Posts Tagged: ASUS

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10
Dec 08

Netbooks – What are they really designed to do and for whom?

Today, I demo’d the original EeePC from Asus and the new Dell Mini 9. These Netbooks and all the others on the market from nearly a dozen companies have the following characteristics in common:

  • 9″ or less screen size (there are some 10″ screens, but I start to put those in the category of ultra portable notebooks instead of netbooks)
  • All cost less than $400 and some less than $300
  • Weigh less than 3.5 pounds (anything over that weight goes into that ultra-portable category). Many of the netbooks weigh closer to 2.5 pounds.
  • All have small keyboards – between 70 and 80% of normal size keys
  • All have wireless capability to connect to wi-fi hot spots
  • All have a minimum of 3 USB ports and 1 SD card slot

Depending on the netbook, you might find these differences:

  • Some are pre-installed with Windows XP
  • Some are pre-installed with a version of Linux customized for the small platform and screen
  • Most come with 4-20 GB flash memory for the hard drive, thus requiring less weight, power, and space.
  • Others come installed with an 80-160 GB hard drive.
  • Many of the netbooks, but not all, come with a decent webcam built into the lid.

What functions and uses are best performed on a netbook?

  • Traveling. There is no better current option for portable computing as a traveler than a netbook.
  • Email. Some people feel that smartphones like a Blackberry or iPhone are sufficient for traveling and they work quite well, but for responding to lots of email and comfortably composing and reading those email, a netbook makes a lot of sense.
  • Skype video phone calls. You can’t make video phone calls in a hotel, campground, or coffee shop with a smartphone.
  • Word Processing and spreadsheets. You won’t write a novel or build a complicated multi-sheet spreadsheet on a netbook, but you certainly can edit and view them on one.
  • Digital photography while traveling. Install Picasa on one of these little gems, and you can use it to download, view, and email your photos easily while traveling.
  • Maps. The screen is small, but much bigger than a cell phone and makes looking up destinations and info about them convenient.
  • Games. Sure, you can get your solitaire fix or play a number of online games on them.
  • Music. Using an Internet music site like Pandora.com works well on these devices…providing you have an Internet connection.

What is a netbook is NOT designed to do?

  • Replace a desktop computer. They are too small for long periods of use…your hands and eyes will cramp up before it does.
  • Replace a laptop for those who need to travel with full office capabilities and proprietary programs installed to perform work and travel with large amounts of data.

Who can make the best use of a netbook?

  • Because of their flexibility and portability, I think anyone with an interest of staying connected while traveling would be happy to have one of these netbooks.
  • Anyone who wants to stay connected but doesn’t want to carry 7-10 pounds of computer and has no need for that kind of expense, upkeep, and bulk associated with a laptop.
  • Someone who recognizes that these units do have small screens and keyboards and respects that trade off for its portability.
  • Children. Since netbooks are pretty durable (especially the Linux ones), inexpensive, and yet powerful, students who could use their own computer to compose short documents, learn to use email and the Internet, and play with their digital cameras make good candidates for a netbook.

Where can you get a netbook?

Any number of retailers now carry them or you can click on these netbooks listed here for the ones I recommend.

  • Acer Aspire One – $325

  • HP Mini Note- $299

  • Asus EeePC 900 – $320

  • Asus EeePC 1000HD – $360

  • Dell Inspiron Mini 9 – $375

    • Hardware Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 18 Comments
    14
    Nov 08

    Netbooks are NOT made for Windows XP or Vista

    EeePCOne year ago, ASUS started a fire storm of new computers that now go by the name of netbooks with the release of their EeePC.  I wrote about this subject just a few months ago, but with the holidays approaching and netbooks are high on gift giver’s radar screens so I want to explore netbooks a little more in depth.

    Netbooks make attractive gift giving ideas for a few reasons:

    • They are inexpensive; usually cost less than $400.
    • They are extremely portable (2-3 pounds).
    • They are cute.

    Here are some facts you need to know about netbooks:

    • Netbooks run on an Intel Atom processor that has roughly half the power of a typical laptop Intel or AMD processor.
    • Netbooks utilize a very basic graphics system.
    • Maximum RAM  is 1 GB (very few exceptions)
    • Hard drives are usually solid state flash memory ranging from 4-16GB. More expensive models have small hard drives with up 160 GB of space)
    • Screens are no larger than 10″
    • Keyboards are 80-90% of a typical laptop keyboard.
    • They do not have CD or DVD ROMs.
    • Prices range from $300-700
    • Most have built-in web cams
    • All have wi-fi capability and Ethernet as well
    • Some models run a Linux operating system, some Windows XP, and a few attempt to run Vista.

    Netbooks are in no way meant to replace a desktop computer or even a laptop. Instead, netbooks are designed to be used as a second or third computer for traveling, Internet or email access in another room of your home, light word processing or document creating/editing, making Internet phone and video calls, instant messaging, and even listening to music.

    Because netbooks run on tiny batteries and less powerful processors, trying to run a large operating system like Windows XP and especially Vista is completely impractical. Windows XP with all its updates and service packs and security software requires a strong processor and a minimum of 512mb of RAM or 1 GB of RAM on a slightly older processor. Also, Windows XP, and especially Vista) require above average graphics processing to function with any oomph. Vista barely crawls on dual core processor with 1 GB of RAM and is completely useless on a netbook.

    Linux, on the other hand, can be completely customized for a less powerful computer like a netbook and doesn’t need to be burdened by excessive updates and security software. This makes Linux a perfect fit for the netbook Plus, Linux laptops come pre-installed with complete office compatibility, games, multimedia software and more…all things you need to spend extra for with a Windows install plus you need to have an external CDROM to install all of these things on a netbook since it has no CDROM.

    If you are in the market for a netbook for yourself or to give as gift this Christmas, by all means go for it. I love my little Asus EeePC and think they make the best travel companions and work great for getting a small amount of work or email done while watching TV or sitting outside. But know up front their purpose and don’t expect more from them. Here are my recommendations when shopping for a netbook:

    • Do NOT spend more than $400.
    • Get one with a Linux operating system, NOT WINDOWS.
    • Make sure it has a built-in web cam. You will like having the ability to make video calls while on the road.
    • Purchase a 4-16GB extra SD Card for storage, but realize that it isn’t meant to be storage machine.

    If all this still makes your head swim a little, here are my top 5 netbook suggestions (in no particular order):

    1. Acer Aspire One – $325

    2. HP Mini Note- $299

    3. Asus EeePC 900 – $320

    4. Asus EeePC 1000HD – $360

    5. Dell Inspiron Mini 9 – $375

    Again, keep in mind that netbooks are not meant to be a replacement for a desktop or a full-time laptop, but an adjunct to them for traveling and quick access to a computer. If you already own a netbook, leave a comment below sharing how you use yours and what your experience has been with it.

    Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 Comment
    4
    Sep 08

    New Dell Mini laptops


    Introducing the Inspiron Mini 9. Starting at $349.

    Dell has joined Everex, Acer, HP, Sony, and the ground breaking Asus Eee PC in the arena of the netbook. Netbooks are small laptops with a screen of 9″ or smaller and a weight of less than 2.5 pounds. They all run on either a form of Linux or Windows XP. The Dell Inspiron Mini (click the picture above to buy or read more about them) is Dell’s entry into this increasingly crowded and popular market. Remember that these netbooks are not for everyone, but they fill a niche for frequent travelers, train or bus commuters, and computer users who want an inexpensive yet capable second computer.

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    8
    Aug 08

    Asus started a whole new trend

    I just returned from visiting my brother and his new baby and traveled, again, with only my phone and my Asus Eee PC. As usual, the little laptop did not disappoint. I was able to keep up with email, work with my spreadsheets and word processing documents and do other web research as well. All from a little marvel that cost less than $400 and weighs less than 2 pounds.

    Asus was the first to release a successful mini-laptop last fall (the Eee PC), but since then an entire new genre of laptops has been born now known as netbook. Netbooks have lower power processors, smaller screens, wi-fi capability, and small hard drives, but offer almost all the functionality many computer users require…especially while traveling. Asus has released a couple more models since then, and HP, Acer, Dell and others. Type the single word netbook into Google or Wikipedia and see for yourself what this new genre of laptops has to offer. These are low cost, high function, portable machines that offer much to any computer user looking for a light weight travel computer. I suggest staying with the versions that install Linux as the operating system, but these laptops also provide one of the last methods of obtaining a Windows XP computer.

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    12
    May 08

    Eee PC 900

    The new ASUS Eee PC 900 is finally available in the United States. Like its release earlier this year in Asia, the 900 version is selling like hot cakes in the U.S. too. I have been using the 4G version of the  original ASUS Eee PC since November 2007 and wrote a few articles about it that can be found here. I originally bought it to try it out and see what all the fuss was about, but quickly became attached to its ultra portability and usablity.

    The main differences in the new 900 model versus the older model are a larger screen (9″ vs. 7″) and a larger hard drive (20 GB vs. 4-8 GB). The larger screen brings a higher resolution which will make working with some web applications easier and require less horizontal scrolling. The hard drives are solid state (no moving parts) flash drives. These little gems aren’t meant to completely replace your computer or main laptop…although they could. The target market is travelers, kids, and computer enthusiasts who wouldn’t mind a second computer for traveling or for kid’s web surfing and document creation. The keyboards on these machines are small, but easy to adapt to with a little practice.

    The Eee PC’s I linked up in this article come pre-installed with a Linux operating system. Which means, you won’t have to worry about installing, configuring, and keep updating anti-virus and anti-spyware software. However, if you must have Windows, the Eee PC also released the same Eee PC 900 version with Windows XP and a 12 GB solid state drive (the drive is smaller to make up for the cost of Windows). Once you see one of these little marvels and see it properly demonstrated, you will realize how functional they really are for a significant segment of the computing population.

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    21
    Apr 08

    Think twice before your blame your computer’s manufacturer for problems

    “What brand of computer do you recommend?” is one of the most common questions I get asked. My answer is usually, “It really doesn’t matter as long as it is a name brand and has the specs that you need.”

    I often hear comments like, “Our first computer was a Dell and we constantly had problems with viruses and spam,” or “I’m never going to get another HP, this one just locks up and crashes all the time.”

    Most computer problems I see every day have nothing to do with the parts they are made up of. Most home computer problems are software related – not hardware.

    Viruses, spyware, bulky updates, too many programs running in the background, or a combination of any of the above slow a machine down and cause all forms of undesired effects. No matter what company made the system, the only feature that can be blamed is the software.

    The fact that one computer performs better than another could be due to many factors and none of them have anything to do with the brand on the outside. Firguring out why one machine works better can come down to basic scientific testing.

    Before blaming the manufacturer for the problems (or worse, the store you bought it from) analyze the entire situation.

    Have any of the people using the computer changed? Adding a single teenager to the mix or having an employee who surfs for porn in his spare time can be catastrophic to a system.

    Is all of the sofware the same on each computer? Comparing a Windows 98 computer to a Windows Vista computer is not a true comparison. Compairing how well your old computer ran with Netscape 4.7 verses the new computer running IE 7 has nothing to do with the manufacturer of the computer.

    Do you use the computer the same? Maybe that old reliable computer was only used for bookkeeping and documents, the new one may be used for music and digital photos. Multimedia is tough on processing power and memory.

    There are lemon models of computers, but once you open the hood on most computer brands you will find many similarities. They all use standard Intel or AMD processors. Most use AOpen, Asus or other brand name motherboards. The video chips are made by ATI, Intel or NVidia or another name brand. The drives are made by Seagate or a few other name brands, the optical drives are made by one of five OEMs.

    Typically. she only real differences are how the BIOS is programmed, the outside shell and the name on the outside. In fact, many computer companies today produce computers for several other manufacturers. HP and Compaq are  the same, Gateway and EMachine are the same and even Dells are sometimes built by companies that OEM for other manufacturers.

    I have never made any secret of the fact that brand loyalists get on my nerves. It is a mistake to base everything you know about a company’s products (bad or good) on a single product. You must let the company prove that it’s products are terrible as a rule – Norton security software is an excellent example of this.

    There are also bad companies that see the light and change their ways – or at least become less bad, AOL is an example in that scenario.

    Technology changes and evolves faster than anything the earth as ever known, forming any opinion about a company or product and refusing to change it will always come back to bite you in the end.

    We would not be suprised to see Norton clean up their act and become a recommended product one day. On the other hand, as much as we love AVG, we may one day tell everyone to steer clear of it. Being  willing to always keep an open mind to new products and technology is what makes technological progress possible

    Riding Shotgun with Adam — 6 Comments
    22
    Feb 08

    Help! My laptop has been stolen – No they didn’t catch the bad guys

    Before I get a bunch of comments about the news story on the bad guys who were caught, it doesn’t appear to be the same bad guys at the moment. My stuff was not in the initial find and the dates don’t match up.

    Maybe the bad guys know each other, but until the police contact me with a find, I am assuming that my laptops are still out there.

    Yes, both my laptops were stolen out of my car last night. One was an Averatec with tons of stickers plastered on the top cover, the other was my Asus Eee PC. There was a lot of other stuff in the bag, but nothing that I can’t replace.

    I just thought I would put out an APB just in case someone in the Grand Junction area has a relative that might be rummaging through cars in North Grand Junction looking for cash to pay for their healthcare needs.

    P.S. If you are the bad guy and you are reading this, post a comment and let us know how you like Ubuntu and the Eee PC.

    UPDATE: No, my car was not locked last night. Typically I lock it, but for some reason (probably that I got home late last night after the show) I didn’t lock it last night. I also usually bring my laptop in and charge my Eee PC at night. But, again, not last night.

    As it turns out, my business insurance that I have to cover any electronics excludes laptops. Now I know.

    It looks like I will be doing my digital photo classes on a 4-year-old laptop with 512MB of RAM for another few months until I pay off the one that got stolen.

    I wish thank everyone who has sent flowers and sympathy cards. Your thoughts are much appreciated.

    Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 Comment
    28
    Dec 07

    Week #3 with my Eee PC

    eee PC My daughter is out driving around with a driving instructor, and I took the opportunity to visit a local coffee shop and use my Eee PC. Asus announced their intention to release a small computing device that is too small to call a laptop, but too large to call a handheld device earlier this year. They started selling them in October. After watching the hoopla for about a month, I decided that the unit is too compelling not to give it a try.

    I have had the unit for three weeks now and use it when I’m working with clients and at night when I watch TV and work at the same time. The computer uses a modified version of Linux and boots in less than 40 seconds. It connects to the Internet either through wi-fi or Ethernet and can even create and read Microsoft Office compatible documents.

    Needless to say, after three weeks, I think I will hold on to this little gem. Traveling with it will be much more convenient than hauling around my laptop and all its heft. The easy access to the web and quick bootup and shutdown times make using the device easy and fast. I never question whether I have enough time to boot it up and check my email or look up a phone number or even look at the latest Woot.

    The Eee PC isn’t for everyone, but for computer users who travel a lot and want quick, solid access to their email, the web and even some occasional spreadsheet and document creation, the Eee C fits the bill admirably. Watch for more tips and pictures of this little marvel in the weeks to come. In fact, I plan on doing all my CES coverage in Vegas this year with only the Eee PC!

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    1
    Nov 07

    ASUS Eee Laptop PC released today

    Remember how excited I was yesterday when I talked about the $199 PC from WalMart? Well, I’m equally excited today with the official release of the ASUS Eee Laptop starting at $299!

    This little gem promises to unleash a whole new genre of what I want to call Internet Appliances 2.0. I’m hoping to get my hands on a review unit soon, but in the mean time, read this thoroughly written article from Dave Altavia at hothardware.com.