With prices around $400, everyone can afford a netbook these days. But how do you go about finding one when top manufacturers like HP, Dell, and Asus all seem to make a dozen different models? Here are hand-picked top 10 best netbooks, and just what sets them apart from the pack.
Tag Archive: Eee
Asus Eee T91: It’s a Netbook and A Tablet PC
Asus has never had any difficulty expanding out its like of Eee netbook and nettop computers, offering a dizzying array of models and options that, if nothing else, have probably helped competitor Acer decide it’s perfectly fine to confuse consumers with its own dizzying array of Aspire netbook models. However, the Asus Eee T91 does something no other netbook on the market can do: users can open up and swivel the unit’s 8.9-inch display and convert the unit into a touch-screen, Web-enabled tablet PC.
Asus Eee 1004DN Feels the Burn with DVD Writer
Asus has officially taken the wraps off its new Eee PC 1004DN, marking the first time one of its Atom-powered netbook computers has sported an optical drive—and a Super-Multi DVD writer at that. The drive not only enables users to read and play standard CDs and DVD, but also back up data to standards CD or DVD media.
Asus is also pitching the 1004DN as a portable entertainment machine, noting that the 1004DN’s integrated 10-inch display can handle displaying 720p high-definition video. For the communications-and-accessory crowd, the 1004DN also features an Express Card expansion slot so users can hook up USB 2.0 and PCI Express devices.
Asus To Simplify Eee Product Line
Taiwanese computer maker Asus announced at an investor’s conference in Taipei this week that it managed to sell 4.9 million Eee PCs during 2008, a figure just short of its stated goal of selling 5 million units. Asus CEO Jerry Shen blames the near-miss on a sudden downturn in consumer spending at the end of the year as the world economy slowed down. But Asus also says it has a new strategy for 2008: after pumping out more than 20 Eee models during 2008—often just minor variations with cutsey names, but some with significant differences—the company says it plans to simplify its Eee offering in a bid to avoid consumer confusion.
Asus Eee Keyboard
Having already attempted to spin the Eee brand from its netbooks off into mini desktop PCs, an all-in-one monitor, and even a television, it comes as little surprise that Asus has more tricks up its sleeve for those three hot-selling letters. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show showed us the Eee Keyboard concept, an entire computer built within the confines of a standard desktop keyboard.
Gift Ideas: PC and Laptop Accessories
From gadget freak to gearhead, uber-geek to office drone, we all have something in common: The lowly PC. We spend countless hours bashing away at our keyboards, surfing the Interwebs and generally interacting with our computer. Whether you’re a member of the cult of the Apple or a dedicated denizen of the world of Windows, the following guide to peripherals and accessories has plenty of great gift ideas for the entire extended mouse-and-keyboard-loving clan:
Microsoft Wireless Explorer Mouse with BlueTrack technology, $99.99
Asus Trims Eee 1002HA with Brushed Aluminum
If Asus’s original Eee models feel too cheap for your tastes and the upscale S101 comes too close to regular notebook territory with its $699 price tag for your liking, the upcoming Eee PC 1002HA might just be the happy middle ground. The new netbook will carry premium design elements from the S101 further down the price spectrum, creating a classier machine that still hits budget territory.
Though similar in look to the Eee 1000 series, the 1002HA has been slimmed down to less than an inch thick, and also carries brushed aluminum cladding on the lid, giving it more professional look that Asus hopes will be a hit with business users.
Asus Dresses up Eee Line with S101
Injecting some much-needed style into the netbook class of notebooks that it invented, Asus brought its Eee S101 to North America on Tuesday. The classed-up mini notebook features an ultra-slim design, new exterior colors borrowed from the fashion world, and built-in WiMax capability.
Moving away from the toy-like color schemes on its previous Eee PCs, Asus will offer the S101 in both copper brown and graphite, in a thin 0.7-inch thick case with dressed-up hinges and other finish elements. It won’t cost the notebook anything in weight though, which will remain at two pounds.
Asus Plans Touch-Screen, Dual-Core Eee PCs
Asus’ successful Eee PC will continue to snowball features through next year, but a version near $300 is also on the way, according to Taiwanese news outlet DigiTimes. Samson Hu, Asus’ general manager of the Eee PC, revealed details of the line’s future in an article published Thursday.
Among the biggest updates will be a touch-screen version of the Eee that’s been talked about since January, as well as a faster dual-core version. News of the dual-core version, which will be based on an upcoming release of Intel’s efficient Atom processor, essentially blows the lid on the processor, which hasn’t yet been formally announced by Intel. Although the company hasn’t yet decided which Eee notebooks will get the update, prototypes are expected to debut at CES 2009.
Asus Adds 3G HSDPA to Eee 901
The killer portable feature that many pundits felt the original Asus Eee was lacking – 3G Internet access – will finally be appearing in a new version of the machine this fall. Asus announced the inclusion of what it’s calling a “3.75G” radio in the Eee 901 on Wednesday.
According to Asus, notebooks equipped with the feature should be able to achieve download speeds of 7.2 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 Mbps, depending on which cell carrier’s network they’re on. To complement the speed boost and further push the Eee 901 as a true road warrior’s machine, Asus has also upped battery life in the newest version to a maximum of 7.5 hours.
