ok - there's no point debating why or why I should not have an Eee - i just went ahead and bought it!
given there is a buzz out there about this device - it's fair to evaluate it to the best of my ability so as to have a "balanced" view of the mobile world...
Intention
for the time being...
- fill in the gaps present in my iPhone
- VoIP - temporary mobile Skype device (over WiFi) (includes video conferencing)
- battery life (iPhone will not make it thru the day will serious phone/web use - note: this is not the norm) (backup computing device)
- presentations (VGA out)
- word processing on the run (most likely Google Docs)
- give me freedom to carry a notebook around and leave my macbook home
- promotes Well Being (I still have a sore back - good news is my back is getting stronger thru yoga)
- reduces loss of my "central" device (thanks to Edward, while in bootstrap mode, one's primary laptop "acts" like your desktop in your Home Office)
- reduces loss of a more "expensive" device (thought money is not really the issue...)
- promotes a low "profile" - less of a need for bags that can carry a full-sized macbook (flexibility in configuration)
- get me back on the Linux bandwagon! (Xandros distribution) (continue to be operating system agnotic in the spirit of Web 2.0)
- set up a surprise ;-)
Shortcuts
- Ctrl + Alt + T - brings up a Terminal prompt
Gripes
- seems a bit sluggish at times... (don't know where the lag is coming from occasionally...)
- keyboard cramped but probably more annoying - require a lot of pressure. this is a huge difference after touch typing on my macbook
- Thunderbird doesn't play a sound when new mail arrives
- Skype 2.x not factory pre-installed and/or configured. you have to manually enable the web cam.
- doesn't seamlessly switch from wired to WiFi (and vice versa)
- if you remove icons from the "task bar" - they come back when you relogin.
- when i went to play videos I had taken on my SD400, the sound was screechy and horrible. pictures were fine. slideshow tad bit slow.
Defects
- "screen blanking after 5 minutes" is a profile option. Sometimes it doesn't work.
- current hypothesis: plugging the AC cord and not acknowledging the balloon that pops up in the status bar.
- other than the password you define when you configure the system, don't put a password on "personalization" You won't be able to login and I had to resort to F9 to get back to factory install and start over again. Good thing I use this thing primarily as a NC (network computer)!
Heads up
- battery life is not on par with a cell phone although on par with a laptop. turn off WiFi when you don't need it...
- If you are a die-hard mac user, just like any other device, you should be aware you'll have to "recontextualize" and get used to the keyboard when "out in the field". In this manner, the radical change in UI on the iPhone is refreshing in this respect - you don't really need to think about it!
- space on the 1st gen model is 4G - about 1.2G free in the Linux config. I won't play with WinXP just yet.
- outside of the fact that the dopod 815 is a Windows-based device - it appears to have more potential (not to mention more compact) (it was only 6 months ago it was 3x the price of the Eee! now it is 2x)
- I am eagerly awaiting Google's Android device!
Explore
- cellular data network connectivity - esp high speed data networks in Japan
- using a WiFi service like Boingo on the run (in Bangkok and Tokyo!)
- issue: global plan only supports 2 devices (ie. main laptop and mobile device (ie. iPhone) - this makes sense.
- possible workaround: get D-Link USB dongle to work (DWL-G122) (h/w ver: C1) (f/w ver: 3.00) (P/N: IWLG122SG.C1G)
- driver on Mac OS X 10.5.2 that works: RTUSB D2870-1.0.1.0b_D71w-1.1.7.0c_D2500-1.1.3.0 UI-1.4.8.0_2007_11_26.dmg
- Ralink Linux drivers
- community thread inquiring if this is possible (no definitive response as of May 8, 2008)
- ack: intention to buy new 3G iPhone which will begin to eliminate need for WiFi on my mobile device (probably leave laptop @home!)
Expansion
- if you want to upgrade memory: DDR2-400 (200 pin) SO-DIMM module (1GB is max Xandros kernel on 701 support out of box)
- "DDR2-667 module which was previously in my 701" (article)
- doh! sounds like there is a model with a SIM slot for "3G connectivity"
Configuration
- Thunderbird
- IMAP Google Mail
- configure "new mail" sound to /usr/share/apps/korganizer/sounds/icemag.wav
- upgrade to Skype 2.x for video conferencing
- Favorites
- Firefox add-on: Distrust
- WiFi - local access point
- A cacophony of ASUS Eee Linux PC tips and tricks - nice article that in particular, explains how to enable the full desktop of KDE!
Uptime