ASUS Eee PC 901 8.9-Inch Netbook Review
October 21st, 2009
ASUS Eee PC 901 8.9-Inch Netbook Review from Lincoln J Mennuti. Asus EEE PC 901…Hits the sweetspot, I’m a tech by trade and hobby, so apologies ahead of time if I start hitting on tech jargon, but I’ll try to keep it to a minimun. 
Let’s try and keep it to the important and good-to-knows…
The Pros of the 901:
- Uses the Intel Atom processor. Though the Atom doesn’t produce significantly more CPU performance vs. the previous 900 model’s Celeron M 353, it does use much less power. So you’d be looking at similar CPU performance, but with much better battery life AND runs cooler.
- With the Atom comes also a 2nd generation graphics chip in the GMA950 (vs the 900’s GMA900). The 2 big advantages of this are; the GMA950 has a peak pixel fill rate of 1600 megapixels per/second (the GMA900 has a peak of only 1332 megapixels per/second) and more video-decoding is now done in hardware on the GMA950. Combine those together and that means windows will open faster and watching videos will be smoother.
- Uses a Solid State Drive (SSD) for storage. SSD technology means; no moving parts (much less chance of bad things happening and dead silent operation), performance is at least on par with hard drives, and SSD uses less power.
- Has a nice big Trackpad. Unfortunately the default drivers for it leave a LOT to be desired. Luckily though, if you install the manufacturer’s drivers instead (search google for “elantech touchpad drivers”) then the functionality is INFINITELY better with options like multiple-finger tracking and night-n-day difference in tracking sensitivity.
- 1.3 megapixel Webcam. The 900 has 0.3 and a few competing models also only have 0.3
- Built-in Bluetooth. Nice option if you use BT GPS or use your BT phone as an internet access point. Or whatever you’d like to use BT for.
- Wireless-N (802.11n). If you’ve got it, you’re gonna fly. If not, it’s there when you’re ready
- Free 20gb online storage provided by Asus.
- 6 cell battery (4-8 hours). Some of the competitors come with only a 3cell
- SD Card reader slot that’s flush. Along with SSD getting larger in capacity and cheaper all the time, so is SD Flash memory. 32gb capacity SD cards are already coming out and with the card being flush it’s almost like a miniaturized, super-steroided Floppy Drive!
- Has a dedicated button for operating the “Super Hybrid Engine” option. This basically adjust the speed of the CPU up or down to conserve power or gain performance.
The Cons of the 901:
- I’ve got big hands (I wear XL gloves) so I’m hit the hardest by the petite keyboard. I’m also a typer so it’s going to be a bit of a learning curve to adjust to using the 901. Smaller hands will probably adjust much easier.
- No CD/DVD drive (no using it as a portable DVD Player). Not that big a deal for me really, I usually watch DivX videos (which can just easily be copied to an SD card for viewing.
The Good-To-Knows:
- The 901 already comes with a nice neoprene sleeve. I carry a bag with me between work/home and wanted something minimal but protective so I could put the 901 in my bag. The sleeve that comes with it does the job perfectly (kudos Asus).
- Also comes with a nice little cleaning cloth. Being the fingerprint magnet the shiny 901 is, the included cloth is also a nice addition to help keep the smudging to a minimum.
- Being that the SSD that comes with the 901 is so small, anything you can do to lighten the system load will help a lot. If you’re “techie” enough, it’s worth looking into a free product called “nlite”. The utility will chop down the size of the WinXP install considerably.
- The 901 comes with 1gb memory. At some point you’ll probably want to upgrade to 2gb. You’ll need to buy DDR2 SoDIMM chips. I recommend getting the 667MHz (PC5300) speeds (instead of 800MHz(PC6400)) as it will be less expensive and even if you overclocked your 901 you’d still be running well BELOW the 667MHz speed.
- Speaking of overclocking, previous versions of the 901 Firmware used to set the CPU speed to 1.8GHz in “Super Performance” mode. But newer firmware only bring it up to max speed of the default 1.6GHz. If you want to get back that extra speed, you’ll either have to downgrade the Firmware, or use an overclocking utility called “eeectl”.
- Accessing the internals of the 901 (for doing upgrades, like extra RAM) is very easy. Just remove a few screws on the panel underneath and you’re right at the guts of it. Other netbooks are much harder to get at the internals.
Other 8.9″ netbooks to consider:
- Acer Aspire One
- Everex CloudBook
- Dell Mini Inspiron (Mini 9)
- Asus EEE PC 1000 (10″ screen)
- MSI Wind (10″ screen)
In the end, I chose the 901 because its’ got just the right amount of everything for a “netbook”, it’s easy to “hack” due to easy access panels (which appeals to the Tech in me) and there’s a great user/support community for the Asus EEE line.
**Update (Aug 1, 2008)
I just upgraded the memory to 2gb last night. It took LESS than 5 minutes (literally)!…Here are the steps, just to show how easy it was:
1. Flip the 901 over, remove 2 screws from the cover panel and take it off
– You now have easy access to the WiFi, SSD and Memory
– My 901 also has a “ZIF” socket (meaning I could swap the SSD out for a 1.8″ IDE Hard Drive instead (using drives meant for an iPod is a good source…Think 80gb capacity on the cheap, but you’d be back to using HD).
2. Using your thumbnails (little tricky for me, as I’ve got fat fingers, but not too bad at all) pull the arms of the memory mount apart by about a millimeter on each side, at the same time…The memory chip will then spring up for easy removal.
3. Swap the memory module and close up, you’re done.
- I also previously misspoke about there being only 1 physical SSD drive. There’s actually a physical 4gb SSD (to get access to that one you’d have to actually fully dismantle the 901) and an 8gb SSD (for the 12gb XP version) that’s readily accessible for upgrade.
– Just so happens there’s also a space (only seen if you fully dismantle), with solder points with a label of “3GCARD” on it. Definitely not an upgrade for a non-tech, but some enterprising hacker out there just might find a way to install a 3G card in this badboy!
**Update II (Sept 9th, 2008)
- Bought a Microsoft Bluetooth 5000 Laptop mouse for my 901. I LOVE it! It’s the perfect compliment to the 901 (in size and smooth functionality). It even comes with its’ own black sleeve just like the 901’s.
- After doing a whole lot of research on the “perfect” bag to carry my 901 in (and actually buying a more expensive bag that turned out to be too big)…I finally found, what I consider to be, the perfect carrier. The Timbuk2 Classic Messenger XS. The cargo area of the bag is big enough to carry the 901 (in its sleeve) w/power cables, bluetooth mouse and some smaller odds and ends (like ear-canal headphones) and it’s got a compartmentalized zip pocket that’s also great for smaller odds and ends (keys, pens, ipod, pocket knife, etc). At the same time it’s small enough to be very light weight at about 1 lbs. (the bigger bag I had bought, even though it was a “small” size, weighs about as much as the 901 itself!) and also be non-bulky and easy to carry.
- An unexpected benefit of the 901 is watching movies/tv in bed! I make a connection to my main PC via home wireless network (map a drive) and using a headphone splitter, my Wife and I can enjoy watching movies and tv shows in the comfort of bed (the 901’s screen does a wonderful job at it to) and at proper volume (since we have our headphones on), without worrying about disturbing our 3yr old Son that’s sleeping in the next room.
**Update III (Sept 16th, 2008)
Bought one of those portable USB charger/Backup Laptop Battery extenders…The Xantrex (aka Duracell) Powersource Mobile 100. I used a Kill-A-Watt meter between the 901’s AC Adapter and the Xantrex, as well as a Thermometer Gun, here’s what I found:
- The 901 (under moderate usage), uses about 32-35watts (~122v/~500mA). The Xantrex advertises as being 100watt capable, but that’s peak and for only 5 minutes…It actually provides 80watts continuous, which means it’s fine with the 901.
- With the 901 turned off while charging, it was still soaking up about 29watts
- Under moderate load, the hottest spot on the bottom of the 901 registered at 101degrees(F).
- ** WARNING
: Be careful with the AC Adapter it gets HOT!!! After 30 minutes of running the 901 with the adapter plugged in, I ran the temp gun over all the areas of the adapter and at the hottest point it was 143degrees(F)!!!
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