Asus Eee PC 901 review

It's difficult to look at the Eee PC 901 without thinking of the 700, the netbook that started it all. When launched in September 2007, PC Pro was among the first to acclaim it as "a genuine step forward for the laptop, with unbelievable capabilities for the price". However, with asimilar chassis, the 901 feels like it's clinging tothe Eee PC past while the world around it rushes on.

That isn't to say it's without its charms. First, there's the inclusion of a solid-state disk. While it's small at 12GB, you can easily add more storage space via the SD card slot. It also contributes to a respectable score in our benchmarks of 0.35, among the fastest here.

The 901's chief talent, however, is its sheer longevity. This netbook can keep going for more than eight hours on a single charge, which is incredible for a machine that weighs just 1.14kg. You even get some nice extras, including draft-n wireless, a 1.3-megapixel webcam and Sun StarOffice 8.

What you don't get is much in the way of ergonomics. The 8.9in screen is grainy, the keyboard tricky to type on and the build quality is decidedly mediocre in comparison with the newest netbooks. Meanwhile, its design makes the Eee PC 901 feel more like a toy than aserious tool.

These aren't killer criticisms - if you just need a machine for browsing the internet, you prefer the familiarity of Windows XP over Linux, and battery life is paramount, then the 901 will do the job. Just bear in mind you could buy an Acer Aspire One A150L, plus a spare battery or two, for the same price.

Author: Tim Danton