OLPC XO vs. Asus Eee PC 701 - LAPTOP Magazine
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I just came from the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, where Asus held a rather intimate Press Launch for their Eee PC. I was lucky enough to be sent by my good friend, the Doodler, to the event and I was able to hold (or rather fondle) the Eee PC.
As expected, the units they had on display were running Linux but the casual user *may* not even know the difference considering that the default desktop of the Eee PC is configured like the Windows of yore (think Windows 3.x). Yes, it felt like playing with a computer from the mid 80's. But reading around the 'net, I know that there is an option to convert the desktop to a so-called "advanced" mode. In Advanced mode, the Eee PC will look and feel like the usual Linux computer... something that I'm pretty familiar and comfortable with. The unit available for sale starting November 18, 2007 is the variant with the 4 GB storage and 512Mb RAM. I asked them if it is possible to upgrade the RAM to at least 1GB and they said that it is possible only if done through the local authorized Asus repair center (whoopee!).
The presentation of the Eee PC was pretty comprehensive. They underscored how small and handy the unit is. As shown in the picture above, the Eee PC weighs less than a Harry Potter book. They even showed a video clip where the brought the the Eee PC to a pre-school and how the kids there *BUT* a quick search on the internet shows that the people who are most interested with the Eee PC are not kids (nor the harried housewives that they also show) but mostly adults who are sick of lugging around their heavy laptops. My unsolicited advice to the local Asus marketing team that's handling the Eee PC: take care of that segment!
I played with the Eee PC on display for a while and the more I played with it, the more I got I got convinced that I want one for myself. But I guess I'll have to wait because according to their marketing person, Nina, there is a queue waiting for the Eee PC.
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In a few week's time, the iPod Touch will be available locally. At roughly the same time, the Asus Eee PC will also be released in the market.
or
I'd love to have either of these gadgets but now I'm in a conundrum... will I get the iPod Touch or opt for the Eee? The iPod Touch will cost around 26K and the Eee is rumored to cost at around the same ballpark figure.
One of the things that is preventing me from entirely abandoning the Eee PC over the iPod Touch is useability. I want to run applications and so far, all attempts to "jailbreak" the iPod Touch proves to be in vain.
BREAKING NEWS: My good friend, the doodler of Mac-a-Doodle just called me and offered me an iPhone at a price I simply can't refuse. So there, its settled, I'm getting an iPhone!!!!!!!
technorati tags:iTouch, EeePC, iPhone
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There's a new hands-on review on the Asus Eee PC and it looks like my "gadget-lust" for this diminutive gadget has been rekindled. Posted by a developer from unicap-imaging.org, the default image capture utility of the Eee PC.
The details on the review is much better than the earlier ones and the pictures, IMHO is better. The person who posted didn't give any details on the other software installed on the Eee PC but the most significant information in this detail is that it has confirmed that the Eee PC's RAM is user upgrade-able *and* the specific distro of Linux it is running (Xandros)
If you want to read the whole review, just click on the picture of the Eee PC above (which, BTW is on top of an Apple MacBook.
technorati tags:EeePC, Linux, Xandros
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allow me a few minutes to take a big gulp of Kool Aid here...
When I opened the Apple website this morning, I was expecting yet another ho-hum update of the iPod line but lo and behold, a thing of beauty greeted my eyes! The iPod Touch!
Now this is a gadget that is definitely in my to-buy list! I can't justify getting yet another cellphone (I already have two active cellphones with me at this moment) but I can justify an iPod purchase -- my 3rd gen iPod is on its way to the gadget graveyard and I think its time for me to get a new one.
Screw the Eee PC, I'm getting the iPod Touch!
Earlier, I posted how the Palm Foleo has bowed out of the race on the 7" laptop market as stated by the Palm CEO in the official Palm Blog. Now a different manufacturer, Packard Bell, is apparently entering the 7" laptop niche.
It looks like they are using the Via NanoBook reference design so I expect this to cost around $600... way more expensive than my eagerly awaited Asus Eee PC.
(picture from PocketLint)
When it was first announced, the Asus Eee PC made waves in the gadget world. Although its announcement was pre-empted by the Palm Foleo, the Eee PC's price point made everyone look at its direction. Although it will have a rather dinky monitor at 7" and frugal storage (starting at 4GB), it still makes sense to get an Eee PC as a second laptop. Here are the reasons:
1. The OS. Although Asus will bundle drivers for Windows XP, the Eee PC will run a flavor of Linux out of the box. This means that like Apple portables, the Eee PC will be immediately useful because it will come pre-installed with an MS Office-compatible office suite, a browser and a host of other pre-loaded and useful apps.
2. The form factor. The Eee PC is small, thin and light. Just large enough to be productive but small enough to not to be a bother to carry.
3. The time is ripe for this kind of device. Although the Eee PC does not have a large storage, it may not matter a lot for most techies because in this day and age, people can use an online email server for their communication needs (Gmail, Y!Mail, etc), they can also use online "office suite" such as the Google Apps (Docs, Sheets, etc.). Other files can be stored using Box.net or other online web-based storage service. There are other web-based applications out there that will help offset the Eee PC's lack of storage space (Basecamp comes to mind but there are others out there... trust me:) ).
Months after its announcement, the Asus Eee PC is still on top of my wishlist. The Palm Foleo and the Via NanoBook may have more "muscles" behind them but their price point is their biggest "minus points" at this time so my money will go to Asus *if* I do get one of these ultra-ultraportable laptops.
technorati tags:eee, portable computing, Asus
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A Reuters news item reports that the OLPC XO *may* become available to the general public by Christmas. Originally pegged to cost $100 per unit, the OLPC XO's cost has increased to $175 but if and when it does becomes available for sale, the price will be $350 -- twice the production cost but they are hoping to sell the units for up to $525 (three times the original cost). The reason for the increased cost is to subsidize the production of OLPC XO units that will be distributed to poorer countries.
If plans to sell the OLPC pushes through, it will be available online from a yet to be identified online retailer.
My take on this: Although the proceeds of the sale of the OLPC XO will be for a noble cause (the education of kids in poor countries), the emergence of similar products such as the Asus Eee PC, the Palm Foleo and the Via NanoBook may be a big hurdle the OLPC XO needs to overcome. The Palm Foleo and the Via NanoBook may be more expensive but if they do decide to sell these green kiddie laptops for more than $500, I'm sure a lot of people will opt to get the Foleo or the NanoBook. The Asus Eeee PC is also a dark horse in this race. Its cost (the last time I checked the Eee will start at $250) is a big factor to consider.
Personally, I wouldn't mind getting one for *my* kid but if they do decide to sell it at 3x the production cost, I'd probably have second thoughts... but then again, that's just me.
technorati tags:olpc, nanobook, foleo, eee, ultraportables
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Notebookreview.com has just posted another hands-on review of the $199(?) Asus Eee PC and the review itself is "mixed" at the most.
The reviewer says that the keyboard "takes some getting used to" but marvels at how it boots up in no time at all. He also praised the generous connectivity options available in the machine.
Now for the bad news. According to the same review, Asus is thinking of raising the cost of the 8GB variant of the Eee PC from $199 to $250, that means that I'll have to save an around Php 2,500 more on top of its projected local price of around Php 10,000!
But despite of that looming price increase, I still think its a bargain!
technorati tags:Eee PC, portable computing
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