Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: asus, eee, linux | Themes: Business, Laptops and Notebooks
- 1. Low Price, Low Spec
- 2. Solid And Solid State
- 3. The Crunch Point: The Keyboard
- 4. Easy Desktop Really Is Easy
- 5. Installing Windows XP: Your Wallet Is The Limit
- 6. Conclusion: Small And Sturdy For Small Fingers
- 7. The Asus Eee: An Owner/User's Perspective
5. Installing Windows XP: Your Wallet Is The Limit
The user guide doesn’t include instructions for accessing the Full Desktop but it does have instructions for installing your own copy of Windows XP on the Eee PC. You need SP2; not just because of the security enhancements but for USB CD support. Asus supplies a DVD with all the Windows drivers, which also allows you to make a bootable flash drive and to restore the Linux interface. Installation is relatively simple; you need to change a few BIOS settings and sit through a number of reboots to install the drivers.
The "easy desktop" interface takes up 1Gb on top of the space needed for Xandros Linux and Windows XP takes up a little more disk space. Using the instructions in the manual, you can remove 15 MB of files from Windows (and another few megabytes if you go into safe mode). You can also reduce the swap file to 200 MB instead of the default 756-1512 MB range. If you’re prepared to spend the money (and possibly lose your warranty) to increase the RAM, you can put in 1 GB or 2 GB of standard 667MHz DDR2RAM and turn the swap file off altogether. The single memory slot is behind the same panel as the slot for the optional 3G card. You only have to undo two screws to access the memory slot, but one of them is covered by a label warning that removing it voids the warranty.
The memory slot is easy to access and there’s an Express Card slot for 3G - but one screw is under a warranty label.
Without extreme measures, deleting files and changing settings leaves you with around 2 GB of free capacity from a 4 GB SSD. Asus also suggests compressing the drive but that will reduce performance slightly. Adding a larger SSD would increase the cost of the substantially and require disassembling the system but you can use an SD or MMC card for extra storage or plug in a USB thumb drive and redirect My Documents and Temporary Internet Files there. Again, the system is small in size and inexpensive, while the storage capacity is limited.
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The Asus Eee (701P PC is a shrunken laptop in a sturdy case - but the screen is
Tiny Asus Eee Runs Linux & Windows ($399) : Read more
Great info on future gen of affordable laptops, but the problem of laptop is actually battery life. I own asus laptop myself (A3HF) but the battery life is very short (about 2-3 hours tops). But if this small & cheap laptop have non power hungry hardware it could really push the envelop. Another problem perhaps the availability of this product on such country as mine, Indonesia. I really hope this product will be available with the $300 price tag here, because usually the price being put double the standard price because of entry tax and transportation fee on the distributor side.
Wow.. another Indonesian,
Yup I think it's a good system..hope the price is reasonable when it reach here..
I'm still dumbfounded by how many people buy into these things. Can you not buy a laptop from HP or Dell for $400-500 with better specs in almost all areas AND with Windows XP already installed?
@ jephph1
You can and you can't. "Specs" does not give enough information. If by "specs" you mean CPU, RAM, Screen Size, etc... then yes, you can. But if you take into account that this is a laptop and for some size and weight is far more important than those other "Specs" then no you cannot buy something like this from Dell or HP for the same price. Just so you know, this thing easily fits into my girlfriend's purse.
I own one of these, so I can speak from first hand experience. The Eee should not be considered as a replacement for your main computer. However, if you would like a secondary device that is good for travel, or great for a student to take notes then the Eee is great.
Also, if anyone reading this goes ahead and gets an Eee, I would recommend you go to http://wiki.eeeuser.com/ for information of getting your Eee setup how you would like.
Yeah, that's the only reason I could think of to get one. I guess I just don't see the point in spending just as much to get a laptop that maybe be quite a bit more portable, but that really can't run much because of it's poor specs, especially in a year or two when a lot more software will be much too demanding for this specimen.
What is it with you people that put currency in pictures to give an idea on size? You are aware we don't all use whatever the hell that currency is? Geeze, would it kill you to put a freaking ruler in the pic. cm/inches version would be nice. Thanks.
I was under the impression from people in other forums that ASUS is not voiding the warranty for upgrading your ram an sps the most commonly used currency in the world is 6 inches