Asus Eee PC Seashell 1008HA - exclusive review

Asus was the company that took the netbook mainstream with it’s original Eee PC, but since then, in a bid to offer enhanced battery life, models have been getting bigger and bigger. The Eee PC Seashell 1008HA redresses this, and is one of the most portable netbooks you can currently buy.

The most amazing thing about the Seashell 1008HA is the design, taking its moniker from the rounded, clamshell like style. Measuring just 27mm at its deepest point, and getting considerably thinner towards the front of the chassis, you’ll hardly notice the 1008HA Seashell in your bag, further helped by a weight of just over 1kg.

The 10-inch screen is a joy to use. It features an average resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, but images appear perfectly crisp, and the colour reproduction is flawless. That said, the glossy Super-TFT coating can make it difficult to see in the brightest conditions, with reflections proving problematic.

Despite the Eee PC 1008HA's compact footprint, it features a well-spaced keyboard that stretches right to the edge of the chassis. The keys are 92 per cent full-sized, and feature a flat design with slightly tapered edges. It’s not the best netbook keyboard we’ve seen, but it works well, and is very tough. It’s also a comfortable option when typing for longer periods.

It’s a high quality that runs throughout, although the high-gloss plastics do attract fingerprints more than rival products, and you’ll have to use the provided protective case if you want to keep it looking as new. The svelte lines are enhanced by hidden ports, protected by plastic covers. It doesn’t help usability, however, with access proving slightly tricky.

Behind the covers you'll find a USB port on each side of the chassis, and on the left sits a mini-VGA port. It's the first time we've seen one of these in action, but thankfully an adapter is provided as standard, also slotting neatly into the underneath of the chassis. On the otherside, you'll also find microphone and headphone sockets, and an Ethernet port.

The Asus also impresses when it comes to storage space, with a capacious 160GB hard drive included as standard. You’ll also find an additional 10GB of online storage provided – offering better protection for your most important files, with no risk of damage if anything happens to the netbook itself.

Processing power comes from an Intel 1.66GHz Atom processor, backed by 1024MB of memory. It’s a standard setup for a netbook, powering Windows XP. Performance is reasonable, as long as you don’t intend to carry out intensive multi-tasking. Mobility is excellent, with the compact 3-cell battery life offering an outstanding 382 minutes between charges.

Overall, the Eee PC Seashell 1008HA is a compelling proposition. Othering quality, comfort and excellent mobility, it's one of the best mid-range netbooks you can currently buy.

Set to go on sale within the next month for £379 (inc. VAT), keep an eye out here for more information.