ASUS Eee PC 1008HA hands-on

While we initially assumed that ASUS' Lamborghini VX5 would be its sexiest laptop at CeBIT, now we're having second thoughts. After taking the wraps off of its downright stunning 10-inch Eee PC 1008HA yesterday, we spotted the bugger sittin' pretty today at the outfit's booth. Needless to say, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to snag a few snapshots and share 'em all with you. Much like the S101, the so-called "Shell" has very little "Eee" in its blood. In fact, you'd barely know it was part of the family without that descriptive placard sitting there beside it. ASUS engineered this one for fashionistas who'd like a little PC with their next style accessory, and everything from the glorious paint job to the ultra-clean lines screamed "gorgeous." Really, take a look below and see for yourself.

Gallery: ASUS Eee PC 1008HA hands-on

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[errdayimhustln @ Mar 4th 2009 5:47AM]

asus is making great stuff as always

[LondonConsultant @ Mar 4th 2009 8:50AM]

Yes, it looks great - but I wish it had an SSD option...

[Adderz @ Mar 4th 2009 5:49AM]

Its smudge-tastic!

[Bokal @ Mar 4th 2009 5:52AM]

I'd call them most innovative hardware company lately (eeepc, eeebox, eee keyboard).
Their use of the Atom and design changed everything.

They should drop the glossy black though...

[Cash @ Mar 4th 2009 6:07AM]

Too bad you couldn't show us what the actual ports look like. I'm curious about the "mini VGA port" that's mentioned in the info placard.

[CJ @ Mar 4th 2009 8:03AM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_vga

It's not common, but not completely unheard of, especially since it was used quite a bit in the pre-Intel Apple days.

[cowgaR @ Mar 4th 2009 6:19AM]

now experts, which one is better to a woman's hands in UK, which one is the ultimate 10 inch netbook?

Dell Mini 10 vs ASUS EEE PC HA1008?


EEE PC HA10008
+smaller and slimmer in every dimension than little bulkier Mini 10
+sexy black look
+possible better screen quality than DELL (I owned 3 DELLs so I know :-)
+a lot lighter (1.1 vs 1.3 kg)
+sexy small for a 10inch (did I mentioned that already? ;-)


Mini 10
+HDMI port (not only plain obscure mini VGA on ASUS)
+new "Z" generation of ATOM processor and new chipset indicate it may be faster
+keyboard looks better on DELL
+"possibly" better screen resolution, rumored 720p is comming
+doesn't look so shiny and doesn't have the _horror_horrible_horrenous EEE logo on lid
+battery life may be better on DELL (1008HA just looks like it only have 3 cell in)
+may be cheaper (I don't care actually, just a reference, S101 was too expensive in UK)

thanks for oppinions

[cowgaR @ Mar 4th 2009 7:04AM]

I might add that 1008HA is using Li-Pol batteries to save "space" and usually they are "better" than Li-Ions, so it may beat 3 cell Li-Ion in DELL battery wise. But than again, Dell is using much much more efficient chipset, Intel® Poulsbo US15WGraphics, which is much better on battery than ASUS's one.

The other thing is, that Dell Mini 10 is using 2,5'' factor of HD, which makes it possible to add any cheap SSD or Scorpio Black if you wish later (if they won't be fixed to last "forever" like its memory is).
I don't know what ASUS is using but if it is 1,8'' factor HD than it isn't big win as these drives are very hard to get with decent specs. If that is the case is no go for ASUS as I am planning to use Vista which is HD intesive, but much faster than XP if defined properly.

The 2nd question remain, screen resolution and factor (16:10? 16:9?). No go for "only" 600 vertical points these days.

[David Rankine @ Mar 4th 2009 6:28AM]

That burgandy looks great !!

[Jonny @ Mar 4th 2009 6:29AM]

Sexy, though the Eee logo kills it for me. I'm just not feelin' that logo.

[Dave @ Mar 4th 2009 8:24AM]

I agree. That logo is horrible.

[iofthestorm @ Mar 4th 2009 12:43PM]

Seriously, they should ditch that logo fast.

[TechNewsJapan @ Mar 4th 2009 6:32AM]

oh! this one looks just amazing! very good design. so what are the specs?

http://technewsjapan.com

[Mike @ Mar 4th 2009 6:52AM]

Sexy? I think all that shiny plastic just looks cheap and flashy. Give me matte surfaces anyday.

[drun @ Mar 4th 2009 7:04AM]

is there any extra memory slots like in the S101?

[qwert @ Mar 4th 2009 7:09AM]

Looks quite interesting, but its way too shiny.
Has anyone noticed the big left and right arrow keys? thats a clever idea.

[Brianyman @ Mar 4th 2009 7:16AM]

i love shiny things a lot. Check out video of 1008ha at cebit -
http://www.techreviews4u.com/2009/03/04/interesting-asus-eee-pc-1008ha-cebit-video/

[Ethos @ Mar 4th 2009 7:27AM]

Why on the god damn green earth are they using single core chipsets?

[Patriks7 @ Mar 4th 2009 7:29AM]

Remove the childish "Eee" logo and I'll buy it!

[Conceyted @ Mar 4th 2009 7:43AM]

No Ion? No thanks....

[Shan @ Mar 4th 2009 8:18AM]

THAT EEE LOGO IS HORRIBLE!!!!! :(


I'm really getting sick of the 4000 different Eee related products coming out from Asus. To me this resembles a much more stylish laptop and I cannot understand why Asus would put Eee on it instead of their own name? Yeah sure we gadget geeks know what Eee is but regular non tech savvy people don't and to me Eee just makes it look like some kind of cheap Chinese knock off. I wouldn't buy this now because I don't want to keep explaining to people that Eee is "part of Asus" just to add value to it so that they see it as something worth more than what that cheap and tacky Eee brand name makes it seem. This laptop in particular was surely worthy of an "Asus" branding. Better luck next time Asus.

[shaq.arif @ Mar 4th 2009 8:27AM]

So you wouldn't buy this because you don't want others to think that you buy non-branded hardware? Interesting concept. Personally, I buy stuff I want/need and don't give a monkeys what others think. I guess I'm not shallow like that.

[Gnormie @ Mar 8th 2009 10:14AM]

Actually now, the average consumer will recognize the EEE brand much more often then the Asus brand which in western markets has only really ever been known inside tech circles or for very cheap laptops.

[superhobo @ Mar 4th 2009 8:20AM]

Redesign the logo please!

[ttturambar @ Mar 4th 2009 8:27AM]

Okay, so does anyone know if thing is smaller than the HP Mini? And really, I can't figure out why anyone would wait for this when they could go out right now and buy the HP. Just askin'

[Neil @ Mar 4th 2009 2:58PM]

Why not an HP Mini? HP uses a small (and slow) 1.8" hard drive. Another reason I personally avoided the HP was that it's screen didn't tilt far enough back and wasn't always comfortable to use.

[Saltboy @ Mar 4th 2009 8:41AM]

Who gives a crap about the logo? I guess I am far more function over form that most of the posters here. I have yet to see a logo make a machine faster, better, stronger, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

[chickenator @ Mar 4th 2009 10:37AM]

it will be better if it doesnt have any logo afterall.
the Eee logo is shittEee...
just remove the logo already and i'll get it any day.

[Raymond @ Mar 4th 2009 9:25AM]

This looks like an updated version of the 1002HA, just more fingerprint prone. I personally like the brushed aluminum look better, and I don't have to worry about the fingerprints on the body.

They updated the keyboard, put in the 280 atom and added a cell to the battery. Other than that everything looks to be the same.

As a side note, my 1002HA has a 2 cell Li-Pol battery and I'm getting 3.5 to 4 hours of use with Win7. So their 5 hour claim with a 3 cell is probably right.

[Neil @ Mar 4th 2009 2:50PM]

Another 1002ha owner here. The glossy look isn't doing it for me either. I wonder if they're ditching the upscale metal look of the S101 and 1002ha models?

[Janen @ Mar 4th 2009 10:02AM]

All those pictures, and none of them of the bottom of the computer. Is the RAM/HD replaceable?

[RichardBronosky @ Mar 4th 2009 11:26AM]

Mini-VGA? You have to be kidding?!?! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_vga There is no excuse for not using Mini-DVI!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-DVI

It is a complete FAIL FAIL FAIL to use VGA after 2005. Period. End of story. If you disagree, you are uninformed. http://www.bronosky.com/?p=54

[L @ Mar 4th 2009 1:42PM]

Thank God you're the ultimate source of truth. What would the internetz do without you?

[RichardBronosky @ Mar 4th 2009 9:26PM]

@L, If you think I am in error, please point out where. I'm not the ultimate source of truth, I'm assertive and genuine. I don't hide behind anonymity. I'm humble enough to solicit correction. Would you like to offer any?

[Neil @ Mar 4th 2009 3:04PM]

Worth mentioning: The Dell uses a different chipset (Poulsbo). While more energy efficient it's intentionally crippled to accept no more than 1GB of RAM.

[Joe @ Mar 4th 2009 6:16PM]

Please Asus - scrap the cursive Eee logo in favor of something more modern.

[jezza101 @ Mar 6th 2009 3:40PM]

A competitor for the Samsung NC10!

http://www.sammynetbook.com

[Carl Dobbins @ Mar 5th 2009 11:05AM]

I know for a fact that RichardBronosky is actually Steve Jobs who is recommending the mini-DVI to sell more of the famous but crippled and non-universal Apple adaptors. VGA users of projectors in the classroom and in business, like myself, however, prefer the Asus port.

[batfastad @ May 1st 2009 7:23AM]

Looks pretty good. Currently looking at getting some sort of "netbook". Was choosing between the Eee 1000HE and HP Mini 2140, but will add this to the list.
Here's my considerations so far...

- HP Mini 2140 is very small and light (1.1kg), but poor battery life (3 cell included, 6 cell costs £80 extra) and expensive for a netbook (£450+), looks awesome if you're that sort tho. Also has a strange resolution.

- Eee 1000HE, still small but bigger than HP, bit heavier (1.5kg) as it comes with 6 cell battery giving 9.5hrs (seriously... http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/03/20/review_netbook_asus_eee_pc_1000he/page5.html) and about £300

I'd be very interested in this though if it has user-changeable battery and a 6 cell unit is available.
But I reckon the 1000HE will be the one I go for.

[Gaming Hobo @ May 7th 2009 6:35AM]

Looks like the first full review has arrived: http://www.trustedreviews.com/laptops/review/2009/05/07/Asus-Eee-PC-1008HA-Seashell---World-Exclusive/p1

[Zakor @ May 26th 2009 2:52PM]

Just picked one up and found out that IT DOESN"T RUN Windows 7 due to Video issues. I had such a great experience with an Acer Aspire One netbook that I though I would upgrade to a slimmer netbook. But after bringing it home last night I found out that there are issues with it going to a black screen when poweing on OR hibernating... There are some clunky workarounds that work for some but it's not a good choice for Windows 7 beta or RC yet. If you're planning on a netbook for Windows 7 this isn't it yet. Hope they update the bios at some point.
That being said it's a nicely built unit and heals solidly constructed...