Asus continues to broaden their Eee PC line of netbooks, as we roll through the first quarter of 2009. Clearly, however, Asus was aiming more for evolutionary than revolutionary with its latest Eee PC 1000HE. Even though it's largely unchanged from its siblings, there are still enough refinements to the product here to take notice. For the most part, Asus took aim at rival machines that were praised for their usability and portability but hammered when it came time to examine battery life. Essentially, the 1000HE wraps up everything the world has come to know and love about the Eee netbook line, but also offers a few enhancements like a faster Atom N280 processor, a new keyboard layout and perhaps most interesting,
Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2010, longer battery life.
The fit and finish, build quality and overall allure of this machine isn't all that different versus its closely related family members. And, as you can certainly tell from the model number, Asus didn't intend for it to be any huge departure from the norm. In fact, the 1000HE leads you on to believe that this is simply an Extended version (in terms of battery life, not cargo room) of the existing 1000H. In many ways, that's absolutely true, but as you'll see when venturing through the pages ahead, there were enough tweaks made to give even existing Eee owners a reason to pay attention.
Asus has been extremely careful not to drastically modify the magic elixir that has made the Eee PC line so successful, and while machines such as the S101 prove that the company doesn't mind rolling the dice, the 1000HE is about as safe as it gets. ASUS took no long shots in the design of this one, which will delight those already in love with the standard Eee PC look, but will probably disappoint those looking for a radical departure from the status quo. Our own feelings on the matter are this: the 1000HE is a fine form factor, though we wouldn't mind it losing a bit of thickness and seeing its bulk redistributed more evenly.
Looking at the hardware spread on this netbook, the whole "evolutionary" term pops back to mind. A few subtle updates are sprinkled throughout,
Office 2007 Pro Plus, though most of the components remain unchanged. Here's a look at what makes the Eee PC 1000HE tick:
"The Eee PC 1000HE boasts Asus' unique Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) which enhances energy efficiency and reduces power expenditure by up to 15%, delivering up to an astounding 9.5 hours of unplugged use. The chassis boasts a scratch-resistant hard-coat produced through cutting-edge Infusion Technology that not only yields incredible durability but also a beautiful style that doesn’t fade with time. It features a Digital Array Mic that eliminates both ambient noise and echoes for clearer voice recordings. Any audio source within 60° of the array mic is captured with pristine clarity. Share photos, games, videos, wallpapers and whatever else you fancy with your friends, family, and the rest of the world with Eee Storage, 10GB of web storage that comes with every Eee PC 1000HE. You can even create photo slideshows and share them online with your friends." - Asus
Intel Atom N280 Processor @ 1.66GHz, 512KB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB
1GB of DDR2 Memory 10.2 inch LED-backlit LCD (1024 x 600 resolution) Intel Mobile 945GSE Chipset 160GB Seagate Momentus 5400.5 Hard Drive 10GB Online Eee Storage (free for 18 months) 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Bluetooth 2.0 1.3 megapixel webcam with Digital Array Microphone 4-in-1 Card Reader (SD,
Office 2007 Professional, SDHC, Memory Stick and MS-PRO) VGA Output USB 2.0 x 3 RJ-45 (Ethernet 10/100) Headphone / Mic Input Jacks 3.2 Pounds (with Battery Installed) 6 Cell Li-ion High Density 8700mAh Battery (Up To 9.5 Hours of Computing) Windows XP Home Edition Color Options: Pearl White,
Office Standard, Black, Blue,
Microsoft Office 2010 Professional, Golden
The retail shipping box is remarkably similar to that which came with the Eee PC 1000H, boasting just enough room for the machine itself, a thoughtful slip cover and the AC adapter.
Office Standard Asus Eee PC 1000HE Netbook Evaluat
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