ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell 10.1-Inch Pearl Black Netbook - 6 Hour Battery Life Get it now!

The New Must Have Netbook?!?!?!

This is my second Eee as I also own the Asus 1000HE. While I love the 1000HE, I was really looking forward to the 1008HA because of the slimmer design and full size right shift key. After a couple of days with the device, here are my thoughts:

Pros:

- It has a full size right shift key!!! Touch typist will appreciate this over the tiny, misplaced right shift key on the 1000HE.
- The 1008HA feels much lighter than the 1000HE. When people would pick up my 1000HE, they would be surprised by how heavy it is. The 1008HA feels great.
- Even in a slim package, the 1008HA still has all of the features you want in a Netbook: wireless N, Bluetooth, N280 processor, SDHC card slot, and decent battery life.
- I'm getting over 4 hours of battery life so far. Not bad for a 3 cell battery!!!
- It includes a slim VGA port but it includes a standard VGA adapter that is tucked away under the device.
- The 1008HA is a beautiful piece of equipment. I know this isn't a technical benefit but it doesn't hurt. The 1000HE is "husky" in comparison.

Cons:

- Having only 2 USB ports kinda sucks since I sometimes need to connect my phone, retractable mouse, and USB storage drive.
- As another reviewer mentioned, if you need to keep a wireless receiver plugged in for your non-bluetooh devices, the port covers will annoy you. Perhaps you can remove one of the covers?
- I prefer two separate mouse buttons instead of the rocker button. I don't know why they switched to the rocker.
- The memory, hard drive, and battery are not user replaceable. I read that you can have these replaced at an Asus service center though. I find that 1GB of ram is fine for XP.
- Windows 7 doesn't work yet because of video issues. I read on an Eee forum that there's an auto login workaround if that interests you.
- It doesn't have the legendary battery life of the 1000HE but 4 hours isn't bad for a device this small.

Conclusion:

Whether you buy the 1008HA over the 1000HE, or the upcoming 1005HA (which is basically a 1000HE with more battery life and a full size right shift key), it comes down to this- are you willing to sacrifice battery life, a usb port, and additional cost to get a lighter, slimmer device. I like the 1008HA and highly recommend it to anyone that will appreciate this compromise. For those that prefer function over form, the 1000HE or the upcoming 1005HA should fit the bill. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Eee 100X series netbooks. They continue to offer all of the features at the best prices. Don't get those cheaper, crippled netbooks. You'll kick yourself.

UPDATE (6/30):

After using the 1008HA for a few weeks, I decided that battery life is more important than size and weight. With a fully charged 1000HE, you rarely have to look at the remaining power. You simply will not use it all before running out. While I like the 1008HA, I have the give the edge to the 1000HE. I plan to pick up the 1005HA when it ships. I suspect it will be the king of them all.Get more detail about ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell 10.1-Inch Pearl Black Netbook - 6 Hour Battery Life.