Asus Eee PC 900 Review Discussion

The Asus Eee PC 900 is the new update to the original Eee PC ... the affordable mini notebook that shook up the notebook market in 2007. Is this $550 mobile companion the best choice for your next travel laptop? We took an in-depth look at the Eee PC 900 to find out if this latest addition to the Eee PC family offers enough performance and features to get you excited.

Read the full content of this Article: Asus Eee PC 900 Review

 

Isn't the EEE 900 supposed to be released with a new set of processors in the future as well?

That was the impression I had previously.
How would you compare it to the Mininote, Jerry?

 

Originally Asus planned to release the Eee PC 900 with Atom processors, but Intel couldn't deliver Atom in time and Asus felt the need to release the new Eee PC because of pressure from competition. The processor is exactly the same as the processor in the 4G and 8G models ... only it runs at the full 900MHz speed out of the box and you don't have to go into the BIOS to change the speed to a full 900MHz.

I found the VIA processor in the HP Mini-note to be considerably slower in real-life use than the 900MHz Intel processor in the Eee PC 4G or Eee PC 900.

 

Well hopefully, Asus sticks to its game plan and upgrades the EEE 900 to the new processors. That might help it somewhat.

Thanks for the clarification about the Mini-note.

 

its too expensive for its specs!!!!!!

 

Just a little heads up, the current battery is rated at 4400mAh, not 5800mAh.

Depending on which batch of EEE900's they picked up this review unit from and sent it to you guys, you may have a 5800mAh battery, but the ones on sale right now have been widely reported to come with a 4400mAh.

 

According to the information we have available, the 4400mAh batteries are only in the Eee PC "Surf" edition notebooks.

The Eee PC 900 is supposed to come with a 5800mAh battery, as our review unit did. If Asus tells us differently we'll gladly make a correction. But right now we're going with what Asus told us and what our review unit came with:

 

There is no "EEE900 Surf Edition". Many have reported that they got 4400mAh batteries with their EEE900 on eeeuser forums, not "Surf" editions.

Believe whatever you will. As for me, I believe that it is only fair for consumers to know, before deciding on the purchase, that they will most likely get a crippled battery.

Asus had announced that they will exchange batteries for free for the first batch of EEE900s in Hong Kong. No news about EEE900s sold in UK yet, although people at eeeuser have already sent complaint emails out. EEE900s sold in Taiwan seem to carry 5800mAh batteries. [Source: eeeuser forums, multiple threads]

 

Thanks for the review Jerry. I have to agree with your take, if the price was lower this would be more interesting, but at the said price I just feel like you've lost much of the "budget" benefit of the Eee PC class. And they should still work on driving the price of the original Eee PC down closer to the $199 mark they had set in the first place, the lower the price goes there the more market reach they'll get, don't focus on the higher end.

 

I never said anything about an "EEE900 Surf" edition. I said "Eee PC surf edition" ... as in the Eee PC 2G Surf and Eee PC 4g Surf, both of which are WIDELY available on multiple websites:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220261

Read the product specifications of the Eee PC Surf editions on both the official Asus website and NewEgg.com ... both of which list the Surf editions as coming with the 4400mAh battery.

I don't know why you seem so upset by the fact that we are reporting the facts as we know them. I don't care what people over on EeeUser.com's forums are telling you. Asus told us the Eee PC 900 comes with a 5800mAh battery and our review unit came with one. That's what we're reporting until Asus tells us otherwise.

 

I'm afraid to say that the EEE is currently shipping in the EU with the 4400mAh battery, as referred to in www.EeeUser.com . This is due to a large-fire in a Taiwanese factory which supplied the EEE's batteries. However, it looks like Asus is indenting to replace the sub-par battery free of charge; If Asus repeats there policy in Hong-Kong; where Engadget has reported that Asus is replacing the batteries free of charge, hence buyers should have nothing to worry about.
Besides, Good review! However, IMO I would say that the Linux version is far better value for money; the 40 G.B total of flash memory is relatively generous; considering some laptop companies charging as much as the EEE for a 60 odd GB SSD. Also, if you want a windows version, I cant see a problem with sticking a legitimate copy of XP on the Linux version; apt, with the aid of a external hard drive, with the obvious advantage of the 4G.B extra of memory.

Edit; sorry to the above posts; I was writting my responce whilst the other posts where, erm posted; hence the repitition.

 

Okay, I remember that news report now. It's not that Asus is officially shipping the 4400mAh battery ... it's that they messed up and shipped the wrong battery. If you receive a 4400mAh battery with the 900 Asus is indeed replacing the 4400mAh battery with a 5800mAh battery.

The 900 is supposed to come with a 5800mAh battery.

 

Priced just too high, even if I was considering a note taking laptop for school or something at that price I would probably end up going with a Dell Vostro or something since typing would be a lot easier and the screen less strain on the eyes, though I think the original EEE is still pretty good for the price, this is too high, and joins it's competitors like the HP and MSI, they started out with a good idea and the orignal EEE had a lot of potential, however instead of building on the cheap laptop idea they added too much and have priced themselves out of their own market.

 

Jerry, does the ULV Celeron in this unit have any sort of basic Speedstep capabilities to deter heat and prolong battery life? It sounds like something that could be very beneficial to these ultraportables......

 

The larger size does look more appealing but $550 - $600 is just wayy too much for something like that

 

I wonder if the built in camera is killing battery life? Any physically connected USB device kills a CPU's ability to hit sleep states.

I bet the wider screen will help the unit a lot. 1024 seems a pretty common format in web today. Getting below it means a lot of side scrolling.

 

Although at the other end of the spectrum, size-wise, Newgg is currently selling the ThinkPad 61e for $399. Yes, it's a bare-bones and entry level 1.83 GHz Celeron M 15.4" widescreen and heavy at 6.5 lbs., but some other positives, and of course then some negatives too, but for only $399 . . . certainly not a powerhouse by anyone's standards, yesterday or today, but meets the needs for some basic road warriors who only do business apps, e-mail, and web browsing while on the road - and, has an excellent keyboard.

I'd agree at $599, I certainly will pass. Heck, I saw a new in box ThinkPad X60s with the 3-year Lenovo warranty go for only $869 on eBay a couple of weeks ago. A new X60s for only $300 more than the PC 900? I'd go for that alternative any day.

 

Despite me liking this product, I would say wait. Let me explain; the Linux-loving MicroSoft has just announced that it will sell XP licenses for $32 in developed markets (e.g EU and U.S), http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/145719/microsoft_to_limit_capabilities_of_cheap_laptops.html, which is considerably cheaper than the EEE's $97 xandros license. This essentially means that Asus will probably scrap Linux EEE's and switch solely to MS systems; also meaning that the SSD trade of in the 900 would not-occur, resulting in users who want a 40G.B SSD and MS-OS without the fuss are appeased. Furthermore, the promise of the Atom, possibly (according to CNET CRAVE) with duel-core variants’, would result in the EEE getting more computing power and a better battery life; without increasing the cost. In all probability, Asus would go the extra mile for the summer student-market and get the wireless card to be N-band compatible, along with the much desired key-board improvements .

I know that the above comment presumes allot from Asus, but from the companies previous statements about atom and the demand for something extra-ordinary for the summer, the EEE 900 could repeat the success of the original EEE.

 

It's now available on amazon, wasn't there an hour ago and I'm guessing it won't stay up there for long. I just ordered me 1 of the available 3

 

I never understood why Asus went with Xandros in the first place. I'm sure Canonical would have jumped at the chance to preload Ubuntu on the Eee. Cheaper too.

 

man... i was really excited about this laptop when it was first announced...

but at that price point... it is a bit ridiculous.

 

That XP news is good, but harmful for the UMPC market - no touch is a killer. Vista should not be on tiny PCs. As for Atom, it won't help the price, it will just increase the margin for ASUS, so if you are waiting, don't bother. It should only improve battery life 10%. Nice review, again, NBR. I want it, but it really is too pricey. The screen is better than my T61's though - can you believe that?

 

Are you saying that the first-gen Asus Eee PCs can run at the same processor speed as the new 900s? Can you point me to a place that tells me how to do that? And which drivers to use to increase the resolution of the first-gen ones? I would really appreciate that, since I was planning on getting one of the new ones ...but I agree totally that the price is getting a little too high.

 

i tried it out as well. way too small for touch typing. i might buy it though.

 

If i were to buy it i would get the linux model with the 20gb and install xp on it myself.

Is it possible they will refresh the 900 with the new processor when it becomes available?

 

I believe that is their intention...however, I can't say for sure. I for one, would buy the Linux version over any XP version any day.

 

I really wish I bought this instead of the LG P300. I bought the P300 for $1500 more than the the EeePC 900... which I don't even use half it's features for. 8600GS GPU? I've since bought a PS3 for my gaming needs. 4.5 hr battery life? Laptop's always plugged to a wall outlet one way or another (home and office). Sad isn't it... for the $1500 price differnece, I should've been able to afford a 32" HDTV instead of settling with a 22" TV monitor. Yeah, bad decisions.

 

I'll trade you a 900 for your P300.

 

i will give him a 900 and the old eee for his p300.

 

I'll match your offer and raise you another 900.

 

WTH. Do that crap on eBay, you guys.

Man I'm disappointed in the Eee 900. Especially the heat. I'd expect a discrete GPU if it churns out that much heat and only gives sub-3 hour battery life. 8400M range .

 

It actually appears to be running cooler than either the HP Mini-Note or the original EEE (Based on the single temperature given for the original review). Slightly cooler anyhow. Slightly over 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the Mini-Note.

 

Hey don't be so glum,theres always EBay..then you can get like 3 Eees.If you can make a $2,000 bad decision...I take it you can afford to,or you are an extremely compulsive person.Me on the other hand..I got my fujitsu and a C2D desktop this year for about $750 all together.

I am looking for a portable laptop.Yes the 900 is too expensive as is.I pickup the 700 if it ever drops to $300..or even an old inspiron 700m or lattitude x300 for a cheaper price.

 

I guess I'll be waiting to see what Dell and Acer bring...

 

Nobody hopes Lenovo will release its own subnotebook?
Isn't the subnotebook category where TrackPoint is natural while any touchpad needs, hmmm, a solid squeezing (at least - see HP Mini-Note for instance)?

 

look forward to the MSI wind

 

Lenovo has its own subnotebooks. It's just not in the low price category

 

I am being offered the Asus 900 20 GB version with original Windows XP Home installed over here for AED 2000, and another shop sells the Asus 700 4G(4 GB Flash and 512MB ram with xandros) for AED 2000. Which would be a better choice now?

BTW AED 2000= US$544

 

Somehow I knew this one would disappoint...
Asus, get your stuff together!

 

With the 900, I think Asus tried to cram in another unit before the 901...similar with how Microsoft offered the ME just for the year 2000. Its all about business =).

death__machine, consider the 20GB...because the user's manuel has a section that instructs you on how to install Xp.

Here is another thread about the storage usage for the linux: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3408437#post3408437

Wait till the beginning of June...just in time for Computex...because there will be alot more choices to choose from once manufacturers compete featuring the Intel Atom chip...Asus 901, MSI Wind, and the list goes on.

 

Ya I am definitely waiting until July or August cause I don't need one until school starts again. XD

 

@Qbito_01
Yeah I saw the price of the MSI wind, and comparing the price/performance point of view, the MSI wind has much to offer when compared with the Asus EEE pc.

 

Price, heat, and white plastic make this a no for me.

 

I held one of these things in my hands and I could still not type on it. It`s ridiculousely small, the resolution it waaaay too low and the price is such a turn off.
I really hope the Dell mini thing will be better.

 

Well, good thing it has a video out so you can hook it up to a bigger LCD screen and USB ports to hook up a mouse and keyboard j/k!