Prices of laptops have been dropping, and dropping while the specs keep getting better and better. Over the past weekend I was looking at a local newspaper in which there was a brand new 14 inch laptop for sale for $399. Boasting Windows Vista, a DVD Drive and an 80 GB harddrive. For the same price though, the Asus 701 PC offers a Celeron Processor, a 7 inch screen, and only a 4 GB harddrive. Regardless though, we’d take the Asus over the laptop.
Asus Eee PC 2G HDD Blue Portable Celeron Laptop Computer
The Asus Netbooks series was first created to appeal to children, older users, and cheap computing solutions for less fortunate countries. The netbook craze made its way to main stream media, and here we are today with netbooks coming out almost daily. These lightweight budget laptops are great for students, teachers, and everyone alike. Making the ability to connect to the internet from anywhere and anyhow easy and convenient.
Our Asus EEE PC 701 Specifications:
- 900 MHz Intel Celeron Processor
- 512 MB DDR2 RAM
- Linux
- 7” screen, 800 x 480, LED backlit
- 4GB Solid State Disk Drive
- 802.11 b/g
- Connection Ports: Ethernet, Headphone/Microphone/Modem 3 USB, MMC, SD memory reader
This netbook was created with ease of use in mind, hence why it was equipped with Linux rather than Windows XP and the solid state drive over your typical hard drive. This was meant for ultimate portabilty, and long term battery life off of a battery charge.
Asus Eee PC 2G HDD Blue Portable Celeron Laptop Computer
The seven inch, 800 x 480 pixel screen is fairly easy on the eyes. Although any smaller than 7” and it’d be pushing it. In fact at times this can be pushing it depending on your age, and eyesite. The younger crowd won’t have a problem with this computer. Although those of us that are older could run into some trouble with it.
Overall the Asus 701 Netbook is a solid netbook and incredibly travel ready due to price, size, and lack of moving parts found in traditional laptops. Our white test model that was provided came with features an SD card reader, three usb ports, and a VGA external port on the right. The ethernet and modem connections, as well as the mic jack can be found on the left side. Due to the overall small nature of the netbook, the keyboard can feel cramped. We’ve heard that the keyboard comes in at about 90% of the actual size of a normal laptop keyboard. Although it really feels like 75% if you ask us. It takes some serious getting used to, and if you have the right hand size to operate it at that point.
Asus Eee PC 2G HDD Blue Portable Celeron Laptop Computer
Do we suggest the Asus 701 Netbook for you?
There are now many other variations of the Asus available on the market. If you can pick up the Asus 701 Netbook used for a discount and really need a netbook that can do the web-basics, and wouldn’t kill you if it was broken/dropped/or killed then I’d suggest this netbook. The real problem with this netbook is the lack of Windows XP, which in my eyes is a real deal breaker. Not to mention the lack of upgradability of ram, and the SSD due to them being soldered onto the motherboard.