No longer do you need if you close a room or an office to access the Internet and the main features that a computer offers. The increasingly common combination wireless networks (wireless) with portable devices allows the the use of these resources in any place and at any time. One of the devices that cater to this new need is the line of UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) Eee PC, Asus. These mini-notebooks (sub-notebooks) fell into thanks of thousands of people who need mobility, including in this that you writes.
To help those who would like to purchase a Eee PC, or simply to quench the curiosity of those who want to know more about these “great laptop” from ASUS, I decided to do a review, this is a review of the Eee PC that I have, and tell some the details that surround you.
Introducing the Eee PC
With the various commitments that I have, needed a computer that would allow me to access the apps you need in the most varied places. The first option would be to walk with a notebook up and down, but even the laptops with the smaller dimensions and weights seem like a real nuisance in the transport system. Needed something that would be really, really small and lightweight, but that would allow me to use the main features that I need in a computer.
It was then that, on occasion, I read the news that Nicholas Negropontes, renowned professor of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), announced the project of a “notebook $ 100” dedicated to education children in poor countries. But, to see that it was something light and small, told myself that I would buy one, if the software offered could to serve me. However, shortly after, the subject turned into a fever, and as soon as he heard of the design of the Eee PC, I decided to that was a laptop of this line that I was going to buy. In January 2008, I did it.
Hardware resources
The model that I chose is the white color of the Eea PC 701, which weighs about 920 grams, and up to the closing of this text, it was virtually the only model marketed (via import) in Brazil. The hardware of this version is comprised of the following configuration:
– Processor Intel Celeron M 353 ULV 900 MHz;
– DDR2 RAM, 667 MHz, 512-MB (expandable up to 2 GB);
– Flash memory of 4 GB (in replacement of the HD);
– LCD screen TFT of 7″ and resolution of 800×480 pixels;
– Webcam: 0.3 megapixel;
– 3 USB 2.0 ports;
– 1 Ethernet port;
– Outputs for microphone and headphone;
– VGA output;
– Player cards memory SD/MMC;
– Built-in microphone;
– Wireless 802.11 b/g Atheros AR5BXB63;
– Battery of 4 cells, Li-Ion, 5200 mAh;
– Touchpad with button and screen scrolling;
– Realtek audio ALC6628;
– Video Intel GMA 900;
– Input Kensington lock to secure the Eee PC to a security cable.
In a first moment, this configuration may seem low, but it is enough to run satisfactorily editors of texts, spreadsheets, Internet browser and listen to music. Videos and some games also run without crashing. The same thus, the user who prefer can insert up to 2 GB of memory The RAM on the Eee PC. Note, however, that it is necessary to replace the existing memory module in the laptop, already there is only one slot for this.
The dimensions of the Eee PC (225 × 165 × 21~35 mm) are it takes some time to get used to it. The first thing that cause the strangeness is the size of the screen, only 7″. Those who are familiar with the screens 15, 17, 19 or more inches will surprising enough. The feeling that everything is tight on the screen is visible and only after a period adaptation, where one realizes that it is possible to do many activities with this screen, even having to constantly use scroll bars and moving windows that extend beyond the limits of visualization (for this purpose, it is necessary to press the Alt key and the button left of the touchpad and move the cursor in this one, all at the same time).
The second thing that causes strangeness is the size of the keys. Who have big hands probably you will have difficulties in typing. As this is not my case, I was able to adapt myself well and, in a short time of use, since I’m typing almost in the pace in which I am used to it. In general, the keys are small, yes, but can be considered large for a laptop so small. Unlike other notebooks I’ve used, the keyboard the Eee PC is soft and, at the same time, it is not soft to the point cause the impression that the key loose. Valley to highlight that, up to the time of the closing of this article, the ASUS does not was released no version of the Eee PC with the keyboard layout used in Brazil (and, honestly, I doubt very much that this will happen). This means that the layout of the keys of accents is different and not account with the Í button. More to the front of the text present solutions to this problem.
As is the case in most notebooks, the ASUS Eee PC also comes with special function keys, which should be used in conjunction with the Fn button. If you press Fn + F1, it will with the laptop in sleep mode (stand-by). If you press Fn + F2, the WiFi service will be enabled or disabled. If use Fn + F3, the screen brightness is decreased. Otherwise occurs if the combination down is Fn + F4. If you connect a video monitor or a data-show on the Eee PC, it is possible to display the images on the device by pressing Fn + F5. Press Fn + F6 to activate the task manager (where it is possible to view the processes in progress, and including, “kill them”). If you want to leave the Eee PC temporarily no sound, just press Fn + F7. Use the combination of Fn + F8 to increase the volume of the audio, and Fn + F9 to decrease. The combination of Fn + F11 is quite interesting: she makes the numeric keypad – shown in the photo below – is enabled. Finally, if you need the function Scroll Lock, just press Fn + F12. I should inform you that I have not tested these combinations in Windows XP.
Speaking of the keyboard, I can not forget your companion touchpad, that performs the functions that, on a conventional PC, belong to the mouse. The touchpad of the Eee PC is small. For comparative purposes, barely fit two memory cards SD side by side on top him. This device, however, works very well. Account up to with a scroll bar at the side (just move your finger under the design of this bar to move the scrolling of what is displayed on the screen). Along to the touchpad, there is a button on the metal that makes the times of the buttons of a mouse. Its use is simple:tighten the left-most button to simulate the click of a left button of the mouse (it is also possible todo this by giving one or two rings fast and then followed up on the touchpad). To simulate the right click, just press the more button to right. I got used fast to this scheme, but I confess that I have found the button hard metal too.
Like most of the recent laptops, the Eee PC also has a webcam , by the way, displays a quality imagebetter than many laptops that I’ve used. You can even serve as a “quick-fix” for when a photographic camera you are not in range.
Audio is not a problem for the Eee PC. There is a sound output in the left and right sides, to my amazement, they are able to reproduce audio at a quality very good for such a small device. Obviously, not it is possible to tell with bass reproduction, but for this you can use headphones.
The great “cheap” of the Eee PC, however, is in the question connectivity. The device has 3 USB 2.0 ports and offers a player of SD/MMC cards that compensates for the absence of a HD (also there is no CD/DVD player). This, incidentally, is a component not implemented by Asus for several reasons:cost reduction, economy of battery power (the HD consumes a lot of energy) and reduction of weight.
Still with regard to connectivity, the Eee PC has a VGA output, which allows you to view the contents of your screen a monitor of the conventional video system or in a data-show. Account also with an Ethernet port, to connect it to a wired network. The side of the Ethernet port, there is an entry blocked that, initially, this would serve to connect the device to a modem dial-up access. However, ASUS chose not to provide this feature as standard. It is clear that the Eee PC also has a wireless network (without wire). The standard used is the 802.11 g, and the module is a Atheros. The signal works very well, and in the majority of the cases, it is possible to establish a connection without any abnormality.
The edge to the right of the touchpad features 4 leds: the first indicates the Eee PC is turned on and blinks when it is in stand-by; the second one informs that the battery is being recharged; the third indicates when the Flash memory is being used; and finally, the fourth indicates when the network Wileress is active.
I wrote a good part of this text at the edge of a lake on the site a friend. Obviously, there is not taken at this point of the place, the reason why I had to rely on the battery of the Eee PC to keep it connected. Asus claims that the duration of the battery charge can reach 3 and a half hours. With the purpose of confirm this, timed the time that I got to use the Eee PC on the edge of the lake: 3 hours and 8 minutes. Not bad, if we take into account that I also used the outputs of audio to listen to music. Only to for comparison purposes, it is worth remembering that many of the current notebooks is evil can withstand two hours away from the outlet. Even so, to sometimes it is better to connect the Eee PC in the socket during its use. This is not a problem because your power charger is small, lightweight, and has a long cable (not medi, but it should be about 2.5 meters), increasing the limits of movement of the user.
As there were no available tables at the edge of the lake in that I was, I supported the Eee PC in one of my legs to use it. Hence I was able to assess the degree to which the unit heats up. What can I say about it is that it is not anything too different of the other laptops that are out there. The Eee PC heats up, but not to the point of bothering enough to get it off of lap (at least in my case). Incidentally, a friend of my had the impression that it heats up less than the MacBook that appears by your side in the photo below:
A thing existing in the Eee PC 701, and that, until now, not I had to use it, it’s a tiny hole on the back that serves as a Reset (just to insert an object from thin edge to it). If the device “freeze” or if some adventurer you are willing to make modifications, or testing, this can be a useful resource.
And how could it be, it is also possible to to access the BIOS Setup to check the details of the hardware of the Eee PC, or to change the settings. To access it, simply press the F2 key once the laptop is connected. Is must be fast, because the boot process is completed in a short time.
Software features
Asus have enabled the Eee PC to have as the operating system, a version special GNU/Linux distribution Xandros, in addition to Windows XP. Although the Asus has launched the Eee PC in Japan with the operating system Microsoft pre-installed, the laptop is marketed with the free Xandros. I imagine that is to reduce your price, after all, the Eee PC is accompanied by a DVD that contains, among other items, drivers and tools for Windows.
By what I have seen in forums on the subject, the most users of the Eee PC decides to install the Microsoft system. I, however, chose to keep the Xandros since version used in this distribution is optimized to run on the Eee PC. In addition, its handling is easy and does not require extensive knowledge of Linux to use. Being so, in this topic, I will discuss the features of the software the Eee PC taking into consideration just the operating system Xandros.
When the Eee PC is turned on for the first time, the user must provide some data, such as name and password. When this procedure is complete and the graphical user interface is fully loaded, a screen like the one shown below is shown:
This interface – called Easy Mode – it is quite practical, since it divides the available applications in tabs (tabs), it is easier to find the software you want. As an example, the guide Internet offers shortcuts to the web browser, for the clock application world, for Skype, for settings network, etc. The guide Work contains shortcuts to the programs OpenOffice.org to the PDF reader, for the application of notes, to the file manager, anyway.
The user, however, may have an interest in a interface desktop style, that is, that has a work area with icons and folders, a bar with menus to access the applied, etc. Do this is perfectly possible in Xandros, and this mode receives the name Full Desktop, but requires the installation some packages to be turned on. The procedure, however, is simple, since it only requires an Internet connection and the execution of the following steps:
1 – Open a terminal by typing the buttons Ctrl, Alt and T at the same time;
2 – then type sudo bash;
3 – Then, type apt-get update;
4 – then type apt-get install kicker , and then press the key Y to confirm when prompted;
5 – Now, type apt-get install ksmserver and then press Y to confirm when prompted;
6 – then Type exit to exit the root account;
7 – finally, type exit to exit the terminal.
These instructions were taken from the site DownloadSquad.
When the Full Desktop is fully installed, just click on the Power button On/Off and choose the icon corresponding to to access it, as shown in the following image (if the procedure explained above is not executed, the icon of the Full Desktop does not appear):
When the Eee PC is restarted, it will very likely load the Easy Mode again. If you prefer to leave the Full Desktop as the default, just do the following: in the Easy Mode, go to the tab Settings and select Personalization. In the window that appears, click on the item Full Desktop Mode and give Ok. Then, just restart the portable.
To access the Easy Mode when the Full Desktop is running, just push the Home button (the one that has the drawing of a house) or click on menu Launch and select the option Easy Mode.
Show more customizable and provide resources for what I’m interested in, I preferred to make use of the Full Desktop, but I noticed a problem: all of the files and shortcuts that I created on the desktop sumiam when the Eee PC was turned off and on again. In this link (in English), indicated on page the DownloadSquad, I found a solution to the problem.
As informed in the previous topic, the keyboard of the Eee PC does not it is adapted from the factory to operate in Brazil, reason by which the accent does not happen the way you expect. To resolve this problem, I found the following solutions:
– For the Easy Mode: go to the tab Settings, click in Personalization , and check out if the option Keyboard The Layout is set to English/International. If it is not, select this option and click Ok and Ok again. Go to the tab Work and click Documents. Then, press the keys Ctrl + Space at the same time – a bar with information English/European will appear in the lower right corner of the screen. Close the program Documents (which, actually, is the text editor Writer OpenOffice.org) and, in the task bar (bottom of screen), locate the item Input Method. Click with the right button of the touchpad on this icon, and then on the item SCIM Setup. In the window that appears, go to the Global Setup, select the item Keyboard Layout to Portuguese (Brazil-US accents), select the option Share the same input method among all applications and click on the the button with the ellipsis, in front of the option Trigger. Now, click Delete and click Ok. Click in the option in GTK and in the menu Show, select the option Never. In the lower part of the window, click on the button Apply, Ok and Ok again. Now, just restart the system. This tip was taken from this page.
– Full Mode: click Launch, go to the menu Control Center and choose the item of the same name. Then, go the option Peripheral and, in it, click on Keyboard Layout. In the right part of the window, go to the tab Layout and select Generic 105-key (Intl) PC. In Active Layouts, check to see if the existing option is the U. S. English (US). If this option does not exist, select the in the left box and click Add. Keeping the option U. S > English (US) selected, go to the existing menu in the Layout variant at the bottom of the window (you may need to scroll down to view this part). From this menu, choose the item intl. Click Apply and close the Control Center. Now, the Eee PC should do the accents correctly in the Full mode Desktop. This tip removed from the community Orkut.
After performing these adjustments is that I use the Eee PC for real. The Xandros it comes with a reasonable amount of applications, among them, the Mozilla Firefox browser, the office suiteOpenOffice.org, player video SMPlayer, playing audio Amarok, the e-mail client Thunderbird, the service of VoIP Skype, PDF reader Adobe Reader, the instant messenger Pidgin (compatible, among others, with Windows Live Messenger, and with the Google Talk), in addition to games, educational applications, etc. The environment the chart used is KDE.
Ending
The nomenclature “Eee” comes from the slogan “Easy to Learn, Easy to Work, Easy to Play” (“Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play”). The Eee PC, however, it is also easy to sell! All your portability, its design “sober,” and, at the same time, stylish, the resources it offers and the proposal to reach the most varied public, makes the search for this “remarkable little” it is incredibly large. ASUS, which until then was known almost exclusively for the manufacture of motherboards, saw your name be a reference to one of the most promising segments today: the UMPCs.
And the future of the line Eee PC is promising. At the time this the article was finalized in AbbreviationFinder, ASUS planned to release the models more-over, as the screens 8, 9 and 10 inches, and with sensitivity to the touch! And it is no surprise that this happens. The success the Eee PC has sharpened the instincts of competition, therefore, the Asus can’t get it to stop. The future will be the same laptop!
If you want to see the photos used in this article in size greater, in addition to others that have been discarded for the review, go to this link.
