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Laptops have pushed desktop PCs ever closer to the dole queue recently, but the flipside is that many are now complex, juice-guzzling beasts. Fans of the open-source operating system Linux have been calling for a small, cheap alternative for blogging on-the-move – and it’s finally arrived in the form of the Asus EeePC 701.
The EeePC is an astoundingly cheap, 7in UMPC which packs 4GB of solid-state storage and some surprise goodies in the form of Wi-Fi, 3G support and an SD card slot. On paper, it punches well above its price bracket and, more surprisingly, is an equally tough nut on the road.
Hit me as hard as you can
The EeePC’s case is solid – tougher than you’d expect a thing in this sort of price bracket to be. It’s pleasingly compact, too, giving you the happy feeling that only comes from holding something with genuine heft, and comes in five colours: white, black, and pastel shades of pink, green and blue.
The keyboard’s as flimsy as you find in most ultraportables – but that’s the only downer, and overall it feels like the perfect portable blogging machine.
Open the EeePC up, though, and your heart drops a little – that 7in screen isn’t as big as you’ve been imagining. Browsing the web sometimes feels like reading Hotmail through a letterbox, plus a few of the applications require scrollbar-fiddling to use. Still, we reckon it beats the hell out of trying to update Facebook on a Nokia 6600.
Linux is okay, really!
There’s no need to fear the absence of Windows either. The Eee PC’s tuned Xandros Linux distribution is totally user friendly – mainly because it’s a good clone of XP. It is, basically, a phone-like icon-driven system, broken down into simple groups of software – Internet, Work, Learn, Play, Settings and Favourites.
If you’re really worried about having 100 percent compatibility with PC versions of your important files, you might have to stick Windows on it, but it won’t be half as fast.
Also, the likes of iTunes won’t work on Linux, so you won’t be able to use this as a multimedia hub or to feed your iPod. The built-in media player promises to play most formats, though.
Open source heaven
Its apps nevertheless do a good job of mimicking the Windows staples. OpenOffice deals with Word docs, PowerPoint and Excel files, although the supplied SMplayer and Mplayer movie apps wouldn’t play DivX files. Firefox also comes as standard, and it’s not some rubbish mobile version either – it’s proper daddy Firefox.
Handily, the Eee PC will also run any Linux-compatible app, and the open-source community has been busy – there are thousands of freebie programs. Try www.softpedia.com for starters.
All the holes you’ll need
You’d expect a cheap laptop not to bother with stuff like Wi-Fi and Ethernet – but it does. And it happily connected to our Buffalo Airstation G54 first time, although it had a habit of not reconnecting when coming out of sleep mode, forcing a reboot. But with three USB ports, an SD card slot and 3G card support, it’s punching well above its price bracket.
Every PC toy we threw at the Asus worked right away. Wi-Fi set itself up in seconds, memory cards and digital cameras just worked, and everything we plugged into its unnecessarily generous three USB sockets was recognised first time. There’s even a VGA-out socket for hooking it into a proper screen, should you demand more than seven inches.
In short, the EeePC is a geek’s dream and our new favourite toy. You’ll need to spend a few more bob on extras like a Asus’ 3G card and a decent-sized USB flash drive to fully exploit its potential, but that’s a small price to pay for one of the world’s coolest laptops.
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Tech Specs
- Battery life
- 3 hours
- Dimensions
- 225x165x21mm
- Ethernet
- Yes
- Memory card slots
- Yes
- Memory card type
- SD
- Operating system
- Linux
- Screen size
- 7in
- Storage
- 16GB
- USB 2.0
- Yes
- Weight
- 900g
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
Comments
meck73
3 years ago
The previous two comprehensive user-reviews have covered the pros and cons of this UMPC as it arrives out of the box - I simply wanted to add a couple of points to illustrate the flexibility of this machine to any would-be-buyers.
I purchased my 701 primarily as a work-tool - but since then it has developed into so much more. I have upgraded its RAM to 1Gb (2 minute job) and use a 160Gb Western Digital ext.slimline hard-drive for storing all my media and work docs. I am able to carry all of this in a shoulder-bag with no real thought that I am carrying a laptop - my old 13"macbook was much more noticeable. I am now in the process of buying a usb-powered slimline dvd-burner to add to the package I carry around - even then I guarantee it will weigh no-more than a medium-sized Filo-Fax with docs.
I have used Windows, OSX and now Linux - they all take a little getting used to but its always fun to experiment with new things and you quickly get to know your way around. Linux has demonstrated itself to be very user-friendly - indeed I felt it was very similar to the technology I was using when I 'Jailbroke' my Apple-Ipod-Touch'.
I have enjoyed tweaking the 701 to just the way I want - most noticeably enabling the advanced-desktop UI - it now looks just like my windows-pc desktop at home. My bluetooth dongle took a little encouragement but got there in the end - and there are plenty of internet sites with EEEpc enthusiasts to help. I have continued to be amazed at the performance of my 701 - I recently installed 'DEFCON' ..the game. It runs flawlessly. Amazing.
The 701 wins my best-gadget purchase award for 2008 - would I buy it again? ...ABSOLUTELY!!!!!...although....mmmmm...that 901 looks mighty tempting... ;-)
Pheesh
3 years ago
Being still quite new in the market, the Eee PC, at least in my opinion, is one valuable product.
it's lightweight (0.91KG), compact (Just a little bigger an A4 paper if you to half) and answers all the needs that a UMPC user could ask for.
One of the best features, it is ready-to-use outside the box. When I first turned on my eee pc, I could start using it right away.
Also, you have all the stuff you really need to start working or enjoying media - you can view pictures, watch movies and create or open the normal office files from word, excel & powerpoint.
Actually OpenOffice is a great free program that offers quite about everything that Microsoft Office has to offer, and the best part is that it is already installed and ready to use on the eee pc.
The built-in camera in the 701 eee pc is also nice and the quality seems more than fair, although I didn't find a way to use it using the preinstalled Messenger or Skype. If there is a way, I didn't find it. There is however way to record yourself in video and save it using the camera's software.
The keyboard is quite small. It might take a while to get used to it, mostly because the keys are very close to each other unlike a normal keyboard where there are spaces between each two keys. Nevertheless, I got used to it quite fast, and now I'm using the eee pc for my studies and I'm taking it to lectures - quite handy.
It also comes with a wi-fi option, which is working great - I already checked and I could connect to one of my neighbours network who didn't encrypt his connection (lol!).
There is also a built in mono-microphone and 2 speakers on the sides of the screen. You have an option to plug in headphones or a microphone if you don't want to use the built-in one.
The screen is indeed small, maybe too small. Asus could definately make it bigger if they would remove the frame around it and perhaps find another place for the 2 speakers on the sides of it - taking too much space from the screen. It takes a while to get used to tinyness, but I like it compact anyway.
You might think that a 4G hard drive is too small, and you are right. However, there is an SD card slot on the right side of the computer. I ordered a 8G one along with my eee pc, so now i have 12G which is enough for all my needs. When inserting the SD card, it doesn't stick out, so you can leave it there without worrying your eee pc will bump into something and the SD card might break or damage the card slot.
If you need the eee pc mostly for documents, emails and presentations, like me, then you should find 12G of space enough. You can always buy a USB stick or an external USB hardrive if that's not enough.
Software:
You also get a calander program, a couple of linux games, a dictionary, messenger, skype and some more.
If you don't like linux, you can always install WinXP instead - you even have directions on the eee pc manual.
Pros:
Cheap, lightweight, funky and sweet look, easy to use, works great.
Cons:
Processor a bit weak, only 4G hard drive, the keyboard and screen are small - takes time to get used to.
Conclusion: If you are looking for a compact, easy to use (out of the box) lightweight and a very affordable portable computer then this is definately one of the best choices. It gives the most for your hard earned cash.
The Bear
3 years ago
I guess this product has been difficult to source and many people either haven't got their paws on one yet or are waiting for the rumoured higher spec models. However I assume they might come with a higher price tag.
The price of £200 is a bargain and this is just what I've been looking for for years. I use it for work on the train and liesure on the move. It's Open Office software is completely compatible with Office and i've had no problems with any of it. I'm female and have smaller hands than some gadget freaks but I find the small keyboard easy to use.
Wifi connects easily though I tend to use it for that in the house, lying on the sofa and not outside but it has worked fine there too. It streams BBC progrmas and news fine including live rugby, it laso shows youtube no bother. Only occasionally I've come across stuff it wont play (dreaded Itunes films for a start) but shows other films fine.
I intend to take it to the US in May where they have wifi round every corner but can then also use it to look at my photos as we travel.
All SD cards/USB drives, including a Western Digital external hard drive have worked fine and it's connected to a projector for presentations no problem too.
Mobile Broadband is probably the main issue for many potential buyers and I haven't looked at that yet. it's just not my main use. Some forums have said the 3 usb modem just plugs and plays but I haven't got one so cant say for sure. Might give it a go sometime.
If you want something light for your bag with office and media features and light on your pocket this is the job.