In a more challenging match-up, the dual-core Atom 330, found in the new 12.1-inch Eee PC 1201N, did much better in our standard multi-tasking test (as a dual-core CPU would be expected to), while the N450 in the 1005PE was faster in our iTunes encoding test.
While the overall hands-on experience won't feel radically different from a current-generation netbook, this is the very first system we've seen with an N450 CPU, and further improvements to drivers and firmware may yield future improvements. A faster-clock-speed version of this Atom is also expected from Intel at some time in the near future.
The system's battery life is where the new Atom platform really shines. Asus has always had some of the longest-lived netbooks, and the new 1005PE ran for 8 hours and 25 minutes in our video-playback battery-drain test. That dwarfs the competition, and, coupled with the system's low energy consumption, makes for a great all-day solution for people on the move.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Conclusion
The Asus Eee PC 1005PE definitely scores points for being the first laptop out
of the gate with the new N450 CPU, and its battery life is nothing
short of amazing, making this a very useful system for serious road
warriors. But we would have liked to see a 1005-series machine that was
more fully upgraded across the board.
Additional text editing by Charles Kloet
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