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Asus 1225C review – a good EEE PC mini laptop for 2012

Mark — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:49:29 +0000

Asus keeps them coming in early 2012 and now it’s time to take a look at their slightly larger 1225C, which is the first entry for 2012 in their ex-12.1 inch series, currently reduced to 11.6 in order to serve the ultraportable credo better. If you had any doubts, the C stands for Cedar Trail, as this mini laptop packs identical hardware with what we had on the recently reviewed 1025C and 1025CE.

The 1225C has its own set of perks and advantages, maybe the most obvious being the larger, HD screen, that will blend right in with the HD capable hardware platform. So let’s see what the 1225C has in store for us and if it’s truly a better and bigger version of 10 inch entries or it’s all muscles and no brains? Stay tuned and find out from our review and don’t forget to check out the lengthy video review Mike from www.netbooklive.com did with a 1225C unit.

Spec sheet

The unit we’re going to talk about here is a pre-release sample, so the final configuration, which will be in stores a short while from now, might be a little different, but not very much so. The hardware platform will clearly be Cedar Trail, and there’s little to no chance Asus will change the processor type. Storage, system memory and other details are all quite standard, so this is quite the finite deal. Full spec list below.

CPU: Intel Atom Cedar Trail N2800 @ 1,86 GHZ
System memory: 2 GB of DDR3 RAM 1066 MHZ
Storage: 500 GB HDD, 5400 rpm
Chipset: Intel NM10
Video: Intel GMA 3650 HD (640 MHZ)
Display: 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 px resolution, glossy
Connectivity: Wireless N, Fast Ethernet, Bluetooth 3.0
Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, VGA, HDMI, LAN, card reader, webcam
Battery: 6 cell 5200 mAh 56 Wh
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium
Size (mm): 296 x 200 x 35 mm
Weight: 3.2 pounds

Unfortunately, the display comes with a glossy finish, which is a horrid experience outdoors. Also, you have 2 USB 3.0 ports, which is a good, balanced setup (might I say normal?) for 2012, as well as a more accomplished OS, namely Windows 7 Home Premium.

Build and design

The 1225C is made out of plastic, and can come in either a glossy or a matte finish. The glossy finish, while attractive and similar, from a distance, to the high end finishes on ultrabooks, is a definite fingerprint magnet and a problem for those using the netbook on a daily basis and at a high pace. Sure, you won’t have this problem at such an extent with a unit that’s not black. Or, ideally, you could go for one that’s matte, case in which you won’t have the smudge problem to begin with, but you’ll lose some of the glam.

The chi chi exterior will collect more fingerprints that a police station during spring break

On the bottom, the 1225C comes with a memory bay, which is kind of unnecessary, considering the RAM is glued on the motherboard. Alas, maybe Asus will release some versions that let you replace/upgrade the memory. The 1225C is part of Asus’s new Flare line, which means the netbook is slightly slimmer towards the edges, making you believe it’s ultra slim or something. Actually, it’s make believe, as the device weighs around the same as previous 11.6 and 12 inchers from Asus, namely over 3 pounds.

Keyboard and touch pad

Like the one on the 1225B, the keyboard on the 1225C is standard EEE Pc fair. Thanks to the extra leg room, the keys are properly spaced and large enough to avoid typos, although the keys themselves could have been a little more solid. The touch pad is accurate and smooth, although kind of small and short, so be aware of those ample multi touch gestures- you might end up on the space bar.

The click button is good and is not too noisy, although a right/left click setup would have been better, that’s for sure. Overall, the 1225C has a good keyboard and touch pad, but it’s not something we haven’t experienced before- actually, it would be tragic to go beneath this standard.

The keyboard is nothing to get too excited about...but at least is bigger than those on 10 inchers

Display

The display on the 1225C is glossy and doesn’t have an overall quality worth remembering. While the glossy finish, which limits the use to the laptop mostly to indoor environments, is usually tolerated because it’s balanced by good brightness and color quality, it’s not really the case with the display on the 1225C.

You’ll have a hard time adjusting the panel in order to get good image and when that happens, the result is nothing too impressive. But this is kind of the usual quality you can get on such a machine, though making the screen anti-glare could have soothed the whole thing a little for me.

Hardware and performance

The 1225C has the exact same hardware platform as the 1025CE, namely the N2800 dual core processor, winged by HD graphics and 2 GB of RAM. So how does the same platform deal with a bigger screen and a tougher OS? Well, sluggishly. Asus decided to think cheap and used the same new, but not very innovative hardware platform, which will not take you to the moon and back in terms of performance.

Actually, it might struggle to go round the corner. What we can hope is that Asus will offer an updated version of the 1225C running on Atom D series processors down the line (or something punchier, anyway), as right now you get slightly mediocre performance on the 1225C, and just because you can run (so and so) HD clips on it won’t cut it for long.

The 1225C doesn't offer anything on top of the performance of the 1025CE

Software

The 1225C comes with Windows 7 Home Premium and all kinds of media, office, internet and security software that’s mostly ineffectual, as they’re only trial versions. Thus, you might want to get rid of it, considering the relatively scarce resources the machine has anyway. On a brighter note, you get Asus Web Storage, which lets you store files securely, on a remote server and Asus’s Instant On!. This technology takes the mini laptop on and off sleep mode in just seconds, while offering around 15 hours of standby time.

Heat, noise, speakers

The 1225C runs on the less noisy and steamy Cedar Trail platform, meaning you won’t have issues with the netbook getting too hot or loud when venting. Still, this doesn’t mean that you won’t hear the airflow at all, but it’s definitely a step forward from the noisy laptops of yesteryear.

As for heat, you’ll be able to keep the netbook on your lap without a problem, even for a longer while, as pushing the 1225C to its limits won’t get the plastic chassis to burn- it will merely get warm.

The speakers are definitely better and louder than the feeble setup on the 1025CE, for example, but you’ll still need more decibel power and sound quality to use this as a fun station.

Battery life

Thanks to the low power platform inside and the 6 cell battery, the 1225C can run on a single charge for up to 6 hours in normal use conditions, including browsing, listening to music, working with text files, using instant messaging software and other simple apps.

Watching HD movies will deplete the battery faster, of course, in around 4-4.5 hours, but if you’ll take the brightness down and turn the WiFi module off, you might get a little more out of it. Of course, if you go minimal on it, you might get towards 10 hours of autonomy, but that means no WiFi, low brightness, no multimedia playback.

The 1225C is a good promise for the future- see you then

Price and availability

There are no confirmed prices out for the 1225C yet, but the N2600 powered version might go, considering the inside info provided by netbooklive.com, for about $420 in the US. If you’ll want the N2800 version, however, you’ll have to pay even more, probably over 450 bucks. If that sounds expensive, that’s because it’s really expensive.

Asus is probably trying to cash in on the fact that not many manufacturers are offering the Cedar Trail option on their netbooks, but as other companies will come forth with solutions, the price should go down, considering you’re not getting that much bang for the buck.

Final thoughts

The hardware on the 1225C and the 1025CE is the same, but the 1225C has to deal with a bigger screen and heftier OS, so the performance is sluggish. Indeed, you get an HD screen and bigger keyboard, but these advantages are not tremendously impressive (especially the screen), while everyday performance is quite modest.

Add to that an (anticipated) hefty price tag and you have the complete picture of a plan gone wrong, at least for now. Asus will probably update this model with a better hardware platform and lower price down the road, so for now you might want to stay away from the “buy” button.

Asus 1225C vs Asus 1225B- fresh of the bus 11.6 inch EEE PCs for 2012

Mark — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:20:54 +0000

It’s a tricky time for the 11.6 inch laptop in early 2012, as it slightly becomes the “larger netbook”, taking over from the 12.1 incher, who is, well, just too big all of a sudden. This doesn’t mean 12 inchers will stop appearing, but that they will be probably marketed as less ultra-portable devices. Either way, we had two interesting 11.6 inchers launched in 2012 already, besides the 10 inch netbooks we already talked about.

The 1225C and 1225B, both released by Asus, one showing off Intel’s new Cedar Trail platform- the 1225C and one relying on an improved (but not revolutionary) AMD Fusion chip- the 1225B. Both mini laptops also feature Asus’s new design, Flare, which replaces the Seashell design that was used on Asus’s budget netbooks last year. So which one should you choose or, simpler, which one is better right now in terms of the features offered in comparison with the asking price?

Well, you’ll find answers to those questions via the short post bellow.

The two netbooks will strive to cash in before the competition wakes up

Design

The 1225C comes with either a glossy or matte finish, while the chassis and palm rest are all plastic, but succeeds to feel quite good. Of course, it’s a fingerprints magnet, especially if you get the black and glossy version, but at least it looks very good and some people with less knowledge of the gadget market might actually think you have an ultrabook Overall, the 1225C looks and feels good, although it would have been nice to be able to upgrade the memory yourself, but maybe a variant with a workable memory bay will appear.

The 1225B can come in a silver, plastic coating

The 1225B has the exact same design as the 1225C, namely Flare. Also, the palm rest on the 1225B has a metal finish, which makes it feel a little sturdier, without actually being more of a tank in comparison with the 1225C. Overall, the two machines feel solid in their plastic suits and you won’t have to worry about them getting scratched or broken easily.

Keyboard and touch pad

The two netbooks come with a standard EEE PC keyboard, the same we’ve had on previous mini laptops, like the 1215B. Still, Asus apparently worked a little on the sturdiness of the keys, as the keyboard is not very wobbly at all and the typing experience is quite accomplished. The track pad on the 1225B is responsive and smooth, but quite small and the integrated mouse button a little stiff. In theory, there would have been space to make it a little bigger, but you’ll have to settle for it as it is and a little exercise will help you get the hang of it. The 1225C has basically the same keyboard, but benefits from a track pad that’s ampler and a click button that is more responsive, so the input experience might be better o the 1225C.

Display

The 1225B comes with a glossy, HD display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. That might sound decent for most, but the display is actually quite unaccomplished, having poor viewing angles and contrast, while the glossy finish will make it fairly unusable in strong light and especially outdoors.

The 1225C uses the ultrabook impersonating Flare design

The situation is fairly identical when we talk about the 1225C, which comes with the same display, but there’s talk that a matte version of the 1225C might come our way later in the year- and maybe there’s even hope for the 1225B, who knows?

Hardware

The 1225B can be equipped with either an AMD E-450 or AMD C-60 APU. These two APUs are updated versions of the E-350 and C-50 versions of the APU launched last year and they come with improved power management and graphics, meaning the GPU can be boosted for a short while and get a 10-20% performance increase. The E-450 thus comes with a dual core processor running at 1.66 GHZ and integrated Radeon HD 6320 graphics, which can be temporarily pumped from 580 MHZ to 600 MHZ.

In real life terms, this means that you can play HD content, both streamed and local, without a problem, and you can also play older games at full details, while newer titles will require taking details and resolution down a notch.

The 1225B can take you places in terms of multimedia playback

The 1225C, on the other hand, comes with Intel’s new Cedar Trail platform on board, namely the N2800 dual core processor paired with Intel HD 3650 graphics. The setup is just decent enough for some HD playback and moderate day to day use, but the lack of proper drivers makes it, for now, a rather troublesome picking.

Either system can support up to 4 GB of RAM, but awkwardly enough, each of the machines comes with only 2 GB by default, that’s, sadly, soldered to the mother board, which means you can’t add an additional module. I don’t quite know why this happens, but hopefully some updated models of both netbooks will give you the chance to add RAM when you want to.

Battery life

In terms of battery life, the 1225C gets better estimated results, as the netbook can go on a single charge for about 6-7 hours in normal use, including browsing, editing, music and instant messaging. If you intend to run a HD movie fest, expect a maximum of 4 hours of battery life, which is still pretty good, but to get this make sure you have unnecessary programs switched off, in order to save as much juice as possible. If endurance is your thing, you can get almost 10 hours of autonomy out if it, but for that you’ll have to turn off the WiFi module, take the brightness down and settle for a power light program, like a PDF reader or text editor.

The 1225B will choke and ask for a power plug after well over 4 hours of moderate use, meaning browsing, music, text editing and the works. Of course, you can get over 5 hours of battery life if you settle for light use and Wireless OFF, while playing HD video will drain the battery after just under 4 hours.

Pricing

The 1225B should hit stores in March for around $479 for the E-450 version, while the cheaper, C-60 powered version will probably sell for $399, with some online stores taking pre orders for the E-450 version for $439, but it comes with only 2 GB of RAM and a 320 GB HDD.

The 1225C's poor driver support adds to its lacklustre overall feel

The 1225C doesn’t have an attached price just yet, but sources claim it might go for around 420 bucks for the N2600 equipped version, while the faster N2800 variant will go for more, of course.

Conclusions

The 1225C and 1225B are in a way the two flips of the same coin, the first having a better battery life, while the second comes with enhanced (for this category) multimedia support. The 1225C still suffers from driver issues and a rather unimpressive hardware platform, but we hope that it will get a much welcomed update in the months to come. As it is now, equipped with an N2600/N2800 Cedar Trail chip, the 1225C is an oversized 10 inch netbook in terms of performance and running any app that’s a little more resource intensive will choke the sweetheart pretty fast.

The 1225B is a little more versatile in terms of work-fun usability, although the platform is not very fast as well. The netbook can play HD and full HD content without the glitches you will get on the 1225C and you’ll be able to enjoy some games as well. Sure, the battery stats of the 1225C are better, but not much better, and the multimedia flexibility it brings can’t be questioned.

For now, maybe it’s better to wait and see what the competition has in store for the next interval and avoid buying right now, as both the 1225C and 1225B could be better machines than they are now.

Best Asus EEE PCs – top picks on Asus netbooks and mini laptops

Mark — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:45:39 +0000

It’s difficult to think about the netbook market today and not take into consideration Asus and their EEE PC line. Basically, every time you search for a netbook on Google or Amazon, many of the results will refer to this pivotal line of ultra portable mini laptops. Although Asus was not the first company to build a netbook, its focus on quality, innovation and relatively low cost made the series a favorite amongst those looking for a netbook.

Asus launched their first netbook, named Eee PC 701, in late 2007, as a mastermind response to the OLPC (One Laptop per Child) and Intel’s Classmate PC. Asus boss Jonney Shih realized that a small, ultra light notebook, capable of basic computing, is a great idea for adults as well, not only for kids. The Eee PC 701 was an instant hit in Asia and was quickly shipped to the US and Europe. Since then, many other models appeared under the Eee PC monicker.

And from the days of the 7 inch screen, Celeron M single core processor and 4 GB of SSD storage, we have today Eee PCs with dual core processors, 320 GB of storage, dedicated video card, HD screens ( even touch screens) and 3G modules, just to name a few features.

Asus's first EEE PC. We've come a long way

Easy to play, Easy to learn, Easy to work, the slogan behind the EEE PC revolution is true even today. There are many types of EEE PCs to choose from, according to your needs and budget. If you just want a cheap netbook for browsing the web and sending emails, you got it. If you need a decently equipped netbook for office productivity and serious battery autonomy, that’s also available. Or, if you’re after a powerful entertainment driven netbook, with its own video card, you can get that as well from an EEE PC labeled netbook.

This flexibility helped the line being the most popular netbook series in the US and Europe, which is not small stuff, considering that virtually any relevant computer manufacturer has at least a dozen netbooks out there. Next, we’re going to take a look at the best Asus EEE PCs of 2011, from entry level models to premium netbooks.

Entry level EEE PCs

For browsing the web, the occasional Word document and getting rickrolled on Youtube, a cheap, entry level EEE PC is sufficient. These models usually have a plastic, but robust finish, decent battery and a single core processor.

Asus EEE PC 1001PX. This netbook was launched back in 2010, but it’s still fairly popular thanks to the attractive design and low price. The netbook runs on an Intel Atom N450, clocked at 1.66 GHZ, packs 1 GB of RAM and a 160/250 GB HDD, as well as having WiFi connectivity. The battery can go on a single charge for only 4 hours, but if you’re willing to spend a little more for a battery slice, you might get around 8 hours of autonomy. One of the highlights of the 1001PX, which goes for $249 is the carbon fiber like finish, that is both tough and good looking and won’t attract any finger prints and smudges.

Asus EEE PC 1011PX. The 1011PX is basically an update for the 1001PX. It comes with either a single core, N455 processor or the dual core N570, but the later will cost a little more. You can also configure the battery, with the default juice maker offering a maximum of 5 hours of autonomy (3 cell version), but you can get as much as 11 with the 9 cell version. In terms of design, the $300 priced 1011PX has the same seashell design as the 1001PX and, of course, the same matte chassis finish.

Asus 1011 PX EEE PC

Mainstream EEE PC netbooks

Let’s take it up a notch. You want a better netbook, with a better battery, improved performance and maybe more aesthetically appealing than entry level machines. If you’re willing to spend a little more, Asus might have exactly what you need.

The 1015PEM comes with a dual core N550 Atom processor and 1 GB of RAM, but you can upgrade to 2 GB. The dual core version offers better performance and power management than the N450/455, so you’ll be able to rely more on this 10 inch netbook for productivity apps- more of them open at the same time. The netbook comes with a hybrid battery management system, that can get as much as 13 hours of autonomy, and newer connectivity options, namely Wireless N and Bluetooth 3.0.

The 1015PX packs the even newer N570 dual core processor, everything else being basically identical to what you get from the 1015PEM. A nice additional feature is Express Gate, which is an alternative boot OS that gives almost instant access to the internet and entertainment apps. Also, for the first year, you get free access to Asus’s web storage service, where you have your own 500 GB to fool around with, a good deal for a $279 netbook.

The 1015PN pairs the N550 dual core chip with dedicated ION 2 graphics, which comes with 512 MB of video memory. This means you’ll be ableto use this 336 bucks netbook for full HD playback directly on the display or on a HDTV via the HDMI port, and also some decent gaming. If you want to fully take advantage of this platform, make sure to upgrade to 2 GB of RAM.

Asus EEE PC 1015PN

Unlike the previous entries in this section, the 1015B is powered by a AMD Fusion chip, namely the C-30. It’s a single core processor with a rather modest speed of 1.2 GHZ, but has the advantage of being completed with HD integrated graphics, namely Radeon HD 6250. While this is not a netbook to consider for too complicated office work, it will be great for playing HD video. You even get a HDMI port for hooking up the netbook with a HDTV. The 1015B is available from Amazon for $289, but unfortunately that’s the version with a single-core C30 APU; the more powerful one with a dual-core C-50 processor is mainly available in Europe and that’s the one I would recommend.

The 1015PW is maybe the most spectacular entry in this category, at least when we talk about design. Dubbed Syrocco, the netbook has a waved pattern on the lid, being a welcomed change in the all too bland netbook world. Specs wise, the 1015PW, going for $314, packs a dual core N550, 1 GB of RAM, while the battery is said to run on a single charge for about 10 hours max.

Premium EEE PC netbooks

As always, there’s a luxury section, so to say, which consists of high end netbooks that also look quite good and offer a different experience that mainstream entries. Our picks are:

The 1018P has a brushed aluminum finish, being one of the classiest 10 inch netbooks out there. It looks great (think Samsung 9 Series, but smaller and less posh), is very tough and is also quite thin and light for a machine with a metal finish. On the inside, you get a mainstream configuration, namely a dual core N570 processor, 1 GB of RAM and a 250 GB HDD,a decent configuration for just 418 bucks. The OS is Windows 7 Starter, while ports include, surprisingly, 2 USB 3.0 slots. Chapeau.

Asus EEE PC 1018P

Here’s a nice one. The 12.1 inch 1215N packs a pimped up Atom chip, namely the dual core 1.8 GHZ D525, which is, at least for now, the fastest Atom around. Pair that with 512 MB of dedicated ION 2 video memory, 2 GB of RAM (maximum of 4) and Windows 7 Home Premium, and you’ve got yourself a very decent HD capable machine, both for gaming and video playback.

The 1215B is a similarly powerful 12.1 inch netbook. It packs the AMD C-350 dual core processor, that’s at least a class over the C-50. The chip runs at 1.5 GHZ and comes with Radeon HD 6310 graphics. The setup is completed by 2 GB of RAM (with a supported maximum of 8 GB ) and a battery said to run for about 8.5 hours on a single charge, making this $436 priced netbook a top choice for this class.

Final thoughts

The netbooks we gathered in this article all offer decent performance and are pretty affordable when looking at the specs and features. If you built it, they will come- Asus was able to build netbooks for all types of users, covering from basic computing needs to HD gaming and serious multitasking.

And the future looks just as bright, as Asus will be one of the companies to build Ultrabooks, which is said to be the next paradigm in terms of ultra portable gadgets. But until then, if you’re thinking about shopping for a netbook, keep an eye on Asus EEE PC entries, as these machines represent good value for money and offer a very vast array of models to choose from.

Asus 1025CE review – we like it, but there should be more of (in) it

Mark — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:43:18 +0000

Alive and kicking. That seems to be the message Asus wants to send across with their new 1025CE 10 inch netbook. Asus was one of the companies to help create the netbook standard, so it shouldn’t come as a very big surprise that the Asian giant is coming forth with a new machine in all the ways that matter: hardware and design.

In a time when netbooks seem like the old fashioned cousin you want to avoid calling at your 2012-2013 gadget fest, considering quad core tablets and 0.8 inch thin laptops are the new, the 1025CE is a fresh entry in this troubled niche, one that should be quite attractive for users on a tight budget or those looking for a basic portable computer.

Of course, what’s “basic” comes under scrutiny as new hardware generations emerge and the 1025CE has its perks, that’s for sure, including HD support, but is that enough? Stick around and find out from our review of the 1025CE netbook from Asus.

Specs

The 1025CE opens the 2012 fest and it surely has some fancy boots to strut around. The 10 incher is powered by Intel’s new N2800 dual core processor, but can be equipped only with 1 or 2 GB of RAM, at least in some territories. Full spec sheet below.

CPU: Intel Cedar Trail N2800 @1.86 GHZ
System memory: 1-2 GB of DDR3 1066 MHZ RAM
Storage: 500 GB HDD, 5400 rpm
Display: 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 anti-glare screen
Video: integrated Intel HD 3650 graphics
Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0, Wireless N, Ethernet
Ports: 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, LAN, card reader, webcam
Battery: 6 Cell 5200 mAh 56 Wh
OS: Windows 7 Starter
Weight: 2.7 pounds
Dimensions (in inches): 10.3” x 7” x 1.3”

Build and design

If it’s 2012, it’s Flare, as Asus decided to leave the Seashell standard behind and introduce a brand new concept, called Flare. Hints of this design are also used on the Asus ultrabooks and other Asus laptops out in force this year, so the new design shouldn’t surprise you that much if you’re an Asus fan.

The 1025CE comes with an all plastic exterior that’s a little bulkier in the middle and slimmer towards the edges, a trick that might make people think the netbook is slimmer that it actually is. It’s all about mimicking ultrabooks these days and the 1025CE does that honorably. The chassis is all plastic, as I said, but it fells very metal like when grabbed, so no resemblance to those wobbly netbooks that gave the budget category a bad name.

The Flare design comes with thinner edges and an all plastic body

Unfortunately, at least for the Central and East European Market, there’s no option to manually upgrade the system memory and you’ll have to settle for the amount the netbook has out of the box. This might be different in other territories, as it usually happens. Overall, the 1025CE is quite a handsome netbook if I can say so, upping the game a little in terms of design, as the Flare concept is definitely catchier than the rusty Seashell.

Keyboard and touch pad

In this aspect, things haven’t changed that much and you get a type of Chiclet keyboard used on 10 inch EEE PCs before. The keys on the unit we saw have a silver finish that makes the keyboard a little classier maybe, but might get dirty quicker, to be honest. Also, the keys are quite sturdy and a little taller than the usual setup on an EEE PC, thus making the typing a little more “consistent”, as the keys are less wobbly and have a longer travel.

As for the track pad, it’s responsive and smooth enough, although not very spacious. This is a problem most 10 inch netbooks have anyway, so you can’t really blame it on Asus, but rather this standard. The click pad is easy to use and is fairly responsive, although a clear, left and right mouse button setup would have been more up my alley.

The keyboard feels solid, with tall and sturdy keys

Display

What you get is simple and efficient, namely a 1024 x 600 matte display. That’s what you get on 90% of all 10 inchers anyway, so no reason to dwell too much on it. Still, it would have been nice for Asus to try to offer a slightly better panel, considering the newly added HD possibilities of this netbooks, which won’t be enjoyed thoroughly directly on the display, but rather on an external display via the HDMI port.

Having said that, for a mediocre panel, the one on the 1025CE behaves decently, having good viewing angles, while the bezel is made from a dark, matte plastic strip that’s less likely to gather smudges.

Hardware and performance

The most exciting thing about the 1025CE is the Cedar Trail N2800, running at 1.86 GHZ, chip inside. We talked about this new platform throughout 2011, waiting for Intel to finally release and see it in action, as it promised what Pine Trail processors couldn’t do: HD playback. Even so, don’t expect wonders, as the Cedar Trail platform is just an updated version of Pine Trail with superior video support and some improved cooling systems, stuff that might not translate into a massive performance boost in real life.

Actually, for now, there are no comprehensive drivers for the platform on the 1025CE, but what we could make out of it is that the netbook can stream HD content pretty decently, something you didn’t had on entry level netbooks before. As we said, don’t expect wonders in terms of overall performance, as having more than 2-3 apps running at the same time might choke this fragile little slugger, especially if you can count on only 1 GB of RAM. But still, the 1025CE is a step forward, even if not a big one.

Software

Like virtually any netbook out there, the 1025CE comes with Windows 7 Starter. Additionally, you’ll find enough bloatware to decrease the out of the box performance of the netbook, so it’s better if you get rid of them as soon as you buy the netbook. On a brighter note, there’s also Asus’s InstantOn! technology on board, which allows for ultra fast recovery from sleep mode, a feature we’ve seen on ultrabooks lately. Still, because of some driver issues, this function doesn’t work properly on the 1025CE, but some future update should fix this.

Ports, heat, noise and speakers

The 1025CE comes with, in addition to standard netbook ports, with an HDMI port and a USB 3.0 port, adding some flexibility to the experience. Also, in terms of connectivity, you get faster Wireless N and Bluetooth 3.0. Thanks to the Cedar Trail platform, the 1025CE doesn’t get very hot, especially on the top side, only the bottom being slightly warm after using the machine intensively.

The plastic bottom of the netbook doesn't get very hot in comparison with older generation netbooks

Somehow complementary, the netbook barely makes any noise, considering there’s not much to vent. The quiet profile also describes, sadly, the speakers, which have a rather low volume, although the sound quality is good. But if you want to use this one for soundtracking a party, you should have some external speakers available.

Battery life

The 1025CE is hailed as being able to run on a single charge for about 12 hours, but that’s not really the case. Using the netbook intensively will deplete the battery in about 6 hours, while light use and taking down the screen brightness under 50% will give it little over 8 hours of autonomy. Still, the numbers are pretty good for a netbook relying only on its default battery and if Asus will offer an extra battery slice, you might get to 12 hours…and more.

Prices and availability

As the 1025CE is not yet available in stores, we can’t give you official pricing details for the US or Western Europe. A little further to the East, in Romania, the 1025CE will be available for the equivalent of 350 bucks, so this might be a decent rough estimate for how much the netbook will cost somewhere else too.

Anyway, soon enough the 1025CE will be less attractive than it is now, as other manufacturers will launch netbooks, so the 10 incher might go under the $300 barrier quite soon. Fingers crossed.

Final thoughts

You know what they say: the more things change, the more they stay the same. While the 1025CE has a few exciting features to brag about, on paper, like the new design and hardware platform, the actual user experience won’t change that much in comparison to that you could enjoy on 2011 netbooks.

The 1025CE- a good netbook, but there's room for improvement

Besides the still not fully supported, driver wise, HD playback galore brought by the new integrated graphics, the processing power, operating system and display are all strikingly familiar to the seasoned netbook enthusiast. And with a starting price of over 300 bucks, the 1025CE might not perform stellar at the box office, as many other netbooks (some of them still to come and boosting Cedar Trail goodies as well) cost and will cost less or offer better value for money.

As it stands now, the 1025C is a good netbook, no doubt about it, but it needs a touch here and there to make us fall for the 10 incher yet again. Stay tuned for an in depth video review, courtesy of our friends from netbooklive.com. Enjoy.

Asus 1225B EEEPC review – we like it a lot (with video)

Mark — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:58:11 +0000

You might remember the 1225B, the mini laptop Asus announced a while back, as part of their new line of budget laptops. The Flares, as they’re called, are here to replace Seashell laptops, which were sidelined as the Cedar Trail platform emerged. Asus showed their Flares during CES, and recently our friends from netbooklive.com got the chance to play with a review unit.

You might be very interested in this review, if you’re hunting for a new ultraportable laptop, that’s not as flashy or expensive as an ultrabook, but it’s significantly better than a regular netbook. Basically, the 1225B fits right in the middle of the consumer spectrum, where most buyers eventually decide to venture.

The 1225B comes with a new AMD Fusion APU, namely the E-450, which incorporates a dual core processor clocked at 1.65 GHZ and built in HD graphics, namely Radeon HD 6320 with Turbo Core. You also get 4 GB of RAM, a 320 GB HDD and an 11.6 inch display with an HD resolution of 1366 x 768 px. To sum it up fairly quickly, Mike from netbooklive.com observed that the new design has slimmer edges than the middle, so kind of mimicking a flare, while the Seashell design was thicker towards the end and slimmer towards the edge.

Moving on, the display on the 1225B is quite a problem, as it has bad viewing angles and reflects light, being on par, negatively, with the 1215B, which had a similarly problematic display. On a more positive note, if you find a good angle, in a rather dark room, the display is very bright and lively, offering vivid colors, particularly pleasing when watching HD content.

The 1225 comes with a brand new design and hardware platform

As for performance, the 1225B does well what it was designed to do: basic tasks with a seasoning of HD playback and mild gaming. The dual core processor and slightly pumped up graphics will offer an experience that’s better than the one on the 1215B, but it’s nowhere near what an ultrabook can do. The laptop will be able to deal with HD playback, both streamed and directly from the HDD, and can run older games at good frame rates and detail levels, but newer titles will see you play them with minimum detail and even lower resolution.

Anyway, for an entry level machine, the 1225B seems to do just fine on this front. As for pricing, the 1225B starts at $399, but that will buy the base model, powered by a slower C-60 APU, while the model packing the E-450 goes for 479 bucks. Stay tuned for the detailed video review below or hit the source link for the written review.

Asus 1025C and the X101CH – two new budget-friendly 10-inch netbooks (video)

Adrian — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:34:32 +0000

After unveiling what looks like a premium 12-inch ultraportable laptop at CES 2012 in Las Vegas, Asus has come up with two new 10-inchers as well, the 1025C and X101CH. Both netbooks are set to hit the market starting this February and are targeted towards technology enthusiasts on a budget looking for stylish computing devices to take on the road.

First off, we have the Asus 1025C, packing a 1.66 GHz Cedar Trail N2600 dual-core processor and featuring 1 GB of RAM. That won’t offer exactly the gaming experience of a lifetime, but then again if you need a computer for video games and HD content, the 10-inch netbook market niche should definitely not be your target.

The Asus 1025C sports a 10.1-inch screen with 1024 x 600 pixels resolution and, while we aren’t that surprised by this display in question, we won’t hide the fact that we’re a bit disappointed by it. Other features include a 320 GB HDD, three USB 2.0 ports, WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI and an 0.3 MPx webcam.

The Asus 1025C looks pretty decent and will feature some nice tech specs as well.

In terms of design, this netbook is pretty sleek and slim, weighing in at just 2.7 pounds and measuring 1.3-inches thick. That’s not exactly ultrabook material right now, but it’s pretty darn close and should be easy to carry around. We should also mention that the netbook will be made available in no less than five different models, in gray, blue, red, pink and black.

The Asus 1025C is set to feature a 56 Wh battery, capable of an estimated autonomy of up to ten hours (not bad, not bad at all!) and will hit the market in a few short weeks for 299 dollars.

The second 10-inch netbook from Asus you can check out from the hands-on video below is the X101CH, featuring pretty much the same specs as the 1025C, including the N2600 dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM and all those ports and connectivity options.

The X101CH is lighter, cheaper, but comes with a poorer battery.

The Asus X101CH will also sport a 10.1-inch screen with 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, but will in fact be a tad lighter and thinner than its sibling. On the other hand, that six ounces difference in weight is due to the using of a smaller, three-cell battery, only capable of up to four hours of autonomy.

As the Asus 1025C, the X101CH will be up for sale starting next month and will only cost 269 bucks, which is quite decent, if not more affordable than we had hoped.

Don’t forget to check out this short hands-on video of the two 10-inchers from Asus, brought to you exclusively by the guys at netbooklive.com:

Asus 1225C 12-incher unveiled at CES, set to hit the market soon with a solid body and a high-res screen

Adrian — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:21:46 +0000

The CES technology tradeshow has always been a great event to unveil new, innovative and special computer devices and that’s exactly what Asus has done in Las Vegas during the past couple of days.

The Asus 1225C is one of the most interesting ultraportable laptops we have seen in probably a while and is set to hit the market soon with a solid build and a more than decent display.

The design is one of this laptop’s strongest points and the aluminum case makes this 12-incher look nice and solid. The keyboard/trackpad combo is another thing the 1225C has going for it, providing comfort while looking stylish and fashionable.

In terms of hardware and performance, you should expect a pretty snappy overall computing machine, giving the fact that the Asus Eee PC 1225C will be powered by a dual-core 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Cedar Trail processor. There’s also 2 GB of RAM, integrated HD graphics and an HDD with either 250 GB or 500 GB of storage, depending on your needs and the exact model you will go for.

The Asus 1225C features a very nice design, as well as an elegant and functional keyboard.

The 12-inch screen sported by the 1225C should be pretty capable too, featuring a 1366 x 768 pixels display. While it’s not ideal for playing full HD 1080p clips, you should easily run 720p clips, which I would expect to be enough for the target customers of such a netbook.

As for the ports and connectivity, Asus hasn’t disappointed us, coming with all the basics, including HDMI, USB 3.0, an SD card reader, Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi. The operating system of choice is of course Windows 7 Home Premium and there’s also a low-res 0.3 MPx webcam on the device’s front.

Pretty aerodynamic and slim, isn't it?

No pricing details have been announced just yet, but we should find out something sooner or later, because the Asus 1225C is set to be made available in the US, as in other markets, in the second quarter of 2012, according to official statements.

Here’s a short hands-on video of the 12-incher as well, brought to you straight from Las Vegas by the guys at Netbooklive.com:

Asus EEE PC X101CH unboxed and previewed – Cedar Trail Atom for 2012 netbooks

Andrew — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:47:44 +0000

Three years ago, netbooks were incredibly hot and everyone craved for a cheap 10 inch mini laptop they could easily grab along when traveling. Today, netbooks are not near as popular as back then, but that doesn’t mean producers aren’t working on improving them: the Asus EEE PC X101CH is a proof of that, and I’ve got to unbox and test it (in the next days) over at netbooklive.com .

I’m pretty sure the Asus X101CH EEE PC is going to be Asus’s cheapest 10 inch mini laptop in 2012, with prices starting at about 200 bucks. What we have here is a sample unit, as the device is scheduled to hit the stores in February 2012 and will replace the current Asus X101H line. This particular EEE PC series is hardly available in the US, so the successor might as well target mostly developing markets, like eastern Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. But who knows, maybe it will come to the states as well.

On the outside, the X101CH EEE PC is pretty much identical to the current slim EEE PC X101 line. In fact, there are two main differences: the screen has a matte bezel, and on the left side you now get a HDMI port. The rough textured case, the slim shape, the island keyboard and the trackpad haven’t changed a bit, but that’s not a bad thing, as the X101 is one of the most solid built 10 inchers available right now, at least in my eyes. They’re not shinny or stylish, but the matte plastic case does make them way better for rougher conditions, traveling or for handing them to your youngsters.

The Asus EEE PC X101CH is going to be Asus's cheapest netbook in the first part of 2012

The real goodies lie inside this machine, as it boosts the new Intel Atom Cedar Trail processor, with a dual-core Atom N2600 CPU and improved graphics, next to 1 GB of RAM, 320 GB hard-drive and Windows 7 Starter.There’s also good connectivity, a matte 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 px display and 3 Cell battery, all inside a 1 kilo portable notebook.

I haven’t got the chance to play with it for long, as I only have the X101CH on my desk for a couple of hours, but I will get back with more tests and benchmarks. Early impressions are pretty good, the X101CH is decently snappy, especially if you’re going to compare it to the Atom N435 powered X101H. However, since we’re talking about a dual-core CPU, it should be put side by side to the Atom N550, but I think the N2600 is going to be cheaper and more energy efficient, while providing similar everyday punch. That’s yet to be tested though. As for the graphics, well, the new Intel Cedar Trail platform is far superior to the older Pine Trail, able to deal with HD content and even Full HD clips. The clip below shows you that I was able to run 720p Youtube video pretty well, but I’ll look more into that before posting the review.

That’s about it for now, more details will follow though and you should also check out the unboxing on netbooklive.com for extra info.

While not much has changed outside, the new platform is definitely faster than before

If you’re going to ask what do I think about this mini laptop right now, after only an hour or so of playing with it, I’d say I like it. It’s slim and solid built, comes with a matte 10 inch display, it’s decently powered and based on what I know right now, this config will sell for about 230 Euros here in Eastern Europe. Cheaper versions might be available as well, so if you’re looking for an inexpensive laptop perfect for young users, for school or as a secondary computer when traveling, the X101CH could be a very good pick. Of course, that 3 Cell battery won’t offer proper autonomy, but I’m pretty sure Asus will offer some versions with a bigger battery as well.

However, hold your horses for the final review I’m going to post here and on netbooklive.com next week.

Asus 1025CE and 1025C EEE PC – new generation Asus netbooks

Mark — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:52:00 +0000

The 1025CE and 1025C are two future netbooks that will launch in late 2011 and which will signal the changing of the guard in terms of design for Eee PCs.

If you know your Eee PC history, you know that most 10 inch netbooks from the series were built using the Seashell design. The back of the netbook (hosting the battery) was a little bulkier, with the thickness decreasing towards the palm rest.

This was (and is) the official design running around for the last two years, since Asus entered massively in the netbook market; the design was good enough for holding a larger battery and required lots of space for accommodating all of the internals. But with processors getting smaller and smaller and SSDs taking over hard disk drives, a new type of design takes over the minds of Asus designers. The two future netbooks will have a plastic finish which is said to imitate the feel and consistency of aluminum.

The build is inspired by the U design that can be found on other Asus mini laptops. That means you get slightly sharper edges and a more thin design for the body, with significantly smaller fans.

The two computers will come in different color versions, namely 3 for the 1025CE and 7 for the 1025C (expect the usual-red, white, black, blue and probably pink and a couple of other colors). But maybe the most important changes will take place on the inside. Pine Trail processors (Atom Nxxx) will be replaced bu Cedar Trail chips (Nxxx), which require way less energy to run, as well as having a better graphics engine than the previous version.

The 1025C/CE will have the same finish on the lid and the palm rest

The 1025C will run on Windows 7 Starter and has a base price of $249, while the more expensive 1025CE, starting at $279, will have a secondary OS (Asus Express Gate), a USB 3.0 port, WiFi N and Bluetooth 3.0 (the later two being available on the 1025C as well). Battery life is of course a highlight, as the 6 cell version will be capable of going for about 14 hours on a single charge; of course, the base model will run on a 3 cell juice maker.

This is the first batch of info we’ve got about these two groundbreaking (at least in terms of design) netbooks and there’s a chance we’ll find out more during Computex.

Asus Eee PC 1015BX with AMD C-60 processor available in Europe

Adrian — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:37:25 +0000

The Asus Eee PC line of ultraportable, light and affordable netbooks is very popular right now and we can’t say that we are surprised of announcing the release of a new model.

The 1015BX is already available for pre-order on Amazon Germany and should pretty soon come to the rest of Europe and probably also the US.

The 1015 BX’s most important upgrade is the AMD C-60 processor, the latest low power chipset from AMD. This new 1.33 GHz processor should offer a small, but noticeable performance boost from the older C-50 dual core chipset. Also, it comes with a Radeon HD 6290 graphics card that offers support for HD video playback, as well as DirectX 11 graphics.

The rest of the technical specifications are pretty straightforward, with a 10.1-inch LED-backlit anti-glare display with 1024×600 pixels resolution, 1 GB of RAM and a 320 GB hard drive. Asus’s new netbook is set to be powered by a very powerful 6 cell 5200 mAh Lithium-ion battery and will also feature Bluetooth 3.0, LAN, Wireless, as well as an HDMI and one USB 3.0 port.

The Asus 1015BX could come to the US in the near future.

In terms of software, the 1015 BX is set to run Windows 7 Starter, while when it comes to the design and the product weight it follows the footsteps of all the other 10-inch mini laptops from Asus, being elegant, chic and highly portable.

The Asus Eee PC 1015 BX is available on Amazon Germany, as we already told you, and its price tag is pretty affordable, if you ask us. The mini-laptop goes for 205.94 euro right now, which means that if and when it will come in the United States, it could cost around 200-220 bucks.