Xandros developed a point-and-click user interface that looks and acts similar to Windows … but easier.
Microsoft Windows would have require a significant amount of storage space on the tiny 4 GB SSD, and the added cost from installing genuine Windows would have added to the final retail price of the Eee PC.ĭespite the lack of Microsoft software the Eee PC is remarkably easy to use. The only problems I encountered with the touchpad was that the small size made it a little difficult to use when moving across the screen, and it was easy to press the wrong side of the single touchpad button (so sometimes a right click turned into a left click).Īsus teamed up with Xandros to develop a customized version of the Linux operating system for the new Eee PC. The touchpad and single button (with left and right “rocker” buttons underneath) are easy to use and responsive. For users who would buy this notebook as their “main computer” in their home or office, a full-size keyboard and external mouse are recommended.
Of course, once I got used to typing on the tiny keyboard the keys felt just fine … but this keyboard isn’t designed to be used as a primary/main computer. This means that passwords get mangled, emails look like gibberish, and playing games that require keyboard commands becomes quite aggravating. The first two days I spent typing on the Eee PC were quite frustrating as the small footprint and tiny keys require you to use a “hunt and peck” style of typing rather than traditional touch typing methods. The keyboard on the Eee PC is very, very compact. Much to our surprise, the keyboard on the Eee PC is remarkably firm, though the keys are small and have a large degree of “wiggle” when pressed. Most low-priced notebooks currently on the market feature poorly built keyboards that show significant flex/bounce when typing pressure is applied. Here is a screenshot I took on the Asus Eee PC of the homepage this is a good example of what you'll see using the Eee PC screen resolution and size. I even found the quality of the colors more than sufficient for viewing movies or You Tube videos. The Eee PC might not have a glossy, high contrast display like most notebooks made in the last year, but the bright and even backlight helps make for an enjoyable reading experience. For the sake of a reference, below is what you can see when you pull up the homepage for : The screen is 7 inches diagonally with LED back lighting and has a resolution of 800 by 480 pixels. True, the more expensive rivals come preloaded with Microsoft Windows XP or Vista and feature a range of superior technical specs … but our review of the Asus Eee PC shows this tiny white titan packs an impressive punch. The next closest competitor to the Eee PC would be traditional ultra-portables like the Toshiba Portege R500 ($2,000) and the Sony VAIO TZ ($3,000). Weighing in at just two pounds and delivering a performance level similar to a full-featured budget notebook, the only notebook that comes close to “directly” competing with the Eee PC is the Fujitsu LifeBook U810 tablet PC … which retails for more than $1,000 at the time of this writing. The design of the Eee PC is something truly unique in the market. In short, the build quality is quite high despite the low cost. Lifting the display cover you find the amazingly small keyboard surface and even smaller touchpad resting below the recessed display and speakers. The case seams match up with reasonably tight tolerances, plastics feel thick (though the pearl-like white plastics look cheap) and the display hinges are molded into body with the battery.
The designers at Asus had no easy task creating an attractive ultra-portable notebook while also making it cheap to produce. Our initial hands-on actually proved it does more than I expected, but the more detailed review below helps explain exactly why I'm so excited about a $400 notebook. Retailing for $400 or less, the Eee PC isn't exactly a workhorse, but it will do just about every basic task you'd need from a laptop. The Asus Eee PC 701 4G is the new affordable ultra-portable notebook that's bound to be on many consumers' Christmas wish lists this year.