ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PEMU27BU 10.1Inch Blue Netbook
Eee PC 1005PE-P The 10.1-inch Eee PC 1005PE-M Seashell with Windows 7 Starter shines as the ideal Eee PC for the traveler looking for outstanding wireless connectivity and efficient Eee PC performance. Thanks to ASUS' exclusive Super Hybrid Engine, you can take this mobile phenom wherever you choose and enjoy up to an incredible 11 hours of unplugged freedom.* The Eee PC 1005PE-M is encased in a smooth pearlescent shell that captivates onlookers and features the next generation Intel Atom N450 processor for outstanding battery life. Plus, it gives you extended comfort with a chiclet keyboard, large palm-rest, and multi-touch trackpad. For more convenience, the Eee PC 1005PE has hotkeys placed above the keyboard – granting you quick access to Wi-Fi and control of the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine that instantly optimizes system performance for the task at hand. Throw in a generous 250GB hard drive with 500GB of ASUS WebStorage** and you get the ability to store, share, and access your important data anytime, anywhere. ASUS worked closely to make your Windows 7 experience better with groundbreaking utilities such as FastBoot and LocalMe. With ASUS FastBoot technology, this Windows 7-enabled Eee PC starts up fast so you wait less and do more. LocalMe is a GPS-like application that when connected to the internet provides easy access to local areas and gets you where you want to be. Miles ahead of its competition, the Eee PC 1005PE-M provides unsurpassed battery life and superior portability that liberates you from wall chargers and brings you into the next generation of mobility. Kindle for PC – Now Pre-Installed on Select ASUS Netbooks
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 | Only ASUS has the innovative ASUS Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) that gives you ultimate control of your Eee PC 1005PE-M. With a hot key above the keyboard, you can instantly command the processor to run faster for more performance or conserve speed to prolong battery life. By pairing ASUS SHE with the latest Intel Atom N450 processor, Eee PC 1005PE now provides more performance and battery life than ever before on any Eee PC. Through its innovative design, the ASUS SHE utility combined with a 6-cell Li-Ion battery, a power-saving LED-backlit display, and an energy-efficient Intel Atom N450 processor deliver up to 11 hours of battery life –the longest to ever be featured on an Eee PC. Imagine enjoying 11 hours flying from Los Angeles to London with your favorite movies and music on a single charge. Imagine 11 hours of wireless freedom and productivity all-day and night- from the bus ride to school, to the time your work for the day is done. Never again will you scramble to find an outlet or wish you had brought a wall charger, the Eee PC 1005PE-M gives you a reassured peace of mind with mobile power to last nearly all day long. |
Get the Big Picture in a Small Frame
 | The Eee PC 1005PE-M features the latest generation of LED-backlit technology for ultra-thin, ultra-bright, and energy-efficient portability and versatility. A brilliant 10.1-inch LED-backlit Color-shine display makes reading documents and surfing the Web comfortable and easy. With a 1024 x 600 resolution screen, you can coast through most of your favorite web pages without having to resize your browser or scroll left and right. The 1005PE-M also features a brilliant Color-Shine glossy display technology normally found on high-end notebooks so your movies, games, and photos are displayed in true and vibrant colors. |
Strikingly Comfortable. Perfectly Concise.
 | Flawlessly smooth, the Eee PC 1005PE-M Seashell draws its inspiration from the curvature of an ocean seashell. Its lustrous and glossy exterior is crafted by In-mold Roller (IR) technology for a stylish yet scratch-resistant surface that’s perfect for everyday use. The eye-catching Eee PC 1005PE-M is specially designed to be ultra compact so you can use it in the smallest areas with ease. Its portable size makes it perfect during long airplane trips, classroom desks, or boardroom meetings. The Eee PC 1005PE-M Seashell comes with a 92-percent full-size chiclet keyboard with a spacious palm rest that’s ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue and offer a more comfortable experience during prolonged use. It also features a user-friendly multi-touch trackpad that helps you navigate documents and web pages. With a simple touch of your fingertips, you can effortlessly scroll up and down, and zoom in and out, so that every detail is brought front and center with ease. |
Easy Connectivity
 | The Eee PC 1005PE-M Seashell connects you to your wireless world with built-in 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity and Windows 7 Starter to deliver definitive wireless accessibility. A spring-loaded Plug-and-Play flash card slot (MMC/SD/SDHC) expands your storage capability so you can view and share your digital photos, videos, and external data files instantly. A built-in 0.3 megapixel webcam and a digital microphone combine to give you clear video conferencing so you can have clear on-the-go video chats with family and friends. |
Even More Storage
 | The Eee PC 1005PE-M hard drive has been expanded to give you 250GB of storage capacity and comes with an additional 500GB of ASUS WebStorage, a free and secure database to store your treasured data. ASUS WebStorage allows you to easily share and safeguard your movies, music, and files, so you can access them anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. Create and share additional user accounts that let you securely and safely share your precious stored files, videos, music and more, with friends and family. |
Quick Recovery with Just One Key
 | The Eee PC 1005PE-M makes system reinstallation simple with a built-in recovery program that can restore your system to its original factory settings by simply pressing F9 three times during start-up. Coupled with ASUS WebStorage, you can easily back-up your data prior to system recovery to pick up wherever you leave off without a hitch. |
Eee PC with Windows 7 –Life Made Easier
 | Explore the great new features of Windows 7 Starter with the Eee PC 1005PE-M. Featuring optimized energy-saving features and easy-to-use shortcuts, the Windows operating system is redesigned to give you an enhanced user experience making your everyday tasks simpler than ever before. Plus, Windows 7 has easy networking sharing that helps connect you instantly to Wi-Fi hotspots and networking hubs. Share more with friends and surf the Web better with Windows 7 and the Eee PC 1005PE-M. Windows 7 Starter makes Eee PCs easier to use because it puts less between you and what you want to do – less waiting, less clicking, less hassle connecting to networks. Starter combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows. |
A Brand that Sparked a Revolution - The First Netbook
 | In 2007, the Eee PC forever reshaped the definition of mobile computing. Birthed from the creativity and engineering brilliance of ASUS innovation, it soon became the must-have netbook across the globe. Following that year, the Eee PC brand grew into a full portfolio of highly sought-after mobile and compact PCs with one goal “to make people’s lives easier.” The first netbook to market, ASUS has continued to lead this developing category with the longest battery life, exclusive features, and world-class design. Today, Eee products are the upmost symbol of how innovative technology can bring excitement and convenience to every person it touches. |
Customer Warranty –The Industry's Most Complete Netbook Care Package
What's in the Box
Specifications
* Operation lifetime subject to product model, normal usage conditions and configurations. For more information, please visit http://eeepc.asus.com/global/computing.html. The estimated maximum battery life in Windows 7 is measured with MobileMark 2007.
** ASUS WebStorage is a complimentary trial service for one year after registration. Actual storage capacity varies by model.
â To recharge using the AC power adapter, power plug must be fully pushed into the power socket on the Eee PC until it clicks firmly into place.
Note: This Eee PC features a glossy finish chassis. Reflections in photos may vary.
All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in images.
| Check Out Other ASUS Notebook Computers and Accessories |
 ASUS Eee PC Seashell Optical Mouse - Blue Its slim and sleek design makes the Eee PC Seashell Optical Mouse the perfect accessory for your Eee PC Seashell. |  ASUS Oxygen Blue 10-inch Netbook Carrying Bag Made of extremely light, durable and protective Neoprene fabric, this official ASUS sleek Oxygen carrying bag is tailored to perfectly fit your Seashell Eee PC. |  ASUS Slim External Optical Drive/DVD Writer Create and read CDs or DVDs with speed, style, and simplicity with the ASUS Slim External Optical Drive and your Eee PC. |  ASUS UL30A-X5 Thin and Light Laptop Looking for great battery life and processing power? Check out the Amazon exclusive thin and light UL30A-X5 laptop. |
....read more
Average Customer Rating
 4 out of 5 |
Brand: Asus
Model: 1005PE-MU27-BU
Price: $339.99
Related Products
Great, but Battery Life Not as Advertised and Service Useless
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a great little computer, very lightweight and lots of capability for the money. While the battery life is pretty good, at 8-9 hours per charge even on power saving mode and 40% screen brightness, it doesn’t come close to the advertised 11 hours.
Also, there’s a flaw in the OS so the advertised boot booster doesn’t work. Bootup time is about 1 minute, so not too bad. I actually found that it seems to work better when Boot Booster is disabled anyway.
The service department was so bad it was almost as if they had never used a computer before. They had no idea about fixing boot booster, and said they’d never heard of that problem even though other people are writing about it on the web. Also, they had no idea if you can use an SD card to boost memory in Windows 7 (you can, it’s called ReadyBoost).
Awesome Asus
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This netbook is absolutely amazing. For now, I’m using it without the additional memory card, but I plan on getting one later. So far I’ve had no major problems with the netbook. It’s light; it has long battery life (as advertised) and it works fast enough. My one and only complaint is about Windows 7 Starter Edition. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to personalize anything (change the wallpaper etc)…So I guess I just miss those features more than I thought I would.
A nice little friend to have
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
My favorite thing about this computer is it’s size. Something I didn’t think about before I bought it was that it would be really easy to curl op on the couch and cradle the computer between my legs or on my stomach or something. It’s just really easy to maneuver physically. And I love how lightweight it is. The only other laptop I had before I got this little guy was an ibook g4 that I received as a graduation present. It was great and gorgeous and very cool and all that, but it didn’t really function as a portable computer because in those days laptops were HEAVY, man. Plus no wireless internet. This is like the opposite of that. it’s so light I can carry it and my notebook and stuff around in a shoulder bag all day and not really care. It’s pretty darn fast on the internet, if you have a good connection. Sometimes, however, it takes forever to get on the login page of a public network, but I think that might just be the network. It’s great that it comes with free online storage, although I don’t really have enough stuff on here to warrant using it yet. At first the screen and font does seem awfully small, but I really got used to it and the touch pad has little zoom shortcuts so it’s easy to do that if you can’t see something. This is coming from a college student who has to read a ton of online articles, by the way. When I use my boyfriends laptop now which has like a 17 inch screen or something it feels disquietingly huge. The battery life is awesome, too, although I don’t think it’s always 11 hours like it says. Maybe if you have it on sleep a lot. But it’s still really long, just as good as a lot of smart phones. So anyway, I love this little guy, and I use it way more than I thought I would. I’m actually kind of becoming a computer person now.
So So
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Bought this computer mainly for travel. My laptop is just too heavy to carry and in need of an update. This is my first windows machine, I have 3 Macs. Not sure if it is windows or the computer but darn this thing is slow. It also only boots successfully about 75% of the time. Find myself constantly pulling the battery to get it reboot. Perhaps Norton and Windows is not a good mix.
Pros: Price and Size are the biggest plus. Battery life has been good. I am getting used to the keyboard but it took some doing
Cons: Extremely slow to load. Not really sure why Windows 7 must use a ton of RAM, may switch to XP. The touch pad rarely works as it is supposed to, and the click is slow to respond.
Perhaps I will enjoy it more with increased ram and XP.
BEWARE Hard Drive delivered was 100GB instead of 250GB
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
After weeks of research I settled on the Asus (I am in the IT industry). Just noticed that although I purchased the 250GB hard drive and the box shows 250GB hard drive, it actually only has a 100GB hard drive!!! I can’t believe it! I will be returning this immediately. I don’t know how this thing rated so high, keypad mouse buttons require a pretty hefty push of the thumb to click. I didn’t like that at the start. Also, the keyboard keys are individually separated from each other which makes it difficult to type. I’m very disappointed and would not recommend this to anyone.
Cute but Buggy
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
In general this is a nice little machine. It’s a pretty netbook, shiny (but beware – it’s a fingerprint magnet!) and sturdy. I’ve upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium and 2gb RAM and it now runs just as quickly as a standard-sized laptop. However, there are some issues that you should be aware of before you choose this machine:
Most of the problems I’ve encountered have been related to upgrading the RAM to 2gb. While the upgrade does improve speed immensely, in the past week I’ve already had problems with the following:
-If you plug the netbook into the AC adaptor while it is running,the system hangs and you get alarming patterns of screen corruption. From what I’ve read online, updating the BIOS can at least temporarily fix this problem.
-Controlling the screen brightness – the fn shortcuts for screen brightness and volume control only work sometimes, and the screen brightness actually jumps around randomly when you try to increase or decrease it.
-system won’t sleep/shut down properly – sometimes Windows will shut down, but the fan will keep running and the power buttons remain lit. This requires a force shut down.
These three problems seem to be common. They can be remedied by sacrificing your need for speed and keeping a 1gb RAM module in your machine. There also seem to be quick fixes that other users have discovered. It’s an annoyance, but in my opinion not a deal-breaker.
The only other problem I’ve encountered is a continual, annoying clicking noise. At first I was alarmed, thinking my hard drive was bad, but then I learned that this is the head parking itself. This saves power and prevents the head from crashing into the drive if it’s dropped. I downloaded a small utility called quietHDD that stops the clicking. However, I would recommend only using it when you have minimal risk of dropping your netbook.
SLOWSKIES favorite netbook
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This netbook does not last 11 hours. Maybe 4 tops but i didnt really care since i bought it for the size. I was looking forward to using this to take notes and write with me everywhere I go. The netbook is so light its a shame it was so slow. There is a button to change speeds; I maxed it out but yet the processor is way to laggy. You cant open more than one internet window or this thing lags like crazy. Applications like word, changing settings, and just simple computer functions were just agonizing to use.
I only bought this for facebook, notes, email, and just watching the occassional episode of dramas. But I couldn’t even do those simple things without it lagging. Other college students don’t waste your money on this, we have a limited income as is!
May be a decent computer, but service is poor.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
A couple of months ago, I received one of the 1005PE alternatives to this netbook, and was fairly impressed with it. What happened to me is important for potential buyers of the current item, as well. Bear with me, as any potential purchaser should be aware of what may happen should there be any defect in the ASUS item they receive.
At the beginning of my review, let me recommend the review by “Turtle James,” which is currently the top review for ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU27-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook (Up to 14 Hours of Battery Life). He includes much helpful information about the setup of this netbook, and I find his information to be quite flawless, though I’m not sure it is necessary to combine the partitions of the hard drive. The computer itself seemed to run well, and was not nearly as slow as some people make it out to be, but it is with regret that I must tell the tale of the defective charger, which turned the computer into an expensive paperweight.
I followed the instructions in the manual (which matches Turtle James’s review well) regarding the charging of the netbook, and I think I would have discovered a quite long battery life as a result, if I would have kept it long enough to evaluate that part. However, I encountered a problem with a small defect that made the netbook unusable.
The charger, the AC adapter that plugs into the power outlet was unusual from the beginning. After the first charge, I noticed that the blue light that lights up on the charger would stay lit for a while after unplugging from any power source. Not having any experience with this particular adapter before, I was not sure if that was normal, and in fact am still not sure.
After going through two cycles of charging and depleting the battery, as instructed, I attempted to charge the netbook for the third time, and behold, the charger did not work at all. When this happens, one cannot charge the netbook, and therefore cannot use it until one obtains a new charger. Buying a new charger after only two charges is in my opinion ridiculous, and to be avoided on principle.
So, I set about to rectify the situation, first calling the manufacturer, ASUS (pronounced ay-soos’ by the service personnel). After messing about for some time trying different things with the technician, it became apparent that the charger must be defective. They said I could begin the process for an RMA, if I like, and I did like that idea, until I got further into the details.
It came as a surprise to me that ASUS would require me to send the defective part back to them first, upon receipt of which, they would begin the process to send me a new part that functioned correctly. I was informed that the RMA process at that point would take 10 – 14 business days. I asked what shipping method would be used to send the new part to me, and was informed it would be Fed-Ex…Ground.
The entire process, therefore, would take about a month to get what was rightfully mine in the first place for having purchased the device, after which I would not be able to return the device.
So, I chose to return the device to Amazon instead, because I learned the valuable lesson of what it is like to deal with the ASUS service department. I cannot thank ASUS enough for clarifying to me what type of company I was dealing with when purchasing their magnificent piece of . . . gadgetry.
I also made the mistake of ordering RAM and a case for the netbook at the same time, accessories I had no further need of, so I returned those as well. Amazon, being a company with integrity, refunded the entire amount. This has also been a valuable lesson on the folly of purchasing accessories before being certain the main product is stable.
Worth it once you work past a few kinks
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I received my netbook on Wednesday but wanted to wait for a few days before voicing my opinion. I’m glad I did.
Like many, I changed the RAM to 2 GB, though I did this prior to turning the computer on for the first time. Following that, I pressed the wrong “power” button and found myself in Asus’ Express Gate, which immediately frustrated me because I thought that that was it – I was stuck with those four programs, with no way of accessing the large hard drive, etc.. One short panic attack later, I did some Googling and realized that you’re supposed to press the button on the right to access Windows 7. So I did.
I spent the next few hours attempting to customize, but installing an antivirus program, backing up the computer, dealing with the “your antivirus programs are off” flag and not realizing that the netbook was attempting to update its own antivirus program in the background made everything lock up. I was only able to do things once every few minutes, and I was worried that the problem was either with the memory or with the netbook or with Windows 7. In any case, not happy.
One day later, with a much cooler head, I played around a bit with it, adding in Asus’ System Setting utility so that I could change the background. It turned out that once I stopped being an idiot trying to run too many installers at once, the 2GB memory was more than enough to keep everything running smoothly. Go figure
There were a lot of complaints about Windows 7 Starter, but now that they’ve removed the three-app restriction, I find that it’s really easy to work with. I installed Office 2007 and haven’t had any issues as I work on my book or browse the internet. A lot of the upgrades in Windows 7 Ultimate had to do with movie playback/recording and DVDs, none of which are functions that I intend to use on this tiny little thing. I even tested it out and found that I can use a VGA cable and hook up my television as a monitor. I’m hoping that this translates into a projector-friendly function.
It does take a little while to get used to the keyboard, and I find that my hands rest with my palms on the wristrest and my arms on the table. My actual wrists are hovering in midair, which is annoying but not wholly uncomfortable. Just have to get used to it, I suppose.
If you read through this whole review, thanks. I think that the ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-MU27-PI 10.1-Inch Pink Netbook with Kindle for PC (11 Hours of Battery Life) is a great purchase. I wouldn’t use it for Photoshopping, but for a day-to-day alternative to the heavy-duty laptop, it does quite well. (Please note that it was a bit pinker than I expected. Must be a trick of the lighting.)
Dead on arrival … but got better!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The netbook arrived a full day sooner than Amazon estimated, which was nice. Great looking netbook. I plugged in the battery unit, plugged in the AC, and gave it a full 18 hours to charge (8 was recommended).
I was very disappointed to discover that the netbook would not boot. No hard drive spinning, nor anything the screen. The power light came on, but that was it.
Spent an hour and a half (after a half hour wait) with Asus technical support trying this and that to no avail. At the end, all they could recommend was that I ship it back to Amazon, which I am now in the process of doing. I hope this story will have a happy ending eventually, in which case I’ll modify this review. For now, however, this netbook has been a complete waste of money and time.
*****
UPDATE: Hooray! Looked at it again and discovered the memory wasn’t seated correctly. All I had to do is open the door (one screw) and give it a push until it clicked. Works great now!
Love my netbook
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This Asus fills exactly niche intended. It sits on kitchen desk ready to do quick search for movietimes, email check, recipe check, mapquest. My only complaint is that I did follow advice of other customers and purchase 2G memory chip. Installation was hampered by casing. The lid on bottom of netbook which covers memory chip was nearly impossible to remove. It became quite scratched as we struggled to lift the plastic.
Fab
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
What a fantestic little machine. Does everything my laptop does but its so small and convenient. Highly recommednd this net book.
It’s an ok option
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
If you are looking for a good notebook I can actually recommend this one. For being a notebook I feel that it’s really complete and hasn’t given me any problems since I bought it.
Asus 1005PE Netbook
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It was slow with the Microsoft OS, so the first thing I did was whack the OS. Then installed Ubuntu remix. Now runs great!
Great netbook
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this netbook for personal use when on the road for business. I primarily use it for check email, skype, surf the internet and watch movie files. It works great for all. Very pleased with its performance. I haven’t upgraded the RAM to 2 gb like some have and I don’t think I will since it sees limited use.
Great Netbook, just not a laptop for those wanting a laptop
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is GREAT for browsing the wed, listening to music, annd writing documents. It was a good price, arived quickly and was exactly what I wanted. The Netbook is a little slow, but that Is what a netbook is, a little slow. However, I was dissapointed that video playing on this netbook is bad and choppy. I do not like that. If you are looking for something fast, stick with a lapotp. But this is a good, portable, and robust netbook that works really good.
Good for What It Is And It Is Cute
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased the ASUS 1005PE-MU27-WT because I needed something for personal use and to show pictures. It has filled the position very nicely. It is not as convenient as the iPad but it can be used with USB accessories and run common programs as well as connect to a WiFi. It is not as fast as a desk top but it is very portable and the smaller screen is very workable. Like any portable style, an external keyboard is recommended though its keyboard also is very useable. For the commercial state of the art (Apple vs Microsoft vs Adobe) it was a very good compromise with all of the technical features though somewhat slow on processing speed but good on power consumption. The battery time may have been salesman specified rather than technically specified but I can get pretty close to a whole days worth of work on a single charge. I have never run out of battery between charges but have come close at about 6 to 8 hours. I can not think of anything I would add to it practically. It has been a good value for me and the Windows 7 Starter worked just fine for the things I wanted to do. The only bad draw back is the Windows 7 Starter and the marketing of the Windows 7 Home Premium. I thought long and hard before upgrading and almost did not. I am still unsure of what I gained. It is not an attractive marketing ploy. It would be great if it came loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium at an appropriately increased price. (Though no cost increase would be OK too.)
Love it so far
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased this netbook about a week ago and am loving it. I must say that in reading this review you should keep in mind this is my first netbook. Although I have always been a computer person, I have never used a netbook before so I cannot review it as it compares to like items.
This was purchased to do the “light” daily stuff like web surfing and simple word processing in place of a 14″ HP laptop. The size and weight difference is great. I can hold my sleeping newborn in one hand and carry this thing around in the other with ease.
The 92% keyboard is easier to adjust to than I anticipated. The touchpad (my first experience with an Asus) is very responsive. Wish it had a scroll bar like my HP but the Asus method of swiping 2 fingers to scroll gets the job done well enough. On the same note the way Asus allows you to zoom in and out on web pages and pdfs by using the touchpad (iphone-style) is handy.
To date I have not had any real performance issues with 1GB of ram but I plan on updating to 2GB just to help free up some memory that is sucked up by background apps like AVG etc.
Battery life is tremendous.
Built-in webcam and mic works fine with Skype.
There is no active cooling (no fan) which keeps it quiet.
Windows 7 Starter is a little bleh. Though you can change the wallpaper with a free download from Asus, the customization options with Starter are limited.
The only thing I am not crazy about is the display–it is not bad, just not great. The picture is not particularly vivid. I know some higher-end netbooks are offering better resolutions now, but I don’t think it warrants the extra cost.
Oh, and like all computers these days the time it took to uninstall all the garbage that comes preloaded is ridiculous. Par for the course I guess.
All in all I am pleased with this purchase. The price seems reasonable and, frankly, my wife is happy so I am too. I would just keep in mind that you are purchasing a netbook, not a laptop, so don’t be surprised by the performance limitations.
UPDATE:
Installed a 2gb stick of ram from Crucial last night with no problems. Per someone else’s post, I disabled BootBooster in the Bios, started the OS, powered off, installed the RAM, started the OS, restarted and turned BootBoost back on, and started the OS. No problems.
Decent Netbook ** SEE IMPORTANT EDIT**
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I just purchased this netbook after my previous Asus (the dependable S101) died b/c the screen was damaged by my own carelessness. So with that in mind, here’s my quick take on the 1005PE MU27 model, which I received yesterday.
Pros:
- Nice feel of the keyboard. Firm and the spacing between the keys did not affect my typing in any way.
- Attractive cover (I bought the blue colored unit) and look to the machine.
- Fairly painless installation. The first boot took about 10 min or so, and updating the latest files for Windows 7 starter took about 30 min, not too bad.
- Based on the 1GB ram usage, surfing the web was a breeze. Watching videos on youtube or playing flash-based games all was fine. But at times I did notice some hiccups when many programs were running so I opted to upgrade to 2GB (see below edit for info).
- Battery life was very very decent. On a full charge on the high performance mode I managed about 7-8 hours.
- Quick charge time for battery.
- Very nice touchpad. Very responsive.
- Great price point for people looking to do very basic stuff on the computer.
Mehs:
- Screen resolution was ok. Not really up to part with the higher end counterparts.
- Camera is standard 0.3Mb quality
- Unit is not as ‘sleek’ compared to my old S-101, which was definitely lighter, more slender, and didn’t feel as ‘bulky’ of sorts vs the 1005PE
- Click button below touch pad a bit clunky.
Cons:
- Windows 7 starter blows. It’s fine if you’re just going to use this netbook to do basic stuff like surf the web, send emails, or play games on facebook. But not recommended if you’re looking to do more extensive things with the netbook.
- Did I tell you Windows 7 blows? Serious lack of customization. It’s lame that you can’t even change your desktop wallpaper without downloading some other app to circumvent the problem. Dumb you can’t personalize fonts etc.
- Does not include even a basic cloth cover for the netbook. Even in my previous S101 unit they included at least a cheap little cover for the netbook.
- Finger print magnet. Better have clean hands when holding this laptop!
- Feels kind of heavy. It looks small, but weighs more than you think. Definitely outweighs my old S101 by a fair margin. (And boots a bit slower than my old S101, though my old OS was XP, which I still think was great to use).
Summary
- Great computer for price conscious folks
- Great computer for people not looking to do much more than just surf the web, send emails, do basic stuff like type papers etc.
- Is just fine if you can live with the (many) bare-bones limitations of Windows 7 starter.
- Won’t blow you away, but is a decent all around machine at a reasonable price point
**EDIT 6/25/10**
I would also like to point out that I decided to upgrade the RAM on this netbook. It was partially because I wasn’t too thrilled with the performance of Windows 7 (I still ABSOLUTELY HATE the lack of customization options on the starter OS. COME ON MICROSOFT!!!). But also I noticed sometimes things got a bit sluggish when I ran multiple programs.
Anyway I just want to point out I bought the 2GB RAM from Kingston = Kingston ValueRAM 2 GB 800MHz PC2-6400 DDR2 CL5 SODIMM Notebook Memory (KVR800D2S5/2G) (Link Below):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00102A066/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
I would strongly recommend anybody who wants a bit more out of this netbook to consider upgrading the memory. I noticed a nice difference in performance after my upgrade. VERY VERY HAPPY that I did so.
For those of you who aren’t aware – the Asus memory comes with 1GB RAM that’s upgradable to 2GB. There’s only 1 memory slot so you will have to take out the old chip.
To do so – (REMEMBER UNPLUG COMPUTER AND REMOVE BATTERY BEFORE STARTING THIS PROCESS)
1. Remove the single screw from the memory casing on the bottom of th netbook.
2. Remove the old chip (carefully since it comes out at an angle)
3. Insert new chip carefully (again at an angle somewhat) and make sure it snaps into place.
4. Put battery back on, turn on computer, press F2 upon powering up to get into bios and make sure computer recognizes memory.
5. All done.
- Note the kingston memory chip had none of the issues that other users previously noted with other brands. At least I didn’t experience any hiccups. 2GB does make a difference.
Can’t believe it
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Sorry I can’t offer a review on the ASUS Eee PC 1005PE-MU27-BK 10.1 inch netbook with Kindle. I purchased it from Amazon, and it arrived in a timely fashion just like all the many purchases I have made from Amazon over the years. When I tried to set up ASUS, it wouldn’t launch. Instead it directed me to restart the machine. When I restarted it, it gave me the same message. Round and round I went before I finally gave up. When I logged onto the ASUS home page, I tried to download a copy of the detailed Instruction Manual that was not included in the package. I managed to bring up the Instruction Manual in PDF format and prepared to print it. To my utter amazement, the message came back that printing was prohibited. Can you believe that? After some effort, I managed to contact the ASUS people by telephone and they were unable to explain the problem, but they promised to send me instructions on how to resolve the problem. Two weeks later, I had not heard from them. So, Amazon was good enough to take the machine back. In fact, I would point out clearly that this is not a knock on Amazon which has always been reliable and accommodating.
Great, but Battery Life Not as Advertised and Service Useless
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a great little computer, very lightweight and lots of capability for the money. While the battery life is pretty good, at 8-9 hours per charge even on power saving mode and 40% screen brightness, it doesn’t come close to the advertised 11 hours.
Also, there’s a flaw in the OS so the advertised boot booster doesn’t work. Bootup time is about 1 minute, so not too bad. I actually found that it seems to work better when Boot Booster is disabled anyway.
The service department was so bad it was almost as if they had never used a computer before. They had no idea about fixing boot booster, and said they’d never heard of that problem even though other people are writing about it on the web. Also, they had no idea if you can use an SD card to boost memory in Windows 7 (you can, it’s called ReadyBoost).
Awesome Asus
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This netbook is absolutely amazing. For now, I’m using it without the additional memory card, but I plan on getting one later. So far I’ve had no major problems with the netbook. It’s light; it has long battery life (as advertised) and it works fast enough. My one and only complaint is about Windows 7 Starter Edition. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to personalize anything (change the wallpaper etc)…So I guess I just miss those features more than I thought I would.
A nice little friend to have
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
My favorite thing about this computer is it’s size. Something I didn’t think about before I bought it was that it would be really easy to curl op on the couch and cradle the computer between my legs or on my stomach or something. It’s just really easy to maneuver physically. And I love how lightweight it is. The only other laptop I had before I got this little guy was an ibook g4 that I received as a graduation present. It was great and gorgeous and very cool and all that, but it didn’t really function as a portable computer because in those days laptops were HEAVY, man. Plus no wireless internet. This is like the opposite of that. it’s so light I can carry it and my notebook and stuff around in a shoulder bag all day and not really care. It’s pretty darn fast on the internet, if you have a good connection. Sometimes, however, it takes forever to get on the login page of a public network, but I think that might just be the network. It’s great that it comes with free online storage, although I don’t really have enough stuff on here to warrant using it yet. At first the screen and font does seem awfully small, but I really got used to it and the touch pad has little zoom shortcuts so it’s easy to do that if you can’t see something. This is coming from a college student who has to read a ton of online articles, by the way. When I use my boyfriends laptop now which has like a 17 inch screen or something it feels disquietingly huge. The battery life is awesome, too, although I don’t think it’s always 11 hours like it says. Maybe if you have it on sleep a lot. But it’s still really long, just as good as a lot of smart phones. So anyway, I love this little guy, and I use it way more than I thought I would. I’m actually kind of becoming a computer person now.
So So
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Bought this computer mainly for travel. My laptop is just too heavy to carry and in need of an update. This is my first windows machine, I have 3 Macs. Not sure if it is windows or the computer but darn this thing is slow. It also only boots successfully about 75% of the time. Find myself constantly pulling the battery to get it reboot. Perhaps Norton and Windows is not a good mix.
Pros: Price and Size are the biggest plus. Battery life has been good. I am getting used to the keyboard but it took some doing
Cons: Extremely slow to load. Not really sure why Windows 7 must use a ton of RAM, may switch to XP. The touch pad rarely works as it is supposed to, and the click is slow to respond.
Perhaps I will enjoy it more with increased ram and XP.
BEWARE Hard Drive delivered was 100GB instead of 250GB
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
After weeks of research I settled on the Asus (I am in the IT industry). Just noticed that although I purchased the 250GB hard drive and the box shows 250GB hard drive, it actually only has a 100GB hard drive!!! I can’t believe it! I will be returning this immediately. I don’t know how this thing rated so high, keypad mouse buttons require a pretty hefty push of the thumb to click. I didn’t like that at the start. Also, the keyboard keys are individually separated from each other which makes it difficult to type. I’m very disappointed and would not recommend this to anyone.
Cute but Buggy
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
In general this is a nice little machine. It’s a pretty netbook, shiny (but beware – it’s a fingerprint magnet!) and sturdy. I’ve upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium and 2gb RAM and it now runs just as quickly as a standard-sized laptop. However, there are some issues that you should be aware of before you choose this machine:
Most of the problems I’ve encountered have been related to upgrading the RAM to 2gb. While the upgrade does improve speed immensely, in the past week I’ve already had problems with the following:
-If you plug the netbook into the AC adaptor while it is running,the system hangs and you get alarming patterns of screen corruption. From what I’ve read online, updating the BIOS can at least temporarily fix this problem.
-Controlling the screen brightness – the fn shortcuts for screen brightness and volume control only work sometimes, and the screen brightness actually jumps around randomly when you try to increase or decrease it.
-system won’t sleep/shut down properly – sometimes Windows will shut down, but the fan will keep running and the power buttons remain lit. This requires a force shut down.
These three problems seem to be common. They can be remedied by sacrificing your need for speed and keeping a 1gb RAM module in your machine. There also seem to be quick fixes that other users have discovered. It’s an annoyance, but in my opinion not a deal-breaker.
The only other problem I’ve encountered is a continual, annoying clicking noise. At first I was alarmed, thinking my hard drive was bad, but then I learned that this is the head parking itself. This saves power and prevents the head from crashing into the drive if it’s dropped. I downloaded a small utility called quietHDD that stops the clicking. However, I would recommend only using it when you have minimal risk of dropping your netbook.
SLOWSKIES favorite netbook
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This netbook does not last 11 hours. Maybe 4 tops but i didnt really care since i bought it for the size. I was looking forward to using this to take notes and write with me everywhere I go. The netbook is so light its a shame it was so slow. There is a button to change speeds; I maxed it out but yet the processor is way to laggy. You cant open more than one internet window or this thing lags like crazy. Applications like word, changing settings, and just simple computer functions were just agonizing to use.
I only bought this for facebook, notes, email, and just watching the occassional episode of dramas. But I couldn’t even do those simple things without it lagging. Other college students don’t waste your money on this, we have a limited income as is!
May be a decent computer, but service is poor.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
A couple of months ago, I received one of the 1005PE alternatives to this netbook, and was fairly impressed with it. What happened to me is important for potential buyers of the current item, as well. Bear with me, as any potential purchaser should be aware of what may happen should there be any defect in the ASUS item they receive.
At the beginning of my review, let me recommend the review by “Turtle James,” which is currently the top review for ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU27-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook (Up to 14 Hours of Battery Life). He includes much helpful information about the setup of this netbook, and I find his information to be quite flawless, though I’m not sure it is necessary to combine the partitions of the hard drive. The computer itself seemed to run well, and was not nearly as slow as some people make it out to be, but it is with regret that I must tell the tale of the defective charger, which turned the computer into an expensive paperweight.
I followed the instructions in the manual (which matches Turtle James’s review well) regarding the charging of the netbook, and I think I would have discovered a quite long battery life as a result, if I would have kept it long enough to evaluate that part. However, I encountered a problem with a small defect that made the netbook unusable.
The charger, the AC adapter that plugs into the power outlet was unusual from the beginning. After the first charge, I noticed that the blue light that lights up on the charger would stay lit for a while after unplugging from any power source. Not having any experience with this particular adapter before, I was not sure if that was normal, and in fact am still not sure.
After going through two cycles of charging and depleting the battery, as instructed, I attempted to charge the netbook for the third time, and behold, the charger did not work at all. When this happens, one cannot charge the netbook, and therefore cannot use it until one obtains a new charger. Buying a new charger after only two charges is in my opinion ridiculous, and to be avoided on principle.
So, I set about to rectify the situation, first calling the manufacturer, ASUS (pronounced ay-soos’ by the service personnel). After messing about for some time trying different things with the technician, it became apparent that the charger must be defective. They said I could begin the process for an RMA, if I like, and I did like that idea, until I got further into the details.
It came as a surprise to me that ASUS would require me to send the defective part back to them first, upon receipt of which, they would begin the process to send me a new part that functioned correctly. I was informed that the RMA process at that point would take 10 – 14 business days. I asked what shipping method would be used to send the new part to me, and was informed it would be Fed-Ex…Ground.
The entire process, therefore, would take about a month to get what was rightfully mine in the first place for having purchased the device, after which I would not be able to return the device.
So, I chose to return the device to Amazon instead, because I learned the valuable lesson of what it is like to deal with the ASUS service department. I cannot thank ASUS enough for clarifying to me what type of company I was dealing with when purchasing their magnificent piece of . . . gadgetry.
I also made the mistake of ordering RAM and a case for the netbook at the same time, accessories I had no further need of, so I returned those as well. Amazon, being a company with integrity, refunded the entire amount. This has also been a valuable lesson on the folly of purchasing accessories before being certain the main product is stable.