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

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

It comes with a year of free Asus WebStorage (up to 500GB) online data storage service, which could reduce storage-related headaches for users who would overshoot the unit’s built-in 250GB hard drive.

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 sub-notebooks, 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.

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 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.

But I guess, nobody needs to be reminded that netbooks are meant to be anybody’s main computer.

Specifications

Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Starter
Express Gate
Display 10.1” LED Backlight WSVGA Screen (1024x600)
CPU & Chipset Intel Atom Pineview-M N450
Memory SO-DIMM 1GB DDR2 (Maximum 2GB)
Wireless Data Network WLAN 802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz
BluetoothV2.1 + EDR
Hybrid Storage 160GB / 250GB / 320GB HDD
500GB ASUS Webstorage
Camera 0.3M Pixel
Audio Hi-Definition Audio CODEC
Stereo Speakers, Mic
Input / Output 1 x VGA Connector
3 x USB2.0
1 x LAN RJ-45
2 x Audio Jack (Headphone / Mic-in)
Dimensions 2x178x23.6~36.4mm
Weight 1.25Kg (w/ 6cell battery)