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Netbook review
Coming up on four weeks with EEK, so it's time to post a review. EEK is my ASUS EEE PC Netbook (model 1005-HAB for the geeks.) 2 lbs, 10" inch widescreen, 1GB memory, 160GB HD, Windows XP with MS Works, WiFi, webcam and Skype. $299 at Best Buy.
Bottom line-- I like it a lot. It was great to have on the bike trip, and it's the perfect size for taking along when I want to write in the cafe, or bookstore. Because it's a backup machine, there are no personal files stored on here--no financial records, no email, nothing that I couldn't bear to lose. Any files I'm working on get put on the thumb drive and plugged into the USB port.
First thing you notice is how quickly it boots up. No extraneous software, just what you need.
It's small enough that I can tuck it into a large purse, or in my research bag.
Battery life is rated for 4 hours, which matches my experience. There's a model with a longer lasting battery, but the tradeoff is increased weight.
The keyboard is described as 92% full size, large enough that I'm able to touch type at full speed. But the caveat is that the arrow keys, page up, page down, home and end, are tucked underneath rather than off to the side.
Hardest adjustment was the touchpad--it's a multifunction touchpad, so it does both vertical and horizontal scrolling. Two-fingered mousing results in zooming your screen in and out, while tapping too hard is the same as clicking a mouse button. I'm getting better, but for long trips will probably bring along my portable wireless mouse.
The screen is bright and easy to read, even in uncertain light--much better than my expensive corporate laptop.
The MS Works wordprocessor is compatible with MS Word, which makes it easy to edit manuscript files without needing to change formats.
My only complaint so far is that the shiny case is a fingerprint magnet.
I can't see this as a primary workstation, but as a backup for occasional use it's perfect, and I'm really glad I treated myself to this new toy. Highly recommended.
Bottom line-- I like it a lot. It was great to have on the bike trip, and it's the perfect size for taking along when I want to write in the cafe, or bookstore. Because it's a backup machine, there are no personal files stored on here--no financial records, no email, nothing that I couldn't bear to lose. Any files I'm working on get put on the thumb drive and plugged into the USB port.
First thing you notice is how quickly it boots up. No extraneous software, just what you need.
It's small enough that I can tuck it into a large purse, or in my research bag.
Battery life is rated for 4 hours, which matches my experience. There's a model with a longer lasting battery, but the tradeoff is increased weight.
The keyboard is described as 92% full size, large enough that I'm able to touch type at full speed. But the caveat is that the arrow keys, page up, page down, home and end, are tucked underneath rather than off to the side.
Hardest adjustment was the touchpad--it's a multifunction touchpad, so it does both vertical and horizontal scrolling. Two-fingered mousing results in zooming your screen in and out, while tapping too hard is the same as clicking a mouse button. I'm getting better, but for long trips will probably bring along my portable wireless mouse.
The screen is bright and easy to read, even in uncertain light--much better than my expensive corporate laptop.
The MS Works wordprocessor is compatible with MS Word, which makes it easy to edit manuscript files without needing to change formats.
My only complaint so far is that the shiny case is a fingerprint magnet.
I can't see this as a primary workstation, but as a backup for occasional use it's perfect, and I'm really glad I treated myself to this new toy. Highly recommended.
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Of course, the truth is that what I need for writing is a machine that can't access the Internet :P
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I don't really write much on the netbook, though. It's pretty much only for travel.
It seems like PCs have now become something we own multiples of, like shoes and purses, rather than say, a car or a house. They are making so many advances in keeping netbook size small while keeping the price down, it's tempting to get something newer and spiffier but I have resisted.
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Multiples of PCs does make sense, when you think about the security aspect. I remember one convention when there was a rash of laptop thefts at the hotel--those folks who'd brought their sole workstation were in much worse shape than folks who'd only lost a secondary machine.
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I adore my netbook. It's not a machine to do hard editing on, but for sitting on the couch (or in the library, or in the gelato shoppe at the ocean) and writing draft, it's just about perfect.
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Dave
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