Asus's Eee PC 1000HE pulls the shift key in from right field

Eee's 1000H is generally held to be one of the more complete netbook packages out there, but the placement of the right shift key to the starboard side of the up arrow drives many a touch-typist bonkers. Welcome, then, to the 1000HE, or "extended." It features a chiclet-style keyboard that slightly increases the size of each key, but more importantly has a slightly revised layout, moving that shift key to the left. New too is a six-cell pack full of 2.9 amp batteries (versus 2.7 amps in the 1000H), said to add another hour to the Eee's life, up to a total of 8.7 according to Asus. Finally, the company announced an "HAE" model that sports lacks 802.11n, Bluetooth, and presumably a higher lower price tag. No word on what that price will be on either model, though, or when you might be able to get your fingertips on them.

Update: Whoops, fopkins commented to point out that the HAE actually is the one without Bluetooth and 802.11n, making it the cheaper of the pair.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 12th 2009 12:12PM]

Definitely a reason to avoid it - but, I think if someone does buy one, its based merely on price and convienience. They may not notice the placement of the key considering the smaller size of the rest of the board.

[Craig @ Jan 13th 2009 5:50AM]

That and the fact that it weighs over 3 lbs...I thought these things were supposed to be light.

[Erb @ Jan 12th 2009 12:15PM]

Idea, Instead of 1000's of confusing model numbers, make 1 model and make it customizable.

[Blastar @ Jan 12th 2009 1:31PM]

It would be great if you could have an Eee-Tablet with these specs:
---------------------------------------
-All that EeePC has but also
+Touch screen
+GPS
+3G
+ Windows 7
+With only onscreen keyboard (No physical)

That would be like a dream !!!.. Still is :-(

[Patriks7 @ Jan 12th 2009 3:40PM]

Sorry, but I don't see how an onscreen keyboard would be any good..

[Shaka @ Jan 12th 2009 12:19PM]

My only question is.............
WHY?

[Patriks7 @ Jan 12th 2009 12:39PM]

So they can get in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most products in a brand which will totally confuse all buyers?

[Shaka @ Jan 15th 2009 5:25AM]

You might be on to something.

[Aziel @ Jan 12th 2009 12:27PM]

2.9 amps is huge.

Get the units right.

[Blastar @ Jan 12th 2009 1:21PM]

In 1000H its every cell is about 1,2Volt*6 Cells =7,3 Volt * 0,904mAh per cell = 6600mAh total and last about 7 Hours.
So 1000HE by the same calculations would be have approximately a 8200mAh Battery that will last about 8,7 hours which is ~1124mAh per cell.

Now what I don't understand what this 2,3 and 2,7 is. It seems like the Max Amps you can suck from each cell meaning that the battery can get empty faster... ???
The only good that could come out of this is that you could power a system could spend more Watts meaning you could put on a better CPU or a Graphic Card but not that it will last more but the opposite!

[Mental Issues @ Jan 12th 2009 12:32PM]

Another Eee, another day. I'm waiting for one with a built in knife, scissors, screwdriver, and toothpick.

[Znarfaggle @ Jan 12th 2009 12:35PM]

I actually got used to the shift key and keyboard size of the eee quite fast; i now screw up typing on regular keyboards.

[sully810 @ Jan 12th 2009 12:41PM]

Keyboards have right shift keys?

[Meltz @ Jan 12th 2009 1:02PM]

I know, right? I don't think i've ever use that key in my live, save for a couple games of Pinball

[KA @ Jan 12th 2009 6:12PM]

I use the right shift key to type the keys on the right of the keyboard.

[Zoinks @ Jan 12th 2009 11:24PM]

I never use the right shift key either.

[xdreamwalker @ Jan 12th 2009 12:50PM]

I just remapped the up arrow and right shift keys. Now I should just pop the physical keys off and swap them.

[bigthinker_ @ Jan 12th 2009 1:01PM]

Keyboard layout changes drive me crazy. Please come together and make a *standard* keyboard layout, pleeese. In fact, I won't buy it if it has a bad keyboard, even if it makes and serves coffee and toast.

[BOGRASH @ Jan 12th 2009 2:01PM]

I agree that standardisation would be great. But for the love of Bob Dylan this "standard" layout better have CTRL as the bottom-left key. Lenovo and those other retards will never get a penny of my cash while they keep putting FN in that spot. IDIOTS! As for Apple and the lack of a forward-delete key (HAVE AN EJECT KEY INSTEAD! THINK DIFFERENT!) well, it's what I expect of Apple.

[Precurse @ Jan 12th 2009 3:48PM]

Apple is good at designing products that people don't even realize they want yet. =p

-Quote from Macbook Wheel

[kesherz @ Jan 12th 2009 5:02PM]

Use Fn-Delete to act as a forward-delete key.

[wunch @ Jan 12th 2009 1:17PM]

About time! Believe it or not, the placement of the right shift key has been one of the major complaints about an otherwise great product, analogous to the recessed headphone port on the original iPhone. Personally, the old layout drives me crazy. Even though I touch type, I have the bad habit of always using the right shift, even when I should use the left shift.

Actually, it would be nice if they sold this keyboard separately, so owners of the old Eee 1000 could swap it on their own.

[BOGRASH @ Jan 12th 2009 1:57PM]

Thank you wunch for getting this spot on. I have a 1000h and the right-shift issue is ridiculous. Can't believe they released the product like that, and that other manufacturers followed suit. Also cannot believe that it doesn't drive any user of this unit insane. Maybe some people are just morons that type at 1 wpm. The same ones that bleat endlessly "OH NO ANOTHER EEE HOW MANY ARE WE GOING TO SEE ASUS???" Who cares? How does it affect you? Please just die.

So, what's the betting the new keyboard won't fit the old 1000? And if it does what sort of figure will they demand for it? I know I would pay a fair amount, as I much prefer the chiclet keys. The icing on the cake would be if it had white-led, fully sealed zero-bleed, ambient-sensing, hardware-switchable backlit keys, but of course we are going to have to wait another two years for manufacturers to finally wake up to this obvious necessity...

[Jeff @ Jan 12th 2009 1:34PM]

"but the placement of the right shift key to the starboard side of the up arrow"

From the image the "Shift" key is to the port side, while the "FN" is to starboard.

As you were.

[kostmo @ Jan 12th 2009 3:20PM]

I believe they were referring to the previous model.

[Cagrino @ Jan 12th 2009 1:53PM]

Why? It's not like units have ever blown up a NASA orbiter or anything.

[Skorpius @ Jan 12th 2009 2:23PM]

Gah, chicklet keys for the fail.

[Chin-Poh @ Jan 13th 2009 6:51AM]

Mind saying why they fail? I have no problem with them on my Vaio TZ.

[bot @ Jan 12th 2009 2:26PM]

I feel like half the people that complain about the shift key placement on many of the Eee's and other netbooks haven't even tried typing with it for more than a few seconds. It's more intuitive in my opinion to have it on the right side, and after getting used to it within a day I can type as fast on my 901 as on any other keyboard.

[Marty @ Jan 12th 2009 2:52PM]

*yawn*

[fopkins @ Jan 12th 2009 3:04PM]

Well, you almost got it right Engadget..

The 1000HE will have wireless n and bluetooth, and the 1000HAE will be the one without n and bluetooth.

Thus, the 1000HE will be more expensive than the 1000HAE.


Also, most other sites reported this in the middle of last week, what gives??

[Edward Drewery @ Jan 12th 2009 3:33PM]

I'm sitting here now on a 1000h running windows 7 - the only complaints i have ever really held against this machine are... i would have preferred a chicklet style keyboard... i really think it needs some sort of keyboard light.. and i hate the placement of the bloody shift key...

I REALLY HOPE that these keyboards can be retrofitted... after all, they are still in the same bloody model line up..

lol ftw i just triedd to right shift to hit the ! and ended up having to go back and correct my up arrow mistake.

[sarcasme @ Jan 12th 2009 5:15PM]

Good move. If they just could remove the enter key it will be perfect.

[GoonieGooGoo @ Jan 12th 2009 5:17PM]

Best Netbook out there......Go Asus

[KA @ Jan 12th 2009 6:16PM]

How do people manage with only one shift key?

[Pugrider @ Feb 2nd 2009 5:14PM]

Do you know if the HE has a matte or glossy case? Matte or glossy screen?
Has anyone tried the new chicklet keyboard? The preorder cost for the HE is $374 with rebate, so this could be a great deal.

Pugrider

[Pugrider @ Feb 2nd 2009 5:15PM]

FYI, Amazon is now accepting preorders for black and blue color, the other etailers will follow:

http://www.amazon.com/10-Inch-Netbook-Processor-Bluetooth-Battery/dp/B001QTXL82/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233602573&sr=8-3

Also, Asus emailed me back to let me know the lid is glossy but the screen is matte. One out of two ain't bad, with the screen being the more important feature.

Pugrider