It often takes high-tech vendors three tries to get a product right. Microsoft is the best example of this rule of three. (Think of how buggy and insecure Windows XP was until 1Service Pack 2 came out. Upstart mini-laptop maker Asustek Computer, it turns out, is another.
The first Eee PC, released last year, was a US$400, 2-lb. marvel. By selling 2 million Eees in nine months, Asus proved to a skeptical industry that less can be more.
But as piping-hot as the original Eee -- since renamed the Eee 701 4G -- was, the tiny notebook wasn't fully baked when it emerged from Asus' oven. The screen, keyboard and 4GB solid-state drive were frustratingly small for many Eee users, while the Wi-Fi was unpredictable.
And for a device meant for on-the-go use, the 701's battery life was too short, despite the vendor's attempt to extend it by slowing the Eee's CPU by a third without telling buyers.
Asus addressed some of these problems with its second series, the Eee 900/901, boosting battery life in the 901 by swapping out the Celeron-M processor for the new, power-saving Intel Atom, and expanding the screen and storage size in both models.
Now, with the new US$700 Eee 1000, which started shipping around the middle of July, Asus has come tantalizingly close to delivering the ideal netbook. Nearly everything that troubled me about my Eee 701 has been improved in the Eee 1000, if not outright fixed, including the screen, keyboard, storage, battery life, Wi-Fi, webcam and more.
The chief improvement is in the design. The original Eee 701 weighed 2 lb. and sported a 7-in. screen with just 800-by-480-pixel resolution and a tiny keyboard for a cost of US$400. It was cute as a bug, distracting users from the real reason Asus used such small components -- because they were cheaper.
The trade-off in usability was heavy, though. Surfing the Web on the Eee 701 requires users to drag the bottom tool bar left and right in order to view the entire width of a Web page. That move gets old very fast. So do the typos the Eee 701's minuscule keyboard tends to elicit from all but the most painstaking of typists.
The US$700 Eee 1000 sports a 10-in., 1024-by-600 widescreen display that nicely accommodates the modern Web page. The screen is bright and fairly sharp, though colors aren't rich because of the video driver's 16-bit color depth.
The Eee 1000's keyboard is also bigger. It's now 92 per cent as large as an average laptop keyboard, up from the Eee 701's 75 per cent. The keys themselves remain shallow. Still, touch typing, while not a dream, is no longer the nightmare it was with the Eee 701. There are also four new Instant Keys located above the keyboard. Two control the LCD backlight and its resolution, while the other two can be programmed by the user to launch applications such as Google Mail or Skype.
Naturally, the Eee 1000 is bigger and heavier than its predecessor. Whereas the 701 is the size of a fat quality paperback novel, the 1000 is equivalent to a stack of four issues of National Geographic Magazine. At an ounce under three pounds, the 1000 is nearly a pound heavier than the 701.
Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services. Zones provide focussed content from Computerworld and leading technology partners.
D-Link Australia & New Zealand
D-Link is the global leader in connectivity for small, medium and large enterprise business networking. The company is an award-winning designer, developer and manufacturer of networking, broadband, digital electronics, voice and video communication.
To Find out more about D-Link solutions visit www.dlink.com.au
D-Link Australia & New Zealand
Featured Products
-
IP BASED PHONE SYSTEM
D-Link VoiceCenter
D-Link VoiceCenter is an IP based phone system designed to meet the needs of small businesses. D-Link have solely partnered with Microsoft to package Microsoft’s Response Point software to bring you VoiceCenter. For more info on VoiceCenter's products and events please visit: http://voicecenter.dlink.com.au -
AWARD WINNING STORAGE
DNS-343 4-Bay NAS Enclosure
D-Links new 4-bay network attached storage enclosure has just received ZDNet's Editor's Choice award and a rating of 9 out of 10 by Craig Simms from CNET See the review here. The DNS-343 release followed the great success of its smaller sibling the 2-bay DNS-323. Targeted at both the home IT enthusiast and commercial users needing a flexible storage solution the DNS-343 is showing good market performance. -
EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS ONE
DSA-3600 Multi-Service Gateway
Any business that’s serious about networking must consider installing this gateway. Feature rich the DSA-3600 multi-service business gateway is a complete network solution that delivers reliable and cost-effective services to SMB and enterprise branch offices. Perfect for setting up a commercial grade wireless connection for the office the unit is simple and easy to manage. -
WI-FI FOR MOBILE WORK SITES
DIR-451 Mobile 3G Router
Perfect for mobile and temporary work-sites the mobile 3G router quickly and easily can connect your site back to the office. Recently the United States Air Force has used D-Link Mobile 3G routers on its remote base camps to connect soldiers with other Air Force departments, local agencies, friends and families. To see the complete case study click here.
New Products
-
XTREME
N DUO ROUTER -
DIR-855
The highly anticipated simultaneous broadcasting dual band wireless N router has arrived. The DIR-855 is set to make massive waves and take home/SOHO wireless networking to a new generation. Unlike other networking manufacturers who promote dual band the new DIR-855 will provide users simultaneous dual band wireless networks, opening up another range of opportunities for wireless networking. - DUAL BAND USB ADAPTER
DWA-160 Xtreme N USB Wi-Fi
The new dual band wireless N USB adapter is ideal for simultaneous dual band environments. For example in apartment buildings where there are heavily congested 2.4GHz Wi-Fi or at the home stream HD video over the network and making VoIP calls at the same time.
Coming Soon
-
WI-FI ACCESS POINT/BRIDGE
DAP-1522 Xtreme N Duo
A new addition to the Xtreme N family this wireless N access point/bridge effectively doubles available wireless bandwidth. Designed for users looking to get a true wireless connection that can handle multiple High-Definition video streaming throughout the house it can take the home network to a new level. - GOT NAKED DSL
DVA-G3670B ADSL2+ Wireless G VoIP Modem Router
Naked DSL customers now have the perfect feature rich product solution the DVA-G3670B to take advantage of naked DSL features. This ADSL2+ (naked DSL compatible) modem Wireless G router comes with 2 VoIP phone connections and is ideal for the growing market who don't want to pay the unnecessary line rental fee. Ultimately this unit is an ideal all-in-one home network solution and even SOHO small business solution.
Download
- Product Selection Guide Issue 3, 08 (3.2MB PDF)
- D-Lifestyle Magazine Issue 12 (2MB PDF)
- D-Link Power Up Your Business Poster (1.7MB PDF)
Case Studies
- DIR-451 Mobile 3G Router - United States Air Force Case Study (104K PDF)
- IP Based Surveillance - Minneapolis Airport Hangar Case Study (180K PDF)
- Commercial Grade Wireless - Four Points Sheraton Hotel Case Study (300K PDF)
- Business Class Switching - Microsoft Campus Case Study (800K PDF)
- High Bandwidth Networking Solution - Team Emirates New Zealand Case Study (751K PDF)
Whitepapers
D-Link TV
Watch videos about D-Link products and much morehttp://www.dlinktv.com
D-Link Training
Find out more about D-Link products trainings and certification programhttp://training.dlink.com.au
Buying Guides
Buying Guides
Comments
It has a better architecture
It has a better architecture than the previous versions thats leading it to a more smaller size!
------------------------
sea plants...sea grapes...plant roots...phytoplanktons...sea plant pictures...seagrass...seaweed...easy aquarium plants...deep sea plants...Limu Moui...Landscaping...End of sea plants...underwater plants...Sea coral...Sea crabs