18 April 2009
ACER ASPIRE ONE D150
Going by all the usual industry metrics Acer sells more netbooks than anyone else. This is a big deal given the size of the market and growth expectations, but despite its dominance it hasn't until now had a 10in netbook even though the market has been moving in this direction. This is partly testament to the quality of its first outing, the Aspire One, which sported an excellent keyboard for the form factor and very attractive pricing, but also the power of Acer's distribution system. When you're flogging the things in Tesco at £180 a pop you're bound to rack up a few sales, even if the people buying it have no idea what's in the box!Clearly, then, not having a 10in netbook hasn't been a barrier to Acer's success, but that hasn't stopped the Taiwanese computing giant opting to move into this market. Its effort, titled the Aspire One D150, is available in a variety colours, including white, black, blue and red. We've got the white one, which has a glossy-white lid, matte-white base and black finish inside.
We'll be getting onto our design evaluation a little later, but first there's the internals to deal with and they throw up little in the way of surprises. For processing there's an Intel Atom N280 running at 1.66GHz and this is supported by 1GB DDR2 RAM and a 160GB hard drive. Wireless connectivity is delivered by Wireless-G Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0, while wired networking is catered for by 10/100 Fast Ethernet, so you're not stuck with just Wi-Fi.
Connectivity is also defiantly normal. On the left there's a VGA port, the Ethernet port, a USB port, the headphone and microphone jacks and a 5-in-1 memory card reader. Then, on the right, there are a further two USB ports, the power input and a lock slot. One other item of note is the Wi-Fi switch on the front and unlike many netbooks and notebooks there's a separate button, just above the keyboard on the left, for switching Bluetooth on and off. This is a useful addition if you find yourself using Bluetooth regularly, independently of Wi-Fi, or if you rarely use it and don't want it on when using Wi-Fi. Either way, it works out well.
As ever there's a 0.3-megapixel webcam above the screen and the screen itself is a very good one. Measuring 10.1in, with the usual 1,024 x 600 resolution - it does have a glossy finish, so reflections are an issue, but it's exceptionally bright, has nice colour rendition and surprisingly good horizontal viewing angles. It's definitely up there with the best netbook displays we've seen, matching up well with the Samsung NC10 and besting the slightly watery effort found in the HP mini Compaq 700 we reviewed recently.
As one might expect with the move up to the larger form factor, Acer has also upgraded the battery. Our sample version came with a six-cell, 5,600mAh version producing in excess of five hours, but don't get too excited; the final retail version will ship with just a 4,400mAh battery instead. Going by previous experience (the MSI Wind U100) sports an identical capacity battery) you'll still get over four hours of use with wireless turned off, or around three and a half hours of web browsing, so it's better than the puny three-cell or four-cell units found in some netbooks. It's a far cry, though, from the Samsung NC10 or the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE, which Asus now tells us will retail for around £329, not the £359 originally quoted in our review.
This would put the 1000HE in the same price bracket as the D150, though we won't hold our breath until we actually see one on sale. After all, it's just as likely that the D150 will come down in price as well or that retailers will simply ignore Asus' "suggestions".
It's worth noting, too, that there's a little more to the D150 package than just the machine itself, since it comes bundled with a slipcase. It's a really good one, too. Replete in black neoprene, it is thick and fits very snugly around the chassis, providing excellent protection. It's far preferable to the token effort supplied with the Samsung NC10 and even bests the otherwise excellent efforts provided by Asus.
Unfortunately, for ACER at least, people aren't generally in the habit of spending nearly £330 on a nice slipcase, because despite the decent bundle and above average screen, the D150 as a whole is exceedingly underwhelming. Early impressions of the machine are decent enough. On the outside our white version looks quite tidy and we even like the slightly eccentric lime green hinge endings. It's not until you open the machine up that things start to go wrong.
To begin with, there's a bizarre lack of cohesion about this design. Surrounding the screen is the obligatory glossy-black plastic, below which is a section of cheap looking matte-black plastic bookended by silver segments. Then, on the main body of the machine, is a slightly odd section of black plastic that has the texture and appearance of brushed metal, but which is, on much closer inspection definitely plastic. These contrasting finishes throughout the machine are simply jarring and unattractive, while we're even less enamoured with how the six rubber coasters around the screen leave ugly marks on the base after lifting the lid.
Our special ire, however, is reserved for the ugly lime-green accenting around the power button. While this effect just about works on the hinge endings, thanks largely to far superior execution, here it's simply achieved through the use of some thoroughly cheap and nasty plastic. Quite why a simple button wouldn't have sufficed is beyond us and it simply compounds the feeling that, somewhere along the line, something has gone badly wrong in the design department.
Aesthetically, then, the D150 isn't quite the triumph Acer surely meant it to be and the design issues aren't just superficial, either. You would think, given the move to a larger chassis, that Acer would do what everyone else has done and improve the keyboard, but it has taken the galling decision to not do this. Instead you're left with the exact same keyboard as found on the original 8.9in Aspire One.
We can only surmise this is done for cost reasons, since it's easier/cheaper for Acer to drop the same keyboard into a different chassis than make a whole new one. However, as already intimated, this rather defeats the object of making a larger netbook. As it is, while the keyboard was pretty good for an 8.9in netbook it's just not good enough for 10in one. Keys, though useable, are noticeably smaller than those found on the Samsung NC10 or Eee PC 1000HE, making them less comfortable when typing for long periods. Key travel and feedback are also noticeably lacking, so while the typing experience is still passable, it's no better than before.
Acer has also contrived to mess-up the touchpad. Gone, thankfully, are the buttons either side of the touchpad, but they've been replaced by a rocker style button that's irritatingly stiff and unresponsive. We also found the touchpad itself a little cramped, especially since the invisible scroll zone restricts the usable area somewhat.
Fundamentally, the main problem for the D150 is that there are very few reasons to buy this machine over any other 10in netbook. Samsung's NC10 still sits comfortably at the top of the pile; marrying excellent design, ergonomics and above average battery life with a reasonable price. Asus' Eee PC 1000HE, while beginning to look a little long in the tooth, also remains an excellent option thanks to its improved keyboard and superlative battery life.
Likewise, while the MSI Wind struggles to match the Samsung and Asus in some respects, it arguably offers among the best keyboards of any netbook and likely identical battery life to D150. Worse still, since the keyboard is no different, why would one buy the D150 when you can get the original Aspire One and buy a six-cell battery for less outlay? Whichever way you look at it the Aspire One D150 doesn't make a great deal of sense.
Verdict
Unfortunately, for ACER at least, people aren't generally in the habit of spending nearly £330 on a nice slipcase, because despite the decent bundle and above average screen, the D150 as a whole is exceedingly underwhelming. Early impressions of the machine are decent enough. On the outside our white version looks quite tidy and we even like the slightly eccentric lime green hinge endings. It's not until you open the machine up that things start to go wrong.
To begin with, there's a bizarre lack of cohesion about this design. Surrounding the screen is the obligatory glossy-black plastic, below which is a section of cheap looking matte-black plastic bookended by silver segments. Then, on the main body of the machine, is a slightly odd section of black plastic that has the texture and appearance of brushed metal, but which is, on much closer inspection definitely plastic. These contrasting finishes throughout the machine are simply jarring and unattractive, while we're even less enamoured with how the six rubber coasters around the screen leave ugly marks on the base after lifting the lid.
Our special ire, however, is reserved for the ugly lime-green accenting around the power button. While this effect just about works on the hinge endings, thanks largely to far superior execution, here it's simply achieved through the use of some thoroughly cheap and nasty plastic. Quite why a simple button wouldn't have sufficed is beyond us and it simply compounds the feeling that, somewhere along the line, something has gone badly wrong in the design department.
Aesthetically, then, the D150 isn't quite the triumph Acer surely meant it to be and the design issues aren't just superficial, either. You would think, given the move to a larger chassis, that Acer would do what everyone else has done and improve the keyboard, but it has taken the galling decision to not do this. Instead you're left with the exact same keyboard as found on the original 8.9in Aspire One.
We can only surmise this is done for cost reasons, since it's easier/cheaper for Acer to drop the same keyboard into a different chassis than make a whole new one. However, as already intimated, this rather defeats the object of making a larger netbook. As it is, while the keyboard was pretty good for an 8.9in netbook it's just not good enough for 10in one. Keys, though useable, are noticeably smaller than those found on the Samsung NC10 or Eee PC 1000HE, making them less comfortable when typing for long periods. Key travel and feedback are also noticeably lacking, so while the typing experience is still passable, it's no better than before.
Acer has also contrived to mess-up the touchpad. Gone, thankfully, are the buttons either side of the touchpad, but they've been replaced by a rocker style button that's irritatingly stiff and unresponsive. We also found the touchpad itself a little cramped, especially since the invisible scroll zone restricts the usable area somewhat.
Fundamentally, the main problem for the D150 is that there are very few reasons to buy this machine over any other 10in netbook. Samsung's NC10 still sits comfortably at the top of the pile; marrying excellent design, ergonomics and above average battery life with a reasonable price. Asus' Eee PC 1000HE, while beginning to look a little long in the tooth, also remains an excellent option thanks to its improved keyboard and superlative battery life.
Likewise, while the MSI Wind struggles to match the Samsung and Asus in some respects, it arguably offers among the best keyboards of any netbook and likely identical battery life to D150. Worse still, since the keyboard is no different, why would one buy the D150 when you can get the original Aspire One and buy a six-cell battery for less outlay? Whichever way you look at it the Aspire One D150 doesn't make a great deal of sense.
Verdict
Acer's decision to move into the 10in netbook sector makes perfect sense, but its execution doesn't. Despite the larger chassis it has chosen not to improve the keyboard and though the price and spec are in line with expectations, the D150's design and ergonomics don't compare well to the competition. In a market where very little separates one product from another, these are significant failings.
The Value:
| Design |  |
| Features |  |
| Performance |  |
| Value | |
| Overall |  |
ASUS Eee PC 1000HA
The netbook market has certainly graduated from the realm of novelty and the ASUS Eee PC 1000HA clearly exemplifies this notion. While the early Eee PC had a tiny seven-inch display and a barely usable four gigabytes of storage capacity, the ASUS Eee PC 1000HA is almost powerful enough to serve as a primary computer. No, this Eee is clearly no gaming rig and you can’t expect to do any sort of heavy-duty computing on here, but if you’re the kind of person who only surfs the web, plays some music, and performs some basic word processing, this little laptop just might fit the bill.
At the same time, the ASUS Eee PC 1000HA is not your only option. How does it stack up, for example, against the MSI Wind U100? Read on and find out.
Features and Specifications
Like so many other Asus notebooks, the Eee PC comes in a wide range of colors, flavors, and sizes. The unit featured in this review is the ASUS Eee PC 1000HA, which is a popular configuration of the Asus Eee PC 1000H. It’s a 10-inch netbook and is the first Eee to feature a conventional hard drive in place of a solid state hard drive that occupied previous models. Listed below are some of the notable features.
- Intel Atom N270 processor (1.6GHz)
- 10-inch WSVGA (1024×800) active matrix TFT color LCD
- 1GB DDR2-400 RAM
- 160GB hard drive
- Integrated SD/SDHC/MMC card reader
- 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
- 1.3 megapixel webcam with mic
- 6-cell 6600mAh lithium-ion battery
- Windows XP Home Edition
If you are looking online for this specific model, the complete part number is the ASUS Eee PC 1000HA-BLK001X. All in all, a pretty well stocked netbook with some decent specifications. Let’s continue and see what else we get with this version of the Eee PC.
Just as many earlier models of the ASUS Eee PC came bundled with a couple of useful, but remarkably inexpensive, accessories, such is also the case with the 1000HA. In addition to the netbook itself, inside the box you’ll find the power adapter, a cleaning cloth, a protective cover for the keyboard, and a suede-like sleeve for easy travel. I like the tiny size of the power supply, adding to the portability of this netbook.
Unlike the Velcro sleeve that came with the Eee PC 701, this sleeve has a regular zipper. I did find the textured cleaning cloth to be different from the norm, but you’ll certainly need it. The glossy surface on this Eee is a giant fingerprint magnet.
First Impressions
Overall, I’m very impressed with what ASUS has done with the Eee PC 1000HA. They’ve taken all of the feedback that people have given about previous models (as well as some competitors) and addressed many of the issues. The build quality is absolutely amazing. The hinge is very solid and the frame has minimal flex. It’s also interesting that the battery makes up a portion of the rounded section, further adding to the streamlined appearance of this netbook.
Perhaps the single greatest design element on the Eee PC 1000HA is that it is naturally propped up in the back. As you can see in the picture above, this creates an “air pocket” underneath the laptop and this aids significantly in keeping it cool under high performance.
While I had some issues with subjective overheating on the MSI Wind, I did not experience the same issue with the Eee PC when using it on a table. When I had the netbook on my lap, however, the vents on the bottom got slightly obscured and the Eee PC starting to get a little warmer. It never got quite as hot as the Wind, though, and it was no warmer than most other laptops.
Usability and Productivity
Like all of the other 10-inch subnotebooks on the market, the Eee PC 1000HA features a WSVGA display. This a quantum improvement over the old WVGA displays on the older Eee PCs, because now websites can actually render properly and you’ve actually got enough room to view most standard programs.
It can be a tight fit for some websites just fits but having 1024 pixels across is enough for most needs. Image quality is adequate and you shouldn’t have too much trouble watching a few web videos or running simple applications. I also appreciate that it is a matte display and not a glossy one, as this helps to minimize the glare.
I am very pleased that Asus decided to ship this netbook with a real six-cell battery. You may be able to find some competitors selling seemingly similar netbooks for a lower price, but many of those ship with three-cell batteries. The MSI Wind (with a three-cell battery) topped out at about 2.5 hours of regular use on a single charge, but I was able to achieve over five hours on the Eee under the same conditions. The Eee PC also comes with a built-in performance manager, so it can dynamically move between battery-conserving and high-performance modes to maximize both your usability and battery life. That’s using “Smart Mode.” You can also manually adjust those settings.
The keyboard is a good size. It is certainly smaller than the keyboard you’ll find on larger laptops, but it is perfectly usable and it shouldn’t take you long to acclimate. Unfortunately, there is one rather glaring problem and it’s almost enough to be a deal breaker. Note the placement of the right shift key. Why, on Earth, is it
placed so far to the right? My poor pinky doesn’t stretch that far. I found myself either hitting up the “up” arrow or the empty space between the up arrow and the forward-slash button when I really wanted to hit shift. This is really annoying and it doesn’t only affect the Eee PC, but other smaller laptops in the ASUS family, namely the U1F. I’m sorry, but that really has to change.
Performance Benchmarks
How does the ASUS Eee PC 1000HA hold up against some standard benchmarks? First, I ran the provided 160GB hard drive (which comes factory partitioned into two volumes) through HDTune. The average transfer rate was 56.4MB/sec, but there are a few segments in there that may be a cause for concern.
My experience with 3DMark06 was a frustrating one. For whatever reason, the first time I ran the basic test, it was able to make it through and give me a score of 68 3DMarks. Not great, but no one expects this Eee to be a graphical powerhouse.
However, when I tried to run the more comprehensive series of tests, I ran into a bit of a snag. The 3DMark06 software gave me an estimated completion time of about 9 minutes, but at about the 10 or 11 minute mark, the Eee PC just froze. It showed me a black screen and refused to be responsive. This happened three or four times before I gave up trying again.
By and large, the ASUS Eee PC 1000H offered a similar level of performance as the MSI Wind U100 when it came to PCMark05. Both netbooks failed to provide a graphics score (and thus failed to generate an overall PCMark score).
The resulting scores for the CPU, memory, and hard drive are fairly close as well, though the Eee’s hard drive (4307) has a slight advantage of over the 80-gigger found in the Wind (3922).
Benchmarks offered no major surprises. This is pretty much what you should expect with a netbook like the Eee PC 1000HA.
The ASUS Eee PC 1000HA could very well be the culmination of the ambitions from every Eee PC that preceded it. It’s got the perfect-sized display, a terrific form factor, a plentiful battery, adequate performance, and plenty of storage capacity. I really like how the design provides for a built-in notebook cooler of sorts, propping up the back to create an ergonomic angle and a cooling pocket of air.
The “real” hard drive won’t be able to offer the same power or speed benefits of a solid state drive, but this thing has a very workable 160GB of space. I’d say it’s worth the sacrifice. I’m also very pleased with the overall build quality, choice of materials, and the included sleeve. Asus has also included free access to Eee Storage, which acts as an online “cloud” for backing up your data.
The ASUS Eee PC 1000HA is not perfect. The placement of the right shift key on the keyboard is really annoying and the slightly higher price point (when compared to suitable competitors) may sway you in another direction, but let me tell you that this Eee is worth it. If you’re looking for a solid and affordable netbook, you can’t go wrong with the Eee PC 1000HA.
Pros
- Exceptional build quality and great design
- A real 160GB hard drive
- Very good battery life with standard battery
- Free online Eee storage
- Performance is at least up to par with direct competitors
Cons
- Very strange placement of right shift key
- Trackpad buttons feel remarkably stiff
- More expensive than comparable alternatives
- Awkward placement of stereo speakers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
