5 comments about Apple MacBook MB402LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop (2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive) White.

1. This is a pretty good machine. The form factor is great in terms of both design and size and its plenty fast for most applications. The built in software such as iMovie and iPhoto are very easy to use and surprisingly powerful. The operating system is also more stable than what i'm used to with windows. You set it and forget and everything pretty much works. No more of the niggling issues I always have on my windows machine. Installing windows is also very easy though I never use that.
   
   What I don't like is the case. The build quality on the inner casing material is quite poor. I've already had the edges on the bottom right by the trackpad crack twice. Apple has fixed it but its still a pain. My sister has the same issue which leads me to believe that the build quality on these isn't what it should be. The white also discolors on the palm rests very easily and is tough to clean.
   
   Still i'd buy it again in a heartbeat and am very satisfied overall.



2. Thank you for the fast delivery. This was a gift and the timely shipment was great.



3. Really good item, I have thus far had no problems with it! The fingerprint things on the top are kind of an annoyance, but other than that, its GREAT!



4. Apple MacBook MB403LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive) White Love my Macbook. Different from windows but easy to learn! I was shocked to learn that virus protection is not necessary for mac's. I would recommend this product. High quality....



5. I finally decided to buy an Apple computer instead of Windows based PC, since I am tried of hitting "Ctrl-Alt-Del." All the Apple/Mac people that I have talked to have been impressed with their machines. I use my computer for editing two newsletters, and this requires quite a bit of graphics work and formatting. Also, I am a part-time, professor, so I use my computer for preparing for lectures and writing assignments and exams for my students. Therefore, I wanted a machine that was reliable and was portable. I was a bit hesitant about moving into the Mac world, since many of the files that I use Windows programs (MS Word, Powerpoint, and Excel). I have found this machine to be a great machine to use. It is very portable and is very powerful. It allows me to use the Office for Mac package, so I can move files back and forth from PC to my Mac without any trouble. I think the layout and the styling of this machine is very elegant. For the price, it is a very good machine. I am quite happy with my Mac.

5 comments about Nokia N810 Portable Internet Tablet.

1. This device is amazing. Bigger screen and better resolution than an Iphone or Ipod Touch (4.1" and 800 x 480 pixel resolution vs. Iphone/Ipod Touch's 3.5" and 480 X 320). I did a comparison of this tablet vs. my friends Iphone. While searching popular sites like nytimes, espn, cnn, I immediately noticed how I do not need to zoom in on text because I can read it clearly vs. an Iphone where you are forced to "pinch" the screen and increase the text size. The higher resolution makes the web sites much nicer to browse, and instead of touching the screen and getting prints and grease on it, you use a "stylus" which is held within the device to do all the tapping for you. And let's not forget the pull out QWERTY pad. The biggest plus of them all. Also contains a hinge that pulls out so you can easily place the tablet on a flat surface if you want to show others photos, websites, etc. And it plays videos from youtube with no hitches.
   
   The only negative is that this is not a phone, nor can you always access the internet. You will either need to find a wifi hotspot or tether the tablet to your cell phone via bluetooth (a heads up, you will need a data plan with your cell phone provider to do that). If you are totally against carrying a phone and this tablet around, then maybe this device is not for you. But I'll happily place the tablet in my pocket just for the superior internet experience it provides. Plus wifi spots are everywhere, and this device is fantastic at finding them.



2. Some random thoughts.
   
   Great price for some nice hardware. The fit and finish is great.
   
   The device is a good internet tablet, but does not have strong PIM functionality. Additional community software is helping in this area.
   
   If Linux is your thing, there are a lot of additional packages out in the community that really expands the functionality.
   
   Wifi and tethering to Nokia N75 work great for connectivity anywhere. Very smooth.
   
   Built in email client has some performance issues with a large Google account via IMAP. The latest update of the tablet has helped. By the way, make sure you flash the most current firmware right out of the box.
   
   GPS is cool, but the maps are OK for rural America. Still looking for the "killer app" that uses this feature. The Turn by turn functionality is an additional subscription to the built in software.



3. Just great. Having a complete computer in your pocket enables you to do unexpected things. The decision of using Debian as a base gives you the choice of thousads of appplications to be used, although Nokia could provide a tidier way of organising the community apps.
   
   It works great as a SIP phone, too. And I don't regret that it doesn't have mobile telephony included, I prefer them separate, and also the Nokia can control the telephone with bluetooth.



4. 
   
   Pro:
   
   1) browser with flash support
   2) keyboard
   3) linux
   4) Beautiful screen.
   
   Cons:
   
   1) Slow. Slow. Slow. Don't know where to start. The browser is slow. To its credit, if you disable flash, the browser feels 2x faster but then again that's why people choose this over ipod touch right? for flash? if flash make the system slow as a pig, then it's a feature that subtracts from the value, not enhances it.
   
   2) Stalls. When some programs needs/hogs CPU, "mail app" + "browser", the system/UI freezes/stalled for unspecified periods of time. Very very annoying.
   
   3) Appears the device lacks enough ram or that the application are bloated or use too much ram. In any case, having even 2 programs running at a time, degrades the experience.
   
   ----
   
   Overall, I had high hopes but was very disappointed. It could be much much more but there is not enough ram and most apps are CPU hogs causing UI stalls.



5. just to give you an idea on how awesome the nokia n810 im writing the review from it. its preloaded with lots of google apps so anyone with a gmail account i highly recemend the product. may people complained about the keys on the keyboard but after i got it i didnt get why, my cell phones keys are way smaller. well that about it its a great gizmo.

5 comments about ASUS Eee PC 4G (7” Screen, 800 MHz Intel Celeron Processor, 512 MB RAM, 4 GB Hard Drive, Linux Preloaded) Pearl White.

1. I spend a lot of time traveling to and waiting in doctors offices. In the past, that time was lost but since I received my Eee PC, waiting time is now productive time. The little computer boots up quickly and it's battery lasts for a couple hours without needing a charge. So now, if I'm told that I'll be waiting for hours for a scheduled appointment, I just pull out my Eee PC and start working. I quickly adjusted to the small keyboard and find I'm able to work on it almost as quickly as my regular computer. However, I have small hands and I think that helps. The keyboard would be awkward for someone with large hands.



2. I bought this pretty mini laptop a couple of week ago, I just can said that I really love this notebook, the size is perfect to go anywhere with it, the weight is around 1 Kg that is unbelievable light, I put in my backpack I can felt the difference between a real notebook. The linux software for me is better than windows I never have problem to run my application. I good point to buy this pretty mini notebook is the super fast boot up and shut down. The programs open so quickly and I never find a virus in my eeepc 4G. I love go to my class with this laptop the keyboard are little but if you now to type you don't have a problem with this. The wireless card are so good, Its catch all the signals of my university. The webcam is a extra value is not the best resolution I saw in a webcam but is similar to competitor. I really recommend this computer for anyone that like an extreme mobility and amazing partner in studies.



3. Wanted a $500 laptop and this was it. Windows XP version was not out yet when I bought this around a year ago. Pros: very, very quick boot up and for WiFi to lock in signal; works great for reading, writing emails, reviewing pdf docs, Word document editing, Xcel document editing. Falls apart when docs get too intensive with graphics and macros, etc. Very light weight, very quick shut down compared to Windows XP computers. Never worry about viruses due to Linux OS. Cons: I came up using DOS and Windows, so I don't know anything about Linux, so it took effort to "customize" things. Youtube videos choppy sometimes, even though I increased RAM to 1 GB. Storage of file is awful since no resident hard drive. If you use memory card, then computer runs annoying start-up panel that you must dismiss/respond to. I'm pretty computer literate but could not synch this computer with my desktop Outlook database. No on-board DVD player so you cannot watch movies. Conclusion: this computer is suited for very light office work, quick jump on and jump off internet surfing and emails. Of course prices of laptops that use Microsoft software dropping so fast that this Linux computer no longer on the cutting edge.



4. I bought this item for a specifc purpose and within hours of getting it I knew it was a great choice. A have to admit a friend who earns a living as a computer professional helped me decide. Right after I received it and took it to the place he, I, and other friends visit a lot he had to checked it out. Well, he ordered one right there and 3 others took down all the info and thought they would also order it. And let me tell you their purposes were different from mine. So it's a shame Amazon doesn't have a referral program for maybe some gift cards. This item is really nice. Just what I need to write short stories. My regular laptop, which I rarely use, is too heavy and bulky. The keyboard takes some getting use to but what new electronics don't. Bought the Kindle book reader same time and it's hard to put one down to pick up the other. Am not that smart about hardware. All I know is if it does what I want it's good. Software-wise I do lots of 3d graphics with many commercial programs. The software included here is more than enough for most casual users. Certainly not for the specialized computer user but thats a good thing. Surf the net, use word processing, spreadsheets, presentations. databases, etc? Then is the laptop for you and the price is great. Oh and it's fast.



5. Exactly what I was looking for. After carrying a heavy laptop that hardly fits under the plane seat, I was thrilled to get this unit to travel with. When on the road, we use it to catch up on email and browse the web.
   
   I 'pimped' it to use the normal Linux front end, much nicer than the dumbed down front end.
   
   The web cam was an extra perk I paid for, but it only works with Skype, and not the usual IM suspects supported under pidgin. I tried to download the Yahoo IM for Linux software, but th were too many dependencies for things not availalble on the debian OS provided.

5 comments about Apple MacBook MB404LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive) Black.

1. This is a pretty good machine. The form factor is great in terms of both design and size and its plenty fast for most applications. The built in software such as iMovie and iPhoto are very easy to use and surprisingly powerful. The operating system is also more stable than what i'm used to with windows. You set it and forget and everything pretty much works. No more of the niggling issues I always have on my windows machine. Installing windows is also very easy though I never use that.
   
   What I don't like is the case. The build quality on the inner casing material is quite poor. I've already had the edges on the bottom right by the trackpad crack twice. Apple has fixed it but its still a pain. My sister has the same issue which leads me to believe that the build quality on these isn't what it should be. The white also discolors on the palm rests very easily and is tough to clean.
   
   Still i'd buy it again in a heartbeat and am very satisfied overall.



2. Thank you for the fast delivery. This was a gift and the timely shipment was great.



3. Really good item, I have thus far had no problems with it! The fingerprint things on the top are kind of an annoyance, but other than that, its GREAT!



4. Apple MacBook MB403LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive) White Love my Macbook. Different from windows but easy to learn! I was shocked to learn that virus protection is not necessary for mac's. I would recommend this product. High quality....



5. I finally decided to buy an Apple computer instead of Windows based PC, since I am tried of hitting "Ctrl-Alt-Del." All the Apple/Mac people that I have talked to have been impressed with their machines. I use my computer for editing two newsletters, and this requires quite a bit of graphics work and formatting. Also, I am a part-time, professor, so I use my computer for preparing for lectures and writing assignments and exams for my students. Therefore, I wanted a machine that was reliable and was portable. I was a bit hesitant about moving into the Mac world, since many of the files that I use Windows programs (MS Word, Powerpoint, and Excel). I have found this machine to be a great machine to use. It is very portable and is very powerful. It allows me to use the Office for Mac package, so I can move files back and forth from PC to my Mac without any trouble. I think the layout and the styling of this machine is very elegant. For the price, it is a very good machine. I am quite happy with my Mac.

5 comments about Apple MacBook Pro MB133LL/A 15.4-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive).

1. This MacBook Pro is a terrific machine. It rivals the performance of my Power Mac G5. I loaded Adobe LightRoom and Apple Aperture on it to work on photos that I have dowloaded from my cameras. I shoot in RAW mode. Yes, the files are large but this MacBook Pro accomplishes the task of processing this file very nicely. I highly recommended for any processing task at hand. The performance this machine outputs and the features this laptop has will make you smile. Read up on the features this machine has. "You will be impressed".



2. I bought my MBP on Amazon last July and up to now I am ecstatic with it's results. I have read extensively around the web for user reviews and experiences and although some negative ones made me frown I went ahead and bought one. After years of PC use and a lot of frustration because of crashes (especially with graphic design programs I use) I saved up the (chunk of ) money and bought the MBP.
   
   I have worked with Mac's previously but that was such a long time ago that when I first turned on my MBP and saw the bright screen and colors and the power this machine has while I run heavy software, listen to music AND watch videos, it just blew me away! Apart from me being a specific user because of my line of work I think this MBP is also very suitable for less higher end user, although maybe the price could be an obstacle for buying one. Still it is worth every penny in my humble opinion.
   
   Can't wait to see what the rumored new batch of MBP's will bring, and well hope I will not be tempted to upgrade this one myself. I'm a fan!



3. This was always my dream computer. It is the perfect laptop in many ways.
   
   Things I love about this laptop: First of all, it is Apple's "pro" laptop. There's a certain prestige-factor associated with the Pro. The aluminum casing is attractive. This Mac is fast (but this is relative) and I like the response from the keys when I press them. I prefer thet way they feel over my company-provided Lenovo Thinkpad T61.
   
   Its a Mac. It runs both OS X and Windows XP/Vista. I don't see myself ever needing to run Windows on my Macbook Pro, but I have the option and that is nice. The features of the trackpad are awesome as well...two finger scrolling, right-click with two fingers, etc. These are useful features I wish I had elsewhere on other laptops computers.
   
   What I don't like: The aluminum casing smudges and shows fingerprints way too easily. I also do not like how diffeicult it is to replace the hard drive. Check out [...] for guides on how to do this. Why Apple would make it so easy with the Macbook and so difficult with the Macbook Pro is beyond me. Perhaps with the upcoming inevitable revamp of the Pro line (rumors and spyshots are all over the web), they will change this. Upgrading the ram is easy enough on this laptop.
   
   Overall, I am a Mac fan and consider this to be my primary computer. As I said, there's a certain prestige-factor associated with the Pro, but...If I were to buy another laptop today, it would be a Macbook instead of the Macbook Pro. I like the ease of replacing the hard drive. This is critical to me, as it is easy to run out of space.
   
   If you are looking for dedicated graphics to play games or to want to offload some processing to the video card (which Adobe Photshop CS4 is rumored to do by default), then go with the Pro. Just be sure to get yourself a large external drive and to max out the internal hard drive space (if your Pro is custom configured).



4. This is a good product as laptops for this price range go. I have the 2.2 ghz model.
   Pros:
   1) Backlit keyboard is awesome
   2) Apple software works seamlessly with 3rd party applications - MS is still trying to catch up. I have no trouble downloading/installing software.
   3) Unix available at the command line level
   4) Free iLife 08 including useful appls like iTunes, iPhoto iMovie, and GarageBand
   5) Safari is a v. good browser
   Cons:
   1) Screen does not display color as well as a PC (color dithering scam on its notebook displays). If you don't believe this - compare a PC and Mac notebook side by side. Ever wonder why Apple products are segregated from others (e.g. at B. Buy)?
   Scrolling in some windows may have glitches (see inet forums for details)
   Ditto dragging in the mouse pad.
   2) Leopard plug-ins/updates are still not all complete from some popular application programs. Fortunately I have 2 mac notebooks and the old one has Tiger on it. Tiger runs everything.
   3) Battery is still not as efficient as other laptops but my Dell 700 is even worse...
   4) Apple is almost as bad as MS at being proprietary about their software.
   a) The Apple educational discounts have become progressively lower over the past 5 years. The Apple discounts on software are nowhere near as good as many others.
   I can buy Lightroom 2 for a lot less than Aperture 2 via educational store
   b) Upgrading is also pricier.
   5) Apple phone support is really sucking recently and stay out of Apple retail stores- their 'geniuses' in support are not even marginally intelligent in the 2 stores in my area.
   6) Apple quality control from the 'golden' days is nonexistent today. Just see the web forums for all the problems that users are having with ALL Apple products.
   7) Bluetooth keyboards do not have powered USB ports. Why not??
   
   Bottom Line: Still a cool product but it could definitely be better.



5. I've had this computer for almost a year (mine has smaller hard drive) After much deliberation I finally decided to convert to Mac after over a decade of using PCs. I remember when windows 95 first came out and how bad Macs sucked back then. However times change. The main thing that did it for me was that I could have both windows and OSX on the same machine using boot disk. The verdict, I am now a Mac man. And no I don't have the little apple sticker on the back of my car window in case you are wondering.
   
   Boot Disk works flawlessly and when I boot up windows (mainly for work) it is like I have a PC, (a really bad a** PC). When I first got it I thought I would be spending most of my time in windows using OSX for "fun" however after a week I realized that OS X Leopard blows windows out of the water. Every aspect is better. Let me say that again: EVERY aspect of Leopard is better than windows XP. I haven't found one thing in windows that I like better that what Leopard has. Apple simply has the best user interface engineers on the planet working for them. Now to be fair I haven't yet used Vista (haven't felt compelled at all so far based on what I have seen) so I don't have a basis for direct comparison to MS newest product.
   
   Wireless works great, bluetooth works flawlessly. OH and the DVI out is amazing! I can plug the DVI out to my receiver and watch full screen HD video on the plasma! I tried this with my old PC, even bought a new video card to do it, but frankly it couldn't hold a candle to the mac. Macbook pro also has Optical audio out for connection to the receiver, very nice. Speakers on the machine are better than average for a laptop but still not anything approaching audiophile quality.
   
   The machine comes packed with software that is actually useful, fun and has no crap on it. ILife is great and easy to use. The display is crisp, clear, vivid, etc, etc. The best screen in the business.
   
   If I had to pick a con, I'd be price, though in comparison it is really not but a couple hundred bucks more than the equivalent PC. What you get for that extra cash is a better user interface, better styling, smoother operation, faster performance. Personally I'd rather spend a few hundred bucks more and get more enjoyment, more functionality, and in the end more usefulness from the computer than to worry about saving $200 and end up with something that feels like it is just some "tool". Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

5 comments about Acer Aspire One 8.9" Mini Laptop (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1.0 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, XP Home) White.

1. I just got my acer aspire one in the mail last night. I have to say that im mighty impressed so far... I thought that it was going to be cool by some of the reviews that i had read it seemed like it was going to be good all around. Well i like it. I was going to buy the newer one, the saphire blue one with 160 gig.. ect. But the shipping time that amazon told me was like halloween or the week of.. If im going to spend the money to buy a new computer im going to get one right now not a month later... especially when i payed for overnight... lame.. this one seems like its going to fit all my needs. I will buy a bigger battery for it for sure when ever they drop in price.. i would imagine after christmas.. i havent had the time to see how it works on something like photoshop.. but i was downlaoding files at 158kbs on a p2p and then i wathced igor on watch movies .net and it played flawlessly..anyways you should definatley hop for the 6 cell battery. as it seems like a good thing to have. nothing wrong with the 3 cell.. but i would love to have like 4 more hours on a charge..
   There are a couple things that i dont like to much... Idont like the mouse all that much.. the track pad is fine the scroll function works well. But the mouse buttons positioned on the side of the trackpad are kinda odd, it is hard to get used to since you cant really click and drag like noarmal... i will have a usb mouse tommorrow.. but for the most part using your other hand is fine..
   I like playing video games and such and havent tried to run anything yet... no time to play around to much.. But i have an idea of what to expect.. this isnt a gaming machine by any means..but im sure that it will play some of the older games that i enjoy.. especially if someone says that they have played WoW on theres.
   I will update with my photoshop and illustrator results..
   Update!!!! October 6th...
   I would like to say that i am still happy overall with this notebook. I have one issue that i have had trouble with though.. The sound has started distorting.. i dont think it is the speakers as the headphones distort too.. While playing any audio it seems to slow down or some thing because it will be like... blah, blah, blah, blaaaahhhhhh, blaaahhhhh.
   you see. anyways if any one has suggestions to fix this that would be awesome!



2. I ordered the Acer Aspire One with Linux so that it would arrive right before the weekend and I would have time to figure it out. It booted up quickly and when I plugged it into my Linksys router got connected immediately without disturbing either TIVO or the desktop pc. Being basically lazy, technology-wise, I didn't have to fiddle with anything. I bought this particular model because it is not Windows and so far I haven't found anything to dislike about it.



3. This computer is the best. It only weighs 2 lbs. (almost 3# with all auxilliary equipment) and can do everything my 7 lb. 14.1", 4 MG RAM laptop can do - only faster with XP. I'm looking for another one. They only cost $400.



4. The Aspire One is a pleasure to use--even for someone (like me) who's never touched Linux before. It's easy and fully functional right out of the box. Or, if you want customization and additional function, you can go into its 'advanced mode' and program endless cool modifications. I love how FAST it is--I think you could boot it up 10 times while Vista's still trying to haul itself out of Sleep.
   BEFORE YOU BUY, go browse the excellent 'Acer Aspire One User Forum' to get an idea of the issues Linux may present, and the support that's easily available.
   A couple of drawbacks:
   1.the 'Manual' that comes with the AAO is laughably lame. As long as you can access the internet on another device, there is a world of excellent support available from the user community, for every level of user. It's apparent that people who have this gadget love it, and they are generous in helping each other work out any quirks.
   2. I was disappointed to find that my new Lexmark printer will not, cannot, work with the AAO. Lexmark doesn't provide Linux drivers. To avoid ugly surprises, check in advance to see if there is a Linux driver available for your printer, if that's important to you. The Linux Foundation's Open Printing database has that info.
   I'm having a ton of fun with this--the only function that's difficult is putting it down.



5. I bought this mainly for email and Internet access while traveling and I'm thrilled that it works perfectly. Fast start up. Love the uncomplicated Linux. The wireless works great and can quickly find a signal. You can also plug in a Cat5 and it instantly knows what is going on. The open source office programs are great and might come in handy in a pinch. The 512 memory hasn't seemed to cause any problems. Everything seems to run snappily. The only drawback (to some folks) might be the battery. But it's fine for because more than 2 1/2 hours of battery life is not important for my needs. This is an excellent price for a quality product. And it's tiny!

5 comments about ASUS Eee PC 900 16G (8.9" Display, Intel Mobile CPU, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB Solid State Drive, XP Home) Galaxy Black.

1. takes too long to boot up and ones to boot it's still slow, screen kind of dark and not crisp.



2. This laptop is awesome for school!!! i can run Matlab, autocad, maple, office. great for any student that does not want to break his/her back.
   One thing. The "hard drive" (okay, the flash ssd, you get the idea), anyways, the hard drive comes with XP installed on a NFTS partition, and it DOES run slow. The FIX for this is to format the hard drive as FAT32 and reinstall XP.
   
   You will need a windows XP cd (not the recovery disk from asus) and if you have a external cd / dvd drive you can just boot the eeepc from the CD (press "Esc" a bunch of times on the start up screen, then select your dvd drive).
   
   if you dont have one you will need a 1Gb at least flash drive. and follow these instruccions:
   http://www.eeeguides.com/2007/11/installing-windows-xp-from-usb-thumb.html
   
   once you get your flash drive with XP ready you must boot from it and push Esc and select to boot from flash drive and press '1', and every time after that press 2 until windows is finalized installing
   
   This is for both methods, booting from CD or flash drive:
   at the blue screen installation mode (text mode) erase the partitions and create a new one, then format it using 'quick FAT32"
   
   so yeah, awesome PC, but need to fix it to make it usable.



3. I recently received this notebook computer from my SO for an anniversary gift. I have totally replaced my planner with the mini computer. It has my contacts, appointments, notes and reminders. I can use it to play tunes or surf the net when in range of an internet hot spot. The only draw back is the battery life between charges. I highly recommend one to anyone who is on the go a lot.



4. I bought this after a friend bought a 7" 4G in white. The extra screen size on the 900 definitely makes a difference to ease of use, but shifting the speakers to the underside has definitely muffled the sound and the bigger screen is hungrier on batteries. My eee 900 also has the low capacity 4400mAh battery which means battery life is adequate rather than good. I assume the cheap price I paid was down to this inferior battery being fitted rather than the specified 5800mAh battery. I understand from various threads on the internet that this was due to a fire at their battery factory. The mains adapter is much better than on the 7" eee. Instead of being a great lump that plugs into the socket with a trailing lead, the power block is a tiny unit with a Telefunken mains socket on the block. This means I can take the sorrect mains lead (US, UK or EU) when I travel rather than using an adapter. The neoprene sheath supplied with the eee 900 is perfect (nothing is supplied with the 4G) but it could do with something similar for the mains adapter and lead. At first I thought it was very slow, but it turned out that it carries on booting up XP for some time after the egg timer has disappeared. After this, it is as quick as my main laptop. If I could change anything it would be the colour. The legend on the keypad is easier to read on the white eee than the grey/black one, but this is also an issue of middle-aged eyesight. With one exception, I don't find the small keys to be a problem because I can't touch-type, but it is a problem that the full-stop key is smaller than the adjacent comma key. In conclusion, I am happy to tolerate all the limitations for the low weight and small size. I had stopped carrying a computer when travelling because it was too much trouble. It isn't any more.



5. First bought the Linux version because XP takes up so much memory but after 3 hours of tech support from ATT U-verse and finally Asus, found out that Linux is not compatible with my 2Wire Gateway router. I returned it to Amazon and got a full refund (what service?!!!) and ordered a new baby 'puter with XP.
   
   This is perfect for taking on vacation! It fits in a large purse or very small carry-on and is light weight. The keyboard is small so I resort to the 2 index finger hunt and peck method, which is fine in the short term. For $400 or less, it can't be beat!

1 comments about MSI Wind U100-016US 10-Inch Mini Laptop (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 3 Cell Battery) Black.

1. Light, affordable, cute, quick, and friendly. I just write with her but she is also a wireless E-mail maven who keeps me in touch with all of the latest gossip. She'll go anywhere with me. There are people who have pumped up thier mighty-mite into a steroid raging gamer but for me the basic black cute little number says it all, She is so sweet and with a 120 gigabite hard drive she never forgets a thing, She make me proud to take her out to the internet cafe' When I touch her, I know, what luxury feels like.

5 comments about ASUS Eee PC 901 20G (8.9" Display, 1.6 GHz Intel ATOM Processor, 1 GB RAM, 20 GB Solid State Drive, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Fine Ebony.

1. What I liked: Compact size; quick boot time; long battery life; bright screen; simple and easy software interface; quick internet connection to wireless network.
   
   What I didn't like: Gets hot over time; small keyboard does take time to get used to; touch pad for mouse can be overly sensitive; Linux version may be too simple and limited for advanced users.
   
   Overall, I am pleased with my purchase and would recommend this netbook. I am getting used to the keyboard. I really like the small size and use it primarily for internet and email.



2. I've been looking for a small, affordable and highly portable machine for quite some time. For my needs, I really needed it to be Windows based. I bought the EEE with the intention of installing windows on it. I decided on the linux version because of the extra ram and ssd.
   
   As a linux machine, it runs great. It boots up quickly and launches apps without any delay. The battery life is nice too, I got almost 6hrs. I have large hands so it took a little while to adjust to the keyboard, but I was able to touch type on it with a little effort and some creative wrist maneuvers. IMO, it's fine for short docs, but if I was writing an paper, I'd probably get an external keyboard.
   
   Before going through the trouble of wiping the ssd, I wanted to make sure windows would run smoothly so I installed VMWare with a Winxp guest. This config ran really well. I was impressed!
   
   I considered leaving it in this way, but having to boot 2 OS to get to the apps I wanted just wasn't worth it. Also, I wanted to run things like Reason and running in VMware caused noticeable audible blips in those cycles where the host OS had control of the CPU. Aside from this inherent side-effect of running under VM, the actual processor performed well. It was able to play every project I had previously created - and some of those had maxed out my CPU on the desktop PC originally used to create it. Nice!
   
   So why am I giving it only 4 stars? Well, after installing windows, the PC became unbearably slow, so much so that I restored it back to linux and returned it.
   
   This thing doesn't have that fast of an IO sub-system (another reviewer commented on this). For linux this is fine because disk access is pretty efficient. Not so under windows, where the OS seems to want to read little bits of info from hundreds of files. Yeah, it only takes about 30-40 seconds to boot windows, but it takes another 5+ minutes for post-boot disk processing to end. During this waiting period, the machine is basically a paper weight.
   
   I would have given it only 2 stars, but since I am not using it for it's intended purpose, I felt that was unfair. I highly recommend this product as a linux PC.



3. I purchased the ASUS 901 to enable me to leave my full sized (read too heavy to carry and battery life too short to make useful on a plane) laptop at home on business trips. From the perspective of MS-Office file compatibility (using Linux and Open Office on the ASUS)I am very satisfied. However unless I can get over two hurdles it will NOT fill my needs. 1) I have been unable to link my Apple wireless blutooth keyboard and mouse to the ASUS and use them. I find the keyboard too cramped to use for more than navigating websites. 2) I cannot watch movies loaded onto SD cards on the machine and the tech support on this issue has been less than helpful.
   
   Speed of the machine is good. Internet connectivity is great. Screen (recognizing it is small - but that is the choice I made) clarity is excellent. And battery life is great.
   
   If they address my two issues and add more robust tech support I would highly recommend the product. If not ... I wouldn't waste the money. I'd just bite the bullet and purchase a Lenovo X301.



4. When looking for a portable computer to join me on the road, I was most concerned about:
   * (Exceptional) battery life
   * (Small) size and weight
   * (High) exterior durability/build quality
   * (Solid) keyboard
   * (Good) wireless hardware/software
   * (Low) noise and heat
   * (At least) a 1024-pixel-wide display
   * (Reasonable) disk space
   
   At the time of research/purchase, the EEE line seemed to meet these requirements better than the alternatives I read about, especially battery life. The units are small, the 6-cell batteries really are great in the Atom-based models, the power brick is tiny, a carrying case is included in the package, etc.
   
   The tough call for me ended up being whether to get the EEE 901 or the EEE 1000H. At the time, the 1000H was significantly cheaper, came with a larger (and more traditional) storage unit, had a larger keyboard and screen, with nearly the same battery life, and had Windows. (The the Windows version of the EEE 901 really did not sound appealing given the low storage space on it.) I got to try out the Acer Aspire One at a local Best Buy, and felt that the keyboard size was just right. The knowledge that the 901's keyboard was smaller than the Aspire One's worried me, though when I saw pictures online comparing the overall size of the 901 to the 1000 to a normal-sized laptop, it seemed almost pointless to buy something just a tad smaller than a normal laptop, vs something significantly smaller and still usable. Also, the 901's keyboard has been around for a while (used in all EEE models except the 1000 up until that point), and reportedly felt a lot sturdier, even if it were smaller.
   
   The Windows question: while I am a die-hard Linux fan, I felt that it might be more practical having Windows on a portable machine that has to go everywhere---on rare occasions, you might run into things where you really wished you had Windows for. Plus with the hard disk in the 1000H, it would be easy enough to partition and dual-boot. If you bought a model loaded with Linux and wanted Windows on it, (I guess) you could try VMWare or something similar or try dual-booting off of the internal SSD's, but you'd still either have to buy it or steal it, neither of which are good options. You really can't beat the value of having it come with the machine.
   
   Ultimately, I decided on the Linux version of the EEE 901. It has just the right amount of built-in storage space, is completely silent when using the battery, has a solid-feeling keyboard, easy-to-read screen/resolution, excellent battery life (5 hours when demanding a lot from the wireless non-stop) and overall is just right for my needs. The build quality is great---does not feel or look cheaply made. And it's so lightweight, and it fits everywhere---in the car, on a coffee table; produces very little heat; it's small enough to have two on your lap at once, if you're into that kind of thing. I only wish it were capable of playing MSNBC's and CNN's live video streams. YouTube, Hulu, etc work fine. This is currently my *only* computer, and I've been using it all day for a month. I browse the web, do email and write software (on a remote system). Though the keyboard is small, it doesn't suffer flex in the way that the 1000H's apparently does, and I can touch-type on it at a satisfactory speed---maybe just a bit slower than I would on a full-size keyboard. As a fair warning, I do have smaller-than-average hands. And even with that "advantage", I did buy an external full-size USB keyboard to use when I really have to do some serious typing. But the portability factor of this model is just superb, and the built-in keyboard is really satisfactory 90% of the time. It definitely beats having a larger machine to lug around, even if the built-in keyboard were a tad larger.
   
   Finally, a note about wireless: The included wireless software works fine and is easy to use. Reception could be better, but I have nothing to compare it to. So let me put it this way: whenever and wherever I have needed to get online, I've been able to.
   
   Way to go Asus, you really got things right with the EEE 901!



5. I bought the PC through Amazon, but they delegated shipment through Beach Camera. The unit arrived with a pretty nasty screen problem - The glass looks like it's covered with dust, but on the *inside*. It's as if they dipped the screen too many times in the anti-glare solution at the factory.
   Needless to say, a cloudy screen is a fairly major problem when that screen is only 8.9" in size.
   Bad units happen, and I was just one of the unlucky .1% this time around. It's not like I couldn't return the merchandise for a full refund, right?
   I emailed Beach Camera, and was directed to their voice support line. I called them and was told, in no uncertain terms, that they did not accept PC returns under any circumstances. I hadn't realized this at the time of purchase since I'd ordered through Amazon, not the Beach Camera site.
   I filed a complaint with Amazon, but was ultimately told that the case had been "closed" because notification of the Beach Camera non-return policy was made clear during the checkout process. I couldn't recall seeing this policy while checking out, and Amazon support was unable to tell me where it appeared in the process.
   So now I'm stuck dealing with the manufacturer, ASUS. I've filed an RMA with them, so I'll see where that goes, but I'm not optimistic.
   I'm certainly not going to buy anything from Beach Camera again (who wants to buy something online that they can't return if there is a problem?) and Amazon won't be the first Web site I shop at anymore.
   
   The sad thing is that I've had really good dealings with Amazon over the years, including a similar dispute with one of their Z-shop dealers (another "we won't take back a defective product" issue). In the last case, Amazon settled the complaint - correctly - in my favor.
   
   As far as the ASUS 901 device itself goes, discounting the bad screen, it's a really great gadget. It's a little heavier and bulkier than the 900s I looked at in the local retail stores (I couldn't find 901s for sale in my neck of the woods), but also more professional looking.
   The installed Linux distro isn't that bad. The desktop is very functional and pretty intuitive for beginners.
   The keyboard is cramped, so touch typing won't be easy, but it's pretty usable. Given the space alloted to the keys, it's the best you could expect.
   The external speakers are okay, as is the built-in camera.
   It's a little more sluggish than I would have expected from an Atom-based machine with a solid state drive, but not too bad. It runs YouTube videos fairly well, with only a hitch here and there. It does all other, less-demanding functions (such as Web browsing, mp3 and podcast playing, email, etc.) fine.
   All in all, if the screen wasn't obscured, I'd be a very happy customer.

5 comments about ASUS Eee PC 901 12G (8.9-inch Display, 1.6 GHz Intel ATOM Processor, 1 GB RAM, 12 GB Solid State Drive, XP Home, 6 Cell Battery) Fine Ebony.

1. This little computer is perfect for someone on the go. All the features worked great right out of the box. The keyboard IS small, but not unpleasantly so. The touch screen is annoyingly sensitive, but this is easily remedied by downloading a new driver from Elantech, and I also believe it's on the CD that comes with the machine.
   
   I recently took it on a trip and streamed movies from Netflix with no problem. The screen compares favorably in size to most portable DVD players and the sound quality is quite decent.
   
   The battery life is a nice feature. My machine goes easily 6 hours on one charge, with wi-fi switched on. Turning off the camera and wi-fi will extend it even further.
   
   I'd definitely buy one of these again!!



2. We just got our ASUS 901 XP. I won't repeat much of what everybody else has said. It's a small PC that's slow and cute and well-built. If that's what you want, then it's perfect!
   
   Two things to note. You *will* have to deal with the small C-drive. Minimally this means:
   -- Change the TMP and TEMP environment variables to point to a directory on the D-drive
   -- Change Internet Explorer to use the D-drive for its temporary files.
   -- Change your email program to store email on the D-drive (unless you just use webmail).
   -- Download any tool that lets you analyze disk space on a drive and shows you where it's used up. One easy free one is Treesize Free at [...]. You *will* need this.
   
   Second, there's been some confusion about what resolution is supported by the external VGA port. We have a Dell 24" monitor. I plugged it in, and the ASUS EEE 901 immediately, automatically started running it at 1920x1200. And it looks beautiful. So, external resolution is not a problem.



3. This device is so small and light, and easy to use. Great for travel, no docking station or plug in peripherals to weight you down. I can literally slip this into my purse and go.



4. Worthwhile purchase. It has proved to serve its purpose for an alternate computer. It very convenient and versatile. I would not recommend it as a primary laptop/computer.



5. Very satisfied with my purchase. It's really portable and the communication features (Wi-fi, bluetooth, web cam) are very convenient. Initially concerned about the size of the flash memory but it proved to fulfill my needs. My only problem is that my son took it from me to college and eventually I'll have to buy another for myself. . . .