readable level and the power saver on. With the screen down, the wireless off and the power saver on, the meter was reporting about 6.5 hours of use which is great! If get a better hard drive, it might get up to 8 hours. It also sips power when in sleep mode so I don't mind leaving it running when I walk away from it.

The screen is very readable for a 40+ person and gets more than sufficiently bright for indoor use. I have it set to just above 1/2 way most of the time. Admittedly I'm not crazy about the 1240x600 screen dimensions considering many web pages are designed for 1240x800. On the plus side, it is very easy to view from many angles and the contrast is surprising for such a budget computer. I haven't tried editing photographs on it yet, but am betting that it would do as well as any other lap top I've owned to date.

One of the great things about this budget computer is the access door on the bottom. Turning 2 screws gives you access to both the RAM and the hard drive Assembly. I replaced the memory with a 2gb OZC chip and it made a huge difference! A freeware benchmark program jumped from an 80 to 135 putting it in line with the full size $1000+ Toshiba that I purchased less than a year ago. Honestly, they perform tasks about equally as well even thought the Asus is nearly 2 LB lighter and runs 1-3 hours longer on battery that the Toshiba. I will probably upgrade the drive within a month or two once I decide on the new Hitachi hard drive or the OCZ solid state drive. Ether way, it's only a matter of a couple 4 screws and the just slipping it in; no cables, no adapters, no jumpers, no fuss! Last, is the touch pad which is a bit of a disappointment. It works great as a mouse pointer but is not very good for scrolling. The touch pad on my Toshiba is far superior with the scrolling on the right and bottom - way easier to use. For extended periods I use a Kennsington Slimblade mouse which worked within seconds of first being plugged in. Overall I'm very satisfied with the computer and will probably end up selling the Toshiba on eBay.

PROS
* 3.5-6 hour battery life in the real world
* Portable
* Light weight
* Great keyboard for size, touch typing capable
* Nice screen, viewable from lots of angles
* small power adapter
* Windows XP optimized from the start
* easily upgradable
* Plenty of hard drive space for a netbook
* built in SDHC card reader
* includes neoprene zipper pouch
* Generally runs cooler than previous models
* Large touch pad
* Runs cooler than previous models

CONS (mostly minor)
* Loud fan
* Slow hard drive, but OK for a 5400rpm
* So-so 1gb factory memory
* Left USB port is tight
* 1240x600 screen not great for a lot of web sights
* Hard drive gets a little warm on extended use but not uncomfortably
* 2 finger scrolling doesn't work well, especially on low power
* The case shows fingerprints and smudges

I have been looking forever for a light weight / featured packed mini notebook w/ a reasonable price and good to great battery life. I wanted something that would allow me to surf the net while lounging in my patio, check e-mails at wifi hotspots, stream some Hulu or Netflix in the kitchen while doing dishes, take on overnight business trips and watch movies on an airplane, and carry to the coffee shop w/o breaking a sweat. Asus finally built the mini notebook I was looking for.

It's amazing how many features are packed into the 1000h. Pessimist's will immediately point out that you can find a much more featured laptop packed for $549. Yes, but try to find one that squeezes Windows XP, SDHC card reader, wireless N, 80 gb storage, a power efficient Intel processor, bluetooth, 1.3 mp webcam, all into a pint size 3 lb package. On top of that add a real world battery life of 5 hrs. I can't think of any other alternatives than maybe an MSI Wind.

Anyways, I'll cut to the chase. What are the +'s and -'s?

+'s

1. Battery life- 4 to 5 real hours, not paper hours. Heck, that's better than my portable dvd player.
2. Compact size and weight- About the size of my 10" portable DVD player, but about twice the weight.
3. Build quality- Overall very solid, sturdy metal screen hinges, nice glossy plastic used on the shell, minimal body flex, no jiggle in the battery connectors.
4. LCD screen-Sharp, bright, no light leakage from the ends and no dead pixels
5. Extra touches- Bluetooth, 1.3 mp web cam, 3 usb ports, and a SD card reader. Asus could have easily skimped on any of these, but it's nice to see a laptop maker that doesn't nickel and dime.
6. Overall performance- This one was very surprising. The 1000H is very snappy. XP load time is silly fast and overall performance is very good for a mini notebook. This thing will probably rock w/ 2gb of RAM.
7. LCD off button- What a friggin ingenious idea ! Why the heck doesn't every laptop come with this. I don't need the LCD on when I want to listen to podcasts or stream music.

-'s
1. Fan- The fan is a bit noisy when run at full speed, but is acceptable when the processor is set to "max battery life".
2. Keyboard- Exhibits no flex, but tactile response could be better
3. Slip cover- Included is a zippered cover, but it should include a separate compartment for the power adapter.
4. Fingerprints- The black gloss really shows finger prints, but at least Asus includes a micro fiber cloth to wipe them off.

It is really hard to complain about this product. Most people complaining do not understand that this mini notebook was not intended to compete with full size laptops and should also keep in mind the $549 price tag. Like some other reviewer's I am a die hard Apple Mac fan and swore I would never buy another Windows machine. However, pigs will fly when Apple builds any type of laptop for $549. The Asus 1000H is perfect for anyone looking for a truly portable computing experience and is currently the creme de la creme of mini notebooks under $600.

I have had the the eee pc 701 and 900 and the Msi Wind. The quality is excellent. Yes, the case does get finger prints. The screen is amazing. It is bright even on battery power. The system is powerful and runs fast. I put in a 2g memory card and it flys. I am also a Linux user. The problem is the wifi drivers do not yet work with Linux. But since the xp model is $150 cheaper then the Linux model, I could not justify the cost. I dual boot into Ubuntu and I have a Linksys USB wireless-g adapter that works fine in Linux. Thus my 1000H, runs both. The system is really nice. The keyboard is perfect and screen size is just right. Things to consider, the sleeve that Asus gives you is terrible, upgrading to 2g is easy and under $50 via Amazon. The 1000h is just as nice as the Wind, but, the Wind does not allow you to upgrade and not void the warranty. The Wind also had a 3 cell battery and the 1000H has a 6 cell. It does not last 7 hours, more like 4. It is a wonderful system. For those who want to boot of an external device, it "F2" before you see the windows banner. It boots very fast, and if you are not watching it will pass the bios.

This is a beautiful computer. It has a shiny, smooth, black case that is much more attractive than I thought it would be. It boots up in about a minute and you're ready to go. It really exceeded all my expectations for a computer this small. And for the price, you can't beat it.

On the downside, the keyboard is very small, but this wouldn't be a problem if the touch pad weren't so sensitive. You must constantly watch the screen when you're typing or else you'll lose track of the cursor. Of course, using an external mouse and disabling the touch pad helps with this problem. XP works well and Works has a great word processor. I use the Works word processor and then down load everything to a flash drive as a Microsoft Word file. Plus, your Word files will pop right up in the Works word processor. I tried to download Norton, but I kept getting a message that it won't work with this version of XP. For the Internet, I downloaded Firefox. However Firefox and Explorer drop out every once in a while. You'll be in the middle of a search, and suddenly you're back to your desktop. Of course, this could be caused by the super sensitive touch pad. I bought the six cell battery pack and I'd say it gives me about 4.5 hours, but I haven't run it completely out. Sometimes I use an external hard drive which shortens the battery life considerably. One of the best features of this little computer is that it comes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Find a hot spot, turn on, tune in and you're good to go surfing. On the downside, SKYPE doesn't work too well. The image is poor and the video frequently freezes up.

All in all, I love this computer (Netbook). I bought it to work on my blog while I was out on the road and, for that purpose it works great. The next time I buy one, however, I will opt for a larger keyboard.

BUYING EXPERIENCE: first off, i bought my 1000H through an amazon seller, Beach Camera. the only sad part about it was, 3 days after i ordered it, the price dropped by $100. EVERYWHERE! i requested for a price match/adjustment from them, alas, they are not able to accommodate such a request (the only option given was to return item by refusing the delivery. that was it). i'm normally a Best Buy / Circuit City patron. and for an item like this, i think i'm better off buying from the big guys (or from amazon directly) as they are able to accommodate such requests and adjustments. from order to delivery, it took a full 11 days for fulfillment. if it weren't for the tasty product that i'd be unveiling, i'd be refusing and returning the item ordered.

that said... how's the 1000H?

if you MUST HAVE A NETBOOK NOW, GO FOR THE 1000H.

THE GOOD:
1. Size / Weight - i've seen the 900s at BB, they're too small for me. yes. this is the perfect compromise between a 7incher and a 12incher if mobility is your issue. weight is ideal, it won't break your back!

i have been travelling all over the country this year for almost 12x now. believe me, it's such a thrill to finally be free from the heavy 14" and 15.4" laptops i have been carrying (notwithstanding the fact that you have to bring it out of your bag, and put it back again, whenever you pass by airport x-rays).

in fact, i'll be travelling again tomorrow, and i am very excited to be lugging this lil baby with me!

my take on the size of the 1000H? the eeepc has finally grown up.

2. Looks - very very professional, very attractive. for the working class, this lil guy means business. it has an "i'm not a toy" attitude to it.

as people have commented before me, yes, glossy finish = fingerprint magnet. good thing it does not scratch easily. i can live with that. wiping the lid should be the normal routine after using your 1000H.

3. Storage - 80GB of old-school hard drive for me. am not too hot about SSD model (20gb SSD on the 1000?). i don't notice any performance hit to the system anyway. the more, the merrier for me. (in fact, i always have a portable HDD with me, a 320 WD passport, which pairs perfectly well with the 1000H).

4. RAM - on-board 1GB provides good perforamance already. the process of upgrading to 2GB is so easy, you can do it in less than 5min. did it, do it! with 2gb, you won't need your virtual memory anymore - disable it, and add a bit of speed to your eee.

5. Running Prorams - i uninstalled programs that came with it (ie OfficeStar, Works, etc), and installed the usual stuff i need (iTunes, quicktime, Explorer7, Media Player 11, YM, Office 2007, Photoshop Elements 6) all of them running perfectly well.

i don't heavily play games on my computer anymore (IMHO, that's best left to the Xboxes and PS3s of this world). oh, but the ones that reside in my eee? Zuma (and i'll try installing the retro Sierra On-Line adventure games of old, and see how it fares) hehe

6. Brightness - albeit it's matte (i prefer the glossy screens), the screen ilicits impressive levels of brightness. can't complain in this area.

7. Keyboard - size is close to a regular keyboard, so my fast fingers are waltzing all over it (i can never type on the first gen Eees)! be forewarned though, i read in varous forums that some reported flexing on their keyboard. might be a case of loose adhesive under it which some people remedied on their own. but if you experience this and don't want to tinker with your eee, send it back. mine was flex-free though.

8. Touch Pad - you can always buy a bluetooth mouse (to save on the USB slots), or be content with the touchpad which is not a bad thing. tapping on it functions as the left/right buttons, and with 2-finger scrolling. you hardly will use the buttons at all. i have yet to discover the gestures you can do with it (ala Mac).

9. Battery - haven't really tested it thoroughly, but it lasted me 2 hours+ on my first night with it, with 'round 60% of battery life to it.
not bad.

10. It's quiet! - you practically don't hear anything (ie fan, HDD). so if you get yours and you get the slightest annoyance of hearing the fan blowing, or the HDD's parts moving? return it. that should not be the case. oh, and it runs fairly cool too, certainly, not a lap-burner!

11. Intel Atom CPU (the latest, battery-efficient), Bluetooth, Wifi, Ethernet connection, 3 USB 2.0, 1 SD slot, VGA port (still perfect for presentations using projectors!), an ok 1.3MP webcam, the Asus Super Hybrid Engine (for easy adjustment of power consumption modes). what else can i say?!

THE BAD:
1. Gloss - might be a turn-off for some, as it becomes a canvass of thumbprints after a while. as i've said, i can live with that. oh, and i ordered a leather case from pdair (dot com) anyway.

2. Screen Size - although it ain't distracting, bezel around the screen is such a waste of space! they could've added more screen size to it, i'd be an inch happier.

3. Resolution - of which, you have 4 dafault options (by using the Resolution Key on the keyboard): 800x600 - naahhh, too low and the screen appears a bit stretched. 1024x768 - naahhh, you wouldn't want to be scrolling vertically/horizontally to see the entire screen. 1024x768compressed - hohumm, you do get the entire screen, but again, a bit stretched, to fit. so the REAL option really is the 1024x600 where everything is in its correct proportions. be ready to tinker with your icon and font sizes though, as they'd appear too large on your desktop and windows.

4. Touchpad Buttons (left & right) - TOO STIFF! good thing the touchpad accomplishes the tasks provided by the buttons. in time i guess (with much patience and repeated use), it'll come to a comfortable clicking level.

5. The sleeve - out of the box, it comes with a nice-looking black zippered sleeeve, that to me, is enough as a carrying case for the eee (as you stow the entire thing in your bag). the material is such a dust and lint magnet though!

THE UGLY:
1. EeePC typeface - this is already nitpicking. but the makers should invest more on logo design!

THE VERDICT:
again, if you must have a good performing netbook NOW, the Eeepc1000H is the only game in town.

but if you still can WAIT, check out the 1000H contenders coming from Dell and Lenovo before getting this asus (from the pics i've seen, they're very nice to the eyes!). do extensive research on the current contenders from MSI, Acer, etc. then, make your decision. the deluge of new netbooks coming from the big brands will happen before the year ends anyway.

but as it stands, i think the 1000H has set the current benchmark. it's either the new players match its features and offer it at a lower price point. or exceed its features at an acceptable price.

competition is good. we, happier (wink wink)!