ASUS Eee PC 1015PN review

Of course, the CPU doesn't have to do it all on its own, and the discrete NVIDIA Ion graphics sure do help with graphics intensive stuff, like streaming Flash video at full screen, watching local HD content and light gaming. Like we saw with the 1215N, the benchmarks topple Intel's integrated graphics and rival AMD's ATI Radeon HD 4225 platform, which we've seen in similar systems like the Acer Aspire One 521. You will notice that the 1015PN didn't score as high as the 1215N on the 3DMark06 -- besides the 1215N having a faster processor it also has a faster version of Ion that's meant for larger 11.6- and 12-inch systems. Still, with the discrete GPU turned on, the little machine had no problem not only playing a 1080p on its screen, but also on a 40-inch HDTV when we hooked it up via HDMI. If gaming is your thing, the 1015PN managed to let us grab a gun and shoot around in Battlefield Heroes at 28fps. Although, we should note that loading up this game and World of Warcraft was sluggish -- the processor just wasn't made for this sort of thing.

However, it's that task of actually turning on the GPU that has us all worked up. Yes, that's that major pain point that you've been waiting for. While the next generation of Ion includes NVIDIA's Optimus, which should automatically switch between the integrated and discrete graphics depending on what program is being used, the 1015PN doesn't support Optimus because it runs Windows 7 Starter. (Apparently Starter doesn't allow for that sort of dynamic switching, and ASUS decided to use the OS to keep the cost down.) The result is a very dated experience, which requires you to select the graphics setting you want through that software panel above, and then reboot every time you want to make the switch. It's that two minute (one minute 30 seconds to be precise) rebooting process that really gets us since we don't remember the last time we had a laptop that required us to shut it down to just switch the graphics processor -- log out maybe, but actually shut down? It's been awhile. It works, and gets the job done, but we just wish we didn't have to go through the trouble, and our guess is that many will feel the same way and probably never end up switching graphics modes.

Battery life and software

Ultimately, that means that you lose the benefits of longer battery life, which is a pretty big bummer since when the Ion GPU is on, the netbook's six-cell, 56Wh battery only lasts around four and a half hours on a charge. Obviously, switching to the integrated lengthened the runtime, and on our video rundown test, which loops the same standard definition movie at 65 percent brightness, the system lasted 5 hours and 53 minutes. Of course, that's not bad in comparison to the 1215N's five hours and 42 minutes, but it's shorter than the HP Mini 5103's six hours.

	Battery Life
ASUS Eee PC 1015PN (GPU on/off)	4:07 / 5:53
ASUS Eee PC 1018P	4:40
ASUS Eee PC 1215N	5:42
HP Mini 5103	6:10
ASUS Eee PC 1005PE	8:10
Toshiba Mini NB305	6:30
Acer Aspire One 521	4:02

We should also mention that the system gets slightly hotter than other netbooks we've tested -- the left vent blew out warm air more often than not and the bottom left side of the machine warmed up our leg. Because somebody refuses to turn on the heat in our office we didn't necessarily mind it, but most people have heat, right?

Unsurprisingly, ASUS loads up the machine with proprietary software and some other stuff, including CyberLink's YouCam software and a shortcut to Bonigo's WiFi service. Along with the typical EeeDock, which is locked to the top of the screen, the machine comes with ASUS' Splendid photo editing software and some new Games Park suite of downloadable games -- the preloaded Chicken Invaders 2 game is actually quite entertaining. It also comes with a VIBE Fun Center, which we'd describe more as slow than "fun." It took over a minute to launch the software and then about another minute to access the library of music and video content. There's also ASUS' ExpressGate Cloud instant-on OS, which you can boot into by pressing the lighting button above the keyboard.

Wrap-up

Sure, the 1015PN differs from the other 1015 models out there, but we just wish it were more like its larger 1215N brother. While the 1015PN has a smaller footprint and slightly longer battery life, its processor just isn't as powerful and having to reboot every time you want to switch between graphics cards is a serious inconvenience. If you must have a 10.1-inch netbook with solid graphics, the 1015PN is still one of your best bets since there isn't much else out there -- there's that $330 Acer 521 with AMD's Neo II and ATI graphics, but we're just not big fans of its build quality or design. (It makes us wonder why ASUS didn't just throw an AMD Neo processor in a 1015. Of course, there is the 1015T, but that has a slower AMD V105 CPU. You know you want to throw another one on the production line, ASUS!) Honestly, what we'd really suggest is either settling for an underpowered 10.1-inch netbook in the $350 range with a Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator (i.e. the Eee PC 1005PR or HP Mini 210) or spending $70 more and going up to the larger 12.1-inch 1215N.