Foo - Asus Computers?

My home laptop is on its way out. Well, I'm not going to spend money on it anyhow: power supply is 5 years old, and is looking a bit worn (wires getting thin, about time for it break). Hinges are on their way out (stripped screws, and you can feel the play too). Keyboard is gone -- literally. [I have to type with the on-screen keyboard.] On top of that, it runs XP like absolute crap. I could do a Linux install I guess; but I think the computer has seen better days.

I just started seeing these Asus computers though. The prices seem decent, capabilities ok. I pretty much just surf the web at home anyhow. I did use Linux, briefly, in college, so that's not a drawback.

Any thoughts here about these? I'm not likely to buy too soon. I did read one review on the really small/cheap "Surf" edition, which I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get (unless if someone gave it to me). Afterall, here at work, I have dual 17" monitors, I think a 7" screen might be a bit too much of a change.

Are you talking about the Asus Eee PC?

I'm tempted to get one just for schnitzngigglez and to hook up to a GPS receiver for road rallies.

ASUS machines are pretty good. I almost always buy motherboards from them or Intel, although I'm a bit miffed that Hyper-V blue-screens on the most recent box I built, even though the motherboard and chip state that they explicitly support this.

Compal machines are good as well.

yea i know which Asus you are talking about. I work at Best Buy in the computer department. That computer is sweet! Asus computer are just as good as any other computer. Don't worry about brand name because they all have the same parts on the inside. Just remember with that tiny Asus computer that there is no CD drive, you have to buy an external one.

I remember reading somewhere that Asus make many of the the Apple laptops. I don't know if they design the interior too, a lot of people I know have had overheating problems with their Macbooks, some heatpipe coming loose or somesuch, design related anyway.

I've been thinking about getting one of the eee PCs and just tried one at best buy the other day. It is tiny.

My only concern is the keyboard. I stayed in Best Buy for 15 minutes and typed a couple of pages to see if I could. I'm not a touch-typer now, more of a reasonable fast modified-four-finger-hunt-and-pecker, but I had a lot more typos and I'm having mixed thoughts about it. Definitely spend some time typing on it before you buy. If Best Buy sold the linux version, I probably would have caved and bought it by now because I'm an impulsive fool.

If you don't like the keyboard when you tried it at BB, it only gets worse from there.

Sorry, I misread your thread title.

Twice.

I have nothing to contribute here.

get atleast the 9" ASUS that are out now. i believe theyre going for 10"s also.

I had a 7" and I sold it. far far too impractical with the tiny screen (side-scrolling sucks). Depending on what functionality youre looking for, and how much you spec out the 9/10" to be, you might be better off getting a new small laptop (the small dells or lenovos. also pre-owned dell m710 / m700)

Yeah, I tried to type on it, in the store, but it was stuck at some login in prompt so I couldn't tell. It was a bit wonky to type on; not sure if I'd get used to it or not. It wasn't horrible, though. It's tempting to get that really small one, just for fun -- but I think for just a few more bucks I'd be actually satisfied.

Mostly, though, I am intrigued by the really fast turn on / turn off times. I hate waiting 5-10 minutes for my laptop to get Firefox running!

Didn't ASUS pledge to put a form of quick booting Linux (express gate/splashtop) on all their upcoming models of motherboards and laptops?

What I wish they would do is also have VirtualBox included with that, and perhaps have some NTFS recovery tools on the Linux image. Then, I could use the mini Linux desktop for most things for Net access, and fire up Windows if I wanted to play a game or whatnot, without having to reboot.

My EEE PC 4G with Asus' version of Xandros will be here tomorrow so Ill comment on
it if this thread is still active :)

i don't understand the motivation for a "home laptop" yea, typin on the innernet is fun in bed...but ?

We picked up a 2G Surf for my wife about a month ago. She mainly uses it to do episode guides for her blog (http://www.nofactzone.net). Yes, the keyboard is small. Yes, the screen is very small. For what it is, it does the job well. She'll never use it for anything more than surfing the 'net, so it wasn't worth it to pay more for more computer.

Sorry, I misread your thread title.

Twice.

I have nothing to contribute here.

Same here. Could someone please advise this company to change its name?

I use an Asus laptop for architecture school.

They're fantastic.

ASUS is quality stuff. When I was building a lot of PCs I used ASUS Motherboards and had zero problems. A bit pricey, but good stuff nonetheless.

All interesting stuff. I think I might keep an eye out for used ones. But the reviews of the 2G surf computers seem to indicate that that model is probably a bit too low end for me--fine for surfing, not much else. I think I'd want the next level up, the 4G or the 8G--but I'm a cheapskate.

ASUS makes excellent notebooks. If I buy another new notebook, it will be an ASUS.

My EEE PC 4G with Asus' version of Xandros will be here tomorrow so Ill comment on
it if this thread is still active :)

So... How is it? :)

I'm thinking now I won't buy one. Wife got me a USB keyboard for the clunker laptop, and I'd rather not spend the money. After doing all the looking, I think I want the Eee 1000 sized screen and keyboard and whatnot, with perhaps the 8G hardware, Linux -- but at the 2G Surf price. :lol: The 901 sounds pretty close, though, but as my coworkers have pointed out, at that price level one is paying for size: you could get a better machine for similar money, but in a full sized laptop.

Oh well, it's been fun looking. At the very least now I'm trying to figure out how to play with Linux again.

i don't understand the motivation for a "home laptop" yea, typin on the innernet is fun in bed...but ?

It's easier to take on the road. Once/month I'm at the inlaws for the weekend. I can usually take their PC to surf the web, but it'd be easier if I just stayed on my own machine. Plus, I'd have to find a spot for a desktop. Only place for that is either upstairs, where there is no TV and one of the kids sleeps anyhow; or downstairs in the basement, where it gets chilly in the wintertime. It is nice to sit with the wife in the evening, on the couch, where we can chat and surf the web as "together" time.

So... How is it? :)

I'm thinking now I won't buy one. Wife got me a USB keyboard for the clunker laptop, and I'd rather not spend the money. After doing all the looking, I think I want the Eee 1000 sized screen and keyboard and whatnot, with perhaps the 8G hardware, Linux -- but at the 2G Surf price. :lol: The 901 sounds pretty close, though, but as my coworkers have pointed out, at that price level one is paying for size: you could get a better machine for similar money, but in a full sized laptop.

Oh well, it's been fun looking. At the very least now I'm trying to figure out how to play with Linux again.

It'll be here on Weds :bang:

Issues with the card. We just moved and they wouldnt ship to the new addy.

I was trying to work from a Sony Mylo in hotel rooms but that only lasted one trip :eek:

Im very anxious to get it !

I have had an Asus eee pc900 for about 2 weeks I got it at Amazon for $400. I love it. I have very large fingers, so I was concerned about the keyboard. The only real problem I have had is with the right shift key. I am sure I will eventually get used to it. I am not sure I would want it as my primary computer, but you could probably just plug in a full sized USB keyboard if you needed to do some serious typing.
If you are looking for a computer that is light and portable to surf the web, check email and do light word processing this is the computer for you. If you have thought about getting an Apple Itouch, look at the Asus. If you are a gamer, stay away.

The 9 inch model is due imminently. Also HP have their MiniNote which, according to some review I saw on YouTube, has better build quality (than the 7 inch model).

AFAIK, build quality on IBM (now called, erm, something else) and Apple are amongst the best. I also used (and continue to use) a Fujitsu Siemens laptop which has great build quality. IMHO 7 inch screen really is too small to use as a home computer, but I'm not sure of your circumstances. I know a guy who has the EEE-PC you're looking at as a home computer but he bought it purely for space reasons.

If you go with the Asus, for some reason the black cased ones are constructed
differently and allow for mods with a door on the back if you are so inclined and daring.
The 'Surf' models are a little less upgrade friendly due to some stuff being soldered,
but it can be done.

http://wiki.eeeuser.com/eee_pc_701

I just found (and started reading about) the Acer Aspire One. That's the nice thing about the web: one can do hours and hours of research. Which is a good thing, so as to help avoid a bad purchase.

Get a Asus EEE Box if you're not going to lug it around http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220002

I know a few people running linux on a cheap ASUS subnotebook. They all love it. I've played with it. I think it's a clever machine and would consider it, but frankly weight and power consumption are much worse than something I'd like for that size. I've also seen the small HP that can be bought with linux. It's nicer IMHO, but I hate the keyboard -- I'd plug in a USB keyboard except when on the road.

An eeePC (7" display, 4G SSD, Xandros Linux) here. At home, I usually hook it up with an external display and keyboard. I wanted the Asus because of its small size. The housing would be big enough for a 8,9" screen, so the 7" is bit of an underachievement there. If I were buying it now, I'd rather get the 901 model with the bigger screen.

The keyboard layout could be better. I frequently press arrow up when I mean right shift key. This is the same with 901 I hear. It's not a huge deal.

And FWIW, I have a white model and it has the back door for memory upgrade. I can get new RAM in there (although one needs to upgrade the default Xandros with a new kernel to recognize anything beyond 1GB). The SSD is not user replaceable in my unit.

In short, it's a great machine for its intended use. As far as competition goes, the new Acer is worth a look. The HPs I've seen are more expensive, with a traditional hard disk drive instead of the SSD and therefore much more storage space.

--J