Asus Eee PC1201HA - The Cheapest 12 Inch Notebook Offering Satisfactory Performance

The Asus Eee PC 1201HA is the lesser cousin of higher-end models like the 1201N and the 1201T. It is powered by a sluggish Atom Z520 processor. But this 12 inch laptop does have some plus points. For one thing, it happens to be the cheapest 12 inch Asus notebook available at the moment.

Specifications

Display: 12.1 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels
Processor: Single core Intel Atom Z520 processor
Graphics: Integrated Intel GMA500 graphics
Memory: 1GB
Storage: 160GB hard drive
Other features include Wi-Fi and webcam.
Design and Build quality
Build quality is satisfactory. The notebook looks and feels solid in your hands. At just 3 lbs, the machine is as light as a 10 inch netbook. For many people, a 12 inch notebook is the right size. 10 inch machines are so small that they will strain your eyes. Buy a larger machine and you will have to compromise on portability. A 12 inch machine, on the other hand, gives sufficient screen real estate and a larger keyboard which is comfortable to type on.

Design-wise, the Eee PC 1201HA is different from other Eee PC models. While other Eee PCs have glossy lids, the 1201HA comes with a matte lid which is almost fingerprint resistant. This is a design element you are going to love.

Display

The 12 inch display comes with 1366 x 768 pixels. Display itself is average. Colors look a bit washed out.

Heat and Noise

The 1201HA is a quiet laptop. Heat levels are within normal limits. The notebook doesn't get hot even after hours of continuous use.

Battery life

The 6-cell battery is rated at 4400 mAh. It will give you about 6 hours of uptime. While this isn't very bad, most notebooks of this size offer better battery life.

Performance

Unlike the 1201N or the 1201T, the 1201HA doesn't have particularly impressive specs. So is the machine any good? Well, it is. The 1201HA has an Atom Z520 processor which isn't very fast, but it has enough power to handle everyday tasks such as web browsing and word processing. So what about video streaming? Well, that is possible too. The 1201HA has the Intel GMA500 chipset which is better than the GMA950 chipset in handling H.264 video. As a result of this, you will be able to watch video (both 720p and 1080p) without any issues. On the flip side, the 1201HA doesn't have HDMI so you will not be able to transfer video to your HDTV.

The author is the editor of Notebooks Unlimited.Net, a tech blog giving laptop reviews. Visit Notebooks Unlimited for a more detailed review of Asus Eee PC 1201HA.

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