ASUS N10 hands-on confirms Eee-free status

It's confusing, and sometimes we cry ourselves to sleep at night, but the new ASUS N10 is hardly a netbook, and has earned the right to shed that completely confusing Eee moniker to try and be something more. We got to handle the ultraportable today, and while it's no match for the sexy produced by Lenovo or Sony on this front, it just "feels" like a real laptop... and there's plenty else to love. The LED-backlit 10.2-inch screen is a stunner, even at the paltry 1024 x 600 resolution, and the keyboard is solid and quite usable -- if a little shallow on the action. Otherwise you're looking at just about every spec you could want in a laptop this size, including switchable discrete graphics (a restart is required), nearly 6 hours of battery off of a 6-cell, HDMI out, media card reader, insta-boot Express Gate, and that handy-dandy Atom N270 CPU. Best of all, ASUS is going to be way more aggressive with these prices than previously believed, at $599 for the N10E, which will sport integrated graphics only and a smaller hard drive, and $699 for the full-fledged N10J. They're still working out which version of Windows Vista to ship with, but that J&R pre-order page (currently at $799) is indeed legit. No built-in 3G just yet.

Gallery: ASUS N10 hands-on confirms Eee-free status

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[dark star @ Sep 17th 2008 5:58PM]

sigh...are they gonna make anything thin like the sony x505 ever again?

[killermojo @ Sep 17th 2008 5:57PM]

Wow, I just bought an Asus M50VM-A1, but I'm always conflicted about whether I need a powerhouse lappy or a super portable netbook. This looks like a pretty decent compromise, especially with HDMI..

[d00b @ Sep 17th 2008 11:48PM]

I think any attempt to upscale an Atom platform is a surefire DOA. This particular Asus attempt is pathetic. You have a 10" screen fitted into a 13"-sized laptop, with an underpowered CPU, and you want to charge a premium for it. Right. Note the strengths of the Atom--i.e. why you'd want to buy it--are for small form factor and low price, both of which are ignored for this model.

[billobob @ Sep 17th 2008 6:27PM]

If there were a linux version I would jump on in a heartbeat... for computers in this price range there's just no point in forcing the consumer to pay the price for Windows

[Erwos @ Sep 17th 2008 6:42PM]

Did you miss the article or something? It's $650-$800. I can buy a full-size Dell for the same price or less, and those are certainly packing Vista.

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 17th 2008 7:16PM]

I would totally agree with you if Linux laptops were actually cheaper than the Windows versions, but that is rarely true. The biggest difference you usually see is somewhere in the area of $20, which is hardly even worth mentioning.

[huh @ Sep 17th 2008 6:11PM]

OMG.. and I thought 1024x768 was bad.. I've run across software that can't even be used properly if the screen is less than 768 pixels high..

[BOGRASH @ Sep 17th 2008 7:00PM]

yep yep yep yep yep agree 100%

[WickedEast @ Sep 17th 2008 10:28PM]

1024 x 600 is pretty standard for a 10" or so screen. It's not like Asus is doing something unique and controversial here. What software doesn't work well? CAD?

[immer_ohne_gott @ Sep 17th 2008 6:09PM]

Discrete graphics eh? Anyone have an idea as to what manner of GPU that is? I highly *highly* doubt it would be anything too high-performance, but I just might become a lot more interested if it's packing a decent midrange GPU

Also, *nudge nudge* it'd be pretty cool if a certain tech-oriented news blog happened to give one away.

[Dubb @ Sep 17th 2008 6:45PM]

NVIDIA's GeForce 9300M GS

What I find interesting and pointless at the same time is that it has 256MB of Dedicated graphics memory, which would be great for some decent gaming if it wasn't for the single core Atom, which appears to be the main gaming bottle neck. Also, the Atom only uses DDR2 533, which is very lacking. Even with a dual core at DDR2 533 I don't think it would be that great...

I wouldn't mind seeing some benchmarks.

[CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Sep 17th 2008 6:19PM]

Did the software break when you ran across it?

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 17th 2008 6:25PM]

Did your ego break when you missed the reply button?

[RikF @ Sep 17th 2008 7:00PM]

Because we all know how infallable the Engadget 'reply' button is...

[zunq @ Sep 17th 2008 6:20PM]

A couple of things that can make this a real notebook:
1. WXGA resolution - This is supposed to be a real notebook, not a netbook
2. Full size shift key - Can it really hurt to move the arrow keys down an extra row or two so the keyboard can accommodate a full size right shift key?

[Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Sep 17th 2008 6:38PM]

The main reason the Geforce graphics are there are to support the HDMI out, the integrated GMA 950 graphics in the Atom processors cannot handle it.

Why couldn't they have put a higher resolution in there, like 1280x768 ala the HP 2133 netbook!?

[WickedEast @ Sep 17th 2008 10:36PM]

My eyes are probably not as good as yours because stuff are terribly small on that 1280x768 screen on the HP mini-note. I can't imagine myself staring at it for more than 30min.

[DougC-3 @ Sep 18th 2008 12:27PM]

The N10 screen is an inch bigger than the HP screen, so maybe you could go for 45 minutes ;)

[Dahk @ Sep 17th 2008 6:45PM]

A lot of ASUS laptops actually have that shallow-action'd keyboard. Its actually really good to use though and its BLAZING fast once you get used to it. Think I toped that alphabet game in break.com in like 3 seconds flat with that lol.

[J @ Sep 17th 2008 6:48PM]

they need to put in a higher resolution screen like mentioned above and put the new dual core atom processors when they come out and i'll definitely buy it.

[Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Sep 17th 2008 7:01PM]

Agreed, Asus is marketing this as a higher-end netbook and yet cripples it with the same 1024x600 screen and N270 Atom processor in most other netbooks.

Granted, the dual-core Atoms aren't out yet, but I think Asus could have delayed this machine and not many would mind.

[Skazer @ Sep 17th 2008 7:08PM]

Ninja: How about you just not buy it then? Those who want this will buy it and when the new Atoms come out, you can complain about how there are too many models.

[Ron @ Sep 17th 2008 6:55PM]

I love Asus but I'm sorry I don't see the point in having a Netbook when much more capable Laptops are dropping prices. I've seen Acers that have 120GB HDD, 2GB DDR2, and 1.8-2.1Ghz Dual-Core for less than $600, about $548 to be exact. I've also seen a Gateway with a 320GB HDD, 3GB DDR2, and a Dual-Core processor at 1.73Ghz for $698.(dropped to $650 a week later) I understand it's a portability thing but still, both of the laptops I mentioned have intergrated Wi-Fi, graphics, and all the ports imaginable, of course they weigh more but they're much more capable. I guess ill never understand.

[Skazer @ Sep 17th 2008 7:02PM]

Ron: It's a 10" notebook that is $600. When people bought similarly-sized laptops just a few years ago, they had to pay over $1500 for them. It has 6 hours of battery life with a nice LED screen. Yes, this probably doesn't fit your needs, but there are PLENTY of people that value portability over performance, especially those who use their laptops for word processing, e-mail and web-browsing. They don't need 3GB of RAM or 320GB of HD space.

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 17th 2008 7:21PM]

Why do you claim that you don't understand immediately after you list off the reasons why these are popular? It's a portability thing, they are less capable but they also weigh less. For the exact same money you can shed the extra pounds from inflated specs you don't need and get something that's much easier to carry around and can do 100% of what you need it to do. To a lot of people, that's good value.

[Someone is here @ Sep 17th 2008 7:54PM]

It's true. When you are in class and are using it to type notes and do homework... You don't need a gaming laptop. Just something that can run Word FireFox and other basic apps. Anyways why have a dedicated graphic card if it's with an atom?

[bidur @ Sep 17th 2008 7:12PM]

what's the point of paying 600+ $$ for just atom processor, people don't be lazy. if you can carry this then i am sure you can carry laptop with few more pounds.. .

there is not appealing here..

[Wolfticket @ Sep 17th 2008 7:20PM]

Express gate on laptops like this makes a lot of sense (more so than on desktops).
Instant on ftw.

[KilgoreTrout @ Sep 17th 2008 7:48PM]

Nothing my msi wind does'nt already give me (with some upgrades of course)

[WickedEast @ Sep 17th 2008 10:54PM]

Can you easily add 802.11n, fingerprint reader and HDMI out to the Wind?

[Rick @ Sep 17th 2008 7:52PM]

Too bad only the base model @ $599 has XP but no 082.11N. To get N, 2GB mem and a larger hard drive you gotta take Vista.

[Steve @ Sep 17th 2008 8:13PM]

I thought it was fairly amusing to see the outline of the IE icon used for "Online Games" ("Gaming?" can't quite read it there), and the iChat icon shape (including the Finder face) for "Chat".
[/graphic design geekery]

[Ron @ Sep 17th 2008 8:26PM]

@ign

I'm not saying that I don't understand why people would use it, but why would people would pay this much for such primitive specs, but I found out quickly that lots of people really value these Netbooks. It's just not my style so I don't see a need for them personally.

[AcerBandit @ Sep 18th 2008 1:41AM]

I've already preordered mine. Customized it a bit with a faster harddrive. I look forward to it. I'd really have like a screen that went closer to the edges with less bezel and a higher resolution but this will probably great until a similar device with the dual-core atoms comes out that will most likely meet most anyone's requirements who is interested in a decently powered netbook-sized device.

[Lancelot @ Sep 17th 2008 9:11PM]

I was a buyer until I read the word "Vista".. What a letdown..

[Mik @ Sep 17th 2008 11:01PM]

Wow, that's an awful looking screen. Glossy and horrible viewing angles. It's a shame so many laptops and netbooks have crap screens now. My old Asus laptop from 4 years ago has a way better screen than my new one.

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 17th 2008 11:06PM]

When will similarly priced tablets be released?? come on people I need that all in one GPS/Internet browser/car in dash DVD/take to class and take notes/ affordable tablet. The HP TX series is too hot to be carrying around and too noisy to have in class..

[Ian @ Sep 18th 2008 12:11AM]

Is there a reason to choose this over an Acer Aspire? The 802.11 n is something I can see people wanting, although I personally see no problem with having "only" 802.11g in a netbook at the present time.

However, the graphics card paired up with an Intel Atom is pointless. How many people thought, "I'd buy a netbook if it had a dedicated graphics card?" It's probably less than 3% of the market.

If someone is willing to pay $800 for this thing rather than a $400 netbook, then it either means 802.11n is very very important, or someone wants to game really wants to game on an Intel Atom laptop.

[ilh @ Sep 18th 2008 4:05AM]

Looks like they've gone back to the old eee style touchpad (with the scroll bar down the right). Bad move imo unless it's a mix of the old and new touchpads.

[Jash Sayani @ Sep 18th 2008 5:39AM]

Cool. I wonder how I missed this post earlier... I have been asking for ASUS N10 hands-on from a long time in commenst....

Thanks Engadget !

[SteveJ @ Sep 18th 2008 8:04AM]

Is it possible to install OS X 10.5 onto an Atom-based PC?

[andrew autopsy @ Sep 18th 2008 8:33AM]

Honestly, the CPU doesn't do a lot in gaming. This probably does open up a big list of games that were unplayable on other ultra portables. Like HL 2 era games. And probably world of warcraft. They were playable before, but barely.

[DougC-3 @ Sep 18th 2008 1:11PM]

In reading dozens of netbook forums and blogs, I've noticed that they are all clogged with people who would rather have a 6 pound notebook with better specs.

Here's my question: If they don't (maybe secretly?) want an netbook, why do they keep flocking to the netbook blogs? ;)

[Fanfoot @ Sep 18th 2008 2:00PM]

Sorry, but this is not a 10" netbook. Its a 10" display on a 12" laptop. Look at the bezel around the display, its huge! The dimensions on this thing are:

10.8" x 7.6" x 1.2"

A Compaq 2510p, a 12" notebook, is:

11.1" x 8.4" x 1.2"

Check out this size comparison at

http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/17585-Apple-iPhone-vs-Pack-Of-Playing-Cards-vs-HP-Compaq-2510p-vs-asus-n10

Or check out this one:

http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/17421-asus-n10-vs-MSI-WInd-vs-Aspire-One-vs-Lenovo-S10-vs-Dell-Inspiron-Mini-9

It's clearly a LOT bigger than the other netbooks.

So, its certainly cheaper than a lot of those 12" notebooks. And maybe it has better battery life. And its lighter, 2.3lb vs. about 4 pounds. Probably a smaller charger/brick too. But really, I don't see it.

[mercurysunblast @ Sep 27th 2008 4:46PM]

"So, its certainly cheaper than a lot of those 12" notebooks. And maybe it has better battery life. And its lighter, 2.3lb vs. about 4 pounds. Probably a smaller charger/brick too. But really, I don't see it."

Uhm...for a person who doesn't "see it," you certainly see a lot.

[ricord @ Sep 20th 2008 8:39AM]

The most important,the Express Gate is included!