Ultra Cool Gadgets

The Asus Eee PC 1000 provides the power of a full-sized laptop in a compact body with an extra-large 10.2-inch screen, and is now powered by the latest Intel mobile processor. Designed specifically for mobile devices, the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor uses a brand new design structure new hafnium-infused circuitry–which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors–to conserve energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. Coupled with the ASUS exclusive Super Hybrid Engine, you’ll also enjoy up to 8 hours of battery life with this Linux-powered laptop.
The new Eee PC 1000 has a customized, cutting-edge Infusion casing technology in Fine Ebony. Inlaid within the chassis itself, the motifs are an integral part of the entire cover and will not fade with time. The Infusion surface also provides a new level of resilience, providing scratch resistance and a beautiful style while out and about.
It’s also equipped with the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine for automatic detection and adjustments of CPU frequency, voltage, and LCD brightness to minimize system noise and power consumption to save up to 15 percent power consumption, or to maximize system performance according to individual needs.

Specifications

Internal memory: 40 GB solid state disk
RAM: 1 GB DDR2
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom
Memory expansion: Slot for MMC/SD(SDHC) cards
Operating system: Linux
LCD: 10.2 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels
Networking: Tri-mode Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), 10/100 Fast Ethernet
Peripheral connectivity: Three USB 2.0
External video: One VGA
External audio: One headphone and one microphone port
Webcamera: Yes, 1.3 megapixels
Battery: 6 cells, up to 8 hours
Weight: 2.93 pounds (47 ounces)
Dimensions: 10.5 × 7.5 × 1.5 inches

Customer feedback:

1. My EEE PC 1000 40G just arrived today. In the past hour I’ve managed to unbox it, plug it in and power it up, connect it to a secure WiFi access point, create a Google document, sync all my Firefox bookmarks from my other computer, and log into a secure system at work - and this is the first time I’ve ever used Linux (though computers are my day job.)
I was worried the 1000 would be too much larger and heavier than the original 700 model, but the difference is barely noticeable. What I DO notice is how much easier it is to type on the 1000’s keyboard, and how pleasant it is to be able to view a typical 1024 pixel wide Web page without having to scroll sideways to see all of it.

2. I have had my eee for about a month now and really love it. The screen looks absolutely great. Native resolution is 1024×600, which is more than adequate for most stuff. The built in speakers are also surprisingly good. MP4 movies and MP3s play and sound great on this little guy. The keyboard is a reasonable size and very workable compared to the earlier versions of the eee. Network connectivity is good. It seems to connect to most Wifi hotspots very well. Although, it is slow making the initial connection. The power brick is also very lightweight which is a nice surprise. It comes with 1 Gig of Ram which should be more than adequate for most people. I upgraded to 2 gig with no issues. Also, the hard drive is solid state, no moving parts.
The OS uses Xandros Linux which is a Debian variant. The User Interface is not customizable unless you know a little bit about Linux or are willing to learn. If you do know a little about Linux, its pretty easy to tweak. All the tools you need for a traveling NetBook are there. Firefox 2.x, Thunderbird 2.x, Skype, Open Office 2.x, Terminal/Shell, File Manager, a media player (MP4 movies play great), and MP3 Player. The MP3 player has a funky UI, but it works with my iTunes library just fine. I just had to copy the files over and put them in the eee’s music folder.
Only a few negatives that I have run across. The fan seems to run a lot which is kind of odd since it has a solid state drive. The right shift key is very small and on the wrong side of the arrow key. This messes up touch typists. Inserting or removing USB devices while the NetBook is on may cause it to lock up. It works find with USB Drives and Mice as long as they are connected with the machine powered off.

The ASUS Netbook Eee PC 900HA offers more options to users for unique user experiences. Long hours of battery life, built in high speed connectivity and exclusive 10GB file-encrypted Eee Storage with easy accessibility makes it the ideal traveling companion for outdoor activities. The 8.9 display provides comfortable viewing, and a full QWERTY keyboard makes for easier typing and relaxing usage. Built-in camera ensures users stay in touch with the important ones. User friendly XP pre-loaded. ZBD Guaranteed for best quality LCD. Content includes Eee PC, battery, AC Adapter, Sleeve Case, Manual and Recovery CD.

Product Summary details:
SHINY BLACK,8.9 INCH TFT WIDE,1024X600 (WSVGA),INTEL MOBILE CHIPSET,INTEL ATOM N

Technical Details:
- XP-Preloaded with 160G large HDD.
- ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and 4 cell high density battery pack allow for longer battery lifespan. Super Hybrid Engine offers a choice of performance and power consumption modes for easy adjustments according to various needs.
- High Speed Connectivity Anywhere with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g.
- Exclusive 10GB Eee Storage with easy accessibility anywhere online.

Get the power of a full-sized laptop in the ultra-compact ASUS Eee PC 2G Surf, which offers a full QWERTY keyboard, 7-inch screen, and preinstalled Linux operating system. (This laptop is also compatible with the Microsoft Windows XP operating system.) You’ll be able to stay connected to email and the Internet easily thanks to the Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g). Because it uses flash memory instead of a hard drive (with 2 GB of storage), the Eee PC is optimal for weathering rough handling and sharing space in overstuffed bags. This 2 GB Surf model does not include an integrated Webcam. With a rapid start-up time, the Eee PC is always ready to get into action.
The 2G Surf comes in a number of colors: blush pink, galaxy black, sky blue, and lush green. For the students and professionals, the Eee PC comes with a powerful selection of software to maximize personal productivity–over 40 built-in applications. The Open Office suite of software enables the user to open, edit and create documents, presentations, spreadsheets and databases that are compatible with Microsoft Office. For journalists, photographers and other professionals who need to use a computer in the field to create, to communicate and to collaborate with other colleagues, the Eee PC’s combination of power, extreme portability and rugged build makes it the ideal computing solution.
It’s also a great choice for young students, with a built-in Dictionary that’s great for homework, and it includes two modes of intuitive graphic user interface design to accommodate both experienced and inexperienced PC users. The Eee PC also handles your digital images, movies, and music as well as Internet radio.

Specifications
Internal memory: 2 GB solid state disk
Memory expansion: slot for MMC/SD(SDHC) cards
RAM: 512 MB DDR2
Processor: 800 MHz Intel Mobile CPU
Operating system: Linux (supports Windows XP)
LCD: 7 inches, 800 x 480 pixels
Networking: 54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), 10/100 Fast Ethernet
Peripheral connectivity: three USB 2.0
External video: one VGA
External audio: one headphone and one microphone port
Webcamera: no
Battery: 4400 mAh
Battery life: up to 2.8 hours
Weight: 2 pounds (32 ounces)
Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches

Customer feedback:

1. This little PC is a very nice light travel tool. It is between a PDA and a laptop computer. It will do most of what you expect a business / web pc to do. The browser installed is Firefox. Most of the web tools are just links to web pages in firefox. Just about anything you can do in firefox you can do with the eee pc on the web. I have surfed to several web pages. Most of them sized themselves satisfactorily for the 800×480 screen. You can get more screen real estate by pressing F11 which hides most of the toolbars (this works in any browser, not just firefox on the eee). I increased the default text size a bit.
Open Office is a great office app package. I had no trouble opening and using word, excel, or power point documents. It saves in the microsoft office formats by default. If you want to try this package just google “open office”. It is free and there are versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux. I was pleased to find that the draw program is included. There is no desktop shortcut for draw, but it is available by using the new document button in any open office program.

2. First off, if you’re considering the EEE, please understand that an Ultra Mobile PC is not the same thing as a laptop. Perfomance and size-wise, this little guy lives somewhere between a laptop and a PDA. The keyboard and screen are smaller than the smallest laptop you’ve seen, if you’re looking for a laptop to run Vista on, Dell has a $400-$500 model that will likely suit your needs.
The pre-installed, Xandros-based Linux OS can be run to look more like a PDA interface, but it also has an ‘advanced’ mode that basically reverts to a classic-looking desktop environment. It will work with MSOffice docs right out of the box, has built in 802.11 wireless with web functionality and (while it lacks a CD/DVD drive) it has plenty of removable storage thanks to an integrated SD card reader and USB ports.
If you’re really gung-ho about installing XP, you can do so (even on this lower-end model). There is already a large community springing up around this UMPC on the net, and tutorials ranging from installing windows on a separate SD card to running Halo on this little guy are already out there. I would emplore any user anywhere to try out Linux, though. Aside from 3D gaming, Linux will do everything Windows does, except faster and 100% free.

The Asus Eee PC 900 provides the power of a full-sized laptop in a compact body with a larger 8.9-inch screen. Even with the larger size of the Eee PC 900 when compared to the original Eee PC, the new model weighs just over 2 pounds–perfect for students toting to school or road warriors packing away to Wi-Fi hotspots. And because it uses flash memory instead of a hard drive (with 16 GB of storage), the Eee PC 900 is optimal for weathering rough handling and sharing space in overstuffed bags.
Other features include a 1.3-megapixel webcam integrated into the bezel above the LCD, a Secure Digital memory card slot, Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g), multiple USB ports, a VGA output for connecting to a monitor, and 1 GB of RAM. It comes preinstalled with the Linux operating system, and it’s also compatible with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system. For the students and professionals, the Eee PC comes with a powerful selection of software to maximize personal productivity–over 40 built-in applications. The Open Office suite of software enables the user to open, edit and create documents, presentations, spreadsheets and databases that are compatible with Microsoft Office. For journalists, photographers and other professionals who need to use a computer in the field to create, to communicate and to collaborate with other colleagues, the Eee PC’s combination of power, extreme portability and rugged build makes it the ideal computing solution.

Specifications
Internal memory: 16 GB solid state disk
Memory expansion: Slot for MMC/SD(SDHC) cards
RAM: 1 GB DDR2
Processor: 900 MHz Intel Mobile CPU
Operating system: Linux
LCD: 8.9 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels
Networking: 54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), 10/100 Fast Ethernet
Peripheral connectivity: Three USB 2.0
External video: One VGA
External audio: One headphone and one microphone port
Webcamera: Yes, 1.3 megapixels
Battery life: up to 3.5 hours
Weight: 2.2 pounds (35 ounces)
Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.7 x 1.33 inches

Customer feedback:

1. Asus markets this computer an easy, excellent, and exciting computer to use. They are not wrong with this piece. I own the 701 model and have purchased this one because for the same price as my 701 model ($400), I am now getting a 1.9″ larger screen, double the memory, four times the storage space, better resolution, an improved webcam, and a better touchpad. I use the EEE when I’m laying in bed and when I travel. With all the things that go with me on travels, the last thing I need is a computer deadweight. It is light, compact, and fits in woman’s mini backpack purse (or larger sized purse). I don’t even notice it with me, and carrying the computer is no longer a hassle.
While the 900 model does not have the new Intel Atom chip or the longer battery life, it does work quickly to boot everything I want to use it for - IM’ing, web surfing, and email. I also have the ability to do work with Open Office, which has drivers compatible to Microsoft Office. Hence, transferring files is easy. As a bonus I did not expect, the Linux version includes some perks - such as a music manager (for a small library of my mp3 favorites to play), games when I’m bored, Internet Radio, and handy references tools (e.g., dictionary). I chose this version over Windows because of the quicker boot and everything ready to go. With the Windows XP version, the only included software is Microsoft Works. In addition, with the 901 and 1000 series, the weights and prices of the EEE start to increase, and go against my inexpensive convenience. It looks as though Asus repackaged this model line because its “new life” was only one month before the 901 came out.

2. Technical points:
1GB RAM is still a lot. Windows XP were designed when 1/4 of a GB or less was common, so on 1 GB it runs like a breeze. Unless you have about 10 programs running, there should be no need for the system to swap between RAM memory and the disk - which is where the disk write speed could make a difference. The Linux system has disk swapping disabled and I would do the same on Windows XP if I decided to install it. If you get a low memory warning from the system you can always close some program, but you can have a lot of programs open before this happens with 1 GB of RAM.
You can also disable the cache in the Firefox web browser to speed up the web browsing.

The Asus Eee PC 901 provides the power of a full-sized laptop in a compact body with a larger 8.9-inch screen, and is now powered by the latest Intel mobile processor. Designed specifically for mobile devices, the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor uses a brand new design structure new hafnium-infused circuitry–which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors–to conserve energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. Coupled with the ASUS exclusive Super Hybrid Engine, you’ll also enjoy up to 8 hours of battery life with this Windows-powered laptop.
At half the size of regular notebook and weighing less than 2.5 pounds, the Eee PC 901 is perfect for students toting to school or road warriors packing away to Wi-Fi hotspots. And because it uses flash memory instead of a hard drive (with 12 GB of storage), the Eee PC 901 consumes less power, allows the device to boot quickly, produces less heat, and is less susceptible to shock damage. The Eee PC 901 also features 1 GB of RAM, 1.3-megapixel webcam integrated into the bezel above the LCD, tri-mode Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n), integrated Bluetooth connectivity, Secure Digital memory card slot, multiple USB ports, a VGA output for connecting to a monitor.

Specifications:
Internal memory: 12 GB solid state disk
RAM: 1 GB DDR2
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom
Memory expansion: Slot for MMC/SD(SDHC) cards
Operating system: Windows XP Home
LCD: 8.9 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels
Networking: Tri-mode Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), 10/100 Fast Ethernet
Peripheral connectivity: Three USB 2.0
External video: One VGA
External audio: One headphone and one microphone port
Webcamera: Yes, 1.3 megapixels
Battery: 6 cells, up to 6 hours
Weight: 2.42 pounds (38 ounces)
Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 1.5 inches

Customer feedback:

1. The Pros of the 901:
- Uses the Intel Atom processor. Though the Atom doesn’t produce significantly more CPU performance vs. the previous 900 model’s Celeron M 353, it does use much less power. So you’d be looking at similar CPU performance, but with much better battery life AND runs cooler.
- With the Atom comes also a 2nd generation graphics chip in the GMA950 (vs the 900’s GMA900). The 2 big advantages of this are; the GMA950 has a peak pixel fill rate of 1600 megapixels per/second (the GMA900 has a peak of only 1332 megapixels per/second) and more video-decoding is now done in hardware on the GMA950. Combine those together and that means windows will open faster and watching videos will be smoother.
- Uses a Solid State Drive (SSD) for storage. SSD technology means; no moving parts (much less chance of bad things happening and dead silent operation), performance is at least on par with hard drives, and SSD uses less power.
- Has a nice big Trackpad. Unfortunately the default drivers for it leave a LOT to be desired. Luckily though, if you install the manufacturer’s drivers instead (search google for “elantech touchpad drivers”) then the functionality is INFINITELY better with options like multiple-finger tracking and night-n-day difference in tracking sensitivity.
- 1.3 megapixel Webcam. The 900 has 0.3 and a few competing models also only have 0.3
- Built-in Bluetooth. Nice option if you use BT GPS or use your BT phone as an internet access point. Or whatever you’d like to use BT for.
- Wireless-N (802.11n). If you’ve got it, you’re gonna fly. If not, it’s there when you’re ready
- Free 20gb online storage provided by Asus.
- 6 cell battery (4-8 hours). Some of the competitors come with only a 3cell
- SD Card reader slot that’s flush. Along with SSD getting larger in capacity and cheaper all the time, so is SD Flash memory. 32gb capacity SD cards are already coming out and with the card being flush it’s almost like a miniaturized, super-steroided Floppy Drive!
- Has a dedicated button for operating the “Super Hybrid Engine” option. This basically adjust the speed of the CPU up or down to conserve power or gain performance.

The Cons of the 901:
- I’ve got big hands (I wear XL gloves) so I’m hit the hardest by the petite keyboard. I’m also a typer so it’s going to be a bit of a learning curve to adjust to using the 901. Smaller hands will probably adjust much easier.
- No CD/DVD drive (no using it as a portable DVD Player). Not that big a deal for me really, I usually watch DivX videos (which can just easily be copied to an SD card for viewing.

2. I’ve had my Asus Eee 901 (black with XP) for about two weeks now, and am very impressed.
I had followed the news of the Eee for several months, but had assumed that it was a “cheap” (i.e. poor quality) computer. Then, about a month ago, I met someone who had the Eee 900, and saw it first-hand. It did not give the impression of being a cheap computer. It looks and feels like top quality.
Now that I have been using it, I’m even more impressed!
I travel a LOT, and have long been a fan of ultralight computers. I had a Sony Vaio T350P for several years and recently replaced it with a Fujitsu Lifebook P series (which I also love!) The Lifebook is great for around town… it has a 12 inch screen, 7 hour battery life, and weighs 2 1/2 pounds… but for travel I am always looking for something smaller.
From my experience so far with the Eee 901 it seems almost perfect. It comes with 12 gig of solid state memory (no worries about hard drive problems… (a TSA inspector recently dropped my Fujitsu on the floor at an airport! Fortunately it was not damaged.)
The Eee has a 4 gig “C” drive for the system, and an 8 gig “D” drive for programs, plus a SDHC slot that can function as an “E” drive for documents, music, etc. I put all my programs on D, and have a 16 gig HDSC card for an E drive. This gives me a total of 30 gig, which is all I will ever need for a “second” travel computer.
The Eee has a comparable battery life to the Vaio and the Fujitsu ultralights, which is about 6-7 hours of normal use. The screen is small, but sharp and easy to see. The weight is less than the Sony, but about the same as my Fujitsu, at about 2 1/2 pounds.
The speed is great. Runs my Powerpoint presentations (with lots of graphics) with no problems. I put some movies and music on it, along with MS Office 2007, & Paint Shop Pro… and all work great. It even has a webcam for face-to-face on Skype!

A great productivity companion that will keep you connected to email and the Internet, the ultra-slim, palm-sized ASUS A626 PDA stands out from other PDAs on the market. Weighing just over 5.5 ounces, it features a brightly colorful 3.5-inch anti-glare touchscreen LCD and durable, fashionable stainless steel case. In situations where utilizing a notebook is more hassle than convenience, the A626 will help you stay productive and connected with its Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and 54g Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g) for downloading email and surfing the Web in both corporate and coffeehouse environments.
With ASUS’s user-friendly Remote Presenter application, the A626 can also be easily utilized to remotely link and control presentations on a computer via Bluetooth. And since all data is stored in flash memory (128 MB ROM with 64 MB SDRAM), your most important data remains saved even if all battery power in the handheld has drained away. You can expand the A626’s memory vie optional Secure Digital (SD) memory cards.
The Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC operating system includes the Microsoft Office Mobile suite, which features Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile. Meanwhile, the File Explorer application makes it easy to browse the files. It also supports Windows Media playback right out of the box. With Windows Media Player, you can play streaming and downloaded video and audio content in a variety of formats. You can also keep favorite tunes loaded on a memory card and listen to your music wherever you roam. With its front-mounted speakers, it plays a variety of popular video and audio formats (MP3, WMA).

Specifications

* 312 MHz Marvell XScale processor
* 3.5-inch TFT LCD touchscreen with 65k colors, 240 x 320-pixel resolution (QVGA)
* 128 MB Flash ROM and 64 MB SDRAM
* 3.5mm earphone jack
* Integrated microphone and speakers
* Full duplex recording and playback
* 1200 mAh removable/rechargeable battery
* Dimensions: 2.8 x 0.6 x 4.6 inches
* Weight: 5.57 ounces

Customer feedback:

1. Well, coming originally from Pocket PC 2002, I was interested in seeing what was added/changed in Windows Mobile Edition 6. (WME6)
For one thing, it’s more Vista like in it’s loading bars and in it’s resource management. On initial boot, it is already using half of the available RAM, leaving only about 34MB for your programs to run in. Conversely, my PPC2002 device had 64MB, and the left about 42-48MB for program storage and usage. Also, with this device, Windows and your programs are actually stored in the built in flash, Although it has 256MB (probably 248MB or so once converted), only 174MB is available to the user. However, it does come with a lot more, which justifies the OS becoming much larger.
My PCC2002 was a light version to save on memory, so word didn’t even have spell check. Well that is there now, excel now does graphics, and there is a power point viewer. Additionally, there are built in drivers and settings for WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. They have also added Transcriber, a new way to write, which I’ll give more detail on later.

2. I have had my ASUS for two months now. Battery life is great and I have never had to reset it–both constant problems with the TX). The screen is clear and easy to read. It comes with a very nice slip holder–not the cheap kind you get with other PDA’s. It has a very nice solid feel to it and is easy to hold. The bundled software is Windows Mobile and I was able to adapt to the change from a Palm OS system. I have found that there is a wide choice of outside vendor programs to download on Handango.com. Enough to meet my needs. (Reviewers of PDA’s often promote the Palm because it has more software available) If you want a great PDA without a phone get the ASUS. You won’t regret it.

This motherboard supports the latest Intel® Quad-core processors in LGA775 package.
LGA775 Socket Intel Quad-Core
- NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI + nForce 430i
- 1333**/1066/800/533MHz (** available when CPU is supporting 1333MHz FSB)
- Dual Channel DDR2 800/667/533 MHz
- 5 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s (including 1 x SATA On-the-Go) 8 USB 2.0
- 2 IEEE 1394a connector onboard (1 in back + 1 on board)
Customer feedback:
1. Good Price, Good layout, high quality components, good on-board audio, SLI support, BIOS flash via USB, worked immediately with no problems…
2. Overall this is a good value board. As a new system builder I had no problem getting this board installed and running. My only problem came with memory compatibility. After several days of suffering through blue screens that prevented me from even getting a clean Windows install I switched out the pair of Corsair 2GB 240 DIMM non-ECC DDR2 RAM (TWIN2X2048-6400C4) Dimms with some plain jane Kingston PC6400’s and everything ran smoothly the first time. I talked to one of the guys at frys and he indicated that he had talked to at least one other person who had the exact same problem with low-latency ram on this motherboard.

Product details:

* LGA775 Socket Intel® Quad-Core/CoreTM Extreme/Pentium D /Pentium 4/Celeron CPU processors
* NVIDIA nForce® 650i SLITM
* 1333/1066/800/533MHz
* DDR2 800/667/533, Max 8 GB
* Q-Connector making quick and accurate connection r eliminating the trouble of plugging in one cable at a time

Overclocking, performance, unique features, and rich software bundled are the 4 basic commitments to R.O.G (Republic of Gamers) members. Striker Extreme provide a detailed BIOS option for enthusiast tweaking, 8-phase capless power to ensure the SLI performance reliability, and the unique gaming features, such as LCD poster, EL I/O, Onboard LED, Onboard button, …etc. Once you use it, you would love it.The Republic of Gamers consists only the best of the best. ASUS offers the best hardware engineering, the fastest performance, the most innovating ideas, and welcomes the best gamers to join in. In the Republic of Gamers, mercy rules are only for the weak, and bragging rights means everything.
Customer feedback:
This product is replacing an EVGA 680i that I had to RMA because it stopped working. This ASUS board has given me no problems and I have been using it since September! Yes with the EVGA board you might be able to OC a bit higher, but I prefer the heat pipe solution on the ASUS these 680i boards have to be kept COOL, especially the Mosfet Areas! Highly Recommended, and it is not only me that recommends it, but also HP is using it on their new BlackBird 002 Gaming PC’s!

Product feedback:

* 1+SATAII
* 6 2 External SATA 3
* 2 (x16 in SLI Mode) AUDIO AD1988B-8CH PCI 2 PCI-EX1 PCI x 1:1 PCIE x 8:1 Raid “NVIDIA RAID 0,1,5
* 6, ATA133
* 1 Silicon Image RAID 0,1: SATAII

Get the power of a full-sized laptop in the ultra-compact ASUS Eee PC 4G, which offers a full QWERTY keyboard, 7-inch screen, and preinstalled Linux operating system. (This laptop is also compatible with the Microsoft Windows XP operating system.) You’ll be able to stay connected to email and the Internet easily thanks to the Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g), and communicate via video chat and VoIP with the Webcam integrated into the display’s bezel. Because it uses flash memory instead of a hard drive (with 4 GB of storage), the Eee PC is optimal for weathering rough handling and sharing space in overstuffed bags.
The Eee PC comes with a powerful selection of software to maximize personal productivity–over 40 built-in applications. The Open Office suite of software enables the user to open, edit and create documents, presentations, spreadsheets and databases that are compatible with Microsoft Office. For journalists, photographers and other professionals who need to use a computer in the field to create, to communicate and to collaborate with other colleagues, the Eee PC’s combinati on of power, extreme portability and rugged build makes it the ideal computing solution.

Product features:

* Integrated Webcam
* Ultra-compact notebook with full QWERTY keyboard and 7-inch display
* Powered by 900 MHz Intel Mobile CPU and pre-installed Linux operating system (compatible with Windows XP)
* Over 40 built-in applications for learn, work and play
* 4 GB solid-state flash memory drive; 512 MB RAM; 10/100 Fast Ethernet; 54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
* Connectivity: three USB 2.0; VGA output; microphone and headphone; Secure Digital card reader
* 7-inch wide color TFT LCD with an 800 x 480-pixel resolution (WXGA)
* The Eee PC measures 8.9 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches, and it weighs 32 ounces

Customer feedback:

1. The laptop comes with `kid-friendly’ user interface, but can be easily switched to `advanced mode’; which is essentially KDE. You get 1.4Gigs free of flash memory, and using apt-get, can install (among other things): gcc, jdk, vim, apache, php, mysql, audacious, firefox, etc. (ie: anything a linux user might want). RAM is a limitation — as far as I know, there’s no swap partition, so if you have a bit too many things running, you’ll get weird coredumps from time to time.
Doesn’t support WPA2 out of the box, otherwise wireless (with WPA) works just fine. Webcam is pretty sharp and clear (on par with midrange quickcams), and microphone is pretty useful.
Processor is fast enough to play xvid video full screen (from flash drive—though it’s not like you’ll be storing too much of that on that small disk). I’ve read about folks playing Quake3 on it. The screen resolution for external (vga) output is pretty decent—used it with projector.
Recognizes external drives without problems. Automounts stuff, etc. For a linux box, I’m actually quite surprised that “everything just works” (unlike my desktop—that takes pain and struggle to get stuff working).
2. I have been waiting for the eee pc since I saw a blurb about it in, of all places, Vogue. They were pushing it as a computer that fits in your clutch, and since I travel a lot, I was salivating.
I am writing on it now, and I am just thrilled with it. It does indeed fit into my purse (it’s about the size of a small-ish notebook or journal) and my wifi connection worked right away when I opened it up. I’ve been using the battery for about 2 hours so far and it’s still at 40% power, so that looks promising.