Mini Asus packs a punch
When the Asus EEE PC was released just under a year ago its diminutive size sparked a new generation of portable PCs called "netbooks". The name comes from its primary role as an Internet device capable of surfing the web, doing email on the go and its size which makes it easy to slip into an overnight bag.
The EEE PC 4G – based on the 701 – is slightly larger than a 300-page novel but packs a full – albeit small – keyboard, 7-inch screen, dual speakers and full Internet connection using wireless or modem.
For anyone on the move the Asus EEE PC is a fantastic addition to their travel bag. It’s so small and light – less than 1kg – that it fits even the smallest overnight bag. And with around 3.5 hours of battery life on the standard battery, the EEE PC lasts long enough to watch a couple of domestic plane trips-worth of video – a nice way to avoid the conversation of annoying fellow travellers.
While the history of computing has been a story of every-increasing speeds and processing power, the Asus EEE is a significant departure from the norm, with its 900MHz celeron processor which makes it a little more power-efficient in comparison with the popular dual core Pentium processor family.
Of course, a smaller processor means a slower machine and the Asus EEE is not a speed merchant. But, installed with Windows XP the EEE is more than usable. HP’s netbook, the Mini-Note 2133, ships with Windows Vista and suffers significantly for it in the speed stakes.
The other alternative is to install Linux on the EEE. A lightweight distribution of Linux ought to give it a little more power. Ubuntu-EEE also works really well on the EEE and with a few tweaks is as good as XP.
Desktop replacement
The Asus EEE PC is not a replacement for your day-to-day desktop or laptop PC. It’s simply too small for working on the whole day, although the small keyboard would suit a child’s hands. But it does the job when you’re on the road and need to check email between meetings or before heading off to the beach. It does, however, have a port for plugging in an external monitor. So with that and a full-sized keyboard and mouse it could sit comfortably on your desktop. But with a screen resolution of 800×600 it doesn’t promise the best resolution.
The built-in wireless is excellent but you’ll need a 3G USB modem for when you’re not around a handy wireless network.
The small keyboard is easy enough to type on, although a little cramped. But at that size you can’t expect much more. The biggest downside is the small trackpad for moving the mouse, which is awkwardly placed and the left and right trackpad buttons always feel as if they are in the wrong place. There is a learning curve to become proficient with the mouse but it does the job adequately.
The only other complaint would be the small on-board storage. 4GB is barely enough to do anything, so the 8GB version might be a better choice. Having said that the SD memory card works well and a small, USB-powered external hard drive will cost less than R1 000 if you need the extra space.
The original Asus EEE was released with the Linux operating system. Microsoft will this week release a Windows XP-based version of the second generation Asus EEE PC into the South African market.
The EEE PC does make some sacrifices to make itself so small but it does it well.
Loading ...