Less than a year after getting the eeepc Surf 4G, I decided to pick up the new eeepc 900HA. Even though it is about the same size as the Surf, the 900HA is far more advanced than its predecessor.
The pokey, underclocked Celeron M ULV Processor processor is replaced by the snappy Intel Atom. Instead of the tiny 7" screen, the 900HA has a slightly larger 8.9" display. In terms of memory, there is 1GB instead of 512MB and the claustrophobic 4GB SSD of the Surf is replaced by a giant 160GB hard drive.
One of the first things I noticed about the 900HA is its impressive battery life of 4-5 hours—about twice as long as that of the Surf. This is one of the benefits of the amazing Atom processor since it uses very little power compared to regular mobile-class CPUs. Another benefit is the 900HA runs much cooler than the original eeepc.
I decided to install Kubuntu Linux on the eeepc (using an external DVD drive) in a dual-boot configuration running in conjunction with the supplied Windows XP. That gives me considerable flexibility and security since I do all my surfing via the Linux platform.
The end result is an impressive unit that is quite a bit smaller than your average notebook PC. While some folks my be put off by its small keyboard, I think that the size-reduction of the unit is worth the trade off.
If you are looking for a diminutive notebook that packs a real punch, I highly recommend the 900HA.
http://www.asus.com
11/08