Asus Eee PC 1005HA Review Roundup

Overview
Right after Asus released the ultra-thin Eee PC 1008HA, there are much complaints about the non-replaceable battery on this mini laptop. Asus responded to the complaints by releasing the Eee PC 1005HA which comes with a battery that can be easily removed and replaced. It looks virtually identical to the Eee PC 1008HA but is thicker and heavier.


Here's the rundown of the Asus Eee PC 1005HA specs:

• 10.1 inches display, 1024 x 600 resolution
• Intel Atom N280 Processor 1.66GHz
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
• 160GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD plus 10GB Eee Online Storage
• Intel GMA 950 Graphics
• 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery (5600mAh, 63Wh)
• Expansion: 4-in-1 media card slot
• Wireless: Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Ports and connectors: (3) USB 2.0 ports, VGA OUT, power connector, RJ-45/Ethernet (Gigabit), stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Dimension: 10.2 x 6.9 x 1.4 inches
• Weight: 2.8 lbs
• Genuine Windows XP

The Asus Eee PC 1005HA is currently available on Amazon.com for $389.99.

Check out the following videos for an overview on the Asus Eee PC 1005HA

An introductory video to the Asus Eee PC 1005HA:


Unboxing of Asus Eee PC 1005HA:


Reviews Roundup
There are several reviews done on the Eee PC 1005HA, and all of them are favorable. Cnet has given this mini laptop an 'Editor's Choice' status, while Laptop Magazine rated it 4 out of 5 stars. Brad from Liliputing commented that the Eee PC 1005HA is a netbook that's certainly worth checking out for any one who are in the market for a new machine.

Here are the roundup of good and bad about the Eee PC 1005HA:

Good:

• Excellent battery life. Both Liliputing and Laptop Magazine manage to get 8 hours plus of battery life from their test.
• Removable battery and full sized VGA port which are both missing in the Eee PC 1008HA. The replacable battery enable you to swap it with a spare battery whenever the original battery dies out, without having to send it back to Asus for expensive surgery.
• Spacious and comfortable keyboard, featuring nice large keys that are comfortable to type on, and two reasonably large shift keys on each side of the netbook.
• RAM is easily replacable by removing the small door on the back of the netbook.
• Above average system performance that is sufficient to carry out everday computing tasks. Simultaneously conducting video calls over Skype and surfing the Web with multiple tabs open didn’t cause any system hang-ups.
• Compelling software, including Data Sync that lets you synchronize files across multiple computers, EzMessenger that lets you send messages to other computer users on your network, Eee Docking that lets you access a handful of Asus apps when you scroll your mouse over the top of the screen, Font Resizer, Parental Control, and more.
• Sleek and attractive design.
• Lower price than the Eee PC 1008HA
  

Bad:

• Noisy fan.
• Glossy display that's not suitable for outdoor use, and glossy lid that smudges quickly
  

Conclusion
Among all mini laptops from Asus, the Eee PC 1005HA is the most well rounded Eee PC so far. It's cheaper than the 1008HA, with a starting price of around $389, and it’s thinner and lighter than the Eee PC 1000HE which it’s designed to replace. Also, the ridiculously long battery life made it stand out from the crowd. It's definitely one of the best mini laptops in our recommended list!