Asus Eee PC 900

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#134279 29-May-2008 22:01

sbiddle: To be completely honest I think this machine has been trumped by the HP2133's. IMHO these are a far nicer machine (even though they are a few hundred more) but you get the advantage of a 160GB HDD, faster processor, better screen but physical dimensions and weight which are both pretty close.

Well, specs-wise yes but performance-wise, the eeePC 900 comes out trumps. If you have a look at all the video reviews, the HP machine suffers from video stutter, even just viewing YouTube videos. The eeePC 900 performs flawlessly.

bonkiebonks

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Ultimate Geek

#134287 29-May-2008 22:37

I have the HP 2133 Mini Note and I have to say I have *yet* experienced video stutter, except during HD movie playback. Youtube works flawlessly, as do standard definition videos.

Having said that, I must confess that I have wiped Vista off the machine, and replaced it with XP. Also, mine is configured with a 120GB 7200RPM hard disk, as opposed to the standard 160GB 5400RPM.

I have tried the previous generation of the EeePC before, and I must say, the 2133 is definitely a better pleasure to work with - larger keys, and higher resolution screen. Not to mention, the 2133 feels much more solid in the hands.

heavenlywild

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#134288 29-May-2008 22:39

bonkiebonks: I have the HP 2133 Mini Note and I have to say I have *yet* experienced video stutter, except during HD movie playback. Youtube works flawlessly, as do standard definition videos.

Having said that, I must confess that I have wiped Vista off the machine, and replaced it with XP. Also, mine is configured with a 120GB 7200RPM hard disk, as opposed to the standard 160GB 5400RPM.

I have tried the previous generation of the EeePC before, and I must say, the 2133 is definitely a better pleasure to work with - larger keys, and higher resolution screen. Not to mention, the 2133 feels much more solid in the hands.

Yep, HP 2133 running XP would be the best configuration. Can I ask how you managed to do the installation without a CD drive?

paradoxsm

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#134290 29-May-2008 22:47

I have been playing with my new EEE900 all night and it's great, reasonably quick even playing back heavier content too. I have had a very bad run with the Via C7 series, supposedly low power but still get rather hot and are very slow and have timing issues.

I had two mini ITX boards, the common via one and the Intel "little valley" and the intel is leaps ahead.

bonkiebonks

389 posts

Ultimate Geek

#134300 29-May-2008 23:46

Yep, HP 2133 running XP would be the best configuration. Can I ask how you managed to do the installation without a CD drive?

I used an external optical drive... much easier than messing around trying to get Windows XP installation to work from a flash drive. Installation was easy as on any standard PC, though I had to completely remove the Recovery partition for it to work.

ipsi

55 posts

Master Geek

#134372 30-May-2008 10:36

Sadly, DSE has said they won't be getting the 900 linux ones until the end of next week, at least in Wellington. Don't know what the hell is up with that. I want one, and they said they'd be launching today, but are they? Apparently not. They only have the XP ones in-stock.

heavenlywild

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#134383 30-May-2008 10:56

bonkiebonks:

Yep, HP 2133 running XP would be the best configuration. Can I ask how you managed to do the installation without a CD drive?

I used an external optical drive... much easier than messing around trying to get Windows XP installation to work from a flash drive. Installation was easy as on any standard PC, though I had to completely remove the Recovery partition for it to work.

How did you actually remove the Recovery partition?

Then with an external CD drive, did you simply put in an XP CD? Had to make any other changes?

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heavenlywild

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#134385 30-May-2008 11:02

Oh a dumb question sorry.

I see on DSE's website that the new 900 series notebooks both have 4GB internal hard drives.

The difference between Linux and XP is the memory card capacity. Does this mean there isn't a spare slot for other memory cards?

hellonearthisman

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#134424 30-May-2008 13:15

Hewlett Packard 2133b Mini-Note Notebook, Via C7, 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, 120GB HDD,
8.9" TFT, No optical drives, WLAN, Bluetooth, Win Vista Home Basic $973.29incl GST

A little over $200 more, the processor is faster, but the ram is slower 677mhz vs 800mhz.

I hope to get an EEE pc by xmas.

paradoxsm read ya bog on it, nice :)

heavenlywild

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#134566 31-May-2008 10:13

Just read online that Asus is launching eee PC 901 on the 3rd of June with... the new Atom processor!

My gosh, what's the point buying the 900 with Celeron now? Wait a few weeks and the new ones will be here too.

According to reports, Asus launched the 900 to compete with HP's 2133s.

If you can wait a month or so before buying an eee PC, then do it:)

hellonearthisman

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#134616 31-May-2008 16:04

Sounds logical $650us would put the 901 at the same cost as a 2GB HP2133

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/black-eee-pc-901-look-good/

sproyd

79 posts

Master Geek

#134683 31-May-2008 21:50

ipsi: Sadly, DSE has said they won't be getting the 900 linux ones until the end of next week, at least in Wellington. Don't know what the hell is up with that. I want one, and they said they'd be launching today, but are they? Apparently not. They only have the XP ones in-stock.

*sniff* *sniff* I smell a Microsoft domination conspiracy theory coming on... I have to admit though with my 701 I tried to like Xandros but if you want any kind of advanced functionality it doesn't really do the trick. I was going to buy one for my sister for uni and Xandros would have been ideal but if you want to run a truckload of peripherals etc it just doesn't cut the cake. I'd be interested to see how the default XP install comes on the 900 as my nLited XP on my 701 runs great. Does anyone know if its a fully fledged XP install?

Very interesting tactic on Asus' behalf launching the 901 just after the 900 to compete with the HP2133!! I find this bizarre because
1) they have just launched a new product no doubt with a huge production line so they will need to move these or face financial disaster with stock write downs
2) the majority of reviews out there say the 701 is a better buy than the 2133 and surely the 900 is undoubtedly a better buy. The 2133 coming with Vista instead of XP is a downfall as well as UMPCs of the now aren't equipped to handle a cutting edge OS in a fluid, usable way.

I find Asus is very innovative and responsive in its product development, perhaps because of a lack of a Western Bureaucratic corporate structure - but I think this could also have its downfalls around the lack of marketing tactics and communications and product placement.

paradoxsm

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#134685 31-May-2008 22:00

Yes it's a full fledged XP install with only a few minor components taken out. I'm surprised it;s not XP Embedded.\

I have run nLite XP and it runs very well, I also tried XPembedded but this is a WIP.

Half the appeal to myself is the solid state drive and sheer simplicity, just a single PCB and a flat heatsink, most lapstops are a plethora of stacked odd shaped board with lots to go wrong.. I have such a bad run with physical hard drives and CD/DVD, especially in laptops, so fragile when bumped around.

My least favourite aspect is the keyboard, It's just a bit cheap feeling.

sproyd

79 posts

Master Geek

#134690 31-May-2008 23:04

My appeal was the disposable nature of it! No longer does computing have to be such a major investment. Yeah the simplicity and portability are definitely factors as well.

For me I run an external BT kb, mouse, speakers and screen so 90% of use is as a desky but when i got travelling or want to be mobile round the house i can just unplug it and it almost fits in my pocket! great piece of kit. Main gripe is the G/CPU though but you cant have everything and thats sure to improve in time. I just hope XP sticks around so we don't have faster CPUs running slower OSs.

heavenlywild

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#134997 2-Jun-2008 17:44

heavenly_wild: Just read online that Asus is launching eee PC 901 on the 3rd of June with... the new Atom processor!

My gosh, what's the point buying the 900 with Celeron now? Wait a few weeks and the new ones will be here too.

According to reports, Asus launched the 900 to compete with HP's 2133s.

If you can wait a month or so before buying an eee PC, then do it:)

News online now say Asus is planning to sell 900s and 901s side-by-side for now. They aren't stopping the 900 production.

This just goes to show how miscommunication can happen so easily from one rep to another.

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