Asus 1201N vs HP dm1

Fabien Pionneau
Updated: March 26, 2010

On the left, the Asus Eee PC 1201N is the first netbook with a dual core processor and an NVIDIA ION chipset.	\| \| \| \| \| \|	On the right, the HP Pavilion dm1 just about makes the ultra-portable category. It's in the netbook format, priced not far off netbooks, but with the configuration of a small notebook.
Prices unavailable Recommended alternatives Editor's Choice Asus U36SD One From Apple Apple MacBook Air 13-inch 2011 Tablet or Netbook? Asus EeePad Transformer With Keyboard	\| \| \| \| \| \|	Prices unavailable Recommended alternatives Editor's Choice Asus U36SD One From Apple Apple MacBook Air 13-inch 2011 Tablet or Netbook? Asus EeePad Transformer With Keyboard
12.1 inches (1366 x 768)	\|	11.6 inches (1366 x 768)
Intel Atom 330 (1.6 GHz)	\|	Intel Celeron Dual Core SU2300 (1.2 GHz)
2 GB	\|	3 GB
250 GB	\|	320 GB
HDMI, VGA, 3 USBs, card reader, RJ45, Bluetooth	\|	HDMI, VGA, 3 USBs, card reader, RJ45, Bluetooth
1.46 Kg	\|	1.46 Kg

THE BACKGROUND

Asus took several months before bringing out its first netbook with an NVIDIA ION chipset. The Eee PC 1201N stands out from the competition with the sort of configuration that you usually only find on mini PCs (nettops). It's the first netbook to be equipped with a dual core Intel Atom 330 processor. Along with 2 GB of RAM and an NVIDIA ION chipset, you can expect decent graphics performance, at last.

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Based on the same chasis as the Compaq Mini 311c netbook, the HP Pavilion dm1 is clearly in a class above. Ultra-portable low end of the price range, it competes alongside high-end netbooks. That said, higher performance leaves few doubts as to its positioning. Dual core ULV processor and 3 GB of RAM make it a serious contender here.

Is it best to go for a high-end netbook or an entry-level ultra? What's the NVIDIA ION chipset worth? Do you still get more battery life out of a netbook than an ultra-portable laptop? Pricing is comparable, usage seems identical. There can only be one winner however. Which will it be?

DESIGN & BUILD: ADVANTAGE ASUS

Asus Eee PC 1201N

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HP Pavilion dm1

In the small world of ultra-portables and netbooks, anything that can improve comfort of use is a bonus. Keyboard and touchpad quality are most important.

Gloss alert: this is the first thing you notice. The 1201N is entirely in glossy black plastic. Horrible when it comes to finger marks and reflections. Go for the silver version if you can.

Comfortable keying: the keys are well spaced and comfortable. The multi-touch touchpad isn't as good however but is easier to use than the one on the dm1 in spite of its size.

Silence is golden: very quiet when working on office docs, it never gets too loud even during more demanding processor tasks when the fan speeds up.

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More sober: in spite of still having too much glossy plastic, the dm1 is less garish than the 1201N. The silver plastic helps here.

Touchpad glide disappointing: the very wide touchpad is unfortunately too smooth and glossy and this makes the glide less effective and precise than it could be. The keyboard is good and keying supple.

Too noisy: how a machine is constructed internally is just as important as how it looks from the outside. The dm1 suffers from an overly noisy fan. Its processor only uses slightly more energy than the 1201N.

PROCESSING POWER: ADVANTAGE HP

The Atom shows its limits: in spite of having 2 cores, the processor's performance is limited. The Intel Atom has never stood out in terms of performance. However this one is 50% up on a single core.

HD video processed by ION chipset: with the processor unable to encode HD video with any fluidity, the graphics solution takes over. The ION chipset does wonderfully here and relieves the processor almost entirely of the task.

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A satisfactory ULV: in spite of the clock being limited to 1.2 GHz, the dual core Celeron is twice as fast as your standard nebook Intel Atom and about 50% faster than the 1201N. With 3 GB of RAM, you do get good responsiveness and superior comfort of use.

A graphics solution that copes well with HD video: although a bit weak for 3D, the built-in Intel graphics solution copes perfectly well with HD video.

3D GAMING: ADVANTAGE ASUS

The ION chipset at the top of its form: held back when used with a single core processor, here the ION chipset has the space to breath with the 1201N's dual core. You can then play easily with certain demanding 3D games.

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Don't think about 3D: the Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics solution can't handle 3D gaming. You'll have to make do with 2D or older 3D titles. Not for gamers then.

BATTERY LIFE: ADVANTAGE HP

Battery life in minutes

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1H23 better: the HP Pavilion dm1 is on a level with good netbooks in terms of battery life. In spite of decent performance levels and neat size, it hovers around 5H for video playback. The Asus Eee PC 1201N doesn't stand up here, giving just 3H35.

VERDICT: ASUS FOR GAMING AND VIDEO, HP FOR OFFICE WORK AND BATTERY LIFE

It's not simply a question of adding up the points and working out which one to go for here. Everything depends on what you want to use it for.

Gaming and viewing films: Asus is the winner here, by quite some distance. The ION chipset means decent graphics performance in 3D gaming. It also excels when it comes to video. The dm1 is pretty limited in comparison - it does decode HD video but won't be any good for gaming.

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Internet and office doc work: the dm1 carries the day with good general performance and battery life. Those looking to work and browse should go for the ultra-portable HP. The 1201N does honorably enough but for a few euros more the dm1 offers better overall performance making it more comfortable to use on a daily basis.

Ultra-portable or netbook? There's no longer really any clear division between the two classifications. Only pricing differentiates them. The 2 worlds are fusing together and the term 'netbook' is likely only to be retained for entry-level machines.

The dm1 is showing the way for high-end netbooks. Cheaper than a traditional ultra, it's based on intel's CULV platform, which is certainly a good choice when you want to ally performance with longer battery life.

There's still the question of graphics chips such as NVIDIA's ION. You can see the advantage of the ION solution with the 1201N and how it comes into its own when not limited by the processor. The ION chip has recently been developed further and will remain a good choice when it comes to 3D gaming and video.