Asus Eee PC 1008HA "Seashell" Review
Performance Summary: In our SiSoftware Sandra suite of tests, the machine managed to perform exactly as we expected considering just how familiar this specification list has become. In other words, it's not significantly stronger or weaker than any other Windows XP-powered netbook out there, though it performs most similarly to the N280-equipped Eee PC 1000HE. Basic tasks were handled with relative ease (a minor amount of lag when multi-tasking; nothing out of the ordinary for a low-power netbook), though 3D gaming is a no-go. Select 720p clips (WMVHD) played back relatively smoothly, though 720p H.264 and 1080p multimedia clips could not play back at all on the weak GMA 950 graphics.
The best comparison we have for the Eee PC 1008HE is its simpler, more toned-down sibling. The N280-equipped Eee PC 1000HE is largely the same machine with the exception of its vastly different exterior. The 1000HE is currently selling for around $390, while this 1008HA demands $429. $40 is a rather firm up-charge for a flashy design, and you even lose some functionality when selecting the Seashell over a more traditional layout. You get one less USB 2.0 port, far less battery life, a battery that cannot be removed or swapped out and a proprietary VGA port to deal with. Though, you get a machine that's noticeably lighter (2.42lbs. on the 1008HA versus 3.2lbs. on the 1000HE), thinner (if not a touch more flimsy) and a lot easier to look at.
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Basically, if you select this netbook over the fantastic Eee PC 1000HE, you'll be doing so for style alone. Overall, you get less functionality for your money, but if you're willing to shell out for beauty and don't mind having a battery that you cannot replace, the 1008HA will perform just the same. From a standalone perspective, the new Eee PC 1008HA is a real step forward in the netbook realm. Asus has proven that netbooks can be different and unique, and it has proven that you don't have to charge a massive price premium to mix things up. We can only hope that this type of thinking catches on. We're growing tired of seeing every new netbook ship with the same internal specifications and the same shouldn't be the case for exterior designs.
;)
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Basically, if you select this netbook over the fantastic Eee PC 1000HE, you'll be doing so for style alone. Overall, you get less functionality for your money, but if you're willing to shell out for beauty and don't mind having a battery that you cannot replace, the 1008HA will perform just the same. From a standalone perspective, the new Eee PC 1008HA is a real step forward in the netbook realm. Asus has proven that netbooks can be different and unique, and it has proven that you don't have to charge a massive price premium to mix things up. We can only hope that this type of thinking catches on. We're growing tired of seeing every new netbook ship with the same internal specifications and the same shouldn't be the case for exterior designs.
;)
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