Heres something that impressed even this jaded old cynic. A sub notebook, far from a new idea, they've been around for over a decade. Usually horrendously expensive (over a grand is typical) and have never sold in any real quantity since a 'real' notebook computer is far cheaper. This one found its way over here late last year and has sold like hot cakes, basically because its cheap. It has most of the toys you find on a modern notebook computer (Wireless and Webcam) but is cheaper than a 'real' Notebook. Around £220 including VAT.
Its sold as standard with a version of Linux which seems to be aimed at children with big colourful graphics, but its fairly easy to install any PC operating system on it. This one is running my OS of choice (Ubuntu Linux) but it will run Windows XP just as well (You have to buy it yourself though, its not included). One or two small provisos, it has a solid state 'flash' hard drive and no CD/DVD drive.
If you want a small computer that isn't seriously compromised like a PDA or smart phone - Get one.
Its called the Asus EEE PC and is widely available in the UK but is frequently out of stock due to it selling so well.
Posted - 19/01/2008 : 21:42
You can either access it on another computer and transfer the stuff on a USB stick / wireless / network or you can plug an external optical drive.
Its all the rage, Apple's latest Macbook doesn't have an optical drive either and that is seriously expensive.
Posted - 19/01/2008 : 22:17
A notebook is a laptop. They've tried to tone down the term laptop since they can be downright dangerous if you use them on your lap. Modern Lithium Ion batteries used in portable computers can catch fire or explode if their charging circuit goes awry. Not nice if it happens to be on your lap at the time.
Posted - 19/01/2008 : 22:23
Heres a little fun demo of the effect, blowing up LI batteries is one of the mainstays of youtube it seems. Its not common in the real world, but a couple of people have been hurt.
Posted - 19/01/2008 : 22:29
I find it hard to balance my personal digital assistant anywhere. And I can't use it unless I have my glasses on. And it loses files when it runs out of batteries. But I still have fun getting it out at our low tech meetings and writing on it.
Measure with a micrometer. Mark with a pencil. Cut with an axe.
Posted - 19/01/2008 : 22:48
I have to use glasses to see my real computers screen, I sometimes resort to putting on a second pair of reading glasses if I have to work on a PDA
Posted - 20/01/2008 : 00:19
I need a pair of specs to find my specs,then my nurse(the wife)tells me i dont own any specs,it gets confusing sometimes in the Phillips household,hehe....this is like the self combusting granny,they reckon she just sat there and burst into flames,mmm,I think a Woodbine had somthing to do with it,she dropped it on her winciet nighty...
Posted - 21/01/2008 : 12:52
Pluggy, what size (MB) is the flash hard drive and the RAM? And what chip does it have? (Sounds like I know a lot about computers but I don't really!). Is a flash hard drive as reliable as a normal one?
When I had my Varifocal glasses from Specsave a few years ago they were doing a special 2 for 1 offer so I got the 2nd pair made up with lenses for reading glasses. Then next time I got the 2nd pair made up as "computer glasses". For this they give you something set up for the screen distance. I don't know if computer and reading glasses are really different but I certainly can't use my ordinary varifocals for the screen.
Posted - 21/01/2008 : 14:14
Tizer, Flash memory, is totaly solid state and therefore no moving parts, it is considerably faster than a hard drive and came out as the most survivable storage media in the tests that they did last year on Braniac or some similar program. They took a Floppy Disk, Hard Disk Drive, CD Disc, and a USB Flash Memory Stick, and loaded the same material to each device and then subjected them to various extreme "tests".
Dropped from a great height, toasted with a flamethrower, immersed in water, run over by a buldozer and other sundry destructive tests too numerous to mention. They tested the devices after each "attack" eliminating each in turn. The last one standing was the Flash Drive, the casing had spilt of it and it was pretty battered and mangled but they could still retrieve the data that was put on for test. I think the first to fail was the Hard Drive in the very first test when they dropped it onto concrete from the top of a crane.
I and my Son both carry USB Flash drives around with us all day at work. I can vouch for the fact that both of them have been left in pockets and have gone through entire automatic washing machine cycles on numerous occasions without loss of data. The cases are getting a bit faded now but the devices survived.
Although it is very reliable, I suppose the question you should be asking is can it be replaced if it fails? If it is the sole storage medium in the device used to hold the boot files and Operating System, this could be very important.
Posted - 21/01/2008 : 17:01
Ian, that's one of the things I like about OGFB - you always get a high-quality answer! Thanks for the useful info on the flash drive. Is it the same as what I know as a "USB pen", i.e what I shove in the PC to transfer data in my pocket to another PC? If so, I've been unwittingly using flash drives for ages!
I guess it's time to "out" myself and admit that I'm a Linux user, and specifically Ubuntu like Pluggy (Stanley will be getting upset when he sees this - oh no, not more OSiers!). I don't know much about computers or software but my wife and I have been using Ubuntu for about a year now and love it. But it's not for everybody.
Posted - 21/01/2008 : 17:31
Same thing Tizer although probably non removable. It is very resilient but it would be shame to have to scrap the machine just for the sake of £20 of Flash Memory! The other thing to note is that it has a 7" screen, that is roughly one quarter of the size of a standard Laptop or Notebook screen. The entire machine is about the size of a small hardbacked book. Food for thought if you wear glasses for reading or computer use. RM (Research Machines) are pushing the machines for use in Infant and Primary Schools (small machines for small people). By the way, Pluggy and I are both in the same line of work, Network Managers in schools.
Posted - 21/01/2008 : 17:41
A USB drive is flash memory with a USB interface attached.
In answer for the specs of the EEE PC, Its a 900 Mhz Intel Celeron CPU, 512 Mb of RAM and the SSD (Solid State Drive - Flash) is either 2 Gb or 4 Gb depending on model. It isn't replacable. The £220 version is 4Gb, The 2Gb version doesn't have a camera either and is slightly cheaper. The memory is upgradeable and theres not much stopping you putting a SD or MMC memory card in its reader and using that as a Hard disk either to expand or replace the storage. The performance is more than adequate using either the latest version of Ubuntu or its supplied OS (a custum Linux job). It should be OK on Windows providing you don't let it get infested with malware. Running Anti Virus and Anti Spyware will slow it down, but you can't do without on Windows.
Officially I should use 2.5 Dioptre glasses for reading, but they are too strong for normal computer work, I use 1.5 dioptre on the computer, 2 pairs gives 3 dioptre which is good for close work like a PDA.
Posted - 21/01/2008 : 18:12
RM push anything they think they can turn a buck on, I wouldn't deal with 'em if they were the last computer company on the planet. Just my somewhat jaundiced opinion of course.........
Posted - 21/01/2008 : 20:25
I wouldn't want one of these machines myself simply because I don't need the portability and, as you note, my eyesight wouldn't suit it. But it's useful to know about to tell other folk.
The schools round Barlick are fortunate to have network managers who not only know their IT but who also have the wide resources of OGFB boosting their knowledge!
And tell the kids there are other things in the world besides Microsoft and Windows.
The Asus EEE PC
