Asus Eee: Buyers report in

[tom61]

Definitely post a review when you get yours vb_master (and any one else that gets one.)

I'm increasingly considering this notebook, as my P1120 is still down and the going price for replacement P1120s is actually rising! One of the recently ended auctions of a P1120 went for $375! For $25 difference I'd go with the EEE. Also, I may be able to get a fair price for my basket of P1120 parts(which it has been reduced to,) which would offset the cost of the EEE. Though, I wouldn't sell the P1120 until I had at least attempted to hybrid the screen and touch panel with the EEE.

Edit:
Wow!
Internal (30GB) 1.8" drive installation!
http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/mikelpn_EeePC/
http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=1775

A hardware hacking community is already building, a huge difference compared to the P1120 community where I couldn't find a take apart guide or even the type of RAM chips used in it.

[vb_master]

My Eee running a really thinned out XP install (less than 600MB when installed). It is currently running amazingly well!

[Kurt_]

I still say it's a chick computer. Fits nicely in your purse, doesn't it VB?

What's wrong with a small laptop (12")? It has a reasonably small screen (you can still read small text, and run it on full resolution, if you so desire) and is more powerful.

[vb_master]

I still say it's a chick computer. Fits nicely in your purse, doesn't it VB?

Actually it can fit in one of my pockets.

[bicostp]

<img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b271/ ... educto.gif">
"It's so... perfectly... tiny!"



How's the size and build quality? Personally Is typing fairly comfortable? How about battery life?

Depending on the amount of real RAM it has, you could disable the swap file and save some space. Also do all the regular stuff like disabling system restore and setting the recycle bin really low if you want to save space. (2 gigs is a little tight in my opinion.) If there's more stuff you want to chop out of XP, try XPlite.

[Triton]

I still say it's a chick computer.

thats like saying "ipods are for chicks, real men carry boomboxes" or some crap, makes no sense, personally i would be very inconvenienced by a 12" laptop as it would not fit in my binder for school (really more like a messenger bag that binder) but my 10" lifebook fits perfectly!

[vb_master]

How's the size and build quality? Personally Is typing fairly comfortable? How about battery life?

Depending on the amount of real RAM it has, you could disable the swap file and save some space. Also do all the regular stuff like disabling system restore and setting the recycle bin really low if you want to save space. (2 gigs is a little tight in my opinion.) If there's more stuff you want to chop out of XP, try XPlite.

Asus build quality as always. Feels solid. Typing is hard, transitioning from a full size desktop keyboard. Battery life is extremely good.

The pagefile is set to 256 MB since I only has 512 MB of RAM (I should get a 2 GB stick for it). System restore has been disabled (removed the damn thing by nLite), recycle bin is at 10% but I don't store stuff in there?!

I will also be deleting the $NtUninstall*$ foldes from \WINDOWS along with deleting all files and folders from \WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Can you think of anything else that Windows XP downloads to free more space? One thing I noticed was that the Realtek HD Audio drivers take up more than 40 MB, I can easily stop the utility from running at start (saving 20 MB of RAM) but I don't know if I can remove the files for it all together. The same goes for Synaptics touch pad driver.

[teraflop122]

I'm definitely leaning towards getting one of these now, for a couple of reasons:

1) 2G models with retail at $299 next year.
2) Ram can be upgraded* (dreaded fear #1)
3) Internal HDD mod as seen above (dreaded fear #2)
4) "Everyone else was doing it. I just wanted to fit in." -Bender

*Ok, the specs say the ram is non-upgradeable. The disassembly pics seem to show your everyday, slot mounted laptop memory. So, is it upgradeable or not?

Edit:

Also on the bottom is a centrally located panel...The panel cover enables replacement of RAM

Nevermind.

[benol]

My Eee running a really thinned out XP install (less than 600MB when installed). It is currently running amazingly well!

What's that on the desk to the far right? A GP2X? A WonderSwan?

[vb_master]

*Ok, the specs say the ram is non-upgradeable. The disassembly pics seem to show your everyday, slot mounted laptop memory. So, is it upgradeable or not?

Asus lies. The RAM is most definitely upgradeable. You can put in a 2 GB stick, but in the default Linux OS, only 1GB will be used. In XP, all 2 GB will be seen and used.

I think this laptop will be pretty popular, so there will probably be some Chinese manufacturer marketing a solution to put a HDD in. Besides, you could just buy a big SDHC and plug it into the reader and install the OS to the SDHC card.

What's that on the desk to the far right? A GP2X? A WonderSwan?

PSP Slim in silver.

[Triton]

if this had a trackpoint and 1024x768 i would be buying one right now lol

[bicostp]

Can you think of anything else that Windows XP downloads to free more space? One thing I noticed was that the Realtek HD Audio drivers take up more than 40 MB, I can easily stop the utility from running at start (saving 20 MB of RAM) but I don't know if I can remove the files for it all together. The same goes for Synaptics touch pad driver.

Try setting the Recycle Bin to 10 MB (or 2-3%). That's more than enough for documents and images. 10% of 2 gigs is still about 200 MB. (I'm not 100% sure but the recycle bin seems to set aside a chunk of drive space just for itself regardless of how much you put in it.) Also try running in Windows Classic mode, but turn on shadows under the cursor and desktop icons. That usually perks most slower machines up. (Windows Classic mode isn't as shiny as its Technicolor bretherin, but damned if it isn't fast!)

Black Viper has a long list of Windows services you can safely disable.
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

As I said before, XPlite is great for ripping out junk you don't need and forgot to remove with nLite. (nLite is awesome.) I recommend starting with the useless stuff like extra languages and keyboard layouts, the damn search dog, internet games, windows tour, the Program Compatibility Wizard, and anything to do with MSN or modems. You could also remove the driver cache, but you may want to keep the USB mass storage device and generic gamepad drivers around.

http://www.litepc.com/

If you're really desperate you could try using UPX to compress executables. Most should still work fine, as they're decompressed on-the-fly, but you may get a little bit of lag. Not everything is compressible, but I've had some luck with things like Windows Explorer.

http://upx.sourceforge.net/

Really if you want to tinker around with tiny XP installations, install Virtual PC and mess with that. Restoring a copy of a disk image is easier than reinstalling on a real machine!

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/produc ... fault.mspx

I managed to get a copy of XP SP1 down to about 450 MB without NTFS compression, but it's really minimalistic. (No audio drivers, no wireless, barely any programs, no nothin'.) I wouldn't use it as an everyday system in its current state, but it works and goes online! Maybe this weekend I'll try again using a fresh XP SP2 default install.

EDIT: Jackpot.
http://www.bold-fortune.com/forums/inde ... owforum=13

[Skyone]

If you're really desperate you could try using UPX to compress executables. Most should still work fine, as they're decompressed on-the-fly, but you may get a little bit of lag. Not everything is compressible, but I've had some luck with things like Windows Explorer.

http://upx.sourceforge.net/

Lag? There should be virtually no lag in any program you pack. As soon as the executable is ran, it unpacks itself onto memory, which is where any lag would be caused. If anything, the lag would only be from the original program.

That thing's cute, though.

[tom61]

I don't know if I can remove the files for it all together. The same goes for Synaptics touch pad driver.

If it is like all the other Synaptics touchpads, you can use the default mouse/touchpad driver, but you lose the scroll bar functionality.

It's too bad XP doesn't have file system linking capability, it'd be very handy to offload Program Files and other hard to move stuff to SDHC card.

Hmm... I've read that you can install OSes to SDHC, and an 8GB card is only $65, that might be a better option than cramming everything onto the meager 4GB. It'll be even better once the 16GB cards come down in price. You could leave the default OS intact, and have full XP to boot.

if this had a trackpoint and 1024x768 i would be buying one right now lol

If it had that, I'd own one right now. A 100% upgrade to my Lifebook for $400 would not be something I'd hesitate for. Off course, I'll likely try my hand at adding both.

*Ok, the specs say the ram is non-upgradeable. The disassembly pics seem to show your everyday, slot mounted laptop memory. So, is it upgradeable or not?

It's an unsupported upgrade and you void your warranty by opening the cover to the RAM. I've never encountered that on a laptop with upgradeable RAM before. I suppose if you're willing to do the HD upgrade (which requires removal of some plastic), that likely won't bother you much.

I'm just about to fall in and get one myself... I'm going to sleep on it. Luckily these aren't selling out as much as when the Wii was released.

Tips for accessories? I have a 2.5" external 60GB HD and a 8x DVD+-RW slimline USB drive already, as well as a powered USB hub and thumbdrives. Current plan is buying the notebook with a 8GB SDHC.

[vb_master]

Try setting the Recycle Bin to 10 MB (or 2-3%). That's more than enough for documents and images. 10% of 2 gigs is still about 200 MB. (I'm not 100% sure but the recycle bin seems to set aside a chunk of drive space just for itself regardless of how much you put in it.) Also try running in Windows Classic mode, but turn on shadows under the cursor and desktop icons. That usually perks most slower machines up. (Windows Classic mode isn't as shiny as its Technicolor bretherin, but damned if it isn't fast!)

My Eee has no problems running the default theme so I'm going to keep it. I also didn't know the Recycle Bin reserved HDD space, so I'll lower it later.

Black Viper has a long list of Windows services you can safely disable.
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

I remember looking at that a few years ago, I guess I'll disable some becuase they are pointless if I am not using the service.

As I said before, XPlite is great for ripping out junk you don't need and forgot to remove with nLite. (nLite is awesome.) I recommend starting with the useless stuff like extra languages and keyboard layouts, the damn search dog, internet games, windows tour, the Program Compatibility Wizard, and anything to do with MSN or modems. You could also remove the driver cache, but you may want to keep the USB mass storage device and generic gamepad drivers around.

http://www.litepc.com/

I actually have known about XPLite for a very long time, and I own the Professional version, so if I need to remove anything else I will.

If you're really desperate you could try using UPX to compress executables. Most should still work fine, as they're decompressed on-the-fly, but you may get a little bit of lag. Not everything is compressible, but I've had some luck with things like Windows Explorer.

http://upx.sourceforge.net/

One word: lol. If I was seriously that desperate for SSD space, I would simply install XP Embedded, the minimum requirements for that is just a 32 MB compact flash and 32 MB of RAM!

Really if you want to tinker around with tiny XP installations, install Virtual PC and mess with that. Restoring a copy of a disk image is easier than reinstalling on a real machine!

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/produc ... fault.mspx

I have VMWare Workstation 6. I have been using VMWare for about a year now. That is where I tested my EeeXP disk.

I managed to get a copy of XP SP1 down to about 450 MB without NTFS compression, but it's really minimalistic. (No audio drivers, no wireless, barely any programs, no nothin'.) I wouldn't use it as an everyday system in its current state, but it works and goes online! Maybe this weekend I'll try again using a fresh XP SP2 default install.

I removed all default XP drivers since I was going to install new ones anyways.

EDIT: Jackpot.
http://www.bold-fortune.com/forums/inde ... owforum=13

Interesting, some of the stuff there should help me figure out what is safe to delete.