ASUS Eee PC 1201N On Linux

This inaugural Eee PC 1201N model is just available with a black plastic exterior. Besides boasting a 12" screen and a nicer (and much larger) keyboard, the ASUS 1201N does not look remarkably different from other Eee PC models. Unlike some netbooks from other vendors that have went as far as using aluminum for their netbook casing, the Eee PC exterior remains entirely made of plastic, which if judging by other Eee PCs will remain quite rugged for some time, but just not as strong as some other models we have encountered.

On the right hand side of the ASUS Eee PC 1201N is a multi-media card reader, two USB 2.0 ports, one headphone jack, one microphone input, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, and a Kensington lock slot. Running along the left hand side are HDMI and VGA outputs along with one more USB 2.0 port and then a mini power connector. One of the main vents for this netbook is also on the left hand side.

On the bottom of this new ASUS Eee PC netbook is a plastic area that can be removed to access the two DDR2 SO-DIMM slots for this netbook. Removing the entire bottom of the netbook is necessary if you wish to swap out the hard drive for a solid state drive. Unfortunately, once removing the screws the plastic exterior is still snapped in there and is rather difficult to remove.

When opening up the ASUS 1201N netbook the 0.3 megapixel camera is prominent at the top of the 12.1" display, we found the keyboard to be especially nice and it is a full-sized keyboard, which is wonderful. The touchpad for this ASUS netbook is flush with the rest of the plastic bezel, but over the touchpad area are a number of raised dots on this multi-touch surface. Initially this was a bit annoying to use as a completely flat surface would be preferred, but after a while, it was not much of an annoyance.