Asus Eee PC 1008HA "Seashell" Review

Name: Asus Eee PC 1008HA "Seashell" Review
Brand: Asus

by Shawn Oliver — Thursday, June 04, 2009, 12:38 AM EDT

Introduction and Specifications

Anyone who has followed Asus' continually expanding Eee PC line will understand just how significant a diversion the product we'll be looking at in this showcase is for the company. Since the very beginning, Asus' pioneering netbooks designs have looked about like the Eee PC 1000HE that we reviewed back in February. Simple, if not boxy enclosures were a given, and while you may find a few curves or accents here or there, you could tell that style was not always in the foreground with these utilitarian, low-cost notebooks.

Today, we're looking at the very first Eee PC netbook that looks nothing at all like its predecessors. In fact, we'd wager that Asus included this machine in its Eee PC line simply because of the brand recognition. Although, Asus isn't content with labeling this only an Eee PC. The Eee PC 1008HA is the first member of the burgeoning "Seashell" line, a family that already includes this machine and the to-be-released 1005HA. The 1008HA was originally unveiled in March at the CeBIT conference in Germany, but the ultra-slim laptop has just now started filtering out to the US market.

Asus Eee PC 1008HA "Seashell"

Specifications and Features (as tested)

"Surf with the Eee PC Seashell—The beach brings to mind images of clear blue oceans, soft silk-like sand and, of course, the seashells. ASUS has taken one of nature’s most beautiful designs and combined it with the best of today’s innovations to provide users with the most stylishly functional Eee PC yet. Weighing just 1.1kg, the Eee PC Seashell is a highly portable companion that users can carry about, allowing them to surf the Internet, watch videos or keep in touch with their friends and family—even while at the beach. Equipped with a more-than-ample 10-inch display, ergonomically designed keyboard, intelligent energy management system and an intuitive multi-touch touch-pad, the Eee PC Seashell aims to provide users with the best mobile computing experience, wherever their journeys take them." - Asus

Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB
1GB of 667MHz DDR2 Memory
10.1 inch LCD (1024x600 resolution); LED backlight, Color-Shine
Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics
160 GB Seagate Momentus 5400.5 (5400RPM) 2.5 inch hard drive, 8MB cache
10GB Eee Online Storage
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
No optical drive
1.3 megapixel webcam + Digital Array Microphone
VGA Output (via dongle)
USB 2.0 x 2
RJ-45 (Ethernet 10/100)
Headphone / Mic Input Jacks
MMC/SD card reader
Twin speakers
Gesture-enabled trackpad (multi-touch)
92% full-size keyboard
2.42 Pounds (with battery installed)
1-inch thick
Non-removable Li-ion Battery (Up To 6 Hours of Computing)
262mm (W) x 178mm (D) x 18-25.7mm (H)
Windows XP Home or GNU Linux
Color Options: Black, White, Blue, Pink, Sapphire Blue, Ruby Red
Protective Sleeve
1-year limited warranty

Hardware wise, there's both a lot and a little that differentiates this from the pack of other netbooks out there. As for design, it's easy to see that few alternatives can measure up, outside of maybe MSI's X-Slim X340. The 1008HE is slimmer and more beautiful in almost every way than the competition. Internally, however, you'll notice most of the same specifications you see on practically every other netbook to emerge within the past six months. Thus, we don't really anticipate its performance being "off the charts." Follow us through the pages to come as we inspect, critique and stress test Asus' most stunning Eee PC yet.