Asus Eee PC 1001P: Our Favorite Netbook
by Vivek Gowri on March 16, 2010 11:30 PM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
In May 2009, Asus took the wraps off its new Eee PC 1005HA, the latest and greatest netbook model from the company that pioneered the segment. The 1005HA was the mainstream implementation of the Seashell design that garnered much praise in the form of the gorgeous but ultimately flawed 1008HA. The 1005HA set out to correct those flaws, with more ports and a larger battery in a slightly thicker but similarly sleek and attractive package. It delivered on those fronts and ended up as a resounding success for Asus.
Naturally, when it came time for Asus to update the Diamondville-based 1005HA to the new Pine Trail platform, Asus didn't want to mess with success. Beyond the new processors, the 1005PE was very nearly identical to the 1005HA, except with some minor changes to the keyboard and mouse.

Now, why is any of this relevant to the 1001P? The newest member of the Seashell line has strong roots in the 1005, sharing the same basic chassis and internal components as the more expensive model. Gone is the reflective, glossy finish of the 1005, replaced by textured, matte plastic. The screen also has a matte finish, thankfully one of the few computers to forego the trend of featuring a glossy screen. In terms of hardware, the two share the same basic components, headlined by Intel's new Pineview Atom N450 processor and a large 6-cell battery.
As noted in previous coverage of the new Atom chips, Pine Trail consolidates the entire platform into a two-chip solution—the Pineview processor and the Tiger Point chipset controller. Pineview moves the 45nm GMA 3150 core and memory controller onto the same package as the Atom CPU, reducing the overall power consumption of the platform significantly while offering a slight performance increase.
ASUS Eee PC 1001P Specifications | |
Processor | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz + SMT, 45nm, 512KB L2, 533FSB, 5.5W) |
Chipset | Intel NM10 |
Memory | 1x1024MB DDR2-667 @ 4-4-4-12 Timings |
Graphics | Integrated Intel GMA 3150 |
Display | 10.1" LED Matte 16:9 WSVGA (1024x600) |
Hard Drive | 2.5" 250GB 5400RPM 8MB (Seagate ST9250315AS) |
Networking | Atheros AR8132 Fast Ethernet Atheros AR2427 802.11g WiFi |
Audio | Realtek AL269 2-Channel HD Audio (2.0 Speakers with headphone/microphone jacks) |
Battery | 6-Cell, 10.8V, 4400mAh, 48Wh |
Front Side | None |
Left Side | Heat Exhaust Kensington Lock 1 x USB 2.0 VGA AC Power Connection |
Right Side | SD/MMC reader Microphone/Headphone Jacks 2 x USB 2.0 100Mb Fast Ethernet |
Back Side | None |
Operating System | Windows 7 Starter |
Dimensions | 10.31" x 7.01" x 1.02"-1.44" (WxDxH) |
Weight | 2.80 lbs (with 6-cell battery) |
Extras | 1.3MP Webcam Super Hybrid Engine (software over/under clocking) Available in White, Black, Blue, and Pink |
Warranty | 1-year standard ASUS warranty (USA) Extended warranties available |
Price | White 1001p-PU17-WT starting at $327 |
Spec-wise, the Eee PC 1001P doesn't do much to differentiate itself from the rest of the netbook crowd. It follows the same tried-and-true netbook formula, with an LED-backlit 10.1" WSVGA screen, the now-obligatory 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and GMA 3150 integrated graphics, a standard 1GB of DDR2 memory, and Windows 7 Starter edition to top it all off. To that, the 1001P adds a 250GB hard drive, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, a 0.3MP webcam, and a 4.4Ah (48Wh) six cell battery rated for 11 hours of battery life in a slim and sleek 2.80lb chassis.
If this all sounds familiar, that's because it is. The 1005PE shares nearly identical specs, only adding wireless-n and a larger 5.8Ah (63Wh) battery worth 14 hours of runtime. In all fairness, when constrained to the 10"/Atom/Windows specs, there's only so much hardware variation that can be created, which is why many netbooks have such similar components. And, when you make as many different netbooks as Asus, such overlaps are inevitable.
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AnnonymousCoward - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
piroroadkill, I suggest you find out who God is, before throwing out "godawful", "goddamn", or whatever else. Don't forget that God created the physics that allows your computer to work, as well as wireless communication, and the incredible light sensors known as your eyes, and light in general.afkrotch - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
And according to god, I'm allowed to beat my children when they misbehave. I'm also suppose to envision myself eating his flesh and drinking his blood in church.funkyd99 - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
Religion and tech websites don't mix... If someone offends you, ignoring that person is more effective than patronizing them.Yours truely,
An agnostic who is sick of finding religious references in inappropriate places (and a hypocrite for responding to you)
legoman666 - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
I have a Dell Mini10 with the GMA500. Buying it was a mistake. Constant BSOD with Aero enabled in Win7, slow as crap, poor drivers. On the plus side, about 9 months after I got it, the drivers finally progressed enough to get HD decoding working somewhat. 720p works OK, 1080p works sometimes.I finally said screw it and installed Ubuntu netbook remix. Honestly, my Nokia N900 phone fills the gadget gap better than the Mini10. My next laptop will be bigger, CULV with a ~12" screen and more than 1gb ram.
AnnonymousCoward - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
Why can't Microsoft make an OS that's better than XP for netbooks? And you can't even change the background--are you kidding?The matte screen is very welcome. Great review.
afkrotch - Thursday, March 18, 2010 - link
I reloaded my netbook with a clean install of WinXP Pro. Can change my desktop all the time.MonkeyPaw - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
Speaking of OSes, I wonder how well it hackintoshes?numberoneoppa - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
Nice review. The battery life would definitely be the selling point for me. 10 hours of web browsing or movie watching sounds mighty fine. Oh, and of course, the screen. I also cannot stand most notebook screens these days. The only company that seems to be able to do a glossy screen properly is Apple, and even still, I prefer matte (<3 Thinkpad).piroroadkill - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
Really? Have a Macbook here and the screen is like a goddamn mirror. I'd say NOBODY can do a glossy screen rightsamspqr - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
glossy is bad, always