Asus Eee PC 1008HA Seashell review roundup

Whilst Asus’ Eee PC 1008HA Seashell netbook is not set to hit UK retail until May 15, two reviews have already popped up, from TrustedReviews and What Laptop. The general theme across both reviews was positive with What Laptop viewing the Seashell as a “compelling proposition” which offers excellent mobility with the main negative point being the lack of ports.

TrustedReviews believes that the 1008HA Seashell is a very refined and classy netbook that offers excellent battery life. The non-replaceable battery may hinder some, but for others, the 1008HA may be worth the premium due to the fact that Asus has created a slim and light netbook without sacrificing functionality. TrustedReviews awarded it 9/10. We hope to be receiving a review sample at some point soon. Click through for a full summary of both reviews.

Key points from the What Laptop Review:

• The Eee PC 1008HA Seashell is very portable. The design is very striking, taking styling cues from a clamshell shape.
• The 10-inch (1024 600) screen is a joy to use with flawless colour production. The glossy screen does make viewing in bright conditions difficult though.
• The 92 percent sized keyboard is well spaced, stretching to the edge of the chassis. It is quite comfortable for typing over long periods.
• The high gloss exterior does attract fingerprints. The hidden ports maintain the Seashells sleek looks but don’t help usability, with tricky port access.
• Two USB ports is stingy but it is the lack of TV-out that really hurts, preventing you from connecting an external display.
• Performance is reasonable with the battery lasting 6 hours and 22 minutes.

Key points from the TrustedReviews review:

• The Eee PC 1008HA is a good looking netbook. The chassis measures just 25.7mm at back and just 18mm at the front.
• It has a low 1.1kg weight. The difference between 1.1kg and the 1.3 to 1.4kg of most 10in netbooks is striking.
• The ports are all neatly hidden behind flaps. Though a slight inconvenience this definitely helps keep the machine looking neat and tidy.
• Hardware isn’t really differentiated. It comes with 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, 1GB RAM and 160GB hard drive. The 1008HA also has Draft-N Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR and a 1.3MP webcam that boasts stereo array microphones.
• Asus uses a tiled keyboard where the keys are completely flat save for a slight recess between each key. This allows for large and clearly defined keys.
• The touchpad is reasonably large and is marked with a pimpled surface along with a faux-chrome rocker which is firm and responsive. The touchpad comes with multi-touch support.
• The mini-VGA output requires an adapter, but Asus provides a VGA adapter in the box. This adaptor is actually housed in the chassis, slotting into a magnetically secured compartment underneath the machine.
• The power supply is very small and measures just 80 x 24mm and weighs a mere 100 grams.
• The display has a glossy finish. Despite being very bright and vibrant this is only going to be a hindrance where mobility is concerned.
• The three-cell 2900mAh lithium polymer battery should last around four and a half to five hours of typical use. These results were achieved using the normal ‘High Performance’ mode, so more longevity could be attained using the underclocked power saving mode.