Taiwanese computer parts maker Asus obviously didn’t get the memo.
Didn’t Asus know notebook computers need hard drives? Or that they’re supposed to run Windows — and the pre-loaded software must bloat the boot-up process to the length of a long weekend? Don’t they know you don’t just go selling laptops for less than $750 — let alone $400 — unless the hardware has been aged like whisky?
Asustek Computers Inc. went ahead and broke the rules with the Eee PC. And we should all be thankful.
A scrappy, aggressively priced two-pound notebook with a surprisingly broad set of features, Eee is a no-brainer purchase for tech-savvy travelers who want to downsize their luggage at low cost. It also makes a great gift, at least as practical as Apple Inc.’s iPhone and about the same price.
As it refines the software and instructions, Asus — better known as the world’s largest maker of computer motherboards — could garner a following among mainstream computer users who right now might be puzzled by some of the eccentricities of Linux.
The $400, seven-inch Eee PC is a new entrant in a fast-growing market for ultra-portable PCs. All such computers, including the Eee, require sacrifices. Its keys may seem painfully small. For people used to a desktop or a standard notebook, its screen makes you feel like you’ve just moved from a McMansion into a studio apartment. (Tricks for maximizing screen real estate when Web surfing can be found on the helpful user forum, Eeeuser.com.)
Unencumbered by Windows, the Eee boots up so quickly I didn’t bother counting the seconds. Its Wi-Fi chip links with the Web in a flash, and its Webcam — a feature missing from many laptops triple the price — turns it into a video messaging device with the help of eBay Inc.’s Skype, which comes pre-loaded. There are USB ports for peripherals, a port to connect to a monitor, and — most essential — a flash memory slot to expand its meager storage. Battery life is advertised at 3.5 hours.
The Eee’s custom version of the Linux operating system has a simple user interface that takes some getting used to. It organizes the software by tabs — Internet, Work, Learn and Play — but many users on the Eee forum dislike its look. An upgrade to a more familiar, Windows-like interface is available in “advanced” mode, which can be activated with a few minutes of careful programming. (But you’ll do that at your peril. On my second day, a badly written command crashed my system. I had to reinstall the original software.)
The Firefox Web browser, Adobe Acrobat Reader and OpenOffice — the open-source equivalent to Microsoft Corp.’s Office — come pre-installed, as do a music player, a video recorder and some addictive games. Google Docs — an online document suite for storing files remotely and sharing them — is also configured.
Links to Yahoo Mail, Gmail and other e-mail programs are already on the desktop. A messaging program called Pidgin worked with AOL Instant Messenger and Google Talk. Skype, the voice and video calling program, also worked well.
The Eee runs quickly, despite a low-power processor. A disk drive made of memory chips is fully functional, but the four gigabytes installed on my model was insufficient for my needs. A memory card I purchased separately for around $30 doubled the space. The Eee can be retrained to run Windows. But it can feel like a major commitment. Asus’ exhaustive instructions include a 12-step installation, a four-step “optimizing” process and another 25 steps to get the operating system to play nice with the Eee.
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