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First, a bit about me so you know the perspective of this review ... I am not a computer geek. For me, a computer is just part of my business toolbox. I am 51 years old and have spent all but 2 of the last 26 years as a "road warrior"; spending as much time traveling as I have at home. For the past 15 years, I have lugged around every type of laptop imaginable ... from the earliest Toshiba Satellite laptops with a "whopping" 512MB hard drive, to the latest Dell laptop with all the bells and whistles - including a screen large enough to be mistaken for a boogie board - and several ruggedized laptops designed for the military that have survived being kicked, submerged and even run over. So I think I am in a good position to evaluate and compare the ASUS 1005HA.

I was sick and tired of lugging machines that had way more capability than I needed while on the road. And with the (lack of) space in most aircraft's seats these days, the laptop rarely came out on the airplane as it was physically impossible to use it; often even if the seat in front of me was empty or upright. I did a ton of research and reading of reviews prior to finally giving in and purchasing a Netbook. I was looking for a basic machine with XP, and not loaded down with all the normal Microsoft "bloatware". I use OpenOffice and Mozilla Firefox rather than MS Office. In order to help protect my computer while traveling, I run PortableApps off a thumb-drive. I also use TrueCrypt's portable version on the same thumb-drive. (Use a Corsair Flash Voyager if you want a fast reading and writing thumb-drive.) When at home or on other trusted networks, I run everything off the hard drive.

So here are my comments and observations ...

SUMMARY

Stay within the designers' intentions for this netbook and you will be very happy. I bought it as a travel computer, but I find I am using it more and more as my computer of first choice at home. (Great for sitting on the deck or in the easy-chair and getting some work done!) I use it extensively for word processing, PPT creation, e-book reading (Kindle PC and eReader) and streaming TV off Fancast.

PROCESSING SPEED

BUYER BEWARE - The ASUS comes pre-loaded with Skype already _installed_. DELETE IT! I was wondering why my machine would slow down for no reason until I realized that Skype was running and using my system's resources. It would also slow my home network to a crawl. Once I deleted Skype, everything has been running without a hitch or a hiccup.

The ASUS 1005HA is certainly up to the task of word processing, file transfers, etc. I don't do anything too graphics intensive. It was not designed for PhotoShop or video editing. The ASUS is fine for assembling PPT presentations in OpenOffice, inserting graphics into documents, etc. I use IrfanView as a basic graphics editor. It works great on the ASUS, as it does on any full-size machine.

The "Super Hybrid Engine" that allows you to adjust the computer's processing speed to your needs is a great feature for conserving battery life. When doing word processing, checking email, or cruising the web, I more often than not am connected to sky.fm, streaming music over my earphones while I type. I am able to do this without a stutter to the audio, even with the processor throttled back. If I am doing anything involving graphics, I will ramp the speed up, as I did not go for the optional extra GB of memory.

I also stream TV episodes off Fancast and run videos while conducting training using this machine without any problems. The ASUS's screen is every bit as clear as that on larger machines and better than most.

BATTERY LIFE & CHARGING

I read several of the complaints about the charger. These have either been fixed or were "operator error." The instructions state VERY specifically that you must push the 90-degree connector into the computer until you feel a "click". Personally, I like the "click" feature. It assures that I have a good connection, and it is much more positive than my last computer - a Dell in which the round power connector was always falling out; often without me noticing until I got a low-battery alarm.

I hardly ever use the ASUS while plugged in and have yet to drain the battery in one session, as I usually use the machine for five-to-six hours, then plug-in. Even then, the battery meter is still showing several hours left. All my trips since purchasing the ASUS have been CONUS, so I have yet to be in the situation where I have to run it all the way down. Recharging with the machine off greatly speeds up the recharging time.

WEIGHT, ERGONOMICS & DURABILITY

After lugging around some real bricks, I absolutely love the size, shape and (lack of) weight. The clamshell shape is attractive, sleek, and you don't feel like you're going to drop it if you carry it like a book.

The keyboard is one of the best "reduced" keyboards I have ever used - and I've used a lot of them! I must, however, warn the reader that I do have small hands. All small keyboards are a compromise, but this is the best by far I have used. I will not go into all the various "Fn + .." features, but there is a full array of very useful features included.

The flush-mounted touch-pad and toggle button does take a little getting used to, but once you do, it is very easy and very fast to use. I now much prefer this style of touch-pad to those found on my other laptops!

As for durability, it is not as rugged as my uber-military machine, but it' also one-tenth the price! It has not suffered any jolts or drops yet, so only time will tell. But I can say that it is a much more sturdy machine than the other netbooks I have had my hands on, and more rugged than my last Dell machine. I do not feel like I need to be overly cautious in handling this netbook. The included neoprene storage sleeve was a nice feature, and I use it when transporting the ASUS in my attache' case or carry-on backpack.

SCREEN

Brilliance - I'm usually running it at 40-percent brightness indoors. This is plenty of brightness, and saves on battery consumption.
Clarity - better than that on machines costing five times as much!
Hinges - Very sturdy. ASUS incorporates a design vastly superior to that on most laptops. One caution -- you cannot open the screen much past ~115 degrees.

PRICE & OVERALL VALUE

Price - when used for traveling, there is always the possibility that disaster will strike and your machine will succumb to the rigors of everyday travel and the vagaries of third world electrical services. It is also possible that your machine may be seized at a customs checkpoint. It is much easier to replace a >$350 Netbook than a $800-$1,500 laptop. Or, in the case of the uber-ruggedized laptops, upwards of $3,000 or more! The ASUS 1005HA, with the Atom 280 processor and XP is one of the best values available. And if the nice customs official of the Banana Republic you're visiting decides he likes your machine ... oh well ... it could've been wor$e!

EXTRAS & OTHER COMMENTS

Included Software - As already mentioned, I deleted Skype. I also deleted the 60-day "free" MS Office bloatware. You'll need to take a close look at what is included and get rid of any excess you don't need.

Camera - If you have to video conference, it is a nice bonus. One less peripheral you have to carry with you.

Speaker - Notice I did not say "speakerS". Perfectly fine for streaming broadcasts. You can use earphones for higher fidelity stereo if desired.

Microphone - location is superior. Capabilities are minimal, but what do you expect in a machine of this price? I am able to video conference w/o having to lug a plug-in mike. I am also an amateur radio operator and am able to use EchoLink on this machine w/o an external mike -- although an external mike comes through more clearly and I don't have to lean into the machine's mike.

SD card slot - this is a great bonus. Since this machine is used a lot for traveling, it makes it easier and faster to download pictures from a digital camera. And in a pinch, you can also backup files onto your camera's SD card.

External screen capability - excellent for being able to use this netbook for presentations

3 USB ports - you can get a highly portable "squid" from ThinkGeek dot com if you need more.

Indicator lights for charging, WiFi, etc. are easily seen.

** All in all, a highly capable, very portable, and very affordable netbook. I have recommended the ASUS 1005HA to many of my fellow budget conscious Road Warriors! **