It looks like the PC vendors (and Microsoft) have spoken, and the vast majority of Intel Atom powered netbooks with 10 inch displays are going to ship with Windows 7 Starter Edition. But there is at least one model that stands out from the crowd. Asus will begin offering two versions of the Asus Eee PC 1008HA tomorrow: One with Windows 7 Starter and another with Windows 7 Home Premium.
The version with Windows 7 Home Premium will run about $480 and it packs 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and the usual Eee PC 1008HA specs: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 CPU, 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, and a non-removable battery.
Asus sent me a demo unit to review and you can check out two videos after the break. The first features the grand unboxing, while the second takes a first look at the software. Sorry if I seem a bit rambly, but I’m fighting a cold at the moment.
One thing I wanted to point out is that the Eee PC 1008HA gets a Windows performance score of 2.0. It’s dragged down a bit in the Windows Aero graphics department, where it scores a 2.0. Here are the rest of the scores:
- Processor: 2.3
- Memory: 4.5
- Graphics: 2.0
- Gaming graphics: 3.0
- Primary hard disk: 5.7
Now for the videos:
I love this laptop but it is a shame the screen resolution!
I love this laptop but it is a shame the screen resolution!
I’m waiting for the 1008HR (with the 1005HR’s 1366×768 screen) to become available. And ideally with a SSD option. Now that would be a premium netbook.
I’m getting this. The hottest looking netbook I’ve seen!