The Eee PC 900 uses the same Xandros-based Linux operating system as the Eee PC 701, and comes with some 40 applications pre-installed. You can add your own applications as you might expect, but we found pretty much everything we needed was already on the system, including the OpenOffice productivity suite, Firefox browser, a media player and more. Applications are logically arranged in tabbed groups labelled Internet, Work, Learn, Play, Settings and Favourites, making everything easy to find.
The UI for the Eee's Linux OS is easy to use, with around 40 applications logically arranged under tabs.
The Eee PC 900 isn't designed to replace your primary PC, although many supporters will argue otherwise. It's at its best when used as second computer or a web access tool, and is well equipped for that purpose. It has an Ethernet port, plus 802.11b/g Wi-Fi so you can get online regardless of whether you're in the office, at home or at a public Wi-Fi hotspot. There's still no built-in support for Draft-N Wi-Fi or wide-area wireless (3G) connectivity.
Performance
The Eee PC 900 feels swifter in everyday use than the previous model -- something we put down to its 1GB of RAM. The extra memory also helped the system cope better with running multiple applications simultaneously. For example, we could browse the internet while watching a movie in a window without it dropping frames. It must be noted that this capability is only possible now that the Eee PC has a larger screen size and higher resolution.
Asus claims the Eee PC 900 will last approximately three hours on its standard battery -- half an hour less than its predictions for the Eee PC 701. Doubtless the bigger screen and faster CPU are the culprits here. In our own DivX movie playback test, it ran for just 1 hour 29 minutes. Your own mileage will vary, but expect it to last slightly longer if you run applications that are not CPU-intensive and with Wi-Fi switched off.
Conclusion
The Asus Eee PC 900 is an excellent update to the Eee PC 701. The keyboard is still difficult to use, but the addition of a larger, higher-resolution screen, a multi-touch touchpad and more storage gives it the edge over its mini-notebook rivals. If you can't wait for the Atom processor and other mooted enhancements, it's a fantastic purchase.
2%
4%
It justs looks cool and is small!
The good: it is Awesome small cheap
The bad: keyborad