Asus Eee PC 1015PN-PU17 (black) review: Asus Eee PC 1015PN-PU17 (black)

Asus has more Eee PC Netbook varieties than we can practically count; if you've lost track, you're not alone. Nvidia Ion graphics are the big addition to the Eee PC 1015PN, a $429 higher-end configuration of the Eee PC 1015PEM and 1015PED we reviewed recently. This 10.1-inch Netbook, like the 1015PEM, also sports a new dual-core Atom N550 CPU.

7.3

Asus Eee PC 1015PN-PU17 (black)

The Good

Nvidia Ion graphics for improved video playback and gaming; HDMI-out port added; dual-core Atom CPU.

The Bad

No automatic-switching graphics; lacks higher-def display; only 1GB of RAM; price approaches better-performing 11.6-inch ultraportables.

The Bottom Line

The compact 10-inch Asus Eee PC 1015PN offers a dual-core Atom processor and Nvidia Ion graphics for decidedly better-than-average Netbook performance, but premium ultraportables that aren't much more expensive can do better still.

We noted in our review of the Asus Eee PC 1015PEM that the dual-core Atom provides slight performance improvements without causing any extra strain on battery life or your wallet; dedicated Ion graphics offer an additional performance boost when it comes to video playback and even a little gameplay, but at a greater cost in both instances. The 1015PN with Ion is $60 more expensive than the dual-core Asus without.

Also, at an over-$400 price, the Eee PC 1015PN begins to edge uncomfortably close to 11.6-inch ultraportables such as the Dell M101z, which offer better performance. And, despite the premium price tag and features, the Eee PC 1015PN cuts corners on other specs: Windows 7 Starter, only 1GB of RAM, and a lack of an HD screen feel like disconnects. This is the best of all three Eee PC 10-inch Netbooks we've looked at in the 1015 line, but its cost may be a deterrent to some.