Geeks have been really into the Asus EEEPC as of late. This is a small form factor PC that takes advantage of a low power processor, a custom Linux distribution, cheap flash memory, and a small screen. The end result is an ultra cheap ultra portable laptop. Originally this product was supposed to cost 200 dollars. Now it costs 400 and 500 dollars for each of the versions.
Take a look.
So is it good enough? I don’t think so, and here is why. First, this unit has a number major flaws. Thats alright though, those flaws were easily overlooked for the 200 dollar price tag. The target market was geeks who wanted an easily portable PC that could do extremely basic functions for very little money. Well, they got two of those three right.
Now we have a 400 dollar PC, that can browse the internet, and do basic functions, runs linux, and is portable.
Sounds to me like a Nokia N810… sort of.
The Asus offers a faster processor, and a more traditional keyboard layout. The N810 offers GPS, blutooth tethering, instant on (vs very fast on), high build quality, and is more portable. The screen resolutions are even very similar.
The Asus lacks… a full sized screen. Look at it, for an already super small device, why on earth would you not make the screen fill up all of the available space! Its an insult! Its stupid! It just makes the users ask themselves why Asus neglected to give them a full screen, especially when they are paying twice the original price.
They are however, very different form factors, for two different things. I am merely comparing feasibility and execution, packaging can be done either way fairly easily.
Asus, close… but you need to refine a few things, give it a full size screen, blue tooth tethering (necessary on such a mobile device), and better battery life… or an optional longer life battery. I would not be surprised if there is a bit of a recanting of all the EEEPC hype when the owners of it finally start to get offended by the black real estate surrounding their screens as they constantly scroll around web pages.
