The Deep Blue H1 mini notebook had an early mover advantage in the UMPC market but it seems it wasn’t able to hold its ground against the newcomers. Let’s check out and see if this unit would have made a good competitor to the Asus Eee PC 701 series.
Blue Digital Systems went with a Via processor with the H1 — a 1.0GHz Via C7-M. It also has 1GB of RAM pre-installed and a 40GB HDD. In my 7-inch UMPC Rounds-Up last April, the Blue H1 came out on top as the cheapest and feature-packed among the four. (See unboxing pics here.)
Many claimed though that the Via C7-M processor was no match for the Celeron 900MHz. Of course, I had to test this myself. Using SuperPi, it took 48 secs. on the Celeron 900MHz and 7 mins. 26 secs. on the Via C7-M to run 1M digits. Either Via CPUs are too slow or they’re not built for floating point calculations (my guess is the latter).
The Blue H1 has a compact built though the battery pack is protruding from its back side. Like many other 7-inch laptops, the screen real estate is barely enough and with a body that’s 9.5″ wide, the screen’s 6″ horizontal width seems a bit small which made you think the space was under-utilized. It’s a little heavier than my Asus Eee PC but that’s because of the extra weight from the HDD (1.2kg).
The trackpad looks a bit small but after measuring, it’s actually the same size as that of the Asus Eee PC (1.75″ x 1.25″). The distinctive left and right click buttons helps for easier navigation. And while the keyboard size and orientation is the same, the Blue H1 has more space for palm rest which makes it easier to touch type.
The 0.3 MP webcam sits on top of the screen but it’s a little distracting to see the text that states “Digital Camera” beside it, in bold all-caps print.
The Blue H1 is cooler (less hot) too, maybe because of the low-power Via and the good ventilation at the bottom (there were 4 grill slots in there).
The default OS is Window XP and is quite responsive despite the low SuperPi results. It’s complete in connectivity too — 2 USB ports, 1 LAN, 1 modem, a 4-in-1 card reader and WiFi 802.11 b/g.
Over-all, this is a good 1st generation UMPC and could have easily surpassed the Eee PC 701 had it been marketed properly. It’s also 15% cheaper than most UMPCsd when it first came out. If Blue Systems can drop the current price down to Php9,995 today (compared to the 701’s Php13k curent price tag), I’m sure people will find it a good great bargain.
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I believe this one runs on Linpus Linux and Microsoft Windows XP Home is optional?
Ang Balasubas
Pinoy Life Hacker
http://pinoylifehacker.com
Yup, some units have been upgraded to Windows XP although the retail ones are running Linux.
Blue should re-release this model with an 8.9″ 1024*600 LCD, a VIA VX800 chipset (instead of the the ULV chipset - VX800u), and a VIA Nano 1.2/1.3 Ghz processor (which should be as powerful, if not more powerful, than Intel Atom 1.6 Ghz)
Oh, and check this out guys -> http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1540/intel_atom_vs_via_nano_platform_comparo/index.html
It’s another comparison between Intel Atom and Via Nano. And yes, I just love under dogs.
hi! I’m scouting for small, cheap, and very workable laptops…I might get myself one for my birthday December), and my only requirements are that they can work with the basic Office Suite, Play Multimedia files, etc. I teach/do seminars, and a portable laptop for basic grade computing, editing, and presentations would be nice. My bigger one can be the stay-at home and file storage. What would be your suggestion if my budget is 15K or lower? Where can I get one?
Thanks much!
Just curious Yuga, did you buy all this stuff just to test it?
Phaw
http://www.phawville.com/blog
@shing, this unit might fit you well for that budget.
@phaw, some of them I buy on my own if I can’t source it. Otherwise, companies regularly send me test units to review.
That’s cool. So after testing them, is it yours already? If yes, are you selling them for a discounted price?
No, I return them back. The review units are passed on to other journalists and bloggers. If someone is interested to buy them, maybe I can get them a discount from the manufacturer.
Hi yuga,
I have a blue h1 which I bought at PC Express, and to date, I’m loving it (I installed XP Home). Yes, it is slow at floating point calculations (as expected of a via), but nevertheless, if you don’t use applications for it extensively, you’ll get along pretty fine.
I sometimes use it as a secondary work laptop - when I don’t like to tug along my 12″ laptop. In fact, I installed Dreamweaver CS3 on it for my work and it works pretty fine (especially when I’m on the go and need to do emergency work). I use the generic via v800 graphics driver from via arena to get 800×600 (and even 1024×768) on the small LCD screen. As a side
@shing - you can play xvid/divx/mpeg/mpeg2 videos quite fine. H264 videos can play, but not really well (it stutters from time to time), which is expected as H264 videos require lots of CPU juice.
Also, if you’re into linux stuff, you may want to check this out. It even shows how to use the hardware encryption capabilities of the via processor - quite good info on the h1 capabilities.
http://www.a110wiki.de/wiki/Main_Page
I am very interested in a small device like this as a backup and side kick at work. Can anyone tell me how I can purchase one from here in the United States?
I would greatly appreciate your advice.
Love this Blue H1, very compact and lightweight. the performance is satisfying considering its size. The battery life is as truthful as published (4 - 4.5 hours). always watch movies on it. and i seldom turn it off. all in all its a UMPC that gives you value for your money.
wow this worth it planning on getting a new umpc would this be worth it?
I recently bought this cute UMPC with windows XP. However I can’t get my projector to work on it’s VGA out, tried pressing fn f3, but it won’t switch from H1 LCD to my projector, however if i restart it, while booting it’s view is on my projector, but before it logs on to windows, it’s view returns on my H1 LCD. I also tried using an ordinary VGA Monitor and I got same results. Can somebody help me?
@MPS, you might want to check your windows display setting first. Normally, if the display setting is not compatible with the software installed in the projector, it will not normally work. This also happen for laptops as well.
@yuga, in you opinion, which among H1 and Astone is better in terms of features given that both are priced the same at P9995.
Thanks.
Hi Yuga,
I’m planning to buy a UMPC.
Can u help me decide on choosing the right device for me. In terms of specs, affordability and reliability.
Where can i find the best deals and when is the right time to get one. Are there ones coming out w/ better specs i hope i can read it on your reviews before I purchase one.
Here are some devices from your reviews that im planning to chose from:
1.BLUE H1 vs
2.ASUS EEEPC 4G
3.NEO X1
4.ASTONE
Prices at 10k bracket.
Thanks! and More Power!
Regards with the blue H1… Since the unit is running 1GB of RAM on it, how come in the system properties shows 960MB of RAM. Could someone explain it to me? It should said there 1GB instead 960MB
@ Zack
The true capacity of the memory of the blue h1 is 1024MB the thing is it has a shared memory with the video so if you are using 64MB of video the RAM that will be displayed is 960MB instead of the full 1024MB so technically it still has 1.024GB of RAM
hope this helps.
I just bought one as my christmas gift to mysel last December 19.
just want to ask how to reformat this Deep Blue H1? i got linpus linux…just want to change the OS to windows XP…
@ clowee
you need to have a external disk drive so you can reformat it via windows xp or windows FLP which is more recommended. its just like reformatting your desktop.
Hi guys! i’m choosing between the h1 or the astone. I like astone coz of its 60G HDD and VIA C7-M 1.2GHz plus touchscreen
but i like the fact that h1 has better ventilation and longer batt life( i think its 1hr better than astone). And I’m worrying about astone getting too hot after an 1hr or so.
What i really need is umpc that can support XP or Vista, Photoshop, Surfing, Office and a snappy performance. I know both can support my basic needs but weight, batt life, durability would be a plus. Both are now in the same price range so i really don’t know what to get.
I’m leaning more towards the astone model hoping that it would be be faster in performance than the h1 but i might be wrong. So i’d like to hear the comments from other users of both models first before i buy one.
hi yuga.i just want to know if this is the cheapest laptop you know that a student like me can afford to buy.
tnx in advanz
i bought one last feb 14….i was impressed of its capability, esp the batt life….i think this is more ok than that of Eee PC mini notebook, besides it is less expensive than the latter…..
can anybody give suggestions on other possible applications to be installed (useful)for Blue H1 without affecting much to its capability…..thanks..and more power to yuga!
by the way…truth to tell the one i bought was already 60g HDD (on same price huh!) instead of original 40g….it’s the one i’m using whenever i visited Samal Island (beach hopping….lol)… bought it at PC-EXPRESS, Market market, Global City..
which one is better po ba this one or astone? im from butuan city and im looking for sellers online that will sell these products with windows xp na. if you guys have info please share:) thanks a lot
hi yuga… can you pls help me on what is the best umpc… im choosing from astone, blue h1 and packard bell… from which all umpc price are all the same… and im planning to buy one asap… tnx n advance….
Hi dave! Go with the Blue H1. Proven and tested among the 3 you mentioned.
ei yuga!
im caught in the middle! looking for the best UPMC for school,work and gaming/videos,top choices are Astone and Deep Blue H1,but i cant decide what to get,do they both play DVD’s?
pls help…cyd rodriguez
ei yuga,
Astone and H1,can they play DVD’s?
tnx
tnx yuga… just got blue h1 and its working fine.
Hello. Ask ko lang po if you have any problem turning a blue h1 laptop. I bought 1 last november and so far wala namang problema but when i sold it just yesterday, the buyer keep on complaining it won’t turn on not until nakaplug ang adapter. So far naman, with my experience, wala namang problema about turning on. So after daw fully charging, it won’t turn on not until isasaksak ulit ang adpater to the power source. May I ask what’s really the problem here? Or may may mali lang sa process ng pagturn on or pag gamit?
Please help.
Thank you so much.
please let me know if you are selling your Blue H1 laptop, i’m interested to buy.thanks
Hello po. I sold it already. Yun nga the buyer keep on complaining na it won’t start if it is fully charged not unless the adapter is still plugged. I haven’t really experience this before. By the way, its Os is XP professional. Anyone having trouble turning on your blue laptop after charging, please share your thoughts about this. Thanks!
Hi. My husband installed XP professional over linux. Meron din Corel Draw, encarta 2008, torrent, office 2003. Very nice laptop but too small screen plus i cant play Pet society there due to super low flash player.
Hi people, I’m selling Blue H1 units. It’s selling like pancakes!!! Much lesser price compared to other stores. for more info, call or text 0917.822.3696 / 0923.2700.186
hey lexis_tech! how much lower with XP os? plan to buy one for my wife…best buy with budget! thanks
hello guys…
my blue h1 is perfect for my research work…
from linpus i changed to xp then… currently am using vista…
with vista os…. it is as fast as when i was using linpus…. vista makes my blue faster operationally than when it was xp pa….
and am using ms office 2007 na…. much faster na sya ksa sa 2003 ko dati….
so i kept my on vista…
ang galing pa nga dahil sa S3 video controller i use my old computer monitor as an extension display…
parang i have two different computers in one…
further more with my virtual machine… parang i have 5 computers operating in one… can even have 5 yahoo messenger online at the same time….
super galing…
i have a lide 100 canon scanner… i just scan the journals i need from the library… no need to photocopy… with the dual monitor capability i can read, cut and paste while typing the main manuscript….
during presentations… by changing the primary monitor settings i can easily read the manuscript from my laptop while presenting using multimedia projector…. and a handy presenter…
super galing and all for a price of Php 9995
hi… lexis how much for the H1…OS–>>windows XP, plus ms office
Sir yuga Interested po ako bumili ng Blue H1. please help me naman to buy para maka discount. Thanks po. Please email me po.
this thing is really really slow..
My personal experience with it.
Sobrang bagal; is it just me or as in ang tagal mag respond nito even slower than my cousin’s very old sempron 900mhz with 700mb+ ram desktop.
Ginamit ko sa MS-Powerpoint for a group project.
Pag press ko ng play slideshow, ang tagal magrespond; then while playing, slow motion or rather very laggy.
I only used it for a few hours coz sa classmate ko ito so hindi ko na i-test any further and I wasn’t able to tweak the system but my first impression of it is very slow. Btw, I tested this more 5 months ago. Also, since di akin yung notebook, chances are maaring mas mabilis pa pla to if tweaked.
However, yung 4-4.5 battery life is tempting. Kung aus naman ang playback ng 200-300mb HD mkv, then ayos na rin siguro to. Otherwise, yung Asus with N280 kaso more than 2x yung price nun.
where can i buy this now (june 2009)?
thanks.
oh, may i know where i can buy this? i need one asap.
buy first gen eeepc. lots of support at eeeuser.com.
iv tried h1, its fast if only linpus.
hi guys no complains with my blue h1 been with me na for almost a year. still functioning as it should. running on windows flp. office 2007. happy with it so far and very useful for my school work. microsoft one note is very useful tool too!
good afternoon, in terms of durability and performance combined, alin ang mas okay? kasi im willing to buy an external hard disk to compensate for the small memory of the eee pc as long as it performs better all around…what can you say guys? maraming salamat sa mga magrerespond. God bless.