Conclusions
The original Eee PC was an intriguing device because it was just a step above a Blackberry, a basic web client device for about $400. The Eee PC 901, meanwhile, is something else: With Windows XP installed, it's a strikingly complete little laptop PC. With a suggested retail price of $599 and street prices ranging down to $569, the 901 also treads into "real laptop" territory in terms of pricing. I think those prices are eminently justifiable given the 901's robust feature set, bright screen, solid build quality, and workday-length battery life. Ultraportable PCs of this size and capability have traditionally cost a couple of thousand dollars.

With that said, though, the 901 will cramp your style if you try to use it exactly like a "real" laptop, most notably because its "fast 4GB/slow 8GB" SSD arrangement presents space constraints with Windows XP. You can, like I did, hack your way around that to some extent, but it's a problem you'll have to manage as you install new applications or download updates to Windows over time. If you know in advance that you simply want to use the 901 as a traditional "netbook" and nothing more, you may want to consider the Linux version seriously. For just surfing the web, sending IMs, and using Skype, Asus' version of Linux is fine. It's well integrated, covers all of the basics, is simpler to use, boots faster than Windows XP, and is better adapted to the 901's SSD limitations. You won't be able to install new applications with ease, but that should keep you out of trouble.

As for the 901's place in the ever-expanding universe of Eee PC look-alikes and competitors, well, that's an intriguing question. Asus has clearly indicated its intention to defend its turf by making the 901 as good as it is. But as I've said, the larger Eee PC 1000 looks like the more comfortable size for most folks, and Asus' competitors would seem to agree, since they've mostly produced larger netbooks with keyboards that are around 90% of full size. Among those systems, the Eee PC 1000H—which relies on a mobile hard drive rather than an SSD—may be the most compelling choice. (In fact, I've been sorely tempted to order one for myself lately.) But the 901, even with a few flaws in execution, is the most faithful extension of the original Eee PC concept yet, and it packs the longest battery life into the smallest package among this second wave of netbooks. You will pay something of a premium for the 901 over its competitors, but folks who value mobility over all else may find it to be a bargain.