Asus Eee PC 1015PE: Still sexy, still hot netbooks are

Asus,  the generally acknowledged creator of the superportable-computer category, recently introduced the Eee PC 1015PE, a midrange 10.1-inch netbook. Part of the Seashell product line, the thin and light 1015PE combines aesthetics with mobility, making it one of the slightly better looking portable computers in the market today.

The Eee PC 1015PE in its usual black incarnation.

Compared with some of its siblings, the 1015PE is thicker and a couple or so rungs lower in the aesthetics ladder, putting it near the level occupied by most other netbooks in the market.

Coming with a year of free Asus WebStorage (up to 500GB) online data storage service, the Asus netbook offers some respite from storage-related headaches -- for users who would overshoot the unit's built-in 250GB hard drive.

Specifications
Specs-wise, this Asus netbook comes with features similar with those found in most other netbooks. It has three USB ports, VGA, Ethernet, headphone and microphone jacks, as well as a 4-in-1 card reader.Admittedly, the 1015PE does not break a lot of new territories as far as specifications are concerned. Brandishing an Intel Atom N450 for its primary brain, the unit comes with 1GB of RAM, and Windows 7 Starter, the teaser version of Microsoft's latest operating system.

Its keyboard, like those found in other subnotebooks, is an acquired taste. Its small size makes it tough for touch typists to take advantage of their fingers' physical memory and pound away those words and figures like they are used to on their full-size keyboards.

But what peeved me off was the unit's right shift key. Too small for its universally agreed upon function, it is placed where my pinky can't find it.

Oh, the sacrifices that we sometimes make for mobility.

Performance
Also, compared with its other siblings, the 1015PE would not last as long unconnected to the power grid. Its built-in battery's juice is enough for only 4–5 hours of untethered operations.

The 1015PE is also available in white.

The 1015PE comes with a glossy 10.1-inch screen capable of displaying images with up to 1,024 x 600 pixels. While definitely not HD level, the display is noticeably brighter than those found on earlier Eee PCs. Unfortunately, it still is limited by narrow viewing angles.

Video playback is comparable with those of other netbooks. Standard-definition videos and YouTube video clips are handled just fine, but anything that approximates high-definition would make the netbook sputter like somebody eating "polvoron" on a desert.

Overall, the 1015PE is one dandy, above-average-looking netbook. Its most distinctive feature and number 1 selling point would be its mobility, which makes it ideal for those light word-processing and spreadsheeting moments while away from the office or home computer.

Meanwhile, I guess, everybody knows that netbooks are not meant to be anybody's main computer.