The Asus Eee PC 1101HA
I had a tough time figuring out if this computer was any good or not - the reviews are all over the place. Not just on Amazon but even on industry sites. A year ago I purchased the Eee PC 1000HA and still love it. So I couldn't understand how ASUS could make something so bad. So I took the plunge even with a 15% return fee.
The two things that I felt were lacking on my 1000HA were the battery life (approx 2 -3 hours depending on what I was using it for) and the screen size - 1024 is not adequate these days. The 1101HA solved both of those problems. While battery life isn't going to be 11 hours, 8 to me is fantastic. The screen is a great size at 1366 by 768. Using something like Visual Studio (I'm a developer) I don't have to hide the properties or project windows on the side. The only disappointment about the display it can have a "milky" look if you don't have the best angle.
Speed
One complaint that I saw a lot and that concerned me was the speed. The processor is actually slower than the other Asus netbooks. They chose it for the better battery life. However, I set the BIOS to maximum overclock and it works great! Running Windows XP, right now I have Visual Studio (development software), SQL Server Management Studio and Microsoft Word running. with no hesitation. I also have the stock ram of 1gb. I am not concerned about speed or ram.
Wireless Network
I also read complaints about the wireless network adapter but I have to say they must have had a problem with their router. I am a good 30 feet away, in another room and it works great - actually fast enough I have no hesitation downloading megabytes of updates, movies, etc.. The files I open with Visual Studio are actually on another computer but I don't notice.
Touchpad
I haven't found any touchpad that I like but I prefer the one on the 1000HA over this one. This one is flush with the palm rests. They did make the area noticeable with a slight texture. The 1000HA has two buttons where this one has one rocker type button. I use a wireless mouse with mine if I am going to be using it for long. The one annoying thing about touchpads is accidentally touching them while you are typing. The 1101HA has a button at the top of the keyboard to turn it off - nice touch!
Design
This one not only has the same glossy shell like my 1000HA but the inside is glossy as well. I prefer the look of the 1000HA which has a nice beveled edge - a little classier looking to me. This one the edges seem a little sharp. But you don't' buy these for decorations so it's not important including the fact that the finish might get a few fingerprints - who cares.
Keyboard
The keyboard appears to be about the same size as my 1000HA. But what is different is that the keys are squared off and flat where the 1000HA are beveled. This makes the keys feel larger. The right shift key was moved to a better position (I guess they do listen to their customers) but otherwise about the same.
Watching Video
I've watched Netflix and MPGs movies and found no problem with the display other than what would be expected running video over the Internet. Far better than my 1000HA which was really choppy. You can't expect much for speakers in these little boxes but the sound was clear and not annoying by any means.
Support
Floppy and CD drives are going away. Although it comes with a CD, a nice feature built into the 1101 is the system restore is right on the hard drive. Just press F9 during boot up and you can restore the operating system But only do it in an emergency! They also have 24/7 telephone support but you may not get a knowledgeable person every time - just keep trying.
I have a desktop system but you can hook up an external keyboard, mouse, and display and works just like a desktop.
I was really hesitant to buy this with the 15% restocking fee but I couldn't be happier. It is not the ultimate powerhouse but what netbook is? The Asus 1101HA has great speed, great display, the best battery life, great wireless - a great netbook!