ASUS Eee PC 901 12G XP

It’s finally here. After months of speculation, rumor, and leaked photos, the Eee PC 901 was officially unveiled at this year’s Computex. The official North American version’s release date is yet to be revealed, but that didn’t stop us from combing the computer markets of Taipei to get our hands on the much-anticipated Intel Atom-powered update to the Eee PC 900.

The Eee PC 901 12G XP shares many of the same features of its Windows XP predecessor (a 12GB solid-state drive, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, 1GB of RAM, and a multi-touch interface), but there are a few new additions both on and under the hood that make the 901 the best Eee PC to date. However, advances by other mini-notebook manufacturers prevent us from making this machine our Editors’ Choice.

Slick New Appearance

We never had any major complaints about the aesthetics of previous Eee PCs, but we welcome the visual update. The matte lid found on previous models has been replaced with a smooth, glossy lid with Eee PC branding in cursive script in the upper-left corner. Despite the shiny top, the lid, thankfully, doesn’t attract many fingerprints. Where the display meets the deck (which also features the glossy coating) is a new circular, silver hinge, which, in tandem with the new lid, gives the 901 a far more sophisticated look; the Eee PC 901 is the first in the line that doesn’t scream “budget.” Unfortunately, neither does its price: When the Eee PC 901 hits the North American market in late June or early July, it will cost $599.

The 8.9-inch screen looked sharp from a variety of angles when we watched episodes of Arrested Development on Hulu, but the colors were somewhat muted. Above the display is a 1.3-MP webcam that served up bright images and solid colors when videoconferencing with friends and colleagues using Meebo.

Improved Audio Punch

The inclusion of Dolby Sound Room stereo speakers to the 901 gives the Eee PC 901 surprisingly good sound despite being located on the bottom of the machine. Bass (understandably) was a bit lacking, but while streaming music from Slacker’s blues station, we enjoyed crisp, clear audio that had enough punch to fill a small room. When we plugged in a pair of Sony MDR-V150 headphones, a program launched that let us tweak audio settings.