ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Seashell 10.1-inch Netbook Laptop PC

Aug 18 2009 - ASUS has introduced a large number of netbooks and the Eee PC 1005HA is an incremental improvement that makes for a very affordable netbook with extremely long running times. The downside to this is the larger battery pack that provides such long running times also gives this one of the thickest profiles in the netbook market. Still, those looking for long run times and great networking should really check out the new seashell design from ASUS.

Aug 18 2009 - The ASUS Eee PC 1005HA is the companies latest in a long line of netbook computers and from the base features, isn't all that different in terms of performance. What is does offer is some of the best battery life in the netbook market. ASUS claims that the system can run upwards of 10 and a half hours. During video playback testing, the unit was able to achieve a very impressive seven hours of run time.

The downside to such a long runtime is the large battery. The battery pack that adds bulk to the hinge portion of the netbook results in a thicker than average profile. Even though the system has larger dimensions, ASUS did manage to keep the weight in check at just 2.8 pounds, almost a half pound lighter than their previous 1005HE that also had exceptional battery life.

One thing to be aware of when using the Eee PC 1005HA for extended periods time is the fan. During heavy usage, the fan is likely to spin up to keep the unit cool. It does a fine job of cooling the unit but the fan is a bit on the noisy side compared to other netbooks.

Networking is another aspect of the ASUS netbooks that has been done extremely well. Rather than relying on the older 802.11b/g wireless networking, the Eee PC 1005HA comes equipped with a 802.11n compatible wireless. The system also ships standard with a Bluetooth v2.1 adapter built-in which is very impressive for a netbook that can be found for around $350.

The seashell inspired design of the Eee PC 1005HA has rounded out a number of the corners on the netbook design compared to previous netbooks. It also coats the exterior cover with a very shiny and scratch resistant plastic coating. The downside is that while scratch resistant, the coating easily picks up smudges and fingerprints making it less than attractive after use without frequent cleaning.