eeepc?

The reason Asus does not recommend installing XP on models below 4gb Flash disk models is that
disk space for bloated XP & XP productivity peograms will be insufficient. Techs find the system
will run slow unless it has 8 or more gb. Base units also ship with 512mb DDR2 533MHz Ram, user
upgradeable to 1024mb.

All Eee units, including those for North America, come with Linux in ROM. I certainly do not want one unless it is the original Linux unit. US pricing begans at $259, that is certainly a low cost Eee. The absolute
cheapest Eee is $199. We should feel lucky. Due to UK (and EU socialistic policies), Eee will cost
substantially more there. Already, UK consumers are saying no fair to Asus. I thought Americans
had a monopoly on not knowing their own consumer laws. I guess not since many UK consumers
do not seem aware of their country's rather steep import duties.

My bet is that Canadians will also pay significantly more than Americans for an Eee but no
where near as much more as UK, French, & German consumers.

On the other hand, Americans pay in other ways for our alleged "free market". 'Free Market"
is a part time 'invisible hand' and as a part time disguised Iron Fist used to pound down
American workers, who earn more than illegal immigrants but whose usually much
higher paying good jobs are temporary.

--Bruised

Why would Canadians have to pay more than Americans? Canada's dollar is worth more that the American dollar and I would think duties to be the same as USA.



I would not be able to operate my Windows programs on linux.

The ASUS Eee PC 701 (manufacturer product page) is an upcoming ultraportable notebook computer with an estimated starting price of $199 USD.1) It was developed jointly by Intel and ASUSTeK based on Intel's Classmate PC project but with an aim for the consumer market. Unlike some broadly similar devices, notably UMPCs and upcoming MIDs, this computer features the traditional clamshell design, touchpad pointing device, and QWERTY laptop keyboard. Its appeal lies in its combination of portability, low cost, relatively high performance, and familiar ease of use.
Availability

Initial availability is scheduled for the end of October 20072), with widespread retail availability later in the year or early next3). ASUS has set a conservative global sales target of 200,000 units for the first year, presumably limited by production, that will increase to between 300,000 and 500,000 by March 2008. Given indications of high demand, initial allocation in any region is expected to be very tight.


Specifications

Eee PC 701

*
Display: AU Optronics4) 7? WVGA (800×480) TFT-LCD
*
Processor: 900MHz Intel Celeron M ULV 353
*
Chipset: Mobile Intel 910GML Express
*
Graphics: Intel GMA 900 (integrated) with external VGA-out connector
*
Memory: 256MB (non-upgradeable), 512MB, or 1GB single-channel DDR2-400 (PC2-3200) SDRAM5)
*
Storage: 2, 4, or 8GB SSD (non-upgradeable6))
*
BIOS: American Megatrends, Inc. (AMI)7)
*
OS: ASUS-customized Xandros Linux with “Easy” and “Standard” GUI modes
*
Wired communications: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, V.92 56K modem
*
Wireless communications: 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, possible Bluetooth integration
*
Ports: 3 USB 2.0, MMC/SD(HC)/MS(PRO) card reader, microphone and headphone
*
Webcam (optional): VGA (640×480) @ up to 30 fps
*
Audio: High Definition Audio; built-in stereo speakers, microphone
*
Battery life: 3.5 hours (4-cell NiMH: 7.4V, 5200mAh, 2S2P); 2.8 hours (4-cell: 4400mAh)
*
Dimensions: 22.5 x 16.5 x 2.1~3.5 cm (8.9 x 6.5 x 0.9~1.4 in)
*
Weight: 0.89 kg (1.96 lbs)
*
Colors: white, black
*
Price: $199-$299 in USA, could be higher in Europe and elsewhere

--Bruised



Edited by bruisedquasar 2007-10-15 12:24 PM

I was witholding any opinion on this until i see the device in person, but then I saw the unboxing photos of the retail version here.

It looks totally stunning! Flames of gadget lust are about to consume me.



My current (totally functional) laptop needs - needs I say! - an upgrade...

"Why would Canadians have to pay more than Americans? Canada's dollar is worth more that the American dollar"


Since when?

Do not be consumed by lust, here nor anywhere else. It is very easy to want what is new and better, but a true geek will strive for optimisation, which can be procured by means of hacking on ancient machines. This thing (the Asus) is easily outperformed by even run-of-the-mill laptops, especially in the area of battery life, where this thing is just pathetic. The Jornadas can get around 24 hrs. on the extended battery! That would take well over 5 of these Asus batteries to do, and who knows how much extras will cost. To me this thing is just the HPC that tried a little too hard to emulate the laptop experience and to me it has already failed to provide true freedom because of it's ungodly battery life. For me, it's no longer fun if things are "easy", a term iterated three times by the eee title.

For me the answer is an older but still good HPC.

Turn the "dual-core" propaganda around: Do more, but with less!

What about those old HPC's and Laptops and PC's that need adopting and love? If the things will not biodegrade, then why ignore them? They are an opportunity to learn. I've done so much with just a beta version of JLime Linux for the Jornada 7xx series.

Continue if you must, I must admit I can be crazy sometimes...

Certainly the eee will cost more here, but that's not due to "socialistic policies". The EEC (now EU) was formed as a Free Trade Union, after all. Most welfare state taxation is deducted at source from earnings, except VAT which is very much like the Sales Tax found in some US states. Large corporations in the UK pay alarmingly little tax, and of course have the lowest employee oncosts.

We UK (and to a lesser extent EU) consumers suffer privateering freetrade rip offs from monopolistic, monolithic box shifters who charge pound-for-a-dollar because they can. Because of this many of us now order online from overseas vendors, and then we are often hit by arbitrary stealth taxes from our admittedly State owned, and probably soon to be defunct, Post Office, which cherry picks likely foreign packages for "handling charges"

Yeah, it's the other way around, macmee.

You make some good points, whohlme. Why would I want to run Linux on a battery-hogging subnotebook, when I can run it on an old H/PC with far more battery life?

Now, go back to putting XP on the Eee, and you might have something.

A few weeks ago I am happy to report.
1 CAD = 1.02117 USD
It's predicted to go up to 1.05

Haven't spoken to you in ages, CE Geek, hi!


A few weeks ago I am happy to report.
1 CAD = 1.02117 USD
It's predicted to go up to 1.05

That's a first. The USD is really sliding back, isn't it?

Why not? Linux can and does run boat loads of windows applications with ease, and im not talking about virtual machines like vmware either.

I've run many windows games (UT,Q3,RTCW etc) Internet explorer, winamp, mirc, MS word etc etc on linux. XP on the eeepc would be too bloated to run on such a nice piece of hardware IMO. Besides, the preinstalled linux was made for the eeepc and is optimized for the machine and hardware. You'd lose performance and usable storage space with XP on it.

<insert>showoff image of IE on linux here</insert>




Cheers.

Thanks for your concern! But I am not about to rush out and buy it, mainly because I have a limited budget, but also because I share the same philosophy.

Hell, I recently lusted after the iPhone, the iPod Touch and more recently the N810, but these relationships proved to be hollow and meaningless.

The normal XP install might be a problem, but It is possible to run a stripped down version of Windows XP (or 2000/98SE/etc.)

After using my Mobile Pro 880, I have to think that the resolution of this new ASUS machine is a little disappointing--Is there much work on something like Cleartype in Linux?

linux will likely have nice antialaised fonts so text should look nice

Normal antialiasing is not Cleartype. I look at both on side by side 20" LCDs everyday (iMac w/ OSX and Windows XP). Cleartype somewhat redeems low resolution digital displays. But some kind of font antialiasing will be better than none.