ASUS Eee PC [MERGED]

[MXFX]

i agree. 5, 7lbs. may sound light. but add all the other stuff i carry (folders, tons of papers, other electronics) and my low back pain, any saved weight makes a difference. this eeepc now allows me to carry it more frequently vs my older one.

[niky]

I have shoulder pain from a nerve infection, due to a dental operation... I used to not be bothered by my laptop's weight, but the Eee has been a godsend through this trying period...

BTW: my laptop is about 4-5 pounds, plus folders, magazines, external drive, adaptor, papers, CDs, etcetera... my laptop bag weighs about 15-20 pounds.
(that's no exaggeration... I used to weight-lift, so I can tell)

I've cleaned it since then, since a friend is using it... now it weighs about 5-7 pounds.

But still, the Eee plus accessories weighs a lot less, and is very easy to carry or stash away when you're on the road.

But the question about eyestrain... it's pertinent... it's okay for a while, but if you're on for hours, it becomes an issue.

[Jun aka Pekto]

OT

BTW: my laptop is about 4-5 pounds, plus folders, magazines, external drive, adaptor, papers, CDs, etcetera... my laptop bag weighs about [SIZE=5]15-20[/SIZE] pounds

Ouch. I think you need a new laptop case. My Targus laptop backpack weighs 3.4 lbs and that's the one for a 17" laptop.

But the question about eyestrain... it's pertinent... it's okay for a while, but if you're on for hours, it becomes an issue.

That would be my main concern with the current Eee PC. If ASUS got rid of the speakers altogether and use a bigger lcd, I might buy one.

[niky]

That's a possibility. The rumors of a 10" version keep cropping up... I suppose it'd make more sense to move those speakers somewhere else... maybe on the buttons at the side of the hinge.

RE: laptop bag... it's not the bag that's heavy... it's just that it's a Sammie, and it's got big pockets... which means I end up stuffing a ton of things into it that I never take out (just like with the car)...

[Jun aka Pekto]

That's a possibility. The rumors of a 10" version keep cropping up... I suppose it'd make more sense to move those speakers somewhere else... maybe on the buttons at the side of the hinge.

RE: laptop bag... it's not the bag that's heavy... it's just that it's a Sammie, and it's got big pockets... which means I end up stuffing a ton of things into it that I never take out (just like with the car)...

I say get rid of the teeny weeny speakers altogether and have an audio out jack only. A set of ear buds is much better sounding and less of a drain on the battery.

[theveed]

Dang, that's light... too bad i don't think it can run Photoshop that well, though.

[niky]

Thanks for reminding me... that's something I'm planning to do this weekend... look for a good set of earbuds. I was trying to get through Transformers Season 1 (looks like crap in light of better Japanese animation from the same period, but I watched it for the nostalgia... ) last night without waking the missus, and it was pretty difficult to juggle the sound.

EDIT: RE: Photoshop: GIMP is a bit harder to use, simply because I'm not used to it yet... the interface for brushes, for example, is a bit more roundabout than the latest PhotoShop or CorelPaint, and some of the more exotic (read: you never use them, anyway) filters aren't there...

But I'm starting to learn... I'm using GIMP to resize photos for web-publishing, and for minor-touch-ups. The biggest stumbling block, though, is the fact that I don't have enough memory to work multiple 10-megapixel files at the same time...

[gerald_g]

i'm also planning to get one soon because of good reviews i've been reading around. question lang mga sir, will the 512 memory be good enough for basic use (surfing, watching videos, word processing etc.)? or would you suggest an upgrade? TIA

[theveed]

I've tried GIMP before, but layo talaga especially if you've been using an Adobe workflow for years hehe... LR + PS with over 30 RAW files daily, di kakayanin

[niky]

Yup. It's even further removed from Corel Photo Paint... I like using Corel because the macro-customizability and the more flexible crop-resize options make for quick work... but I still go to Photoshop for final color correction and web export.

*gerald_g: You don't need the extra memory, but since it's really cheap (1.5k for 1gb, 2k for 2gb), get it anyway... it'll make the Eee feel much better.

You might also want to invest in an SDHC card to store movies for trips, but a regular SD MMC will do, considering you're not going to watch hi-def on this, anyway.

[thebat]

i'm also planning to get one soon because of good reviews i've been reading around. question lang mga sir, will the 512 memory be good enough for basic use (surfing, watching videos, word processing etc.)? or would you suggest an upgrade? TIA

Yup it's just perfect for word and surfing the net with the stock model!


Eyestrain: i use it always and I don't get any eye strain from it.

Keep in mind that this EEEPC as is cost P18k (avarage). Anything more than the specs like bigger lcd screen, etc will just make the price higher (not necessarily if it is mass produced more than what they are making now).

But as it is, it's just so great and highly recommended.

Btw, EEEPC is the same size as the Starbucks 2008 diary .

[gerald_g]

Yup. It's even further removed from Corel Photo Paint... I like using Corel because the macro-customizability and the more flexible crop-resize options make for quick work... but I still go to Photoshop for final color correction and web export.

*gerald_g: You don't need the extra memory, but since it's really cheap (1.5k for 1gb, 2k for 2gb), get it anyway... it'll make the Eee feel much better.

You might also want to invest in an SDHC card to store movies for trips, but a regular SD MMC will do, considering you're not going to watch hi-def on this, anyway.

Thanks for the suggestion Sir Niky I'm actually planning to get it with maybe an 8G SDHC. I think this costs around 2.5K, tama ba? Where do you suggest I get the EEEPC? Do yu know of any shops in Greenhills (VMall)m Galeria or Megamall?

[thebat]

Thanks for the suggestion Sir Niky I'm actually planning to get it with maybe an 8G SDHC. I think this costs around 2.5K, tama ba? Where do you suggest I get the EEEPC? Do yu know of any shops in Greenhills (VMall)m Galeria or Megamall?

Medyo scarce ang stocks ng EEEPC. I heard Villman is selling the basic colored surf models (no webcam).

[gerald_g]

Medyo scarce ang stocks ng EEEPC. I heard Villman is selling the basic colored surf models (no webcam).

oo nga daw sir thebat.. gusto ko sana yung pearl white with the webcam e.. try ko na lang to look around gale, megamall and greenhills this week. wish me luck!

[Djerms]

I have windows XP installed on my EEEpc and so far its working great. Opening programs seems faster than the Linux OS (the office programs that is).

Boot-up time is almost the same. It consumed 902MB. Very satisfied with it. No need to learn about linux pa...hehe.

I was settling for linux then I encountered this flash drive recognition problem...grrrk.

[badkuk]

went to v-mall last weekend; la rin akong masyadong makitang eee pc. ung isang shop na me nakadisplay na packard bell laptops lang ata ang meron

[Djerms]

Niky: The 30 sec boot-up is a bit exag. Siguro mga 1minute bro. Pero when you boot up...its always nice to see a familiar windows interface...hehe.

EB na tayo!!!

[niky]

Hahaha... oonga... the Eee-boys!

But with Xandros, it's always 20-30 seconds, on the dot (I time it every time I turn it on)... I'm still reviewing my Windows options... but I'm outta cash for the mem upgrade... aggh! Ang layo ng suweldo!!!

[theveed]

Sobrang sulit narin nyan if you're after mobility... or mga home users na word processing + net lang habol...

[compact]

OT
Really? What's the weight of the 15.4" laptop? My Toshiba 15.4" weights around 7 lbs including battery and power brick/cords. I can carry it all day(s) in a very lightweight Targus backpack which also contain an external hard drive and PSP plus magazines and small Caselogic cd holder.

my 15.4" asus A6 entertainment notebook weights 2.8 kg, inside my targus backpack is my external hard drive, mic, documents, power brick, all will weigh around 3.5 kgs.

i have to carry it from room to room all day coz im a lecturer/reviewer/professor, and if your room is located in the 5th floor youll be forced to go up and down with it, and youll have to carry also the lcd.

add also my frequent out of town lecture engagements.

now try to imagine doing that for 3 years now from almost monday to sunday, and it will surely give you a low back pain.

The shoulder pain I can ignore, but boy, the back pain will give you sleepless nights. My therapy include TENS, Traction and Accupuncture.

The 15.4" is not the only factor, include also a sedentary lifestyle, prolonged sitting like when driving or when in front of the PC, but it surely compounded it.

Before the release of the 3EPC, i was already sold to the idea of buying a 70k compaq 12" laptop just to relieve me of this burden.

Guess I was able to save 50k+ plus additional portability and less weight compared to the 12".

Not a bad deal.