ASUS eeePC 4G Surf

I purchased this little ultra-portable laptop about 6 months ago and just love it.  It packs a 7″ screen and a 4G compact flash hard drive with wifi, an SD slot, and 3 USB 2.0 ports into a case that weighs less than 2lbs with the 2.5 to 3-hour lithium ion battery installed.  The “eee” stands for “Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play.”

Here are a few more geek details about this laptop:

- Dimensions: 8.86″ x 6.30″ x 0.79″

- Linux OS pre-installed w/Open Office 2.0 and many other Linux programs

- 4 gigabyte, solid state compact flash drive

- 512mb DDR2 RAM Stock (I added another 512 chip to up the RAM to 1gb)

- SDRAM slot for Secure Digital Cards

- WiFi 802.11b/g

- Intel Mobile CPU & Chipset

- 3 USB 2.0 ports

- 10/100 Mbps Ethernet

- 4-cell Lithium ion battery

- No DVD drive

- Rapid start up time (15-20 seconds).  Shuts down in a few seconds as well

For me, this pc primarily been used in a “Easy to surf” role, but I’ve also used it to view divx and MP4 movies and tv shows. I used the pre-installed and very functional Linux software for the first 6 months before I decided to see how this little guy would run with Windows XP Pro.

While the documentation includes a great guide for reformating the small drive for a complete Windows XP installation, I decided to take another route.  I downloaded a copy of nlite, which strips the “unnecessary” drivers and bulky programs that I wouldn’t be using on this system.  My final Windows XP Pro SP2 installation was approx 458mb.  For a great guide on how to accomplish this install, see this post in the eeeuser.com forums.  I ended up with a custom “lite” install of Win XP Pro that contains just what I need.  After downloading the standard MS security updates, Firefox 3.0, and a few other programs, my drive has about 2 gb of space available.  However, a great byproduct of this XP install is that my system boots in less than 20 seconds.  Amazing!

I installed MS Office 2007 on to a 4 Gig SD Card and it runs just fine.    For additional storage, I use several thumb drives or a WD 250gb Passport.

The keyboard is small and it will take a day or two for anyone to get used to the layout.  However, after a few hours of use, you should be able to touch-type without too much trouble.

The wifi on this system has a better range than my full-sized laptop.

For staying connected on the go this one is a keeper.

Here’s some more documentation from the ASUS’ website:

Share photos of your travels without waiting till you get home. Shop the world wide web without attaching any lines or wires. Learn through the latest technology without a technical manual. Play, relax, and entertain on the go with shock-proof design. Connect with friends and family with just a few clicks.

Mobility & Reliability
• At 7″ and weighing only 0.92kg, you can take the Eee PC anywhere.
• Bumps and shocks are no longer issues. With a dependable solid-state disk, you get unparalleled shock-protection and reliability.
• Power-efficient design provides longer operating time when on the go.

Ease & Technology
• With a rapid start-up time, the Eee PC is always ready to get into action.
• No technical manual required with the specially designed, user-friendly and intuitive graphic interface .

Work & Connectivity
• You’re always connected with built-in WiFi 802.11 b/g that automatically detects and connects to the Internet at any hotspot.
• The Eee PC includes the documents and the e-mails software, and a suite of other productivity software to help keep you on track.
• Upload photos and videos and share them instantly on Flickr or YouTube without waiting till you get home.

Media & Entertainment
• Enjoy music and videos with extensive support for a wide range of digital multimedia.
• Log on to Skype or other network, and you can connect with friends anywhere, anytime.
• Clear up wire clutter with the built-in card reader, speakers, and microphone.