Asus Eee PC to ship with Windows XP
The Asus Eee PC has always been Windows XP compatible, but as various mods have shown, the OS has never been a factory-installed option. Soon, however, that will change.
Asus announced yesterday that XP-based models with 4GB and 8GB of internal flash storage will be available through authorized resellers by the end of March. Pricing has not yet been revealed, so the logical assumption that the new units will just be the current 4G Surf ($349), 4G ($399), and 8G ($499) models stuffed with XP may not necessarily be accurate.
By offering the Eee PC
I'd be very interested in such a device, but knowing price differences im guessing those will start at $6-700 over here in norway, and thats just too much.
Posted by Cptnodegard | 11:58 PM on Jan 17, 2008
As a lifelong MacFanboy, I gotta say that the LACK of XP was one of the factors making the eee so appealing. I'm glad I got mine when I did (although that pink one looks pretty sweet...).
ESPECIALLY since the Air ain' moving me. Looks like I have to wait 'til Air-features trickle down to other models (the MBP line is due for a refresh, yeh?). What's the early word, May?
Posted by Bush -- not related | 07:33 AM on Jan 18, 2008
@ Cptnodegard: Any idea when/if they'll be available there? I didn't know the price differences were that bad (I thought England was notorious for that). Is $700 considered relatively inexpensive for a UMPC/handtop there, though?
@ Bush: The pink one is calling out to me too. I know from my Samsung Q1 (which I sold to offset the cost of the Fujitsu U810) that I don't have room in my life for a 7-inch computer, but I'm getting sooo tempted. Maybe the 2G Surf just for kicks?
The Air doesn't have me begrudging my Vaio TZ either. I wouldn't mind an Apple MID though. Something a little bigger (5-inch screen maybe) and more capable than the iPhone would be great. You're still holding out for the new Newton, right?
By the way, is your Eee replacing anything? Or is it just a companion device you tote around sometimes?
Posted by Jenn | 02:01 PM on Jan 18, 2008
Jenn, Norway is far worse than the UK. I normally order from the UK because it's so much cheaper there. Also, the norwegian krone is so strong compared to euro, pound, dolalr etc now so the difference is even bigger when NOK prices are converted to other currencies. As a comparison, the Nokia N810 is 675-760 USD over here. An ipod touch 16GB ranges from 530-700USD. The PS3's launch price was 1100USD. UMPC's and such aren't really available, maybe because noone can afford them, devices like the Nokia N90 cost 1250 USD, HTC touch is 730USD etc. Only UMPC i could find on the biggest webshop was an ASUS R2E for 1900 USD :/
Posted by Cptnodegard | 02:35 PM on Jan 18, 2008
Hold on. I need to call someone to reattach my jaw, which just fell through the floor and into the living room of whoever lives downstairs.
Wow. I sure hope typical Norwegian salaries aren't equivalent to American ones.
Posted by Jenn | 04:50 PM on Jan 18, 2008
Jenn -- the eee rides in the same bag (thank you, Tom Bihn!) as my office-provided MacBook. It's when I go into coffeeshops/etc that the eee takes over. It's just SO much easier to grab an' go, close and go. It takes up less space on sometimes-small tables and it grabs wireless signals as well as (and occasionally better than) the MacBook.
I also use the eee the most at home when my dearly beloved has grabbed the MacBook to watch her "pro-grams" on ABC.com (which won't play with Linux devices).
I can't make the eee my main machine -- too many things I still need from the world of Mac/Win (thank you, VMWare Fusion!) -- but it's close.
As to what I'm holding out for... yeah, a super iTouch, a lovely clamshell in the 7-10" range, something to replace my beloved Sony Clie' AND my dying iPod(s)... is that so much to ask for?
The reality is, though, that I'm SO enjoying the eee that Apple will have to put something out that REALLY rocks my world to make me buy it. And I never thought I'd say something like that.
As for you, Jenn... Asus indicates an 8.9" screen (in this footprint?) is coming... soon.
It just won' be near the $400 pricepoint.
Posted by Bush -- not related | 05:25 PM on Jan 18, 2008
Jenn, well the saleries are just as high as the prices :3 For students like me you can easily get a job beside school that pays $20-30 bucks an hour, so I guess we shouldnt complain. After all we have the option to buy from overseas!
Bush, does the eee have bluetooth? I've gotten used to cell phone cam -> n800 -> photobucket combo for pics on the run, deoending on eee price i might get one and i would really like to keep using that method.
Posted by Cptnodegard | 10:31 PM on Jan 18, 2008
@ Cptnodegard -- it does not. There are 3 USB2.0 slots to go with the SDHC slot so surely ONE of those could host a USB-based bluetooth device, no?
Also, I believe people owning an eee with pci-e slot have hacked bluetooth in via that port.
For me, I've yet to have a device where bluetooth is of importance to me. And as the main advantage of the eee's tiny size is how easy it is to close and go, having... "Things"... sticking out the side doesn't appeal (don't even want to add an external mouse, despite the fact that I'm totally spoilt by the MacBook's trackpad and find the eee's its weakest point). Wow, what a runon sentence....
Anyway, yes, I think you COULD make it bluetooth, but it's not an option out of the box.
Posted by Bush -- not related | 03:39 AM on Jan 19, 2008
USB BT simply isnt the same, i have a dongle for my pc but im too lazy to use it, its not as seemless. BT is useful if you have the right devices, it's come a long way, like the HID and DUN profiles - those are mighty useful. The samsung P2 is a nice example of BT starting to become useful, as it can pair with a phone and works as handsfree etc.
Posted by Cptnodegard | 04:13 AM on Jan 19, 2008
Not knowing too much about computers myself I was wondering if I could get some advice from people who clearly know more than me.
First off, I was looking for a computer just to get me through uni. I dont really need much beyond ms word and the internet, will having ms office on slow performance heaps? (my current computer is ancient and *anything* slows it down)
Second, I haven't used Linux before, will I freak out and be unable to handle it?
Thanks all!
Posted by Leila | 12:48 AM on Feb 25, 2008