ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1201N-PU17-SL 12.1-Inch Silver Netbook - 5 Hours of Battery Life

by Asus

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.2 x 1.3 inches ; 3.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B002ZLOR5Q
• Item model number: 1201N-PU17-SL
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (113 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,134 in Computer & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computer & Accessories)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

Color: Silver

Amazon.com Product Description

Go Beyond the Ordinary

Pushing the envelope of conventional netbook performance, the Eee PC 1201N Seashell breaks from traditional standards to deliver premium HD entertainment on-the-go. With an ASUS Dedicated Graphics Engine (DGE) powered by revolutionary NVIDIA ION graphics and a dual-core Intel Atom processor never before seen in an Eee PC, this multimedia netbook delivers standout HD quality and multitasking efficiency with Windows 7 Home Premium.

The Eee PC 1201N boasts a 12.1-inch HD widescreen, 750GB ASUS Hybrid Storage, full-size chiclet keyboard, stereo speakers, and other robust media features that let you enjoy rich entertainment in a thin-and-light, compact design. The Eee PC 1201N fits any situation. From its Eee core, it embodies the essence of traditional Eee PCs, “to learn, work, and play” –and takes it a step further.

Learn
The Eee PC 1201N is ideal for any learning environment. Its space-saving design and scratch-resistant Infusion finish combine to make it the perfect addition to today’s mobile student’s backpack. It’s small enough to comfortably fit any desk with room to spare, but is still large enough for all your word processing and productivity needs. The Eee PC 1201N strikes a perfect balance between form and function.

Work
Tired of boring, bulky business laptops that keep dying throughout the day? The stylish Eee PC 1201N will help you re-discover office computing in a new light with its spacious full-size chiclet-style keyboard, ultra-slim design, and mobile efficiency. Stay unplugged longer through long meetings and power through work applications. Its multitasking dual core Atom processor handles multiple programs on the fly, and, with 750GB of hybrid storage, you get an incredible amount of space to hold your work files and documents.

Play
The Eee PC 1201N is one of the only netbooks equipped to handle casual gaming. With a dual core Atom processor and ASUS Dedicated Graphics Engine (DGE), powered by NVIDIA ION graphics, the Eee PC 1201N plays most of your favorite games on-the-go. Optimized for mobile prowess, it outlasts ordinary, less compact and less portable, gaming laptops. With the Eee PC 1201N, you can break free from under-powered netbooks and enter a new realm of netbook gaming.

Key Features

• 12.1-inch LED-backlit HD widescreen for HD-quality visuals wherever you are (Learn more)
• ASUS Dedicated Graphics Engine (DGE) powered by NVIDIA ION graphics accelerator for a premium HD experience (Learn more)
• Powered by an Intel Atom N330 dual-core processor for excellent multitasking Eee PC performance (Learn more)
• HDMI connectivity for streaming Full HD video and digital sound to you HDTV or home theater (Learn more)
• Built-in Wi-Fi N and Bluetooth 2.1 for wire-free surfing and entertainment (Learn more)
• 750GB Hybrid Storage: 250GB hard drive plus 500GB ASUS WebStorage* (Learn more)
• 2GB of DDR2 system memory for smooth computing with pre-loaded Windows 7 Home Premium (Learn more)
• ASUS Super Hybrid Engine for extended battery life and boosted performance (Learn more)
• Full-size chiclet keyboard for comfortable use (Learn more)
• Multi-touch trackpad for intuitive control (Learn more)
• Integrated webcam and microphone for video chatting with your friends and family
• F9 easy recovery for convenient and easy system reinstallation
• Warranty: 1 year global warranty and 30-day Flawless Display Guarantee: If a single bright dot is found, a free panel replacement is guaranteed within 30 days of original purchase

Learn More about the Eee PC 1201N

Immersive Multimedia Features

The Eee PC 1201N boasts a 12.1-inch HD widescreen, stereo speakers, HDMI connectivity, so you can enjoy movies, videos, and pictures in the high-quality you desire. With a display resolution up to 1366 x 768, experience crisp, true-to-life visuals while streaming content on-the-go. Plus, with its LED-backlit screen, –you get longer battery life for long flights or movies. HDMI ready, the Eee PC 1201N can connect to compatible TVs and directly stream 1080p HD video with true-fidelity 7.1 audio. With ASUS DGE coupled with NVIDIA CUDA technology to upscale standard-definition multimedia files into high-definition cinema –you get sharper images and a more vivid picture in real-time.

---

ASUS Dedicated Graphics Engine - Turn Up the Visuals

With the energy-efficient Intel Atom processor and ASUS DGE powered by NVIDIA ION graphics, the Eee PC 1201N is your own personal mini-HD entertainment center –delivering full 1080p HD playback capability via HDMI. NVIDIA CUDA technology further boosts the Eee PC 1201N’s ability to work with visual content and enjoy casual gaming by accelerating graphic-intensive tasks such as light video editing and video conversion. NVIDIA ION Benefits NVIDIA CUDA technology to accelerate demanding applications Premium DirectX 10 graphics with advanced digital display connectivity Premium Windows experience with Windows 7 Home Premium

---

Dual-Core Processing Power With Enhanced Battery Life

Infused with a dual-core Intel Atom processor, the Eee PC 1201N gives you more multitasking power than single core processors. Plus, the exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) lets you instantly switch and optimize power options for the task at hand. So whether you want to enhance your systems performance or promote energy-saving mobility, the ASUS SHE ensures that you stay in complete control of your Eee PC 1201N so you can take your multimedia experience further than ever before. To switch between profiles for more battery life or performance, all you need is to press the Super Hybrid Engine hotkey above the keyboard.

---

Comfort on-the-go

The Eee PC 1201N has more surface area for a wider, more comfortable palm rest. The ergonomic chiclet keyboard is full-size and has concave keys that direct your finger to the center of the surface—a distinctive feature that actually improves typing accuracy. Weighing less than 3.5 lbs, the thin and light Eee PC 1201N is concise and compact so you can effortlessly use it on the plane or in any other tight space with room to spare. The multi-touch trackpad lets you easily zoom in and out to view photos or read documents by simply sliding two fingertips together or apart. You can also easily scroll in windows without using a mouse by sliding two fingertips up or down the trackpad.

---

Massive Storage for Your Media Library

Not only does the Eee PC 1201N have a 250GB hard drive, it also comes with 500GB of free ASUS WebStorage* for a total of 750GB of storage capacity. ASUS WebStorage makes it easy for users to share their media with friends and family via a simple drag and drop interface. Now you can back up your data online, and have access to your important data anywhere with an internet connection.

---

Your Portable Work, Learn and Play Companion

Connect, communicate, and explore online, anytime, anywhere, with your Eee PC 1201N. Featuring the latest generation Wi-Fi technology, 802.11n, that is five times faster than 802.11b/g for quick downloading and streaming of large multimedia files. With built-in Bluetooth support, your Eee PC 1201N lets you easily transfer data between Bluetooth-enabled devices. Plus, a built-in web camera and microphone let you Skype with your friends with crisp video and crystal clear sound.

---

Eee PC with Windows 7 –Life Made Easier

Explore the great new features of Windows 7 with the Eee PC 1201N. Featuring optimized energy-saving features and easy-to-use shortcuts, the Windows operating system is redesigned to give you an enhanced user experience making your everyday tasks simpler than ever before. Plus, Windows 7 has easy network sharing that helps you instantly get connected to Wi-Fi hotspots and networking hubs. Share more with friends and surf the Web better with Windows 7 and the Eee PC 1201N. Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It’s the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you’ll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.

---

Customer Warranty –The Industry's Most Complete Netbook Care Package

1 year global warranty

30-Day Flawless Display Guarantee: If you discover one defective bright dot within 30 days of purchase, ASUS will replace the panel at no cost

6 months battery warranty

24/7 tech support

What's in the Box

Eee PC 1201N (Silver)

Power Adapter

User Manual

Warranty Card

Specifications

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium

Display: 12.1-inch LED-Backlit WXGA display (1366 x 768)

CPU: Intel Atom N330 Dual Core processor (1.6 GHz)

GPU: NVIDIA ION Graphics

Wireless Data Network: WLAN 802.11b/g/n (draft 2.4GHz n) and Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR

Memory: 2GB DDR2, 2 x SODIMM slot

Storage: 250GB HDD + 500GB ASUS WebStorage*

Camera: 0.3 megapixel

Audio: Hi-definition stereo speakers, high-definition audio CODEC, Microphone

Storage Cards: 2-in-1 MMC, SD(SDHC) flash card slot

Input/Output: 1 x VGA port (D-sub 15-pin for external monitor), 1 x HDMI, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 2 x audio jacks (Headphone & Mic-in)

Battery Pack: 5 hours**, 6-cell Li-Ion battery†

Dimensions: 11.54 (W) x 8.11 (D) x 1.06~ 1.30 (H) inches

Weight: 3.22 lbs

Color: Silver

* Complimentary one-year 500GB ASUS WebStorage trial. Please visit www.asuswebstorage.com for more details. Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Please visit www.asus.com for more information.
** Operation lifetime subject to product model, normal usage conditions and configurations. For more information, please visit http://eeepc.asus.com/global/computing.html . The estimated maximum battery life in Windows 7 is measured with MobileMark 2007.
† To recharge using the AC power adapter, power plug must be fully pushed into the power socket on the Eee PC until it clicks firmly into place.

All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in images.

Check Out Other ASUS Notebook Computers and Accessories

ASUS Eee PC Seashell Optical Mouse - Black Its slim and sleek design makes the Eee PC Seashell Optical Mouse the perfect accessory for your Eee PC Seashell.

ASUS BX700 Bluetooth Laser Mouse The ASUS BX700 Bluetooth laser mouse offers freedom of movement, as well as dong away with wire clutter with Eee PC 1201N's built-in Bluetooth receiver.

ASUS Slim External Optical Drive/DVD Writer Create and read CDs or DVDs with speed, style, and simplicity with the ASUS Slim External Optical Drive and your Eee PC.

ASUS UL30A-A2 Thin and Light Laptop Looking for graet battery life and processing power? Check out the Thin and Light UL30A-A2 laptop that boasts more than 12 hours of battery life.

---

Product Description

Go anywhere in style with the new ASUS Eee PC 1201N. This latest addition to the ASUS Eee PC family marks a radical departure from other netbooks that usually feature single core Atom processors. With its Intel Atom 330 dual core processor, NVIDIA ION graphics, and two-DIMM, dual-channel DDR memory architecture, the Eee PC 1201N has set a new netbook performance benchmark. More importantly, this combination shatters today's netbook conventions by delivering the richest netbook multimedia experience yet. Fully equipped to handle the large amounts of memory that digital media consumes, the 1201N boasts a 250GB HDD and 500GB*** of online ASUS WebStorage—a total of 750GB. The Eee PC 1201N also comes preinstalled with ArcSoft SimHD, which upscales standard definition video content to high definition. SimHD, a plug-in for ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater, dramatically enhances the quality of images and supports a wide range of file formats. Users can enjoy a smooth HD video experience on the unit's 12.1-inch high definition screen, or have the option of enjoying full 1080p HD video with true-fidelity 7.1 audio on HDTVs via the built-in HDMI port. Along with these great features, the 1201N has built-in Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, and a webcam, so you can stay connected wherever you go. With its sleek curves and smooth lines, the Eee PC 1201N offers superior performance and styling.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

429 of 436 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't play Crysis, but it's the best netbook on the market today, January 8, 2010

By	Senor Zoidbergo (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1201N-PU17-BK 12.1-Inch Black Netbook - 5 Hours of Battery Life (Personal Computers)

As of the date of this review, the ASUS-1201N is the best netbook on the market today. This is my first netbook purchase, and I wanted a machine with the following characteristics;

- at least 2 GB of RAM
- graphics processor capable of playing 1080P media
- decent battery life (willing to sacrifice battery life for performance, since I'm usually close to a wall socket)
- Windows 7 Premium (offers improved battery life over Windows 7 Starter)
- 11.6" to 12.1" size
- 1366 x 768 resolution
- At least a 100 GB hard drive (SSD still too pricey and swapping out drives voids warranty)

First, a little background information. Thanks to restrictions by Intel and Microsoft, the number of high performance netbooks is quite small. The vast majority of netbooks have just 1 GB of ram, and are too small in size (most are in the 9-10" range). However, I settled on 4 possibilities, the ASUS EEE PC 1201N, Lenovo IdeaPad S12, HP Mini 311, and the Samsung N510. I immediately discounted the Samsung because of the high pricetag ($600). The remaining three all lacked one feature of the 1201N; dual core processors. The Asus is the only netbook to currently feature 1.6GHz Dual Core Intel Atom 330s. In general, the order of netbook processors is as follows;

Dual Core Atom 330s (found mostly on nettops) >> Atom N450 > Atom N280 > Atom N270 > Atom Z520

Since the Mini 311, Lenovo, and Asus were all comparably priced, I decided to go with the newer and more powerful Asus. I should also note that the HP Mini 311 only has the Nvidia Ion LE chipset, which is not DirectX 10 compatible, although it can be hacked to full Ion compatibility. However, I suspect that mainstream users are not interested in hacking their netbooks. I had also considered waiting until CES 2010 finished to get a glimpse of future netbooks. But, based on what has been revealed so far at CES, most of the future offerings will be just 10" netbooks with a single core N450, 1 GB RAM and a new Crystal HD Broadcom chip. At best, on parity with the 1201N, and probably marked into the $400 range when all optioned out. Ultimately, I decided that I wanted a netbook larger than 10".

The Amazon price for the 1201N was $482, which is at the high end of the netbook market. Why should I get this 1201N, when I can easily get a comparably priced CULV (Intel's Core 2 Ultra Low Voltage) light notebook with superior performance you ask? Well, the CULV performance is only superior with regard to the processor; GPU-wise, CULV equipped notebooks with Intel's integrated graphics GMA3150/4500MHD solutions are actually worse than the Nvidia Ion equipped 1201N. A CULV notebook with higher performance GPU would run you in the $800-1000 range. Asus has a CULV with Intel 4500MHD for about $600, but the Intel integrated graphics leaves much to be desired. As far as I know, there is no sub-$800 CULV with 9400M that weighs less than 4 lbs and is less than 13" and is ultra-mobile. The 1201N fills that gap.

Nvidia Ion (GeForce 9400M) >> Intel GMA3150 (PineTrail) and 4500MHD > Intel GMA950 >> Intel GMA500

I also thought about waiting for Nvidia's Ion2 platform to hit the market, but considering that it took Nvidia and the computer manufacturers close to one year to output a netbook to take advantage of the Ion, I decided to go ahead and make the purchase. The Ion gives you the capability to play *some* games; it definitely won't play Crysis! You'll most likely have to play at 800 x 600 resolution to get any sort of decent performance, but at least there's a capability. You probably won't be able to get past the loading screen on other netbooks. While Ion dings battery life, it in combination with the dual Atoms allows you to watch 1080P content while multi-tasking on the 1201N, previously unheard of in a netbook.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS of the 1201N: The size is perfect! I'm glad I didn't get a 10" netbook. It arrived pretty barebones; netbook, battery, charger, and a few software CDs. Initial impressions were very good; the glossy black cover actually seems pretty fingerprint resistant. Overall construction is very solid, be careful once you insert the battery pack, because it tips the center of mass very sharply. Make sure you have a tight grip- mine nearly slipped out of my hand. In addition, I thought the Velcro straps on the battery cords were a nice touch; they keep the wires tucked away more neatly than plastic zip ties. Some also complained of the hard drive being too noisy- I didn't notice anything unusual, just the steady hum of the hard drive that was mildly audible only if I placed my ear right on top of the keyboard. Air flow seems fine- after several hours of usage, the keyboard was still the same temperature, and the bottom was warm, but not hot.

KEYBOARD/TOUCHPAD: I really like the keyboard, and note, it is a full-size keyboard. Some online review sites thought it flexed a bit too much, but I didn't notice any flexing. The chiclet style keyboard appears to be very solidly made. I do have one minor complaint, whilst typing, my greasy wrists tend to leave imprints all over the nice glossy plastic wrist-rest. I have never used a dimpled one-button touchpad before, but it seems to work well. While the touchpad only has a single button/bar, it has independent left-and-right hand sides that can be depressed, effectively making it a 2-button touchpad. Those of you who don't like touchpads may want to invest in a USB mouse for convenience.

WINDOWS 7: Initial setup of Windows 7 took about 30-40 minutes; thereafter, boot time is about 30 seconds. There's not much bloatware pre-installed; basically only MS Works, Trend Micro Anti-Virus, MS Office Starter, Acrobat Reader, and a media-player. Response to keyboard and mouse inputs seems fast, I didn't notice any lagging. Minor quibble- how do I get the Windows Classic look in Windows 7?!

DISPLAY: As for the display, I like the glossy screen, it looks fantastic, and text is clear, sharp, and very legible. Before I purchased the netbook, I was bothered by the screen not being flush with the bezel in various promotional images. Now with the unit actually in hand, I don't really notice any aesthetic issues. The whole seashell design is very nicely done.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Maximum battery time with a full charge is about 5-6.5 hours, but that's with LCD brightness at 50%, battery saver, and very little user activity. The battery saver settings are easy to toggle, simply pressing Fn + spacebar cycles through the different choices. The hard drive is oddly partitioned into a c: drive with about 100 GB and a d: drive with about 125 GB. Note that Nvidia's ION chipset takes 250 MB of the 2 GB of RAM for its own usage.

1080P MEDIA: Aha, here's the juicy part! So I installed CoreAVC Professional, and disabled deblocking (which helped to offset some of the CPU load). I played a 1080P music video, and opened up Windows task manager. CPU utilization was at just 60%, and I was also able to open a MS Powerpoint file, an MS Word file, and play a 3D Chess game. The 1080P file played fine, with no hiccups. I was quite impressed by the multi-tasking in the 1201N. Battery life decreased a bit to roughly 4 hours, but I wasn't continuously playing high definition media.

Also, I can't stress how important it is to use CoreAVC Pro for decoding High Definition H.264 media; the 1201N can handle 1080P without CoreAVC (using ffdshow), but CPU utilization shoots up to ~ 90%. With CoreAVC and deblocking turned off, it goes down to 60%. CoreAVC really helps boost the 1201N's multi-tasking abilities, it's also not too expensive. I think Core AVC 2.0 is selling for about $8-$10.

Sorry ladies and gents, haven't gotten around to testing games on it yet.

OTHER THOUGHTS: Reliability wise, all the netbooks are about the same, which is to say, not very reliable. Well, at least ASUS isn't as bad as HP. I decided to do myself a favor and buy a Squaretrade Extended warranty for peace of mind.

CONCLUSION: In summary, should you get this 1201N? Well, it depends on your needs. But if having 8 hour+ battery performance isn't terribly important, and you want a well performing netbook with decent battery life, superior multimedia capabilities, and some gaming performance, then I strongly recommend the 1201N.

I want to also add that purchasing from Amazon for $480 with no tax and free shipping makes this deal much hotter than buying from newegg, wherein tax tips the price over $500.


UPDATE (01/25/10): Engadget released their review today of the Dell Mini 10 with Broadcom Crystal HD hardware based accelerated netbook. All optioned out, with 1366x768 screen, the Dell Mini 10 comes to $425, which is actually quite close to the 1201N price-point. They noted that the Broadcom Crystal HD is ONLY capable of playing back 1080P WMV files media using Windows Media Player 11. For those of you who wish to use Quicktime, VLC, WMP Classic, or Flash 10.1 you're out of luck. MKV (matroskas), MOV, BLU-RAY DISCS, are **NOT** supported by the Broadcom Crystal HD chip, go figure. I know several other netbook manufacturers were considering using the Broadcom Crystal chip as well. The Dell Mini 10 also does not have an HDMI out, and the size is 2" smaller than the 1201N. Here, size makes a big difference.

So if you want any sort of 1080P playback utilizing a large range of input files while also maintaining multi-tasking at a sub-$500 price with reasonable battery life, the 1201N is the best option!

UPDATE (03/01/10): Engadget has reported on an updated, next-gen 1201PN model at this year's CeBIT. The Dual Atom... Read more ›

76 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect balance between portability and performance, January 7, 2010

By	SJR (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1201N-PU17-BK 12.1-Inch Black Netbook - 5 Hours of Battery Life (Personal Computers)

I am a huge gadget person and own numerous portable devices. This is my 4th laptop that I have owned and it is the perfect blend of portability and performance. All of my past laptops have been Dell Inspirons 15 inch machines that have treated me well, but I wanted something that I could carry around without the hassle of it taking up my entire travel bag. I played around with other 10.1 inch nebooks, but found them to be too small and not worth the hassle, especially since I have a Blackberry smartphone which can pretty much do everything a typical netbook can do. I looked at the HP Mini that offered the Ion Nvidia graphic card and had a slightly bigger 11.6 screen and almost purchased that device until I saw the Asus 1201N in a website's review. I noticed the Asus had a dual core atom and included all the upgrades of an HP 311 mini. I immediately found this Asus being sold on another vendor site (would have definitely bought from Amazon cause I have never been dissatisfied with this site, but it wasn't available yet) and purchased. I have not regretted the decision. The dual atom processor and the ION NVIDIA graphic card means you don't sacrifice as much functionality as you would with your typical netbook. I basically use it to do office work, light gaming and multimedia stuff like iTunes and watching movies (via web and locally) and have not disappointed. Below, in summary, are some of the pros and cons:

Pros:

- Outstanding screen resolution - high definition and crystal clear.
- perfect size - compared to the Dell mini, which is 10.1 the Asus 1201N machine is not that much bigger in size when folded, yet the screen offers a lot more view ability with 12.1 inches than a 10.1 inch screen.
- Plays multimedia pretty well. I have noticed some slowness with Hulu, but I have read this is a problem with Flash that is supposed to eventually be worked out.
- Windows 7 Home Premium included. The HP Mini I was looking at had XP Home on it for the same price (assuming the other features included).
- Pretty quick loading up - less than a minute to fully boot and be ready to roll.
- stays pretty cool other than a small area on the left that disperses the heat.
- Various power modes you can set to balance efficiency versus performance.
- Very competitive price given HDD size and all the included features like Bluetooth and SD media reader.

Cons:

- Battery only goes for about 4.5 hours at best and takes awhile to charge (this also might be because I am using high performance mode at the least so to be fair there is a power saving mode I have not tried).
- Keyboard sometimes is a little less responsive than typical keyboard. Half keystrokes don't necessarily work when typing quickly. This is not a big issue.

Overall I am very satisfied with this netbook. I did quite a bit of research and was between a high power netbook like this one, a ULV (ultra low voltage), or a smaller laptop. In the end I felt this machine was the best option for the price. This machine seemed more powerful than any ULV in the same price range (when considering the ION Nvidia graphic card) and when you started going into higher price ranges, you were almost better off with a low end laptop. The battery is definitely not going to provide your typical 5-10 hrs of time other netbooks/ULVs provide, but with more performance power, you are going to sacrifice a little battery life. The way I look at it, I can always buy another battery to carry around, but I can't just turn other netbooks into higher performance machines, when I need it.

****UPDATE****

I've gotten to play around with this netbook a little more since my initial review and I am happy to report that the 1080p on this unit is amazing given it is only a "netbook". I was able to hook it up to both a 40 inch and 65 inch TV using an HDMI cable and the unit was immediately displaying on the screen in full HD without a hitch. In addition, I joined Netflixs and was able to run movies seamlessly from their Streaming Internet Movies On Demand application. Hulu is still a little choppy, but given Netflixs works great, I now have some sort of proof it is the Flash application Hulu is using and not the hardware causing any problems.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Design, Perfect Size, Just A Touch Slow, February 26, 2010

By	skyward01 (Carrollton, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1201N-PU17-BK 12.1-Inch Black Netbook - 5 Hours of Battery Life (Personal Computers)

Like many who have reviewed before me I chose the ASUS 1201N based on the positive feedback from buyers. I also read a glowing recommendation from Laptop Magazine. The size is perfect and the ASUS 1201N is a nice, slim design.

However, the slow hard drive is noticeable and "Super Performance" mode still doesn't cut it (my wife's ASUS 1005HA is more responsive). I see that several buyers upgraded to a 7200rpm drive. I have already purchased and upgraded the RAM to 4GB (this does nothing for speed but it allows me to have a whole lot more going on at one time). So perhaps a hard drive upgrade is in order but spending $200 to upgrade memory and hard drive on a $500 machine puts it in another product class and kind of defeats the purpose of buying at this price point to start with.

First, however, I have to see about a new problem that has arisen recently.

About a week after receiving my ASUS 1201N it started "randomly" shutting off. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason. It could be running on AC or battery and I might have five applications open or none. The machine is vented well.

So I Googled "asus 1201n shuts off" and selected the ASUSTek Computer Inc. Forum link. For the next half hour my stomach lurched as I read report after report (seven pages at the time) of buyers having the same problem. Sometimes the issue seemed related to the USB mouse driver, other times to overheating because the cooling fan failed to start after awaking from sleep mode. At the time I am writing this review ASUS does not seem to have a solution and buyers had started returning their 1201Ns.

So I will give this another week or so and see if the problem can be resolved with a BIOS fix or software patch and then I'll decide if I will return the machine.

UPDATE: March 21, 2010 - ASUS released a BIOS upgrade that seems to have fixed the shutdown problem. I've been running almost two weeks now without a blue screen or any of the other annoying shutdown problems. Have decided to keep this machine and upgrade my rating to four stars. Still wish the machine was a little more responsive.

2115|RRSPGGMYE6CBT;2115|R23N49P12PKU4Z;2115|R1ONXAPDLIPB2Q;