Asus Eee mini-notebook user report

The following was posted on the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section listserv.  It may be of interest to readers of this blog:

"A few weeks ago there was a listserv thread about computer operating systems which included mention of the Asus Eee mini-notebook computer that sells for $299 to $399 depending on configuration.  At that time, the only operating system available pre-installed on the Eee was a distribution ("distro" in geek-speak) of Linux call Xandros.  Liz Sadowski reported that the Eee was discussed at the ABA TechShow in Chicago, with one expert saying the Xandros Linux version was just fine and another advocating installation of Windows XP. 

Anyone interested in the Eee now has the option to order it with Windows XP (Home, unfortunately, not Pro) pre-installed.  Best Buy is selling an XP Home version of the Eee on its web site and soon in stores for the same $399 price the 4GB Xandros version sells for. 

A few weeks ago I received my Xandros-based 4GB Eee.  The first thing I did was install the KDE Advanced Desktop that comes with Xandros Linux (instructions at various places on the Web).  In Advanced Desktop mode, Xandros looks and operates just like XP, but much faster.  If you are comfortable with XP, you will have no problem with the transition to Xandros.  The built-in Thunderbird email program works much faster than Outlook does on my main desktop computer or on my nearly new ThinkPad full-size notebook PC.  The writer and presentation modules of OpenOffice on the Eee open, edit, and create Word and PowerPoint files that move seamlessly back and forth between the Eee and my main desktop computer.  I used the Eee for a PowerPoint presentation at a recent school meeting.  And the Firefox web browser seems at least the equal of Internet Explorer. 

But my favorite application has been the Skype voice over internet protocol (VoIP) application.  I left my ThinkPad at home and took only the Eee on a recent trip from Florida to Lansing for oral argument in the Court of Appeals.  I used Skype to call home and elsewhere using the Wi-Fi connection at my hotel.  The Eee has a built-in web cam that allows you to add video to the call if you are calling a Skype account on another computer.  But you can call any telephone (cell or land-line) in the U.S. and Canada for a flat fee of $3 per month by upgrading to Skype Pro.  I did that and have been very happy with it.  Because a single Skype account can be installed on multiple computers, I installed the Windows version on my ThinkPad and desktop as well.  When I am working from any of my computers, I can make or receive calls (using a Gigaware USB headset that was $10 after rebate at Radio Shack) by double-clicking on a contact in my Skype phone list (Skype will import your Outlook contacts automatically, making them available for click-based dialing).   I was so impressed that I obtained a dedicated incoming telephone number for my Skype account (yes, that means my computers have their own telephone number) for only $24 annually as a Skype Pro add-on. 

Getting back to the Eee, Skype works fine using the built-in mic and speakers, but for privacy and to avoid disturbing others, the same USB headset that works in Windows on my ThinkPad and desktop PC works perfectly on the Eee (which has three USB ports, a video out for PowerPoint presentations, and a SD card reader).

The Eee is very small for a notebook PC.  Typing on its keyboard takes some getting used to.  But after only a short while, I was able to touch-type at a decent enough speed to create and edit Word-compatible documents and deal with email.  Unless you intend to type massive briefs while away from your primary computer, the Eee is a near-perfect travel companion.   The Xandros OS has a built-in function that lets me connect to and remotely control my desktop PC from anywhere I can find an Internet connection.  So if I need to run software that is Windows-only, I can do it remotely and see the info on the Eee's screen.  This requires enabling Windows Remote Desktop on your main PC or installing the free VNC (virtual network computing) software widely available for download at various places on the Web.  And when at home, the Eee connects easily to my wireless Windows network and can transfer files back and forth with my desktop PC or ThinkPad quickly.   

I also added a Targus mini-mouse because I hate touchpads.  It is also very small, but greatly eases getting around the Xandros desktop on the Eee.  It came with a drawstring pouch.  The pouch and mouse fit easily in my pocket.

I have not yet been able to connect it via Bluetooth to my Treo smart phone to obtain an Internet connection where there is no Wi-Fi (like I do with my ThinkPad), but that is probably due to my unfamiliarity with Linux.  I am sure I will figure it out soon.  There is a free program available for download that sets up the connection automatically if you have a GPRS-based cell phone (AT&T, for example), but mine is a CDMA phone from Verizon (Sprint is also CDMA).  I may ask the author of the program to modify it to work with CDMA phones. 

Overall, if you are looking for a very small notebook PC that will do just about anything you need to do while away from home or office, the Eee can be highly recommended (especially considering that it costs less than some PDA's).  The Xandros version works great for me.  But if you are wary of trying a new OS (even one that looks and works like Windows XP), you can now get an Eee with XP pre-installed for the same price here.  But with XP's greater RAM demands, you will want to upgrade the RAM to 1 GB (about a $25-$30 cost) to keep the performance acceptable.  There is a door on the bottom of the Eee fastened with two small screws.  Open it, pop out the stock 512 MB module and pop in the new 1 GB module and you are all set.  There is an excellent Eee user group on the web if you have questions about the Eee."