The ASUS Eee PC 1008HA netbook is hitting local shores this summer for $429, according to Engadget. I like the slim-looking device, and it offers just about everything a solid netbook should: 1.66GHz Intel Atom, 160GB hard drive, webcam, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, and a nice keyboard with a properly sized and placed right-Shift key. I’m not sold on the battery scenario, though.
ASUS opted for an integrated, non-user replaceable power pack, much like Apple did with the MacBook Air. The difference between the two, however, is vast: The Air runs for around three hours on a single charge, while ASUS claims their Super Hybrid Engine should net you double that with the 1008HA. Six hours ought to be enough for a netbook used as a companion device. But I personally can’t get past this from a mobility standpoint. There are times when I do work on the run all day long, sometimes for more than six hours. For that reason, I nearly always purchase a spare battery for my devices. I can’t do that with the 1008HA, so as much as I like the design and specifications, I simply can’t pull the trigger. For folks that do indeed use a netbook as a companion and/or don’t rely on for more than five or six hours at a time, the newest ASUS netbook is well worth the look. How about it? Does the battery situation have any impact on your potential purchase?
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