Asus Eee PC 1001P-MU17: Asus's Netbook for Quick Web Access

In a sea of practically interchangeable ten.1-inch netbooks, the Asus EeePC 1001-MU17 stands out for one particular issue: Express Gate, a nearly instant-on auxiliary running program that permits quick access to the internet, on the internet gaming, Skype, IM, as well as your images. If you don't forget the primary Linux-based netbooks, you've got the idea. To boot to Express Gate, you begin the 1001-MU17 making use of a secondary ability button (that has no light) about the upper left hand facet of the keyboard deck. Booting to Windows 7 Starter is completed by means of the typical lighted power button about the upper proper hand aspect.

Soon after Express Gate, the 1001-MU17 leans primarily towards the mundane. You receive the present well-liked netbook parts: an Intel Atom N450 processor with the integrated 3150 GPU, 1GB of DDR2 memory, plus a 160GB hard disk. The ports can also be the standard lineup to get a ten.1-inch unit: three USB, a single VGA, 1 AC, one 10/100 ethernet jack, a single SDHC slot, in addition audio in/out along with a Kensington lock port.

The EeePC 1001-MU17 is styled in an all-black shade scheme damaged up by only a silver rocker button for the trackpad plus a checkerboard pattern on the upper shell and decrease deck. It seems to be as though it will be far more at home in a boardroom than in a very espresso shop. That is not a complaint, just a phrase of warning to people who may possibly want to wow style-conscious friends with their new acquire.

The netbook weighs 2.79 kilos, about common for this category of netbook using a six-cell battery. If fat is more of a problem than operate time, you are able to drop that to 2.24 pounds with a three-cell battery. 1 caveat: if you're looking to upgrade performance with the SSD, you may desire to skip the 1001-MU17. In contrast to most netbooks, it's no entry panel for the hard disk. However, it has an entry panel for the memory if you want to upgrade the SODIMM.

Overall, the 1001-MU17 felt as snappy being an N450-based netbook can managing Windows 7--you can live with it, but that's all. The WorldBench 6 performance of 34, while a position increased than most, bears that out. Video clip functionality was a tad worse than common. The Webcam's picture was decently smooth, as well as the unit had no difficulty playing QuickTime or Flash High definition video clip locally. Nevertheless, MP4 and WMV ended up a stuttering mess, as was online Flash video clip. On-line Flash gaming was jerky to the point of distraction. Battery daily life was a sound six hrs and fifty minutes--not the very best we've noticed, but greater than plenty of to obtain you from coast to coast.

The keyboard for the LT2120u incorporates a crisp sense, along with the oversized left/right cursor keys may well eliminate a few of the hunting some users may possibly or else expertise. The touchpad was also exceptionally well-adjusted for tapping. In case you hate accidental tap-clicks, give this unit a try out to see if it does not eradicate people concerns.

Asus bundles Microsoft Operates with all the 1001-MU17, which ought to cover most user's needs nicely sufficient, even though a 60-day trial edition of Office 2007 is additionally integrated, for end users hunting for any tiny more oomph, and you may locate Skype set up, as well. Asus has become admirably restrained in placing useless software for the desktop. You won't see the eBay shortcuts or obsolete Google Desktop that vendors like Gateway pile on.

The Asus EeePC 1001-MU17 is actually a reliable hard work in the company that began the netbook craze. It's got an extremely great keyboard and exceptionally well-adjusted touchpad--factors usually ignored from the netbook acquiring equation. Although not ostentatious, it's nevertheless sedately handsome, and if you frequently require fast use of the web, the Express Gate may be useful certainly.