Weblog entry #117 for ajt
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The Asus's processor is more than three times faster than my current antiquated Dell notebook, it has more RAM and more hard disk than my Dell and it's battery life is better. It's a good deal smaller than my Dell and naturally much lighter than my Dell. It's also cheaper to buy than a replacement Dell. The only obvious downside is that it's screen is small at around 18cm, and it's running a version of Xandros not stock Debian.
Someone in my LUG has one and has reported than it's a bit sluggish. Though I use and prefer KDE as my desktop system I don't use it on my older/slower systems, and I don't think I'd use it on the Asus.
In the new year when supplies become available again I'll have a look at one of these little boxes. For £220 inc VAT that seems a steal, and the box is what I need - occasional use, highly portable and cheap. I don't want a desktop replacement.
http://debian-eeepc.alioth.debian.org/
Comments on this Entry
I'd also be very keen to have one of these -- I'd use it more than I would a normal laptop, purely by virtue of it's diminutive size. And also because it's just damn cool -- sort of like a "grown-up/pro" version of the OLPC ;-)
Cheers.:wq
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Many people are looking for a simple, "consumer electrical" like device rather than a general purpose computer, and these small, cheap Linux boxes neatly configured are hitting the mark.
I don't want the Asus to use as a desktop replacement, I want something that can be hooked up to a projector now and then to drive OO.org presentations, can be used to play simple games on trains, and SSH into my server etc etc. and doesn't cost much.
--
"It's Not Magic, It's Work"
Adam
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That's pretty much what I'd want one for, but with the addition of plugging in a USB-Serial adapter to configure switches and routers etc... The addition of the 3G mini-card is also very interesting -- any idea how much this addition will cost? (I haven't found any real info, other than from El Reg, which stated along the lines of "the 3G card isn't available yet".)
Being stuck waaaay down south here, I didn't know that Tesco were now selling PCs as a regular thing -- I was passing through Carlisle a couple of months ago, and very nearly bought a Gateway notebook that was on special at the Tescos off the M6 (Junction 32? can't remember). It was a crazy price, but stupidly enough, I wasn't sure about the specs, so passed on the offer -- I must have been nuts...
Cheers.:wq
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I went to a shop and played with a Eee for a while. It's nice, but it's got one issue: small screen. 7 inches, 800×480 max.
Give me 1024×768 - can be $100 more expensive - and I am sold.
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I'm amazed you got to see one, they seem to be sold out/on order at most on-line places I've looked in the UK. I gather that world side most of the initial production run has been sold, like the Wal-Mart and Tesco PCs, really cheap kit sells well...
--
"It's Not Magic, It's Work"
Adam
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I live in Taiwan. We've got lots of them here.
How many do you want? :)
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--
"It's Not Magic, It's Work"
Adam
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