The Eee PC 1215N is Asus’ second-generation netbook in the 12-inch category. This sleek, ultraportable laptop is powered by Intel’s newest dual-core Atom processor and NVidia’s ION 2 platform. Check out our full review after the jump.
The Eee PC 1215N follows the same form factor and design as the first models though this one has a combination of silver and black metallic finish (the non-glossy matte finish both on the lid and the palm rest makes it finger-print resistant).
Following the Seashell line of Asus, the 1215N features a slim and sleek design that looks like a clamshell and tapers towards the front.
Inside, the full keyboard comes with a chiclet-type keys spread across evenly. Below that is the large trackpad with the same finish as the palm rests and separated only by two thin silver groves on both sides. The glossy silver button is not separated for the left and right clickers and feels a little harder to press down.
The screen is 12.1″ across and has a glossy finish which allows for a brighter and crisper reception but can become a problem when used in the outdoors or against bright light sources due to glare.
One odd thing about this model is that Asus changed the socket size of the plug (made it smaller, near the size of the old cellphone sockets) which makes it un-interchangeable with other Asus netbooks. The webcam also has a physical sliding cover to turn off/on the camera.
For an ultraportable, the Eee PC 1215N has a pretty impressive specs in the netbook category. Only drawback is that maximum amount of RAM you can have on this unit is still 2GB (a limitation of the Atom platform). See complete specs below.
Asus Eee PC 1215N specs:
12.1″ display @ 1366×768 pixels
Intel Atom D525 @ 1.8GHz (dual-core)
NVidia Ion 2
2GB DDR3 RAM
250GB/320GB HDD
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
HDMI port
2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 ports
SD/MMC card reader
6-cell 5200mAh battery
Windows 7
The NVidia graphics (475MHz core speed) has 512MB dedicated DDR3 RAM while the embedded Intel GMA 3150 has 256MB memory. It’s a little disappointing they only included 250GB of HDD in here when smaller 10-inch netbooks come in 320GB already.
As for the netbook’s performance, Windows Experience Index gave it a base score of 3.3 for Windows Aero performance while the Atom N525 1.8GHz CPU only got a sub-score of 3.5 (still way lower compared to a Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.3GHz at 4.0). The sub-score of the NVidia ION 2 looks good though at 5.6.
The unit can play full HD movies easily including 10180p videos on YouTube HD. The graphics can switch between the NVidia ION and the Intel GMA 3150 to conserve power or boost performance when needed.
Battery life on the Asus 1215N is good enough but not very impressive either. On regular use, it can do around 4 to 5 hours and BatteryBar rates it at just around 4.25 hours as well. Good thing Asus was able to upgrade the battery capacity from the previous 4400mAh to 5200mAh on this series. The battery extends a little bit at the bottom and not at the end so it gives the netbook an advantage with heat dissipation.
The Asus Eee PC 1215N is now selling in select stores with a suggested retail price of Php28,995.
Mahal
SRP of Php28,995..? Ouch! You can already get a lot of decent laptops at this price with brand like MSI, Asus and Acer.
Remember this is the newest dual core atom laptops
Twitter: Teknisyan
says:
nice review but like what the two previous comment.. it’s a bit pricey. :)
ok na rin kasi bluetooth 3.0 at 2xusb 3.0 + hs naman cia kaya medio pricey.
The specs are good, but for it’s price, maybe its not yet a good deal… I think it’s sister model with the AMD processor is still a better deal.
Magkano kaya kung wala yung Windows OS niya?
This costs 480 usd here in states which is 21,600 php… not that bad, good netbook for college students…
@Michael Ebora
even at $480, it’s too expensive. You can get a decent core 2 duo laptop with that money
lugi…..mahal
specs are great but the price is not kool. dagdag ka pa ng konti, malupit na laptop na ang hawak mo.
Dual Core Processor+Optimus Technology+4-5 hours Battery life+Form Factor+1.45kgs+Win7 OS+freebies
Windows Index 5.6 score on gaming graphics.
Php 28,995
I think the price is reasonable enough. This would be great for users always on the go that needs a little muscle on their netbook.
Sir Abe
Could you write a review about high powered notebooks with Optimus Technology like the ASUS U30JC-B1 or U45JC, I’m planning to buy one of those units this coming holiday season. Thanks
“This costs 480 usd here in states which is 21,600 php”
That’s an Amazon launch price. In 3 months it will drop by 20% and coupons will take off another $50, then there will be a Woot for it at $149 in 6 months. At that time it will still cost 29k here. That is not even talking about the price in Singapore for it during one of their annual sales events or in HK on the grey market. Yet it will still be P29k here.
The price is not Asus’ fault, as I have posted here before, the price is a result of the system of massive duties, taxes and corruption, including price fixing local distributors! As with everything, it’ll be cheaper to buy it abroad. I just bought a 60″ Samsung TV in the US, for the birthday of a relative, shipped to my door in 2 weeks by reliable FRS. Including shipping and purchase price, I paid 30% less than if I bought a 46″ Samsung model from 2 years ago here. Now that is ridiculous!
Our best plan is to stop buying anything expensive locally till the distributors and retailers cry and force change. Even BDO is offering a shop in the US service, but there are so many other options from shippers like Johnny Air and FRS to all those Singapore and US mailbox services. You don’t even need a relative overseas to use them. Before your next big purchase, even if you don’t want to avail of any of these services, just calculate the price it is in HK or Singapore. Then add the cost of a ticket and hotel. You may find that you can buy your toys and get a free vacation out of it.
Twitter: yizhantech
says:
wow nice index on the gaming graphics. kaya kayang ihandle nito mga high res online games like RF?
@Herce – Does Johnny Air have any website?
Curse you ASUS! Why didn’t you just include the matte finish and larger trackpad with my 1201n?
The downside of this new unit though is its PCI 1x bottleneck.If you’re playing a game that’s CPU intensive,ION won’t run on its full potential. On the other hand, if your game is GPU intensive, it’ll run better on the 1215n compared to the 1201n.
For 29k, it’s not too bad. The 1201n I bought earlier this year was 2k cheaper, but remember that this one features enhancements, i.e., matte finish, larger touchpad and longer battery life.
@Pusang Kulog – http://www.johnnyair.com/ I’m certain they have a mall office in Manila. We have one here in Cebu
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Wow, it has Windows 7 Home Premium out of the box? Amazingcakes. Now all it needs is an external optical drive.
available on select stores – where exactly?
eto price nya sa pc corner parallel import sa SG
Asus Eee PC 1215N specs……….
>
Intel® Atomâ„¢ D525 – (1.8GHz, 1Mb L2)
Lithography 45 nm. !!!!
12.1-inch LED backlit display (1366×768 resolution)
2Gb DDR3 RAM
320G HDD
NVIDIA® ION 2 with Optimus technology
802.11b/g/n WiFi
Bluetooth 3.0
1.3-megapixel webcam
2 USB 2.0 ports
USB 2.0 Sleep n Charge port (only works with usb 3.0)
HDMI port
VGA out
SD/MMC card reader
6-cell battery
Windows® 7 Home Premium
>
Dimension: W X D X H: 11.7inch x 7.9inch x 1.5inch
Weight: 3.2lbs or 1.45kgs
1 Year Limited Local Warranty – Parts and Labor
2Gb / 320Gb Setup:
PhP 25,995.00 cash + pick up only
4Gb / 320Gb Setup:
PhP 27,995.00 cash + pick up only
obviously mas mura parallel import/smuggled
i won’t buy a netbook over 16k. a netbook should stick to its purpose: cheap/limited/small like the original asus eee. otherwise, get a laptop!
It’s specs sticks out a bit more than a netbook, my cousin recently bought its 12″ predecessor ; the 1201N at almost the same price, this one has better specs though.
@Kulog: http://www.johnnyair.com. Here is the article that talks about Johnny Air’s service: tinyurl.com/2w5o9hx. I have never used Johnny Air this way but I have used FRS and can attest to their service. I have an email’d flyer with their offer. Can;t attach it here but I can upload it to an image host somewhere if you want.