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Asus Eee PC 900 review

We recently had the chance to review the latest offering from Asus, the amazing Eee PC 900. Asus have gained a reputation for introducing very capable and useful "mini" laptops that provide much of the functionality of a standard sized laptop but in a much smaller and therefore more portable size.

The latest model, the Eee PC 900, gives the user a more comfortable experience over previous models in that it has a larger 8.9 inch screen. This screen has a resolution of 1024 x 600 which even at this relatively small screen size means displayed pages are easily readable. The screen is also nice and bright and so can be used in quite bright, glary conditions, very useful if using the Wi Fi  connection in various locations that often don't have ideal lighting conditions.

The look of the unit itself is very attractive and contemporary. The one we had was in a stylish pearl white finish which had nice chrome finishes to the on / off button and touchpad click buttons and had an overall look and feel of good quality. It comes in at just fractionally under 1 Kilogramme in weight and with its nice carrying "pouch" proved to be excellent for carrying around. It is also solid state build which means it should be able to take the occasional reasonably hard accidental knock which is inevitable with any portable technology.

In terms of usability, I found the keyboard to have a very nice feel to it, and despite its obviously more compact size, I personally found it easier to use than a normal full size keyboard, certainly while using it resting on my lap as opposed to on a desk etc. The touchpad is a nice size and works well. The Asus also has a 1.3M pixel web cam built in to the screen surround for web conferencing etc.

The CPU is rated at 900 Mhz and seemed more than adequate for what this machine is likely to be used for. It certainly worked fine with the Windows operating system that it ran on, and Linux is also available as an optional operating system if you prefer. The battery life seemed fairly good, about 3 hours of general use I would estimate, maybe a bit less if using the Wi Fi connection all the time.

The built in Wi Fi connectivity will probably be one of the main considerations when looking to buy an Eee PC 900. On our model it worked fine and means it really is possible to stay connected and productive while on the move without having to carry a bulky and heavy full size laptop around with you.

Price wise, an inevitable comparison will be made with the cheap basic specification full size laptops that are available. It all comes down to what you require. Do you want some degree of portability and full functionality as with a full sized laptop, or great portability and more or less full functionality as with the Asus? Its probably not ideal as your only computer but that's not what its purpose is. As an incredibly portable mini laptop that can easily and conveniently be slipped into an ordinary small bag or briefcase that can do most, if not all of the tasks you might want to do while away from your home or office it is brilliant and surely the way that all laptops will go in terms of size and usability in the future.

To check out the full specification co to:

http://eeepc.asus.com/uk/900.htm