ASUS Eee PC 904HA Netbook - EEEPC904HA-BLK010X
ASUS Eee PC 904HA 8.9" Netbook Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB, 160GB HD, Intel UMA Graphics, 802.11G, Webcam, Windows XP Home (Fine Ebony)

My daughter saved up for a couple of years to buy this and she is so happy with it. Shipped quickly, I think 4 days after order. We've had it about 5 weeks now. Battery life is about 5 hours, maybe slightly less if continually watching videos, more if not in use. That right shift key people talk about is a little strange but I got used to it. Easy to connect to wireless router, installed skype, firefox. Built in webcam and mic both very clear, boots quickly. I am very happy with the value of this product.
 
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I originally purchased this PC for use as a crashbox. In our shop a crashbox is a machine that we load alpha versions of software on and then test. After testing we reimage and start again (yes we do cause crashes from time to time). I soon found another use for the PC. I purchased a Zune for Christmas and found it, well lets just say I returned it. It was then that I realized that I was the proud owner of a MP3 player wrapped around a PC. We put the PC in our living room, hooked it up to the stereo and started playing music. Need to search for something? There is a PC waiting right there for you. MS Office - type away. Great as a secondary machine especially for travelling.
 
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After much online research of reviews, I purchased this netbook and so far am very pleased with it. I use it primarily to keep me awake and pass the time on overnight shifts in a dark setting and it really serves me well in that. The battery power is remarkable considering the size of the netbook, at least 4+ hours with surfing the internet, checking and writing email, etc. I like the basic design, too, in comparison with others of the same size. Really quick to sign onto wireless network and keeps the connection. Only cons I've found is that the right shift is a bit awkward if you plan to do a lot of writing with it, and I would also appreciate a lighted keyboard in my work setting or at least some raised bumps on the important keys to be able to find them in the dark. Also it shuts down when you close it and then has to be booted up again when you open it up--wish it did that automatically when it is opened. For the price and size, this is a good value and I think I make a wonderful choice.
 
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I did a lot of research on netbooks before I chose the 904A. Here's what sold me, not in order of priority: XP, 160gb HDD, expandable RAM, 6-cell battery, "normal" touchpad, flush mount battery on the back of the unit, larger keyboard. Of these, probably the larger keyboard may have swayed me the most. It makes the size of the unit more like a 10 inch screen model, so you still get the 8.9 inch screen, with speakers on either side of the screen. That's not a negative. The speakers actually deliver a decent sound. The size and weight make this a great portable. We (since it's grown on my wife and daughter as well), keep it on the kitchen counter, where it's easily accessible, yet easy enough to pick up and take into the family room. My father-in-law was visiting with his "monster" HP laptop, and no kidding, the 904A is HALF the size of the HP, and at least half as light. Some of the reviewers have complained about the shiny black cover and fingerprints. That is one of the least of my concerns. Are you looking for a piece of art to put on display or do you want something that is usable? This netbook is definitely usable! And it will grow on you, the more you use it. A few minor things. Since the screen resolution isn't a full 1024x768, but rather 1024x600, you do a little more scrolling to see an entire web page. You get used to it. And the only negative on the keyboard is the right shift key is half the size of the left shift key, and is to the right of the up arrow key. So until you get used to it, you don't always get the uppercase letter you thought you were typing. All things considered, these aren't major. Regarding the installed software, I really haven't used most it, other than the standard XP features. I installed AVG 8.5 free edition, and it's running without issues. I also installed IE8 without problems, but have installed Firefox as my preferred browser. Wireless connection was very simple. No problem connecting to my Ativa wireless router. Startup from sleep mode is really quick. The power button flashes blue when sleeping. You have to push it to bring it out of sleep mode, and the color changes to a solid blue. Pretty simple and fast. My only concern will be how long the button lasts with all the usage to bring it out of sleep mode. The built-in webcam (1.3 megapixels) works way better than I expected. My wife uses it for video phone calls through Google Talk with my son (to visit with our granddaughter). Video and sound are actually better than the webcam we have hooked up to a desktop. I looked at netbooks from Dell, HP, Acer, and other ASUS models before deciding on the 904A. Fit, feel, design won out. Plus things like Dell removing the function keys and putting them on the middle key row. HP putting the touchpad buttons on the side of the pad rather than the bottom. And one of them had a battery pack that protruded from the back of the unit. I read too many reviews of the Acer unit (very popular by the way) breaking down too often. Regarding the solid state drive units, I didn't buy an ASUS with the SSD because of the the configuration. Which size "drive" you buy, the main drive is on 4gb, with a secondary drive for the remainder. Again I read many reviews complaining of that primary drive filling up too quickly once you start surfing the web, downloading OS updates, etc. Sure, there are workarounds, but why bother? And why can't ASUS just put in one drive? Price, I suspect. So, if you're looking for a very good compact portable computer (netbook is really not appropriate for this unit, as it really is a full-fledged computer), take a look at the 904A. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
 
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I reviewed all netbooks - HP, Dell, Acer. This one crushed them all. I upgraded to 2GB ram in about 5 minutes. Its faster than my desktop now. It handled Office 2007 great. Just get a flash drive or external, if you have a ton of files. Its perfect. The camera is excellent. Create a video as fast as any Mac or notebook, I think. Great value. Only drawback is the tiny screen. If you're cool with that, all other features are a breeze.
 
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Great battery life and performance. Not for heavy workload but more than enough for internet surfing or word processing.
 
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I spent a lot of time researching different netbooks. After you set aside that most have fairly large keyboard, 3 USB ports, card readers, ect.. What sets this one apart is the easy of upgrade. If you flip the unit over, there are two screws you remove and you have full access to the memory and hard drive. I upgraded to 2GB in a matter of seconds.
 
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I've been researching for a netbook for about a month, and I finally bought the Asus EEE PC 904HA. It's amazing! Super fast (unless you're playing taxing videos or games), super portable, super light! This thing runs Windows XP like a dream with almost no slowdowns! It even runs better than the other computers in my house, even my MacBook! Typing is a TINY bit cramped, but after a few minutes, you get the hang of it. The only real complaint I have with it is the two finger scrolling which doesn't work as well as I'd hoped. But GET THIS NETBOOK. It's so cheap for such wonderful quality! Also, buy.com's 2 day shipping was super fast, and included a great tracker via Fedex.
 
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Great size, fits in your backpack, great for taking notes in class, WI-FI for internet access anywhere, decent storage, 3 USBs (which you WILL use to install programs), has a gig of DDR2 RAM and upgrading to 2GBs only costs 30 bucks just about anywhere. Oh yeah, and IT WILL keep up with your fast downloads (you KNOW what I mean). I'm so glad this came with XP rather than Vista. Fast enough system for anybody! GET IT.
 
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I was hasty in buying a laptop that is so small. Thinking that not only will the screen size be painful, but the slowness would too. While the screen size does take some getting used to the speed does not. It's quite peppy. For your standard office on the go use, this laptop is great.
 
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This is my 1st net book. It is so small and really easy to use. I'm getting used to the smaller keyboard, but there's one HUGE frustration related to how they crammed this keyboard into such a small space. The dang right shift key is 1 space further to the right than on normal keyboard cuz there's an up arrow squeezed in there. So it's not too bad for emailing friends who don't care if you capitalize properly, but otherwise, it really slows down your typing. Otherwise, quite happy.
 
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My order came promptly but it was a few days before I got the chance to even open it. The windows that was installed found errors with the system and "fixed" them and then the computer didn't even start up. Tried fixing it a few times then decided to return it but first needed an RMA#. Took another few days to figure out where to send it and to get the number and by then it was passed the 14 day return policy so I had to get an external hard drive to restore windows. Other than the unfortunate extra buy (that I would have gotten later anyway) the computer has been fantastic. I did switch the RAM for added speed and it works even better.
 
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I bought the 904HA for work to replace my original 701, and I must say I'm happy that I did. This machine is great for the money. The screen is bright and clear, even when used in the field (where a non-glare screen is an absolute must). Battery life is around 5 hours with 75% brightness and Wifi on, and everyday performance is really quite good considering the Atom's design. For the curious out there, yes, this machine runs Windows 7 just fine. It does take some effort getting the ACPI drivers to work, but once that's done, Win7 runs like a dream. Battery life is unchanged from XP, and you can run Aero glass. The keyboard is much bigger/better than the old 701/900 model, as is the multi-touch trackpad. The trackpad is probably my only user complaint, as it's a little oversensitive at times, and the buttons require above-average effort to click. The only aesthetic issue is the shiny lid, which smudges easily. At least Asus gives you a cleaning cloth.
 
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Great idea for small computer but the right shift key is Not In the conventional place making it necessary to stop and locate the Right shift key. I need the ability to type and do data input Quickly. I am unable to do this and seek to return for a full refund I'm being told they don't accept returns unless defective so having To go through my credit card to facilitate a refund on the basis that I had no way of knowing from the pictures and literature that the Keyboard was not standard
 
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The ASUS EEEPC904HA-BLK010X netbook is exceptional. My wife and I love it. Do not have any complaints. It was easy to set up and use. The webcam is great. Screen clarity is excellent. We look forward to taking it on trips. Overall a wonderful product.
 
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I'd been comparing the Acer with the 1000HA and was all set to save some $ with the Acer when I realized that I could get the 904HA with the same screen size as the Acer and save some more $ to boot. It beats the acer on several counts... 1. easy upgrades (I swapped out the 1G ram for 2G); 2. fast boot mode (23 sec to login screen, don't know if Acer has something similar); 3. XP restore DVD; 4. trackpad gestures and buttons placed for easy thumb use; 5. bigger keyboard; 6. useful software bundle and usable slipcase. One thing I did notice, it ships with 800x600 screen res set - looks a lot better when switched to native 1024x600. To my eye it looks a bit less cheezy than the acer.
 
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Did a little research for a small light weight computer. I wanted a computer that was not using a Vista operating system (I just spent a year with that program and that was enough). I wanted a 4 to 5 hour battery life (enough to get through a movie). I haven't used this feature yet. I travel a lot as a flight attendant and didn't want to depend on airplane outlets or external batteries. I read reviews and got some reviews from techies on You Tube. This little computer was a perfect match and the price was right!
 
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I bought this computer to take with me to work. I'm a flight attendant and I was tired of being weighed down by my old laptop. I barely use my old laptop anymore...The 6 hour battery makes it even more user friendly. I like to use it in the kitchen to display recipes while I'm cooking. It's even small enough to fit into a large purse..
 
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I absolutley love this little machine! Only issue i have had is the top strip above the monitor continues to try to seperate from the machine. I have glued it back, and hopefully it will stay! I can do EVERYTHING on this little netbook including watching TV with Pinnacles mini HDTV stick! Worst thing is trying to put it down!
 
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The computer is very well built. Very solid feel to it. It is not loaded down with useless software. Easy to customize. Has worked flawlessly. Battery life seems to be around 4.5 - 5.0 hrs. (which is very good). Looked at Acer, MSI, and Dell. None could not match the features and quality of the ASUS. Highly recommended.
 
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This little machine is amazing! It does everything a standard size notebook will do at a fraction of the weight! I purchased a Partition manager to remove the partition between C and D without having to reformat,and booted up the RAM to 2 gb and the machine runs like a charm! Jumped right on the wireless network - no issues whatsoever. The only problem I have is trying to put it down!
 
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Perfect for traveling, its a tiny workhorse that will meet all your internet needs.
 
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These are great for business traveling (going to conferences, meetings) and staying connected. Very light and small, yet the keyboard is almost full size. Works great and is very reliable. Super price (bought 3 at 339.95)! No CD drive - so just remember that!
 
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I have had this now for about a month and it is great getting about 5.5 hours on the battery the wireless connectivity is all so very good I would give this to any one!
 
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I have had this device for about three days and so far I love it. It boots fast and runs excellent. I have not got chance to try more applications, one thing impresses me the most is the battery life: it is SUPER! When I first fully charged battery, I kept it on for two days without recharging for 10 - 11 hours under light use, copy files, install programs and surf the net. I turned off web cam and set the screen kind of dim to save energy. I am glad I did not choose the three cell battery. For ultra portable notebook, battery life is very important. This is a smart buy and highly recommended. The down side is, it is slightly heavier than other brand - over 3 lbs. The workmanship is far behind Apple and Sony. But I can live with it considering its bargain price, no complain.
 
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This is a very good netbook, battery worked almost 6 hours! My Dell was able to do it just for 2 hours without AC power. Very stylish netbook, easy to carry. The only problem - Bluetoth was printed in a handbook, but not for this model :(. Other than that - perfect for your money!
 
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The size is perfect for what I need. I visit clients daily and typically I just need a laptop to show them some quick information and/or graphic work that was done. It's light, easy to carry and seems to be pretty solid little device.
 
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