February 11, 2008 Reader review:Tiny Asus Eee PC
OBOW reader Eric has reviewed the tiny (8.9 x 6.5 x 1.4”), two-pound Eee PC computer - a real traveler’s temptation for only $400:
I purchased an Eee PC a few weeks ago when my Dell 15” laptop died. I didn’t expect it to be much more than an internet device. Boy, was I wrong. It’s quite a full-featured laptop, capable of surfing the internet, working on documents and spreadsheets, playing music, looking at photos, and watching movies. There are plenty of reviews of the Eee posted online, so I won’t include too many details about the hardware or software. This review is more about using the device for travel.
It’s so small it will fit into the end pocket of my Tom Bihn Aeronaut. The charger is also small, about the same size as most cell phone chargers, and has a 10-foot cord! The laptop, charger, a wireless mouse, and a usb cable for my phone all fit into the end pocket with plenty of room to spare. This is only one benefit of the small, light form factor. While the keyboard is pretty cramped, the small size makes working in an airline seat much more comfortable (especially when the guy in front of you leans back).
Battery life is about 3.5 hours. Could definitely be better, but Asus now offers replacement batteries so I could pick up a second one if needed.
There are a few caveats. It runs Linux, so there is a learning curve if you want to do anything other than work with the applications provided out of the box. Movies have to be formatted for a smaller screen (I use tools to format for an iPod, then load them onto the Eee.) It doesn’t have an optical drive, but one could be connected by USB if you were so inclined. There is no hard disk, only a 4GB SSD (solid state drive). The operating system takes up about 2.5GB, but there is an SD slot, so I’ve got an SD card plugged in which acts as a second hard disk. I keep movies, music, and documents on the SD card.
The Eee has 802.11b/g built in, and I’ve only had a few problems connecting. Most of the time it connects without a hitch. It does not have Bluetooth. I’ve been able to use a USB cable and my phone as a modem, so I can connect to the internet anywhere I have cell phone service. Nice!
Ed.: Here’s Laptop magazine’s take on the Eee. OBOW welcomes reader reviews and comments on luggage, clothing, and travel technology. Use the E-MAIL OBOW link on the right sidebar for submissions. Thanks Eric, and happy traveling!
Reader Comments (7)
This is very interesting. My son got one of the XO "buy one give one" laptops for Christmas and I'm seriously considering it for travel. For a comparison of the XO and the EEE see this:
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20080128171935946
I dismissed the XO for several reasons, not necessarily in this order:
1. It looks like a kids toy. That color scheme and look are really awful for a professional to carry around, IMHO.
2. It is built more for kids, whereas the Eee, while originally desiged for kids (and retirees), functions much more as a conventional laptop.
3. It is larger than the Eee. Not by much, but the XO is too big to fit into the end pocket of my Aeronaut.
4. The Eee has a MUCH larger user community (more forums, more users, and more in-depth online wiki) ASUS has sold almost a half-million units in the last 6 months.
The software bundled with the Eee Linux distro is complete enough that it does 95% of what I need out of the box. I have installed a few extras because I'm a geek and like playing around with Linux. But the average user would never have to do that.
Once final comment: while the Groklaw article made some good points, I found the comparison of the screens to be disingenuous. (see the comments section of the article)
Here is another take on the Eee vs. the XO.
http://www.laptopmag.com/Features/OLPC-XO-vs-Asus-Eee-PC-701.htm
I agree with everything you've said about the XO. If I were thinking of buying one for myself, I would probably go with your choice as well.
But, since we have the XO already, I might as well try it out on the road.
I second the recommendation of the Asus Eee. I've had mine for about a month and it has pretty much replaced the Dell laptop my employer provided -- which cost about 3-4 times more. The Eee does what it was meant to do extremely well. It's a great little machine.
I've got an eee. You don't need to reformat movies for the small screen - it plays AVI files straight out of the can, as well as MP4, without the pre-determined resolution settings.
i've had my eee since December - I've had skype video chats with my family on opposite sides of the world flawlessly, and now have an ICA (citrix client) installed that I use for getting full access to work applications when i'm in and out of the office.
I don't know about the XO, but I'd be lost without my eee now having only had it for three months.
good site by the way, never been here before.
Interesting about AVI files... I didn't try very hard to get them to work, just followed a post on eeeuser.com. But they do take up a lot of room on a card. Reformatting reduces the space requirements considerably.