I’m interested in the Asus Eee PC. Very interested. In fact, if I can get one before the end of the year for around $300, I probably will.
Since the iBook died, and the Wallstreet is pretty much useless, I’ve been thinking about what I’d like (and what I need) in a mobile computing device. Since I manage servers, and really need to access the net at various unknown times, and on occasion need something to take with me, I first looked at the Nokia 770. I saw this device when it was released, but didn’t really look too closely because of the price. Once the N800 came out, the 770 dropped in price and I looked a bit more closely. Technology moves fast, so when the N810 came out, the price on the N800 dropped and I considered that over the 770. I still think they are great devices, and I’m a big Nokia fan, but I’m not sure any of these would suit my needs.
At BarCampMilwaukee2 I had heard Matt and Blake talk about the Asus Eee PC. Once I looked at it, it looked sweet! Since Matt and I are both victims of Apple lack of quality in building laptops that last, it seems we are both looking at the Eee PC as a small, cheap alternative to a traditional laptop.
Yes, I did say cheap. While I’d love a MacBook or MacBook Pro, I cannot easily justify the cost. I work on desktop machines most of the time, probably 95% of the time, but for that 5% where I would really like to be mobile, I can justify $200-$500. That amount won’t even get a used/reliable Mac laptop.
I’m still waiting for reviews to roll in, but so far, things are looking good. This may be the first new non-Apple computer I’ve bought in the last 10 years or so.
6 replies on “Asus Eee PC”
Looks interesting Pete. I suspect you are going to run Ubuntu on this machine? Seems a logical choice for what you plan to do with it.
Hopefully the quality of this cheap a device will be OK, I would be a little concerned about that until they are reviewed heavily by actual users.
It comes running Xandros Linux, but most likely all the distros will make installers for it shortly after it is released.
One issue (especially pertaining to managing servers / general geek-hackery) that I read in a review is that they may have hidden the terminal application from the user, but I don’t think the reviewer bothered to switch it over into Gnome instead of the simplified window manager it usually runs. Also, it runs Linux, we can put whatever want on it, with a little work :)
I’m waiting to see how durable it is in future reviews, as so far it’s just been the “it’s so tiny, it works, and it looks good!” reviews. I want to be able to throw this thing in a bag with 3 heavy math textbooks and not have it go *crunch*
I saw the ‘no terminal’ comment, and since it’s a Linux machine I’m pretty confident the developer community will fix that right quick. Other distros on it would also be cool. I want it to be a super-portable communication and computing machine, nothing for heavy duty work obviously.
As for the ‘crunch’ factor, I was already considering what sort of protective case could be made/purchased for it, since it is so light and small, even with a case it should be more diminutive that a typical laptop.
Mike, I’ll be keeping an eye on reviews, and I am sure there will be dozens, if not hundreds in the coming weeks. Hopefully quality will not be an issue. Right now I’m more worried about getting my hands on one without pre-ordering (which I won’t do) since the demand seems to be so great for these.
now the asus it available. did you buy one?
jan, I have not yet, but plan to get an Eee PC before the end of the year. I’ll be sure to post as soon as I get one.