Share:Indeed, when we first heard about the Eee PC it immediately drew comparisons to the burgeoning and frankly imperfect UMPC sector.

 However, as we learned more about the device, it generated more interesting comparisons to such yesteryear classics as the Psion Series 5 and the legendary netbook.

Is the Eee PC the natural successor to such devices?

There are several models available, but the one we're reviewing and which Asus considers the most desirable model is the Eee PC 4G 701.

Aside from the processor, which is the same across the range, the 4G 701 features 512MB DDR2 RAM and a 4GB SSD (Solid State Drive).

There's also a 0.3-megapixel webcam and integrated microphone, with network connectivity provided by 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and 10/100 Ethernet.

 All models ship with a 7in 800 x 600 display, while this and the more expensive 8G 701, which ships with an 8GB SSD and 1GB DRR2 RAM, utilise a four-cell 5200mAh battery.

 One of the first things that you notice when picking up the ASUS Eee PC 701 is the fact that it is so light. The Eee PC weighs in at only .89 kilograms, which translates to just around 2 pounds.

The keyboard on the Eee PC is slightly crammed and smaller than most notebook keyboards due to the Eee PC’s smaller form factor. It very closely resembles the size of the keyboard used in the Dell Inspiron 710, which makes it ideal for emails, web surfing, or short papers, but could become a nuisance when writing for extended periods of time and for those that are used to full-sized notebook and desktop keyboards.

The screen is 7-inches diagonally with LED back lighting and has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The Eee PC might not have a glossy, high contrast display like most notebooks made in the last year, but the bright and even backlight helps make for an enjoyable reading experience.

We even found the quality of the colors more than sufficient for viewing movies or You Tube videos. We did experience a few problems with the Asus Eee PC 701 getting toasty during use – even the palm rest and touchpad felt warm to the touch after just 30 minutes of use. We also found the low-pitched whirring and grinding noise rather disquieting, and although it was no worse than a hard drive spinning up, it was obvious when sitting in a quiet room.

On the Eee PC’s left side panel, the notebook has two USB 2.0 ports, an audio and microphone port, a 10/100 Ethernet port, and a 56K phone modem port. The Eee PC is very thin as a United States half dollar coin. The right side panel of the Eee PC 701 has two more USB 2.0 ports, a VGA output, and even a flash card reader. The notebook uses a 4 cell battery that gives it just around 3 hours of battery life when it is on the move.

As you may have noticed, there are no optical drives included with the Eee PC, and there is no room to add any to the notebook itself, so any DVD burners will have to be installed externally through one of the Eee PC 701’s four USB 2.0 ports. The Eee PC uses an Atheros AR5BXB63 wireless module for 802.11b/g wireless Internet access. Reception is quite good for a budget notebook.

The Eee PC maintained a connection to my home router from anywhere inside my three-level home and from anywhere in my front or back yard. At the editorial offices for NotebookReview.com the Eee PC managed to stay connected to the office router even after I left the building and walked across the parking lot.

 The wireless connection only dropped to 75 percent signal strength after I walked more than 50 yards away from the building. Being able to travel a distance equivalent to half the length of a football field means you won't have trouble browsing the web with the Eee PC.

 It's hard to fault the Eee PC, mainly because of its price. It can be difficult to use because of the cramped keyboard, but it's better than similar-sized laptops like the Toshiba Libretto.

 If you're in the market for a second PC, or looking for something you can take with you almost anywhere, the Eee PC is definitely worth buying. About The Author: Writer of this article is Zeyd Pekin. For more information about HP model laptops visit our laptop site.