FS2 needs a resolution of 1024x768 on the first start for the menu to show up. 2 solutions (or 3). Most netbooks are 1024x600.
1 : Start the game on external monitor, change resolution, quit game, disable external monitor, start the game and it's ok.
2 : Use FS2Open, set resolution.
3* : EeePC users on XP can run it fine as the driver will do some sreen scrolling. (Don't work on Seven). But it's a pain in the a** to scroll, so FS2Open is the way to go.
(* Works on my ASUS 1001HA on XP (basically same as ASUS 1005 HA))

Uh, FS2 should offer 640x480 as a usable resolution, and that would fit the screen. But yeah, FSO is the better option, since you can use your monitor's native resolution. I've successfully run FSO on an EeePC 904Ha.

Yes it can use smaller resolutions, but the default resolution on my first run was 1024x768. So maybe it's also his case.