14 DAY TRIAL // No less than over a month ago, ASUS announced that it would be raising the graphics standard on netbooks by just a little bit by implementing a special component that would confer upon one of its upcoming Eee PC netbooks a decent capability to handle HD video files (without using NVIDIA's ION graphics, that is). The product that was going to embody this intention of the company was the Eee PC 1005PR. However, since then, ASUS didn't exactly keep the consumer base updated, which left users wondering how things were progressing. Now, the waiting game seems to be nearing its end, as the device has been put up for pre-order.
With NVIDIA having unveiled its next-generation ION graphics processor, it can be said that netbooks have overcome their limitation of being unable to play more graphically rich movies and even certain games. Still, the ION has the drawback of adding something extra to the overall cost.
Since ASUS was only interested in adding HD video playback and nothing else, it settled for the Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator chip, which it installed alongside the integrated Intel graphics. Other that this, the Eee PC's specs are mostly similar to those of most Pine Trail-based netbooks out there.
In addition to the Intel Atom N450 CPU, which has the well-known frequency of 1.66Ghz, the Eee PC 1005PR boasts 1GB of RAM, a hard disk drive with a capacity of 250GB, the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 3150, 10/100 LAN, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 0.3-megapixel webcam and a chiclet keyboard. Finally, the entire configuration runs on power supplied by a six-cell battery, which can somehow last for up to 11 hours.
Pre-loaded with the Microsoft Windows 7 Starter operating system, the ASUS Eee PC 1005PR HD-capable netbook should finally start shipping next month. Those that want to make sure they get it as soon as possible may find it up for pre-order at Amazon, priced at $399.99.