ASUS 8.9″ Eee 4GB PC Netbook Computer with Linux – White
I bought essentially the same version of the Eee from another store–and as it arrives it’s not usable.
Here’s why: the Xandros distribution it comes with uses UnionFS. That lets you have one read-only partition that has the file system in its initial state, and another read-write that has changes. If a file exists in the read-write partition, it’s used instead of the corresponding one in the read-only partition.
That has a major advantage: if you get things totally messed up, reboot and press a key and it will return things to their initial state–all it needs to do is wipe the read-write partition.
It has a major disadvantage: it uses up more space, and with a 4 GB SSD, I found that after it automatically downloaded updates, there was very little space left. Remember, the original version is still there, taking up space on the read-only partition, while the new version is on the read-write partition–and that’s separate from the downloaded file containing the update that gets uncrated into position for use. After updating one or two programs, the SSD was totally full, rendering the system unusable.
You have two choices: (1) get a larger-capacity SSD and reinstall, or (2) download Ubuntu Eee (soon to be renamed Easy Peasy) and install it, wiping Xandros from the SSD. When I did that, there was 1.5 GB left on the SSD, and a couple of updates later, there’s still 700 MB left.
That said: the display is gorgeous. The touchpad is respectable, and yes, it understands two-finger scrolling. The wi-fi worked for me at a motel a week or so ago when my wife’s Dell Inspiron laptop couldn’t get a usable signal. Yeah, the keys on the keyboard are tiny, but I will adapt, even with stubby little fat fingers.
So: as it comes from the factory, I have to wonder whether ASUS wanted to put people off Linux–imagine the fury of a parent or grandparent thinking he was getting little Johnny a computer for Christmas only to find that after a few minutes it says the disk is full and can’t be used! With a larger SSD, or with Ubuntu Eee/Easy Peasy, it’s a marvelous little netbook.
Average Rating : 
Brand : Asus
Model : 900
Product Descriptions
8.9/Intel/4G Ssd/512Mb Ddr2/Linux/White,Powered by intel Mobile Processor,Intel UMA Graphics Card,also Includes Adapter, Battery.
- Asus Eee PC 900 Celeron M 900 MHz 8.9-inch Notebook General Features: Color: Pearl White
- Asus customized Linux operating system Intel Celeron M 900 MHz processor 512 MB DDR2 RAM
- 4 GB Solid State (SSD) Hard Drive Integrated video Integrated audio with built-in speakers
- Integrated 10/100 Ethernet 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Keyboard with TouchPad
- Built-in Memory Card Reader
Product Reviews
I bought essentially the same version of the Eee from another store–and as it arrives it’s not usable.
Here’s why: the Xandros distribution it comes with uses UnionFS. That lets you have one read-only partition that has the file system in its initial state, and another read-write that has changes. If a file exists in the read-write partition, it’s used instead of the corresponding one in the read-only partition.
That has a major advantage: if you get things totally messed up, reboot and press a key and it will return things to their initial state–all it needs to do is wipe the read-write partition.
It has a major disadvantage: it uses up more space, and with a 4 GB SSD, I found that after it automatically downloaded updates, there was very little space left. Remember, the original version is still there, taking up space on the read-only partition, while the new version is on the read-write partition–and that’s separate from the downloaded file containing the update that gets uncrated into position for use. After updating one or two programs, the SSD was totally full, rendering the system unusable.
You have two choices: (1) get a larger-capacity SSD and reinstall, or (2) download Ubuntu Eee (soon to be renamed Easy Peasy) and install it, wiping Xandros from the SSD. When I did that, there was 1.5 GB left on the SSD, and a couple of updates later, there’s still 700 MB left.
That said: the display is gorgeous. The touchpad is respectable, and yes, it understands two-finger scrolling. The wi-fi worked for me at a motel a week or so ago when my wife’s Dell Inspiron laptop couldn’t get a usable signal. Yeah, the keys on the keyboard are tiny, but I will adapt, even with stubby little fat fingers.
So: as it comes from the factory, I have to wonder whether ASUS wanted to put people off Linux–imagine the fury of a parent or grandparent thinking he was getting little Johnny a computer for Christmas only to find that after a few minutes it says the disk is full and can’t be used! With a larger SSD, or with Ubuntu Eee/Easy Peasy, it’s a marvelous little netbook.
Available at Amazon
Post time : Jul 29, 2010 16:24:09
Recommend : Buyer Computer Guide 2010 Black Friday sales Cheap netbook Computers
Tony Mason