Optical Eee PC 1004DN, where netbook meets notebook

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 13:13

Business IT - Technology

Asus has finally taken its Eee PC netbook into the domain of notebooks in both features and price, with the release of its first optical drive model, the 1004DN. The sleek new Eee PC, however, comes at a price that erases all memories of the age of super cheap netbooks that Asus pioneered in 2007.

Comparing the original Linux powered Eee PC 701 to the 1004DN is a case of apples and oranges. They're both fruit or in this case portable computers but that's where the resemblance ends.

At AUD$1399, the 1004DN is $1000 more than some netbooks with a 9 inch screen, $900 more than I paid for my Eee PC 1000HD last year, and $500 more than the already pricey 1000HE released last month.

In fact, $1399 will buy you a pretty decent full featured notebook with plenty of bells and whistles these days.

So what does the 1004DN offer users for all that extra money?

As far as I can see, the only major enhancement is the provision of a read/write optical disc drive. Everything else appears to be cosmetic.

There's the same 10-inch display, 92% sized keyboard with the new bezel keys, multi-touch touchpad, 120GB hard drive, 1GB RAM (expandable to 2GB), Atom N280 running at 1.66GHz and so on.

This time Asus claims up to 5.9 hours battery life, less than the 1000HE no doubt due to having the optical drive.

The weight of 1.45Kg coupled with its size would certainly make this a good portable computer to take on the road. The question is whether the Eee PC 1004DN is realistically priced.

Compared to the more expensive sub-notebooks on the market, the 1004DN is certainly a reasonable cheap option.

This sub-notebook doesn't have a Core 2 Duo and 2GB as standard and can't run Vista but it would certainly be good enough for most users' needs and could well put downward price pressure on the high-end sub-notebook makers - and that can't be bad.

The Eee PC 1004DN from ASUS will be available in Australia from end April 2009 through major retailers and selected computer resellers. RRP AU$1,399 inc GST.

Specifications

Display	10” wide active matrix LED backlight TFT, WSVGA 1024x600 pixels, 252K colors max
CPU	Intel® N280 1.66GHz Processor with 512k L2 Cache, FSB 667MHz 2.5W TBP thermal
Chipset	§  Intel GN40 §  ICH9Mb (Integrated GMA 4500M graphics core)
Communications	§  Built-in Bluetooth® v2.1 module §  802.11n §  Support Antenna x 2
Main Memory	1GB DDR2 RAM (upgradeable to 2GB)
Storage	§  Up to 1.8” PATA 120GB, 4200 RPM §  10GB Eee Storage
Camera	1.3 Megapixel Video Camera
Audio	Hi-Definition Audio CODEC Built-in high quality stereo speakers
Microphone	Digital Array Mic
Dimensions	277mm x 194mm x 27.4-34mm
Keyboard	Keyboard: W:254mm chiclet type
Battery	6 cell, Li-Ion 5200mAh, up to 5.9 hours
Weight	1.45kg with HDD (with 6-cell battery and ODD)