Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/16/eee_vs_air/
The hottest mobile products of the moment? Undoubtedly, Apple's MacBook Air and Asus' Eee PC. So how do these would-be pinnacles of ultra-portability compare?
Let's take a look at the features each machine offers:
There's no doubt, on the basis of the specs, the Air has the Eee licked on performance, usability, wireless capability and screen space. However, the Eee takes the lead on expandability - the range and type of connectors it offers, basically - and sheer portability.
Given the way battery life claims usually map onto real-world experience, we reckon they're much the same.
MacBook Air and friend...
...Eee PC and pal
Eee or Air - which would you clasp to your bosom?
When it comes to looks, the Air steals the show, but what steers the final verdict in the Eee's favour are the little things that Apple has got wrong - non-replaceable battery, too few ports - and Asus has got right: primarily, the price.
Yes, you can buy five Eees for the price of one Air, and that combined with its lower weight, smaller size, better networking and more ports gives it the edge over the air's bigger screen, larger keyboard, higher speed and greater storage capacity.
Will a hands-on with the Air change our mind? We accept that's a possibility. But for now, Asus retains the lead.
What do you think?
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Asus Eee PC 900 flips one at MacBook Air with multi-touch input (27 March 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/03/27/asus_apes_air/
Laptop vendors burned in battery plant blaze (26 March 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/03/26/laptop_battery_shortage/
Pssst! Here's ECS' 'super 3G' sub-notebook (13 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/13/mwc_ecs_super_3g_laptop/
Intel makes MacBook Air processor available to all (4 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/04/intel_opens_air_cpu/
Man buys MacBook Air, pulls it apart, takes pics (1 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/01/apple_macbook_air_take_apart/
Apple ships Air (31 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/31/apple_ships_air/
Linux-less Eee PC launched in Japan (23 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/23/eee_pc_japan_launch/
Man wields soldering iron, welds eight new devices into Eee PC (22 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/22/massive_eee_pc_mod/
French tempted with €199 Eee PC HSDPA bundle (21 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/21/france_sfr_eee_pc_3g/
FlipStart halves handheld PC price (17 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/17/flipstart_halves_handheld_price/
Everex follows Asus Eee to announce 9in sub-notebook (17 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/17/everex_announces_9in_cloudbook/
Intel pitches low-cost PC platform at Eee PC rivals (14 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/14/intel_aims_shelton_at_laptops/
Everex targets Eee PC with higher spec mini laptop at same price (10 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/10/ces_everex_battles_eee_pc/
The Eee PC cuts the mustard at CES (10 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/10/eb_eee_pc_at_ces/
Second-gen Eee PC a CES no-show (8 January 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/08/ces_2_gen_eee_pc_no_show/