Asus EEE PC 1001P review – perhaps the best netbook under $300

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Netbooks became popular because they managed to bring good features and performance for a very affordable price. Still, the standard such mini laptops usually go for around $350, but there are good picks you can get for less than $300. And perhaps the best right now is the Asus EEE PC 1001P, one of the most affordable device built on the Intel PineTrail platform.

The Asus 1001P is a 10 inch mini laptop, part of the Seashell series. Looks good (and it’s not glossy, but comes with a textured exterior) and is very solid built. Specs and hardware are pretty standard, but the device impresses with battery life, reliability and its good price (bellow $300 for most configurations).

And speaking of specs, here’s what you get on the 1001P EEE PC:

10.1 inch LED matte display 1024 x 600 px
Intel N450 1.66 GHz processor + GMA 3150 graphics
1 GB of RAM (upgradeable to 2 – easy access, as you have a dedicated memory bay on the back)
160 GB hard-drive (250 GB on the upgraded version)
92% ful-size keyboard and multitouch trackpad
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g , Bluetooth (only on the upgraded version)
3xUSB, card-reader, VGA, Audio out, Webcam
Windows 7 starter
6 Cell battery
weighs 2.8 pounds and measures 10.3 x 7 x 1.4 inches ( 262 x 178 x 25.9~36 mm and 1.27 kg )
1 year warranty

Asus EEE PC 1001P - capable mini laptop for good money

Pros

good looking and sturdy built
the case and palm-rest area are no longer glossy, but made of a textured plastic, which feels quite OK and is smudges and fingerprints-proof.
hardware and features are standard for a 10 Inch netbook these days
display is matte too, so you can easily use it around
battery life is up to 11 hours on paper and more like 7-8 in daily usage, which is more than enough
it is available in a couple of different configurations (see details below) and in many color options (white, black, pink, etc)
price is very good what it has to offer

Cons

keyboard is only a standard flat one, and although quite comfortable, I prefer the chiclet styled ones
trackpad is not so responsive and only has a single click button
standard version gets only 160 GB storage and no Bluetooth
you only get Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g wireless and no fast Wi-Fi N (speed differences are not that big though)

Conclusions

As you can see, this device has nearly everything you’ll ever need. The hardware can run your daily applications fairly well, just don’t expect it to be able to face HD content, HD flash clips or games.

The good part is that this device is meant to be a travel companion: the smudge-free case, the screen you can use in strong light conditions, the big battery and the light weight are a proof that. It does has its lacks and you can get better 10 inch mini laptops on the market (not by much though), but if you’re on a tight budget, this is the one for you.

Because overall the Asus EEE PC 1001P is a great deal for the money you have to pay for it. And the fact that is one of the most popular such devices on the market is a proof of that, as well as the very good marks and reviews from regular buyers, posted all over the web.

Where to get the best deals

Like i said above, there are in fact two versions for the Asus EEE PC 1001P available right now:

Asus Eee PC 1001P-M – the standard version with all the features above, with prices ranging from $290 and $299, with Free shipping included . It’s available in Pink, Royal Blue, Black or White .

Asus Eee PC 1001P-P – goes for $329 and offers the bigger storage (250 GB instead of only 160 GB) and integrated Bluetooth . Also comes with Free Shipping and is only available in Black/White .

For more details or for reviews, pictures and the option to buy one of these netbooks, click the links on each model. Also, i have to say that these deals and prices are only available for the United States.

Also, Asus has some other interesting netbooks you should check out: the cheaper Asus 1001PX, very much similar to this one but with Windows XP (goes for $279) and the better equipped Asus EEE PC 1005PE series (with prices from $330 top $370) being the ones deserving your attention.