ASUS EEE PC? personal digital assistant. ASUS Eee PC X101CH
The ASUS Eee PC series of ultraportable devices has been known since 2007. This includes not only consumer netbooks, but also tablets. The three letters “E” in the name indicate that the owner will not experience difficulties, neither in learning, nor in games, nor in work (“Easy to learn, Easy to play and Easy to work.”). In addition, the models in this series are generally affordable, which attracts a wide audience of users. The ASUS Eee PC X101CH is a typical representative of the legendary series; it is universal and extremely easy to use. In principle, such a netbook will easily cope with simple tasks, so you should not neglect such a purchase.
Specifications
| CPU: | Atom N2600 1600 MHz |
| RAM: | 1 GB DDR3 800 MHz |
| Data storage: | 320 GB 5400 rpm SATA II |
| Display: | 10.1" 1024x600 WXGA LED |
| Video card: | Intel GMA 3600 |
| Drive unit: | absent |
| Wireless connection: | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 |
| Interfaces: | 2xUSB 2.0, VGA, HDMI |
| Additionally: | 0.3 MP webcam, mono speaker |
| Battery: | 3-cell Li-ion 2200 mAh |
| Dimensions, weight: | 263x188x22-13 mm, 1 kg |
| Operating system: | Windows 7 Starter |
Design
The appearance of the ASUS Eee PC X101CH netbook simply cannot leave any user indifferent. The first thing that catches your eye is the dark red color of the case (Matte red) in combination with classic black. Thanks to this color, the mini-laptop not only looks mesmerizing, but also incredibly elegant and stylish. It is worth noting that the manufacturer did not stop at just one color, so users will be able to choose between a case of brown (Matte brown), white (Matte white) and black (Matte black). In general, there are suitable options for literally everyone.However, it is not only the color of the case that arouses interest in the Eee PC X101CH netbook. The lid actually contains a nice texture. From a distance it resembles a scaly pattern, but upon closer inspection you can clearly see a miniature pattern consisting of small rectangles. In addition to the texture, the outside area is decorated with a small chrome ASUS logo.
If you pay attention to the shape of a netbook, they are no different from similar devices. The corners of the body are not sharpened, but rather smoothed; The netbook's panels are not characterized by excessive clarity and rigor; rather, they are streamlined; the side ends are noticeably beveled towards the front edge. The thickness of the laptop ranges from 13-22 mm, and the width and depth are 263 and 188 mm, respectively. The weight of the netbook is light. With a three-section battery it does not exceed 1 kg.
Unlike the lid of the netbook, the inside is not only red, but also black. Moreover, a black transition is provided between the dark frame around the display and the red working area. Same texture except for the keyboard area. Flat black keys go well with it.
The case does not have a single glossy element, with the exception of the key under the touchpad. This is a big plus, since the matte surface is very practical. Even if you use your netbook for a long time, you won't be bothered by fingerprints because they will be almost invisible. By the way, the ASUS Eee PC X101CH case is made of plastic, which, however, does not prevent it from being quite resistant to deflections.
It is worth considering that when closing the netbook, the lid does not fit completely, so you should be careful when transporting it so that small foreign elements do not get inside. Well, touching the working platform and the display can be avoided, since thin rubber feet are located on the display frame and on the keyboard. By the way, at 9 degrees the auto-close works and the netbook closes completely. The X101CH cover is attached using two small and relatively tight hinges. It opens easily, and there is also a small protrusion for convenience. By the way, the maximum opening angle of the laptop is 150 degrees, which is enough for any work and in various conditions.
As already mentioned, the bottom is made of matte plastic. There are no compartments on it, except perhaps the place where the battery is located. On the bottom panel you can see only two large round legs, while the other two, rectangular, are located directly on the battery. They are small in size compared to the first two. Be that as it may, thanks to the rubberized feet, the mini-laptop will stand firmly on any flat surface.
It is worth noting that on the bottom there is a small grille behind which the speaker is hidden. The rest of the area is practically empty, only mounting holes with deep-set screws are visible here.
Display and sound
The ASUS Eee PC X101CH netbook has a 10.1-inch AU Optronics B101AW06 V4 LCD screen with a resolution of 1024x600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 4:3. The display performance is not bad. For example, when watching a movie, the image was bright and clear, and while working with documentation, texts were clearly readable, not only indoors, but even outdoors. In our opinion, the color rendition was rich, but not too rich.
By the way, I was incredibly pleased with the matte surface of the screen, because most netbooks have a glossy finish, which glares a lot in street lighting conditions. In our case, there will be no such problems and nothing will interfere with watching videos or web pages. But the viewing angles of this netbook are not good enough. True, this applies more to vertical ones. For example, when the display was slightly tilted towards itself, the image faded. When we tilted the screen in the opposite direction, the inversion was insignificant, but still noticeable. The horizontal viewing angles of the display are much better. In any case, three people sitting next to each other will be able to watch videos or photos without problems.
The ASUS Eee PC X101CH netbook is equipped with an integrated VGA camera with a resolution of 0.3 MP. The camera transmits a fairly clear and moderately bright image, which should be enough for video conferencing. There is a microphone next to the webcam.
As for the sound, it is not only loud enough, but also clear. During playback, it comes out through a single high-quality mono speaker located on the bottom. Despite the fact that there are no stereo speakers, as in many netbooks, the volume is quite high. And at maximum there was no audible distortion or wheezing, and the sound itself filled a medium-sized room. Although the predominance of high and mid frequencies was quite noticeable. However, if you connect headphones to the netbook, you can hear surround sound with bass. Although, even without this, the sound in the netbook is quite good.
Keyboard and touchpad
The ASUS Eee PC X101CH netbook is equipped with a keyboard built on the island principle. This means that the buttons are located separately from each other, which reduces the number of erroneous presses on adjacent keys to a minimum. Note that each of the 83 keyboard buttons has a square or rectangular shape, as well as a pleasant rough surface. The plane of the keys is not concave, however, this does not affect typing comfort in any way.
It is worth noting that there is only one power button above the keyboard area. When the netbook is turned on, it is illuminated in blue, matching the function key markings. By the way, the rest of the buttons are marked almost identically; the difference in color (only a few tones) is visible only up close. But the sizes of the symbols differ. The Latin alphabet is larger, and the Cyrillic alphabet is correspondingly smaller.
Since we paid attention to the size of the buttons, we note that, in general, they are not small. Only the arrow block keys, the right button and [Ё] were narrowed. This does not create any particular inconvenience, just like a single-row one. What you really have to get used to is the proximity of the , , and keys to the arrow block buttons.
As for the key travel, it is shorter than average. There is a clear feedback when you press each button. By the way, while typing texts, a distinct click is heard. In general, I personally liked typing, although sometimes while typing quickly, my fingers often slipped along the flat surface of the buttons.
Another input device is a touch pad. It is located in the center of the wrist rest. The touchpad is slightly offset relative to the spacebar and deepens quite interestingly - at the bottom by two millimeters, and closer to the top it is on the same level as the under-palm platform itself. From the side, this touchpad resembles a slide.
The touch zone itself is small, so positioning will take some getting used to at first. In principle, everything is standard here: the surface of the touchpad is matte, textured, and responds well to finger touch. The functionality is no worse. In particular, among the supported gestures one can note not only vertical and horizontal scrolling, but also support for other multi-touch gestures, for example, rotating images, zooming, swiping with several fingers. The touchpad is disabled by pressing the + buttons.
I'll add a few more words about the functionality of the netbook. At the top of the display there is a tab with an arrow, thanks to which an additional ASUS proprietary Eee Docking menu is displayed, containing a number of useful applications. For example, in Access you will not only have access to various online entertainment (radio, games, etc.) when you select ASUS@Vibe, but also ASUS WebStorage. In addition, there is Sharing, for quick access to the webcam, Experience, which offers to change the font size, and finally Tools, with automatic updates as well as various settings.
Finally, returning to input devices, we’ll devote a few words to the key under the touch field. In this model, it hides two mouse buttons. The rocker key is convenient to use. It presses easily, almost without any effort. It's just that when you press it, it makes an annoying loud clattering noise.
Performance
The sample that came to us for testing runs on a pre-installed 32-bit Windows 7 Starter operating system. She rated the system performance 3.2 points. At the same time, graphics for games scored the lowest number of points. The processor, which received 3.3 points, is almost at the same level. It is noteworthy that all other components were rated much better. In particular, the leader, the hard drive, scored 5.9 points.
Based on the results, we can conclude that the ASUS Eee PC X101CH is suitable for general computing and will also help in processing simple graphics tasks. Let's see what kind of “stuffing” is on board this model.
The “base” of the netbook is the dual-core Atom N2600, built on the Intel Cedarview-M platform. The processor has a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz and a second level cache of 512 KB per core. It is worth noting that the CPU is built using 32nm technology, but the main thing is that it is energy efficient with a low TDP ratio not exceeding 3.5 W. Among other features of the processor is support for Hyper-Threading technology, thanks to which four streams of information are processed simultaneously.
The Intel Atom N2600 is complemented by a built-in GMA 3600 video card, which does not have its own memory, but uses part of the system one. This is not to say that this graphics is the best option for games, because with support for DirectX 10.1, it can handle mostly undemanding old games. But the presence of an HD video decoder will allow the GPU to play video without problems, including Full HD without delays. And for everyday office tasks, this is generally an excellent video card.
Technical characteristics of Intel GMA 3600 can be seen in the screenshot. They were obtained using the GPU-Z application.
To better understand the capabilities of the integrated graphics and processor, we tested them in the 3DMark06 application. The results were not high: SM2.0 – 190 points, HDR/SM3.0 – 151 points. The processor scored the maximum number of points – 829.
The performance level of the CPU and GPU can also be found in Cinebench R10. In it, the system is loaded with different scenarios, single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering tests are used. In addition, graphics performance is measured in the OpenGL viewport test. The results showed that the processor received 551 points in the single-threaded test, and 1404 in the multi-threaded test. In OpenGL, the graphics capabilities were rated 860 points. For example, the same HD 6310 graphics from AMD, which is successfully used in other netbook models, showed twice as many points, and the AMD Radeon HD 6250 - 1334 points. However, if we compare the GMA 3600 with other, earlier video cards from Intel, then in the Cinebench R10 test it shows higher results (Intel GMA 3650 - 1176, Intel GMA 4500M - 687, and Intel GMA 3150 - 285).
But performance depends not only on the processor and video card. RAM, or more precisely its volume, also makes its contribution. In our model, the memory stick is soldered into the motherboard - it is a 1 GB Hynix (DDR3-800 MHz standard). However, there may be specifications with twice as much memory. In any case, you will not be able to increase the amount of system memory. Note that the performance of a netbook with this capacity will not be very high, although you will be able to edit photos and other images. But when loading several applications, your system will not respond as quickly as you would like.
The circle of important hardware components is completed by the Hitachi HTS543232A7A384 hard drive, which has a capacity of 320 GB and a spindle speed of 5400 rpm. Connecting a hard drive via a SATA-II interface will provide a throughput of about 300 Mb/s.
We tested the hard drive using several applications. Thanks to CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1, read and write speeds were determined. The screenshot shows that the sequential read speed was 94.75 MB/s, and the write speed was 91.98 MB/s. The speed of reading and writing random blocks is no less important for the operation of the system. In this case, it is 0.464 Mb/s and 0.913 Mb/s, respectively.
As for the second test – HD Tune Pro, the following results were obtained: minimum read speed 38.1 Mb/s, maximum – 94.5 Mb/s, average – 72.7 Mb/s. In addition, the program determined the access time, which was 18.9 ms. If we compare it with the performance of other tested ultraportable devices, the time it takes to search for the desired track on the HDD in our model may differ. For example, in the ASUS U36SD it is 18.3 ms, while in the HP Mini 210 netbook the access time is less - 15.5 ms. True, in the latter the spindle rotation speed is higher, not 5400 rpm, but 7200, which affects the overall performance.
Note that you can use not only hard drive space to store data, but also ASUS WebStorage web storage. A 3 GB capacity is offered free of charge, on which you can store archival documents or other data. If suddenly your personal information on the netbook is somehow destroyed, everything in the storage will remain safe and sound.
To measure overall system performance, the netbook was tested using PCMark 7, where it received a score of 662. In the Storage subtest, which evaluates the performance of the hard drive, the system earned the highest number of points - 1445; the result in Creativity came in second place with 1080 points. This test assessed performance with images and videos.
In order to comprehensively evaluate the system components of the ASUS Eee PC X101CH, we launched another PCMark Vantage test. In it, the netbook received 1346 points. As in other tests we conducted, the maximum number of points was obtained in HDD Suite - 2745 points. It tested the hard drive's ability to edit video, download various programs, and import images. For comparison, the lowest result was obtained in Memories (730 points), where the simultaneous operation of two streams, transcoding and video editing were tested.
Ports and communications
This model has few interfaces. All of them are located on the side faces. On the left side of the Eee PC X101CH netbook there are two ports for outputting content to an external display in analog and digital format. Between VGA and HDMI there is one USB 2.0 port and a power socket. Closer to the beginning of the edge you can see a 3-in-1 card reader that reads SD/SDHC/MMC formats. It is worth noting that all communications are at an optimal distance from each other, so when several devices are connected simultaneously, confusion is avoided.
The connectors on the right side are also not tightly located. There is enough space between them, however, we see only one USB 2.0 port. By and large, all you need to do is connect a mouse and, for example, a flash drive. In general, that's all. In addition, on the right side there is a combined jack for connecting a microphone and headphones. Again, one, not two connectors. And finally, this end ends with a Kensington lock hole and an RJ-45 network port.
To connect to the Internet, the owner of this netbook will be able to use the Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n module (Atheros AR9002WB-1NG). The list of wireless communications also includes a Bluetooth module version 3.0.
Heat
Undoubtedly, few people will like a laptop or netbook whose case will become very hot. As a rule, this causes considerable discomfort, regardless of whether you are holding the device on your lap or working at a desk. In order to feel aware of this issue, we checked the heating of internal components using the CPUID Hardware Monitor application. The results showed that sensors located on the processor recorded a maximum temperature of 76 degrees Celsius. The heating of the hard drive was also low and amounted to 42°C.
At the same time, the heating of the external surface of the netbook was measured at an absolute temperature in the laboratory of 24 degrees Celsius. The results showed that the average temperature of the Eee PC X101CH without load was 35.5 degrees on the platform and 34.4 degrees on the bottom. At the same time, the center of the bottom heated up to a maximum of 41.2 degrees, and the coolest place was the upper right corner on the bottom panel, where the temperature did not exceed 26.8°C. This heating is not critical, but is noticeable.
Under load (Furmark + AIDA stress test), within an hour the temperature rose in places by two to three degrees, and in some points by 7-10°C. The greatest increase was, again, on the bottom from 26.8 to 36.6 °C and from 36.5 to 42.9 °C, but in the keyboard area there were no significant jumps (within 1-2 degrees).
Battery
ASUS Eee PC X101CH has a 3-segment lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2200 mAh (23 Wh). Manufacturers claim that with such a battery the mini-laptop will work for about five hours, and the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine energy management system will help achieve longer battery life. Moreover, this technology will increase system performance by approximately 15 percent.Conclusion
Of course, such a netbook is ideal for anyone who leads a mobile lifestyle. Taking the ASUS Eee PC X101CH with you will not be difficult, because it is small in size and weighs no more than one kilogram. Most likely, the owner will use this netbook to send emails, work with documentation, and surf the web, in particular on social networks. However, there are enough opportunities for other tasks, for example, viewing photos, movies or simple games. At the same time, you will not be annoyed by the glare of the display, since it has a matte finish. By the way, there are other advantages to a netbook. For example, a small but comfortable island keyboard, a non-staining outer surface with a simple texture, and quite good sound, especially considering that there is only one speaker.Apparently, the netbook's impressive appearance, choice of body color and relatively low cost with good functionality will attract a large audience of users, including students or office workers who often have to go on business trips.
We thank the ASUS representative office in Ukraine www.asus.ua for kindly providing the laptop for testing.
The successive addition to the Eee PC family could not go unnoticed. At the annual CES 2012 exhibition, a model from ASUS was presented - the Eee PC 1025CE Flare series. This series is the successor to the Eee PC Seashell line, in which we could see netbooks that captivate at first glance with their body colors and stylish appearance. Most likely, the new 1025CE Flare, which has replaced it, will join the ranks of similar devices designed for everyone who needs a functional and relatively inexpensive “machine” on business trips and other trips. But the main thing is that such a netbook will appeal to connoisseurs of style and elegance, since it has smooth body lines and generally looks fashionable and will be remembered, as they say, by anyone.
Specifications
| CPU: | Intel Atom N2800 1860 MHz |
| RAM: | 2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz |
| Data storage: | 500 GB 5400 rpm SATA II |
| Display: | 10.1" 1024x600 WXGA LED |
| Video card: | Intel GMA HD 3600 |
| Drive unit: | absent |
| Wireless connection: | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, |
| Interfaces: | 2xUSB 2.0, USB 3.0, VGA, HDMI |
| Additionally: | 0.3 MP webcam, mono speaker |
| Battery: | 6-cell Li-ion 5200 mAh |
| Dimensions, weight: | 262x179x21-38 mm, 1.16 kg |
| Operating system: | Windows 7 Starter |
Design
Most recently, we tested the ASUS Eee PC X101CH netbook, a little earlier than the HP Mini 210. At first glance, the ASUS Eee PC 1025 CE is very similar to these models. In fact, these devices are different, although not so radically. Here the difference in color and, if we take the same PC X101CH as an example, the lack of texture are barely noticeable. Let's see what makes the Eee PC 1025CE attractive?Let's start right away with the fact that users are offered three colors: blue (Mysterious Blue), pink (Addict Pink) and purple (Plucky Purple), unlike the 1025C model, which also has classic colors. Therefore, ASUS Eee PC 1025 CE will most likely appeal to young girls rather than boys.
Having examined the netbook's body from the outside, we noticed that it is made of plastic. Although, some parts from a distance look like metal. For example, side ends. The lid of the device bends slightly, the bottom, on the contrary, is more rigid. By the way, the lower panel, like the upper one, is practically not decorated with anything. Except that the ASUS logo is located on the lid.
The bottom of the netbook has the same matte finish as the outside. The bottom panel is solid, there is not a single screw visible on it, not a single compartment to get to the internal components. On the bottom there is only a 6-segment battery protruding beyond the body, and two grilles. Behind one of them, the longer one, you can see a mono speaker. Note that the manufacturers have not forgotten about the rubber feet on which the netbook will stand. They are located around the perimeter and have a rounded upward (convex) shape.
By the way, when deciding on the shape of the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE case, the designers deviated a little from the traditional design. In particular, streamlined panels “tend” towards each other on all sides. Closer to the edges, the distance separating the upper and lower parts of the body becomes very small. In general, this solution makes the netbook seem thinner than it actually is. Although, of course, its dimensions are not too large - 262x179x21-38 mm. Note that the official ASUS website indicates a thickness of 34 mm, so most likely the discrepancies in measurements are a consequence of the installation of a protruding 6-cell battery. And one more nuance - the “folding” connector of the network controller. Undoubtedly, this is a kind of “contribution” to reducing the thickness of the body.
The interior is quite interesting. The designers here chose to use three colors at once. The main one, of course, is pink. Against its background, the steel-colored keyboard buttons and the black frame around the display look great. Although, probably, the same gray color on the frame would be appropriate. By the way, the bezel around the display is quite wide, and it also visually looks like polished metal. The frame at the top has beveled corners.
As for the use of gloss and matte surfaces, preference is clearly given to the latter. In any case, on the work platform only the key under the touchpad is mirrored, and on the outside there are the right and left ends, the logo. By the way, all these parts are chrome, so the netbook looks very impressive. All other surfaces are matte, on which fingerprints are not visible at all. Interestingly, even scratches on such a surface are not so noticeable. So the model is not just fashionable, but also quite practical.
Display and sound
The ASUS Eee PC 1025CE netbook is equipped with a 10.1-inch M101NWT2 R3 LCD display with a resolution of 1024x600 pixels. Note that the LED-backlit screen is bright, has good contrast and reproduces colors at a decent level. The screen also has an undeniable advantage - a matte surface, which is so important especially when working outdoors in bright daylight.
As for viewing angles, this is a problem with most laptop and netbook displays. Our model also suffered from this fate. Horizontal viewing angles, like vertical ones, are not wide enough. For example, tilting the screen of the Eee PC 1025CE back a little reveals color inversion and darkening of the image. If two people try to view the same photos, the one sitting off-center will see a slightly distorted picture. And as you move away, you will eventually see an image that is too dark and unclear.
On the display frame you can see the lens of the built-in smart camera. It has a resolution of 0.3 megapixels and four times digital zoom. Using the shutter, you can open or close the lens, as well as zoom in or out. It is worth noting that the picture will be clear until you start scaling up. Then it will become more blurry.
Note that on one side of the camera there is a built-in microphone, which will help with Skype calls and chats, and on the other there is an indicator showing when the webcam is on.
Like the ASUS Eee PC X101CH model we tested earlier, this netbook has good acoustics. It is noteworthy that the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE also has one speaker, but we hear very decent sound in both volume and quality, of course, for a netbook. It is worth noting that the high-quality mono speaker is located on the bottom, so the volume is partially lost during playback. This is especially audible on the street, where there is a lot of extraneous noise. However, such an audio system will be enough for background sounds, but for more comfortable listening you will need to connect headphones.
Keyboard and touchpad
Note that, despite the small size of the working platform, the keyboard buttons turned out to be quite large, as for a netbook. For comparison, the keys on a standard 15.6-inch laptop measure 15x15 mm, while the keys on the Eee PC 1025CE are 14 mm. True, not all buttons have such dimensions. For example, the pointer block of a netbook is highly compressed. Moreover, there is no separate function key panel, so , , , and are adjacent to the arrow buttons and work in combination with the key.
A few words should be said about the surface of each key. Firstly, it's worth knowing that you will have 83 buttons at your disposal. They are all clearly labeled and have a matte flat surface. Our test sample did not have a Russian layout, but all other models, of course, will have both Cyrillic and English characters.
By the way, there are practically no keys above the keyboard itself, only one – the power button located on the right. When the netbook is operating, it lights up in a pleasant blue color. On the left side there is only an inscription indicating that this netbook belongs to the Flare series.
The ELAN PS/2 touchpad is located barely noticeable to the left. Its surface is smooth, deepened by a couple of millimeters, the boundaries are observed only on three sides. The touchpad area is small - 79x37 mm, but quite consistent with the size of a netbook. In practice, such a manipulator turned out to be quite sensitive. Moreover, I was pleased with the responsiveness not only during normal positioning or vertical scrolling, but also when scaling, scrolling and rotating images. In any case, when performing multi-touch gestures, you didn’t have to wait for the touchpad to “figure out” what to do with the picture, but quickly did everything that was required. The only thing I had to deal with was when my fingers got stuck on a smooth surface, which reduced the speed of cursor control. In fact, it is typical for wet fingers to glide more slowly. However, if you do not want to use the touchpad for work, you can disable it using the + key combination.
Separately, I would like to say about the operation of the “rocker” key. It is as small as the sensory area. It is convenient to use because it is pressed very clearly. True, you can hear a characteristic clicking sound, and the button only works when you press the edges. By the way, the key differs from the touchpad in its glossy surface, but this does not affect the ease of use.
Immediately below the touchpad button are LED indicators. This group contains an indicator of the battery charge status, hard drive operation, and wireless network. Finally, a traditional indicator showing the operating status of the netbook. Note that when the netbook is closed, the LEDs are clearly visible, so you will always know whether, for example, your Eee PC 1025CE needs charging or not.
Performance
Let's start with the fact that the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE netbook runs on a pre-installed 32-bit Windows 7 Starter operating system. In addition, technology from ASUS – Express Gate – is also used. This function will help you gain access to the network literally within five seconds from the moment you turn it on. Thanks to the launch of this proprietary shell, you can always quickly view the weather forecast, read or send emails, and watch videos online. Note that when you turn on the laptop, you are offered a choice: run Windows 7 or Express Gate.
After starting Windows, we did a performance index test. This operating system rated the netbook low - 3.4 points. At the same time, graphics earned the least number of points. However, the processor is not far behind it. Its capabilities were rated at 3.6 points. But other components received higher ratings. You can see detailed results in the screenshot.
In general, this performance index indicates that the system will not only cope with all basic operations, such as web browsing, video, office tasks, but will also allow, for example, image editing.
Let's look at the hardware of the ASUS 1025CE. This netbook has an energy-efficient Atom N2800 processor with a clock frequency of 1.86 GHz and a 1 MB L2 cache. Let us immediately note that this processor is aimed at installation in netbooks. It is built using 32-nanometer technology on the Cedar Trail platform and has two computing cores. In general, such a CPU can handle most operations that do not require a lot of processing power. By the way, the TDP coefficient is small, it is 6.5 W.
The technical characteristics of the Atom N2800 can be seen in the screenshot.
The processor is complemented by RAM (Hunix HMT325S6CFR8C-H9), the volume of which in this netbook is 2 GB. The RAM is DDR3-1333 MHz standard. By and large, this is the best option for ensuring productive operation of a netbook.
But the graphics in this mini-laptop have very limited capabilities. In principle, the integrated Intel GMA HD 3600 is ideal for standard computing operations, can decode video, and play Full HD. But games and more complex graphic tasks are unlikely to be capable of this video card. Although, I don’t think that the owner of this netbook will engage in video editing or, for example, play modern demanding toys. Most likely, the matter will be limited to web surfing, viewing photos, videos, or ordinary work with documents. And in this case, you must admit, “great intelligence” is not required from the video card.
By the way, the low potential of the built-in video card is confirmed by a test in Cinebench R11.5. This application provides its own assessment of CPU and GPU, which is based on measuring 3D graphics performance in complex scenes using textures, effects. As a result, in OpenGL mode the HD 3600 video card received less than 1 fps (0.59). The processor earned almost the same number of points – 0.61 pts.
Let's look at another important hardware component - the hard drive. If you are going to store a large amount of information, you can completely rely on it. The package includes a 2.5-inch Hitachi HTS547550A9E384 hard drive connected via SATA II. It has a capacity of 500 GB and a rotation speed of 5400 rpm. You can fill this HDD with your favorite photos, movies, and other documents. Of course, there will still be room for software. The only thing is that having a higher speed of 7200 rpm would not only improve throughput, but also reduce access time.
Those who want to protect their most important data from loss can additionally use web storage resources. ASUS provides 3 GB for this. And you can access the storage thanks to Eee Docking - a panel for quick access to various services and the necessary set of applications.
In order to measure the performance of the hard drive and obtain information about it, we tested Hitachi using the HD Tune Pro 5.00 application. As a result of the diagnostics, the following data reading speed results were obtained: minimum – 21 Mb/s, maximum – 84.3 Mb/s and average – 57.3 Mb/s. Access times were also determined. It was 18.5 ms.
In addition, the HD Tune utility provides detailed information not only about the serial number of the hard drive and its size itself, but also about the buffer size.
In addition, CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 was launched, testing the performance of drives. In particular, the speed of performing various operations is tested here. For example, sequential or random copying and recording. By the way, the screenshot below clearly demonstrates the result of the sequential read speed - 71.12 MB/s and write speed - 70.64 MB/s.
If we compare the results with the performance of other hard drives installed, for example, in the HP Mini 210 and ASUS Eee PC X101CH, then their sequential read and write speeds are much higher - 108 and 106.7 MB/s and 94.75 and 91.98 MB/s.
And this is what a comparison graph looks like, showing the data transfer speed of hard drives installed in other netbooks.
In addition to separate testing of the hardware, a comprehensive PCMark 7 test was carried out, the results of which can be used to judge the capabilities of each component separately and the operation of the system as a whole. So, the final score was 806. The highest number of points, 1514, was obtained in the Storage test, which directly assessed the performance of the drive. The Productivity test ended with a minimum score of 524 points. But the ability to work with graphics “turned out” in an honorable second place with 1269 points.
In general, testing confirmed that the netbook's performance is good only for standard tasks that do not require complex computing operations.
Ports and communications
Quite often in netbooks there is such a set of interfaces that you involuntarily understand: “Manufacturers saved money.” Our case is different. The ASUS Eee PC 1025CE has enough ports and connectors, although, again, they are not very diverse.Let's start looking at the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE from the right side. There are two USBs “gathered” here. One of them has the 2.0 standard, the second is the faster 3.0. Also on the right side there is a combined connector for connecting a microphone and headphones, and a built-in card reader that reads SD, MMC, SDHC formats. It is noteworthy that the Kensington lock hole is not at the end of the right edge, but between the RJ-45 network port and USB 3.0.
If we compare the level of filling with interfaces, there are slightly fewer of them on the left side. First you can see a digital HDMI port, a USB 2.0 port, and an analog VGA video output. At the very end there is a connector for connecting the power supply. It is worth noting that on the left there is also space for a ventilation hole through which warm air exits.
It should be noted that various devices can be recharged via USB ports. This is possible thanks to USB Charge+ technology. Charging occurs while the netbook is in sleep mode and even if it is completely turned off.
In principle, all interfaces in the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE are distributed relatively evenly, so there should not be any inconvenience when connecting external devices to it.
Note that, with the exception of the side ends, there are no more ports anywhere, neither front nor back.
The range of wireless communications is presented in full. To transfer data over a short distance, you can use Bluetooth 3.0, and to access the Internet there is Wi-Fi Atheros AR9002WB-1NG standard 802.11 b/g/n. By the way, support for DLNA technology also contributes to the functionality. Thanks to it, you can transmit data or receive content. The main condition is device compatibility (each must support the DLNA standard).
Heat
Working on a very hot netbook, and even on a hot summer day, is not a pleasant pleasure. Therefore, the potential user will not ignore the heating level, so as not to blame the unstable operation of the system and discomfort during operation later.We tested the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE at 28 degrees Celsius. Without a doubt, this, one way or another, affected the heating of the case. As a result, temperatures below 31 degrees were not recorded during measurements either at idle or, naturally, under load.
To confirm this: during idle time, the working area heated up to the maximum in the lower left corner to 34.3 degrees, and on the bottom the hottest “spot” was the lower right corner, where the temperature was 38.5°C.
When compared with heating under load, the increase was small - by 1-3 degrees. As in idle time, the lower right corner on the bottom heated up the most. Here the temperature rose to 41.5 degrees Celsius. But the bottom left corner turned out to be the coolest - 33.8°C. In fact, such heating is felt, but not so much that it bakes your knees or palms.
By the way, comparing it with the heating of the same ASUS Eee PC X101CH, it can be noted that the average temperature of the working area under load for the Eee PC 1025CE was lower - 33.8 degrees, the bottom - 37.2, while for the X101CH 36.1 and 37.9 degrees, respectively.
Battery
The netbook is equipped with a 6-cell lithium-ion battery. It has a capacity of 5200 mAh (56 Wh). Manufacturers claim that with such a battery, the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE can operate for up to 12 hours. Undoubtedly, the maximum time the battery will “show” in standby mode is up to 3 weeks, according to ASUS. By the way, if your netbook is not in standby mode, but in hibernation, then Instant On technology allows you to wake it up in literally 3-5 seconds.
We tested the battery using the Battery Eater app and got the longest idle time of 9 hours and 6 minutes. This is not to say that in other tests it was too low. In contrast, the battery lasted 7 hours and 58 minutes in Read's mode on the Energy Saver power plan. And in “High Performance” we also saw a good result – 6 hours 18 minutes. Undoubtedly, the battery life under load will be shorter in both power supply plans.
Note that ASUS also supplies the netbook with 3-section batteries with a capacity of 2600 mAh (28 Wh). It is clear that the operating time from such a lightweight battery will be shorter, but you will get another plus - less weight. By the way, the weight of a netbook with a 6-segment battery is 1 kg 16 grams, although in reality it feels more. This is not too much for a trip, however, it is worth considering that taking with you a 30-watt charger, which looks like charging a regular mobile phone, will add another 156 grams to the weight.
Before talking about power consumption, it is worth noting that the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE uses the Super Hybrid Engine II control system. Using this proprietary utility, you can increase the operating time of the battery by selecting the desired mode: either energy saving or high performance. We took measurements in the latter mode and obtained the following results. The average power consumption of a netbook is quite low. Almost all indicators are approximately the same. For example, when idle, the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE consumes only 13 W, a little more when surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi - 15 W, and, finally, the maximum power of the netbook when running FurMark and the AIDA stress test - 18 Wh. We saw similar power consumption when testing the HP Folio 13, where the power during idle and web surfing was 13.4 and 16.5 Wh.
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Conclusion
Having examined the ASUS Eee PC 1025CE netbook, we can first of all note its youth style and its belonging, most likely, to a female audience. Although, despite its very attractive appearance, the mini-laptop has other advantages, including the presence of USB 3.0, an ergonomic island keyboard, energy efficiency and a long battery life. Of course, we must remember that this is a netbook with its own specific equipment, so you shouldn’t expect “crazy” speed from it when performing various tasks, incredibly high-quality acoustics, or support for complex graphics programs. In fact, such a device is not purchased for this at all, but, for example, for periodic trips in which there is a need to check email. And during a long flight, the Eee PC 1025CE will be needed to brighten up several hours of watching movies. The main thing is that this netbook can become one of the brightest and most memorable purchases.We thank the ASUS representative office in Ukraine www.asus.ua for kindly providing the laptop for testing.
Over the past few years, the popularity of laptops has only increased. Manufacturers began to massively develop models designed for different audiences. This is how gaming, media, office and just work laptops appeared.
But just 10 years ago, the laptop market wasn't so diverse. Each model turned out to be special, and was noticed by everyone who followed the production of devices. At that time, users preferred compact and autonomous models.
This device appeared on the market in 2008. At that time it was announced as an innovative solution. Its main features were its compact size, budget cost and versatility.
The specs of the Asus EEE PC 4G weren't outstanding, and in this day and age they would turn off any buyer. But in 2008, the device’s power was enough for all everyday tasks. Office workers and students bought a netbook as an assistant.
Now, looking at modern models, the Asus EEE PC 4G would be called mobile, since even some smartphones have already acquired a 7-inch diagonal, not to mention tablets. But at that time, not everyone could afford such a luxury as a stand-alone and compact laptop. Therefore, releasing such a model at a low cost turned out to be the best option.
Supply
Asus EEE PC 4G comes in a soft blue box. Everything looks very beautiful and attractive. On the front there is a photo of the Asus EEE PC 4G netbook, while the characteristics are indicated on the side. It is immediately clear that the model is focused on work, study and play. This is exactly what the manufacturer wrote on the box.
The front also indicates that the netbook is running Windows XP. On the back of the package are the main characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G. Since the device is compact, the box is also small in size, so they didn’t even attach a handle to it for transportation.
By the way, you can also understand from the packaging why the netbook has three letters “E” in its name. The manufacturer mentions the word “easy” - “easy”. He wants to convey to the buyer that this device will be easy to operate, easy to learn and easy to play.
Equipment
But the fun begins with unpacking. The visual characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G can already be seen upon opening the box. Inside, in addition to the device itself, there is a battery, a power supply, and documentation for the netbook. The manufacturer also offers a CD with a manual, a software license from Microsoft, and a warranty card.
Many users noted the presence of a folder for transportation. This is a fabric case with no handles or locks. It looks like a folder and closes with Velcro. It is made in black, and the Asus logo is on the tongue.
Appearance
Description of Asus EEE PC 4G should start with the appearance. Nowadays such a model would not attract attention: the body is too thick and at the same time small. Rough lines are no longer in fashion, and the lack of graphic elements makes the design unremarkable.
The body is made of matte black plastic. There is a silver logo in the middle. Also visible are large hinges that hold two parts of the device. Next to one of them the series is indicated - Eee PC.
The case does not have rounded corners, so the appearance seems more businesslike. Most likely, because of this, many people think that the device is designed for businessmen. But if someone didn’t like this color scheme, they could buy a netbook with a white body. In this case, the model looked brighter and more stylish.
There are several ventilation holes on the bottom of the netbook. There is a cover in the middle that provides access to the processor. To get to the rest of the system components, you need to use a screwdriver. Thanks to it, you can easily unscrew the lid. The battery is hidden in a small plastic roller, and you can open it using a spring lock.
Body parts
The characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G netbook include the presence of various parts on the body. For example, it’s immediately worth noting that the device does not have an optical drive. However, this is not surprising, since the dimensions of the case are so small that it is impossible to install a disk reader inside.
But on the right side you can find two USB ports, a VGA connector for connecting a monitor, as well as a card reader for various memory card formats. There is a Kensington lock on the edge.
On the left there is a grille through which warm air exits the housing and cool air enters. There is also a network port for connecting an Internet cable. The user has access to a third USB port, as well as two slots for a microphone and headphones.
Working surface
If you just open the Asus EEE PC 4G, you won’t be able to appreciate its technical characteristics; to do this, you still have to turn on the device. But you can look at the workspace of the netbook and understand how ergonomic it is.
The keyboard takes up the most space. It is made of plastic, does not have an island design and a separate digital unit. Since the device is compact, it was not easy to recreate a full-size keyboard. Therefore, some had to get used to the absence of some keys for a long time.
The Latin alphabet here is painted white, but the Russian layout is green. Function buttons are indicated in blue. There is a number pad on the very edge, but it is inconvenient because it is not highlighted. The Enter button was also reduced in size.
But the manufacturer did not forget about the Fn function key, which in combination can help adjust screen brightness, sound volume, wireless network operation, etc. There are 80 buttons in total.
The keyboard takes up two-thirds of the working area, so the touchpad feels a little cramped. It is placed in the middle. In addition to the touch area, it has acquired a silver button, which is responsible for the operation of the right and left mouse buttons.
To the left of the touchpad there are stickers that describe the technical characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G. On the right are indicators of the operation of various system options: battery charge, wireless network, Caps Lock and turning on the device.
As mentioned earlier, the keyboard took up almost the entire working area. If in conventional devices there is a place on top where the manufacturer places volume controls, player buttons and, finally, the power button, then in the case of this model everything turned out differently: the power key was moved to a plastic roller in which the battery is located. Next to the right hinge that holds the screen in place, you can find a silver power button.
Display
Since the characteristics and features of the Asus EEE PC 4G imply a compact device size, it was not possible to accommodate a large display. The user received a 7-inch diagonal screen. Now even tablets with similar sizes have ceased to be popular.
The display resolution can be of two options: 800 x 600 and 800 x 440 pixels. Since mirror coating had just been developed at that time, they decided not to install it in the budget model. And in many ways this helped the netbook become popular. Even now, glossy screens receive a lot of negative reviews, since they oblige the user to constantly be in the building and not work outdoors.
The matte display does not collect glare or reflections. It is comfortable to work with, which is why this model has received positive reviews about the characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G. The viewing angles were also quite good.
Audio system
Of course, netbook speakers cannot be called such a big word. If you visually look for them, you might think that the manufacturer forgot about them, because their location is rather unusual.
It was decided to place the acoustics in the lid on which the display is located. This helped save space in the base of the cabinet, but had little impact on sound quality and appearance.
The speakers were placed to the left and right of the screen. They stand out and visually make the display even smaller. Due to the fact that the cover of the device is relatively thin, the speakers turned out to be compact, which affected the sound.
But despite this, the sound of music and other sounds of the system seems decent, especially if you perceive the situation objectively. The sound is loud and clear.
Specifications
It just so happens that in the Asus EEE PC 4G review, the characteristics and description of the device may vary. This is due to the fact that this is the name of the entire series of models. In fact, several netbooks with this name were sold at once. Some of them received certain “tricks”, others seemed to be absolutely ordinary office devices.
The most budget version was the Asus EEE PC 4G 701. The characteristics of the model generally remained the same, but the netbook was deprived of a number of useful options.
Processor in the system
This version ran on the Mobile Intel Celeron M processor. This chip operated at a frequency of 900 MHz. All models of the Eee PC series ran on this processor. All chips had a second level cache memory of 512 KB. Also, all devices were equipped with the 910GML chipset from Intel.
Netbook memory
RAM could vary depending on the modification. The characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G 701 assumed the presence of DDR2 RAM modules with a frequency of 400 MHz and a capacity of 512 MB. In other models you could find 1 and 2 GB RAM.
There was also a working hard drive inside. The most remarkable thing is that the manufacturer decided to use not a classic HDD, but a newfangled SSD. At that time, this was a real innovation and significantly added to the overall performance of the device.
Although it’s worth saying right away that the internal memory was only 4 GB, which today seems completely unrealistic. Even the 8 GB versions seem completely ineffective now. Nevertheless, at the time this was a good indicator, but the statement that the user will be able to “play easily” with this model seems to be just a publicity stunt. However, let’s not forget that games back then weren’t so “heavy”.
As mentioned earlier, there was a card reader on the right side. Its peculiarity is that it was a 3-in-1 module. It worked with all flash cards that supported Secure Digital.
Other device characteristics
It is worth mentioning that the system was paired with a graphics adapter. This is an integrated Intel GMA 900 video card with a memory capacity of 64 MB. The adapter made it possible to connect a third-party monitor to a netbook, and also switch the resolution from 800 x 600 to 1600 x 1280 pixels.
We continue our review. The Asus EEE PC 4G had higher display specifications. As already mentioned, the display has a diagonal of 7 inches. LCD matrix installed. Standard resolution can be 800 x 600 or 800 x 480 pixels. In more expensive modifications the situation does not change.
The built-in sound system from Realtek was responsible for the sound. The fact that the manufacturer provided two speakers at once is a great bonus.
Network technologies
To work on the Internet, it was necessary to equip the Asus EEE PC 4G with network technologies. The manufacturer installed a network card that worked on the new controller. There was also a wireless adapter. It coped with its tasks, although it sometimes slowed down the loading of browser pages. It was necessary to place an adapter on the board to access wireless networks of the new standard.
In more expensive versions it was possible to find built-in adapters operating at speeds of 10/100/1000 Mbit/s.
Multimedia capabilities
A netbook can hardly be called a multimedia device, since it is equipped with simple components. Very rarely, buyers considered it as a device for watching videos or listening to music. But thanks to two speakers, it became possible to enjoy the sound of your favorite songs.
There is also a built-in microphone, the hole of which can be found on the top frame of the display. You can also see the webcam here. It has 0.3 megapixels. Considering that current devices are equipped with 5-8 megapixel camera modules, this figure seems completely deplorable. But at that time even it was enough for calls on Skype.
Testing
Not only reviews about the characteristics of the Asus EEE PC 4G netbook, but also test results can help you understand everything about performance. Despite the poverty of the netbook market in 2008, it was easy to find competitors for the model under review. For example, the Asus UMPC R2E laptop was quite good at that time.
There is a difference in the hard drive and more memory, while the processor and graphics adapter are practically the same. To ensure fair testing, the second netbook model was equipped with the resource-intensive Vista operating system.
Performance testing, again, hints that not everything is so easy for the Asus EEE PC 4G. A netbook is definitely designed only for office work and study. He copes with other tasks very difficult. Its performance is extremely low.
The video system also did not show good results and turned out to be weaker than the chipset. The video card can't handle 3D. Therefore, in general, the system is saved only by RAM and a processor at an acceptable frequency.
The disk subsystem of the device uses a 4 GB solid-state drive. This is evidenced not only by the manufacturer, but also by analysis of the components. The SSD works like a charm. Takes only 4% of the CPU.
I remember that morning in 2009 well. I was 14 years old, and once again I slept through school - thanks to FIFA 2009 on PSP, which I played all night. It became clear: either I would give up on games and restore the regime, or I would simply become stupid and undermine my health.
Then I made a strong-willed decision and put up for sale the console, which was not even a year old. It came with one disk, an expensive memory card (by the way, I bought it with the first money I earned), a plastic case, a charger and a box - it’s not surprising that a buyer was found on the same day.
There was no need to bargain - after a quick check, I was handed six thousand, and the PSP, along with the FIFA, flew off to some guy. At first I was going to just put the money in the piggy bank, but in the end I realized that I needed to buy another, more useful gadget.
Decent phones for six thousand did not exist then (there are few now either). I already had a player. Cameras never excited me. I went to look at the laptops - they passed by, all from 15 thousand. And then I saw the column “netbooks” on the “Market”.
I poked it purely out of curiosity, but found myself in a world of hellishly cheap devices. For 10-12 thousand you could already get a good computer - with Windows, a 10-inch screen and 3-4 hours of battery life. But I only had six thousand, that is, half of the required amount.
My parents refused to help - they were not satisfied with my monstrous grades. I had to pick out the most budget option - I found it in some lame online store.
It was an Asus Eee PC 701, and in the most defective modification. 2 GB of internal memory (a nightmare), a slightly shameful blue case, a 7-inch screen, but most importantly - unfamiliar Linux instead of Windows.
But the netbook was worth it 6700 rubles. Somehow I begged seven hundred square meters from my dad, ordered delivery, and sat down on the sofa to wait. A courier arrived who stank of sweat, like a company of soldiers - it seemed that the guy didn’t even know about the existence of deodorant. I didn’t want to check the gadget in such conditions, so I quickly put in the bills and said goodbye.
There was a tiny laptop in a small box. Before that, I had never seen him live, so at the first second I thought that they had planted a toy on me, and now I would not prove anything. But no - after I inserted the battery, the device obediently turned on.
The keyboard buttons and touchpad were designed either for gnomes or for hobbits. The screen is for patient people: due to the non-standard resolution, the sites were displayed in such a way that you had to scroll not only vertically, but also horizontally.
At the same time, there was still practically no negativity - I was extremely happy that I had my first computer of my own.
That's what What excited me the most was:
1. A cover was included in the package. A nice and soft folder in which the laptop fit just perfectly. It seemed that even if you dropped a netbook packed in a case, nothing tragic would happen to the gadget.
2. Linux has been incredibly optimized. Built-in applications (Skype, ICQ, Mozilla browser, Open Office, video player) did not slow down or freeze. During all this time I rebooted my EeePC 2-3 times. Warm greetings to sluggish Windows laptops with an Intel Atom processor.
3. The netbook handled social networks fantastically and cheerfully: VK videos (of varying degrees of frankness), applications on the same social network. I almost didn’t play Happy Farmer, but I came up with a cheating tactic in online darts: I drew two dots on the screen, hovered the cursor there and knocked out 180 points 10 times out of 10. Two weeks of such gaming raised me to first place in the ranking out of several thousand Human. Then I calmed down with the games, remembering the fate of the PSP.
4. The computer charged in 2 hours and held the charge for strictly 2 hours under any load. Surfing, cinema, text, regular standing on a table - it doesn’t matter, he still lasted 120 minutes.
On that netbook I constantly did three things: chatted (either on ICQ or VK), watched movies (just in batches) and enjoyed pirated football broadcasts.
I even watched the great match “Liverpool” - “Arsenal” (4:4, Arshavin’s poker) using a small 7-inch screen.
Unfortunately, there were things that were terribly annoying about the netbook. I didn’t like that applications had to be installed through some kind of repositories - it was easier on Windows. I was also angry that I couldn’t play FIFA on the Asus – sometimes I still wanted to kick a virtual ball.
It is logical that after a year of use I was ready to install Windows. I followed the instructions from some fan site, but Windows started and froze. I decided that I needed to reboot and the netbook would come back to life. I took the battery out, put it back in - nothing. Just a black screen and a light on.
No procedures helped the patient - even after two repairs, after diagnosis they admitted that they did not understand what the problem was. There is only one scenario left - to put the netbook in advertisements. My little friend paid 2,000 rubles for spare parts. I sold the nicest case for another 700 rubles.
It turned out that a year with EeePC cost me 4,000 rubles. Did the gadget work for the money?
Definitely. 100% .
I still sometimes remember that computer and think how great it would be if they released something similar now - ultra-affordable, but compact, fast and reliable.
There is this one, but it costs $400 and is still far from our market.
It turns out that all hope lies in Chromebooks, but they are also in no hurry to hit Russian shelves.
Overall, EeePC 701 legendary and unique– it’s a pity that this Asus line has been closed for 4 years.
Please rate it.
2012 has already ended, and the final victory of tablet computers over netbooks, as most experts predicted, has not yet happened. Of course, tablets have squeezed out competitors, but there is no talk of completely ousting them from the market. Tablets are more convenient for surfing the Internet, watching videos and photos, but when it comes to use for work purposes, netbooks have a design advantage - a keyboard. Writing articles, drawing up reports and graphs, in general, one way or another, working with text on any netbook is more convenient, even taking into account the fact that modern tablets have options for external keyboards. Why invent something when there is a ready-made working solution that will also be cheaper?
It is not surprising that major market players continue to produce “workhorse” netbooks, devoid of external gloss and glamor, crazy graphics, but very convenient for long business trips and trips due to their low weight, relatively compact dimensions and power, which is enough for office applications. .
In this article we are looking at the ASUS 1015, a 2012 device that opened a new series and gave the company a chance to lead in the compact netbook segment. The model is available in two versions - with the letters C and CE. The second is a little more advanced and expensive. We got acquainted with the simple version, but there are not many differences between them. This allows us to talk about two models at once in one article.
Specifications
CPU:
Intel Atom N2600 or N2800 (1.6 or 1.8 GHz), 2 cores.
Display:
10.1 inches, 1024x600 pixels, matte.
RAM:
1 GB or 2 GB, DDR3-1333.
Storage device:
320 GB or 500 GB.
Video adapter:
Intel GMA 3600 (integrated graphics).
Communications:
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.
Battery:
6 cells, 5200 mAh, or 3 cells, 2600 mAh.
Ports and connectors:
3xUSB 2.0 (there are options with 1xUSB 3.0), combined microphone and headphone jack, network port, HDMI, VGA, card reader.
Webcam:
0.3 megapixels
Operating system:
Windows 7 Starter.
Dimensions:
262x178x21~34 mm.
Weight:
1.08 kg.
Housing, appearance
Design for a modern netbook is almost the most important thing. In conditions where the hero of the review and his competitors from Acer and HP have identical power characteristics, buyers have to make a choice based on other criteria. And appearance is the most important of them. ASUS has its own style, and almost all of the company's computers look like twin brothers. Knowledgeable people can identify the brand even without a nameplate on the lid.
But it was with the 1015 model that ASUS launched a new Flare series, which finally received a slightly modified design. The body of the netbook has become flatter (although the side in which the battery is located is still wider), the corners are not rounded, but rather cut off. The sides received a chrome finish and were more carefully designed. The general style is businesslike and laconic, which, given the purpose of the netbook, is a plus: you don’t go to the club with it, but work.
However, there are color options. If the model with the letter C is available in calm colors (black, white, gray, red, brown and blue), then the CE has more “playful” shades (pink, lilac and sea green). Plus, in some color variants of this modification the battery is painted silver. True, it’s unclear why.
The dimensions of ASUS 1015 are quite modest. For clarity, we photographed a netbook next to an ordinary book. It turned out to be a little larger and thicker (especially in its wide part), but it still easily fits in a woman’s bag, not to mention traveling suitcases. The weight - just over a kilogram - is also pleasing: such a computer can be carried with you all day without any problems.
The build quality is traditionally high for ASUS. The gaps between the panels do not play a role, and the lid opening mechanism inspires confidence. The only pity is that the lid itself does not tilt 180 degrees: the maximum opening angle is 130 degrees. Considering the characteristics of the display, this may not be enough for working on your knees.
The most pleasant thing about the appearance of the netbook is the finishing materials. Finally, the bright and terribly impractical gloss has received a matte finish. It doesn't shine as much in the light, but it's convenient in everyday life. The most important advantage is resistance to pollution. Of course, anything can get dirty, but to work with this netbook, you don’t necessarily need to wash your hands with soap to avoid leaving fingerprints on the case. For the most part, this applies to the top cover, but the plastic interior is not easily soiled. The top cover, in addition to being relatively clean, boasts good tactile sensations. The netbook feels good to hold in your hands, which is a good thing anyway.
The rear plastic is rougher and more grooved. In appearance, it should resist well not only dirt, but also scratches. We did not check the latter on a test sample.
Continuing the theme of design, let's say a little about the charger. It turned out to be very modest in size and harmonious in appearance. From a distance it can be confused with charging a mobile phone. This adapter is very convenient to take with you on a trip.
Ergonomics and interfaces
If the design of the ASUS 1015 has changed a little compared to its predecessors, the keyboard has remained exactly the same as we saw, say, in the 1215 model. The ASUS keyboard is quite specific. In terms of the location and purpose of the keys, it is very good. Perhaps the right Shift is a little smaller than usual, but there are full-fledged arrows, for which special respect. The keys themselves are not small and do not require much getting used to. It is only necessary for their operating mechanism. Some people like the small stroke and specific sensations from pressing, but others do not. These features are preserved from model to model, so if you have already encountered ASUS keyboards at least once, you have formed an opinion about them. There is no point in conveying impressions in words - it’s better to try it once.
The touchpad is also made in the company's traditional style - the material does not differ from the rest of the panel. The boundaries of the touchpad are indicated by only two edges, but this does not cause any problems. There are no complaints about the operation of the buttons. True, some users complained that the touchpad was too small, saying that they had to be “aimed” very precisely. The author of this material did not experience any problems.
There are practically no keys above the keyboard itself. Only in the upper right corner is the power button. When the netbook is operating, it is illuminated in blue, and this does not depend on the color of the case.
The interfaces on the sides are quite traditional. On the left side there are HDMI, one of three USB, D-sub, charger socket and cooling system radiator. The right side contains an SD card reader, a combined audio jack, two USB ports, a Kensington lock and an RJ45 network. There are modifications in which one of the USB pair supports data transfer standard 3.0. There is no disk drive in any version.
Accessories
Like all its main competitors, ASUS 1015 is built on the Intel Atom platform, codenamed Cedar Trail. Intel produces two third-generation Atom processors, N2600 and N2800, and both of them can be installed in the ASUS 1015. The difference between them is like between two engines in a car of the same model: the N2800 is a little more powerful, a little more power-hungry and a little more expensive. The last “slightly” is what makes it more interesting compared to the N2600. The model we tested had an N2800, and we didn’t want to exchange it for a younger brother, even if it could potentially last a little longer on battery power.
The amount of RAM on board can also vary. There is an option with 1 GB, and there is with 2 GB. Let’s dismiss the first: one gigabyte of RAM for a modern computer is not enough even for normal work on the Internet and office applications. 2 GB is already enough. Another thing is that in this option there is a certain imbalance in resources. The author of this material worked on a netbook equipped with an N2800 processor and 2 GB of RAM and monitored the use of resources. In most tasks, the processor power ran out before the RAM was fully occupied. This is confirmed by the Windows Experience Index. The processor is almost the bottleneck (after graphics), but RAM is in the lead. But this is hardly a serious minus. “RAM” is such a thing that it is better to have an excess of it than a shortage.
Overall, the performance of the version we tested is not bad: the system not only copes with all basic operations, such as web browsing, video and office tasks, but will also allow, for example, editing images in Photoshop.
The subjective feelings of the author of the material coincided with the assessment of Windows: the video card here is the weakest link. It is integrated - Intel GMA HD 3600. Its capabilities are enough for working with video and playing HD format, but Full HD is already slowing down (on the other hand, why play Full HD on this netbook with its screen resolution?). You should also forget about resource-intensive games. It is clear that the price of ASUS 1015 requires savings even in comparison with the class of expensive netbooks, and it is logical that the video card was included in this savings. You don't need an expensive one to work.
Another rather weak point of the ASUS 1015 is the display. The ten-inch screen provides a resolution of 1024x600 pixels. For this size, this seems to be the norm, but this is little consolation. If you don't have a lot of experience working with monitors of this resolution, then having to frequently use the scroll bar will be annoying. Even in Word you have to change the usual scale so that the A4 page fits completely in width.
This, however, is nonsense. The real problem is in the viewing angles. Everything is really bad here. What can I say if even viewing photos and videos together is already uncomfortable. You need to look only at a right angle and nothing else. The screen has only one plus - it is matte, so it has less glare than its competitors. However, we tested the version of the netbook with the letter C. The CE modification, according to reviews, has a slightly better screen.
The model is equipped with two hard drive options: 320 and 500 GB. They differ only in price.
The netbook uses a six-cell lithium-ion battery. It has a capacity of 5200 mAh. The manufacturer claims that this volume will be enough for owners to work for twelve hours, but this, of course, is a very optimistic forecast: if you really work, then even in economy mode you will get ten hours, which, however, is still a very decent result. By the way, there is a package with a smaller three-section battery. It is lighter, but we didn’t see much point in it.
Above the display is a webcam with a resolution of 0.3 megapixels. In various modifications the camera is the same, only the CE has a mechanical shutter for closing, while the C does not. Did you save money? CE is also distinguished by the presence of Bluetooth.
The functionality of both modifications of the netbook is reduced in the audio aspect: they have lost the second speaker, although all competitors have exactly two “speakers”. This affects the sound quality, but not the volume: the ASUS 1015 has one speaker, but it’s loud.
As a feature of the netbook's operation, we note minimal noise. The company's engineers managed to find a compromise between the temperature and volume of the coolers. They can only be heard in complete silence.
conclusions
ASUS 1015 is a worthy representative of the class of compact netbooks, designed for work when separated from the main computer. Considering its class and price (about 10 thousand rubles), both performance and build quality can be considered quite good. Separate advantages are the design and matte finish of the case and screen, which does not get very dirty and glare. The main disadvantage of this netbook is the screen. At least in modification C, which we tested. Whether this is a serious drawback and whether it can force one to abandon the model is up to the buyer to decide.
http://site/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG_0799.jpg 559 1024 Alexander Nechaev http://site/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/logo_AN-1.pngAlexander Nechaev 2013-05-07 09:00:30 2016-05-24 20:06:40 ASUS Eee PC 1025 netbook review