[Tom9729]

Anyone have an Eee PC? I'm sort-of thinking about buying one of the 2G models because they're pretty cheap, and the hardware seems pretty decent for a mobile device.

[Nykc]

I heard from avid linux users, even people from the Linux Action Show podcast that it is a great little box and they had nothing but good things to say about it. But you can also score a Dell Inspiron with Linux pre-installed for a reasonable price as well. I just bought the inspirion with Vista pre-installed and was going to strip it completely but went with the dual install with Ubuntu hardy and it ran flawlessly.

So either way.

[modi123_1]

Just thought I would throw this out there since I read it a few days ago:

http://consumerist.c...ursive-hellhole

[Tom9729]

Well I already have a laptop that works 100% with Linux, the Eee is just so tiny!

mod123_1, thanks but I don't really like gripe websites. Every product has it's flaws and I don't think they should be hidden, but some people just like to complain.

[baavgai]

I have a CloudBook. It isn't fast, but it's acceptable, good on battery life. A hard drive may not sound as cool as a sim, but 30GB doesn't suck. It's tiny, but the keyboard is easy enough to deal with. The only real complaint I have with it is 800x600 default resolution, Gnome defaults to larger for many dialogs.

I don't know how it specs against the next gen UMPCs, but it beat the hell out of the early Eees when I got it six months ago. It's also $100 cheaper now; I was considering picking up a spare.

This post has been edited by baavgai: 29 August 2008 - 11:15 AM

[girasquid]

I've got a EEE, and it's not too bad. The keyboard is a bit small and takes getting used to, but other than that I don't think I've had any issues.

[homemade-jam]

I've had an eee 900 for about a month now...absolutely love it, bought the one with linux on as I fancied a bit of a change. It runs fine with a special version of ubuntu (eeebuntu) as well as the original xandros it comes with.

The OEM OS requires a bit of tweeking to get rid of the n00b bits but otherwise its like any other functioning linux install, got kde running atm with pidgin, xchat etc.

I like mine as well because it doesn't seem to ever lag behind what I'm doing even with several apps open.

Would recommend reading into all the model specifications, Asus are planning on bringing out around 26 models in the eee range, don't think they initially realised the netbook genre would be such a big hit?

I don't know about the others, dell, msi, acer etc. but the asus is very light and quick, though I'm not so pleased with the battery life on the 900 - but you can just buy a bigger battery!

Also, I second girasquid on the size of the keyboard - some of the keys are a bit stiff too which takes a bit of getting used to.

[bizzehdee]

Tom9729, on 29 Aug, 2008 - 06:57 AM, said:

Anyone have an Eee PC? I'm sort-of thinking about buying one of the 2G models because they're pretty cheap, and the hardware seems pretty decent for a mobile device.

ive got 2, a 2gb model and a 4gb model.. both are pretty good, except that the screen is WAY to small for me and theres no disk drive at all. also, the pre-loaded OS is terrible...

all in all, if your gonna install something else to it with a usb cdrom, good... if your planning on using it as is, its more like a kids toy than a usable piece of equipment.

[homemade-jam]

I'd say thats it not such much a toy but more of a computer with a specific role, rather than a generic one..you can spice up the preinstalled OS in about 20seconds anyway.

[kapax]

Eee PC is a great choice. If i could afford having one more computer for my own comfort, I would get it.

[megglz]

I got mine for college/work as I already have a desktop. I got the 8GB model. I love it but the keyboard takes a bit of getting used to as it's very small!

[homemade-jam]

Seconded...pretty awesome for taking to class tho!

[no2pencil]

baavgai, on 29 Aug, 2008 - 02:14 PM, said:

I have a CloudBook.

The website didn't do this machine justice. Can you provide some pics? While I'm 100% against buying anything from the child enslaving, Martha Stuart, WallMart, I do much like the idea of Linux being available on a retail basis, preinstalled, in any hometown.

[homemade-jam]

Linux was a major selling point for me

[Tom9729]

Ok, so I got one of the 2G Surf models for 250$ new.

The hardware I love, the default software not so much.
+ Fastinit starts the system up very quickly
+ Comes with Pidgin and Firefox, Wifi works great
+ OpenOffice 2.0 starts up really fast
- Fastinit has annoying limitations (like the hardcoded username)
- Doesn't use NetworkManager, network doesn't auto-connect
- Have to jump through hoops to activate "Advanced mode", which is really just an old version of KDE
- No easy way to add items in Easy Mode
- Comes with a crippled version of mplayer

I'm installing Debian on it right now.

Easy Mode is really nice, but I don't like how the system only "kind of" works like a normal Linux system [f.ex. default user is hardcoded, system uses sudo but the user never has to enter a password, etc].