Full FeedTesting Windows 7 on an Asus EEE PC 1000HE netbook
I recently decided to install the Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 on my netbook, an Asus Eee PC 1000HE, which had been running Windows XP on 2GB RAM. Getting Windows 7 installed in the first place was a bit tricky since the netbook has no optical drive, but this was easily solved by using an external DVD-burner. If you don’t have access to one of these, you are going to have to go through the rather involved process of formatting a USB-key as a bootable drive. Total install time was about 40 minutes.
Visually, Windows 7 looks worlds different than XP and even Vista, which I’ve had the unfortunate opportunity to use. From the taskbar, Start menu/Windows button, and desktop, the overall user interface has been revamped resulting in a very refreshing, uncluttered experience. The old Start menu has been given a more logical hierarchy and the taskbar now shows image buttons that you can hover over for a preview of the window.
Customizing your user experience is also much more fun in Windows 7 with the greater variety of sounds, pointer schemes, and wallpapers. The wallpapers are the most surprising - there were some really abstract, funky images (think Gelaskins). You can also customize the shade and transparency of your windows for a colored, glass-like effect. With all this personalization and visual beauty, I nearly forgot that I was working on a 10-inch, 1024 by 600 netbook display.
Technically, I didn’t see much difference in power usage - maybe an hour or so less, but on the 1000HE that isn’t much of a difference (I normally get about 7 to 8 hours). I did notice the fan going a bit more than usual and I figure that may be due to the visual features of Windows 7. I ran both Internet Explorer 8 and Google Chrome and experienced no hiccups. When I installed Chrome and my free anti-virus, I only received one warning message from Windows - a nice change over Vista’s constant nagging.
Overall, I am fairly impressed with how the netbook is handling Windows 7, especially since RC 1 is the Ultimate version with Windows Media Center. If Windows 7 runs this well on a netbook, I can only imagine what it could do on full-sized laptops and desktops. I think I’ll definitely be looking to purchase the full version of Windows 7 when it is released.
Download: [Windows 7 RC]
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It works well on the 901 as well, though Parental Controls seems to be missing on mine for some reason, not letting me play Plants vs Zombies. Overall a nice upgrade from XP (only used Vista sparingly), but not enough to tear me away from Mac OS X and my rotating Linux slot on the 901’s 4GB SSD, which is currently using Cruncheee, and usually Easy Peasy.
on May 30, 2009 at 12:12 PM - LINKI use Ubuntu Linux on mine and apart from a minor tweak needed for sound in Skype it works well. One useful thing is I can tether the netbook to a Gphone so that the phone acts as a wireless access point which means I can dump my 3G access subscription saving some more money. I suppose the other major benefit is no viruses and no spyware.
on May 31, 2009 at 05:37 AM - LINKWOUNDER FULL, GREAT JOB YOU HAVE DONE.
REALLY I AM PROUD OF YOU DEAR….
on June 1, 2009 at 12:53 AM - LINKTHANX ....................
“even Vista, which I’ve had the unfortunate opportunity to use. “
What are you; 12 years old?
on June 5, 2009 at 08:47 AM - LINKI haven’t used Vista but I do know some very perceptive 12 year olds :-)
on June 5, 2009 at 09:04 AM - LINKdid u have any driver problem??
how did u get all the drivers work on win7?
i have the same system, an asus 1000he with 2 gb of ram and i want to change the XP Home.
its better win 7 on this netbook? (i dont care about battery usage)
on June 24, 2009 at 02:51 AM - LINKInstalled Windows 7 on my 1000he a few days ago and I’m very pleased. It works like a charm. It runs faster than the preinstalled XP Home which was on it. Everything works without a hitch except from the Fn volum up/down and mute. I have to do that from the volumcontrol on the statusbar. But I don’t find that problematic at all.
on August 15, 2009 at 10:02 PM - LINK