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Asus' Eee PC gets torture tested on video
For those that had no qualms kicking Teddy to the curb and cuddling with Asus' Eee PC throughout the night just as soon as it was released, you may want to utilize your scroll wheel right about now. For those with a tough stomach and a perverse appetite for destruction, you can most definitely stay put. In the video posted after the jump, the Eee PC is pushed from great heights onto solid floors, forced to sit in extreme temperatures and repeatedly prodded to see if it still functioned. Interested? You're just one click away from a clip sure to make gadget aficionados everywhere cringe.[Thanks, Roman]
WoW on an Eee PC, in ten (not so) simple steps
I can't say I quite understand the ultraportable thing (why not just use a real computer?), but I have to admit that the Eee PC from Asus is a slick little device. Not as slick as the Macbook Air, but not nearly as pricey, so still pretty slick. And now it's even slicker- Dan from UltraMobileGeek has figured out how to install World of Warcraft on an Eee 701.You can see in the video above that it's just barely playable-- you couldn't raid Black Temple (or even Karazhan, I'm sure), but for logging in and grinding or checking mail, it would probably work just fine. The process, unfortunately, isn't exactly simple-- you have to run modified drivers, overclock the PC, and run experimental code (plus, memory might be a problem, as you need an 8gb SDHC card and probably more RAM than you've got now)-- but if you're interested in pushing your Eee to the limit, it might be for you. One suggestion or Dan (and anyone else messing around with this): would the Wine version of WoW let you skip installing XP, since the Eee is Linux-based? Just wondering.At any rate, sounds like a fun Saturday afternoon project if you've got an Eee to play around with and want your WoW ultraportable.
Install gOS on the ASUS Eee
We're not sure that you'd want to do it, but it's nice to know that you can do it. If you're really sick of the native OS that came with your Eee -- or you're trying to feel out what a Cloudbook would be like if you could buy one -- you can now install Everex's Google-centric gOS onto your system with little-to-no effort, simply by following this ten point breakdown. You'll need an external optical drive, a wired internet connection, and probably an hour or so, but once all is said and done, you can break free of Xandros and roll deep with the Ubuntu-based gOS. How the software performs on the miniscule laptop we couldn't say, but at least now you can show your friends how truly unique you are.[Thanks, Tom]
CybertronPC CM900, Eee's long-lost twin?
Sure, it looks like the Eee, it sports the same CPU as the Eee, heck, it even appears to use the Eee's OS -- but it's actually the CM900! What does that mean? Well for starters, you'll pay more money for less computer ($349.99 for a 2GB system, the same price for a 4GB ASUS)... but of course you'll have that CybertronPC name to fall back on. Honestly, we'd say this was a rebrand if it weren't for the minor differences in specs, and who knows -- maybe it is. If not, however, this is the knock-offingest knock-off we've seen in a good long while. Far be it from us to condemn the CybertronPC gang for trying to get in while the gettin's good, but maybe next time these guys could at least give us a fair shake on the storage / price breakdown?[Thanks, Brian]
Asus rolls out Eee PC in Japan, Windows XP standard
It's taken a while, but it looks like folks in Japan can now finally get their hands on Asus's diminutive and eminently-hackable Eee PC, although not exactly the same models we have 'round these parts. Dubbed the Eee PC 4G-X, the Japan-centric laptop is apparently identical to the regular 4G model, with the notable exception that it now comes pre-loaded with Windows XP Home Edition as standard instead of the usual Linux OS. That, of course, takes up a hefty chunk of the 4GB of internal storage, so Asus has thoughtfully 4GB SDHC card with the laptop as well. Look for it to be available in your choice of black or white for ¥50,000 (or about $468), with free access to NTT's WiFine hotspot network thrown in for good measure.
WiMAX-enabled Eee PC demoed on Sprint's XOHM network, more details revealed
That, friends, is the WiMAX-enabled Eee PC, showcased today on Sprint's XOHM network (as was the OQO model 02). No word on a price just yet, but it sounds like it will see production with "an attractive MSRP." Also of note, ASUS is planning to dish out 7-, 8-, and 8.9-inch models (not necessarily WiMAX-enabled, mind you) in Q2 in a variety of colors, but it seems we'll be playing wait-and-see regarding the all important price / specifications bit.
Asus reveals accessory line for Eee PC
Obsessed with your Eee PC? Enough to go and buy a few accessories designed specifically for it by Asus? If so, you should know that Asus has unveiled five compact mice, a headset, world power adapter and a pair of extra batteries for its newest darling. As for the mice, they each sport a 1,000dpi resolution, USB connectivity and come in five different hues. Moving on, we've got a pair of noise-isolating headphones that come with a trio of ear tips and in your choice of white or black, and the new power adapter provides prongs for an unspecified number of foreign countries. Lastly, users who are perpetually finding themselves far, far away from an AC outlet can pick up a four- or six-cell battery. No word on prices or release dates just yet, but we'd bet they'll be rolling out soon enough.[Via MobileWhack]
Asus exceeds expectations, ships 350k Eee PCs in one quarter
We're not exactly sure why, but we never really had a feeling that Asus wouldn't be able to move a copious amount of these things. Nevertheless, DigiTimes has it that Asus actually sold through 350,000 Eee PCs in a single quarter, beating industry expectations by a solid 50,000 units. Also of note, the report mentions that Asus is planning to launch the little bugger into Best Buy stores in the US while also kicking off sales in Japan next year, so there should plenty of opportunities to grab one if you've somehow missed out thus far.
Fresno schools buy 1,000 Eee PCs, Asus launches 2G Surf model
The OLPC and Classmate PC may be getting most of the attention these days with their attempts to win over as many schools as possible, but it looks like Asus' Eee PC is starting to make some moves of its own, with the Fresno Unified School District recently snagging 1,000 of the laptops in an attempt to boost student scores. As The San Francisco Chronicle reports, the schools also went the extra step of getting the laptops pre-installed with Windows and other Microsoft software, which apparently brought the total cost to $464 a seat. Also according the Chronicle, it seems that Asus has officially launched its $299 2G Surf model a little ahead of the January date we first heard about, although it still seems to be nigh impossible to come by, at least at the moment.[Thanks, Bill]
Vista gets wrangled onto the Eee PC
It already seems pretty clear that there are few OSes that won't at least be attempted to be installed on the Eee PC, and it now looks like you can chalk up another of the big ones in successful column, as one fearless user has managed to squish Vista onto the diminutive laptop. To accomplish that feat, Paul O'Brien used the vLite tool to cut out as much bloat as possible before putting the custom disk image onto a USB stick, after which he then installed the OS on the Eee PC and, perhaps most notably, moved the Side by Side (or SxS) directory onto an 8GB SD card, freeing up some much needed space on the laptop itself. If for some reason you want to try that yourself, you can find complete instructions by hitting up the read link below, or you can live vicariously through the video after the break.[Via Gadget Lab]
eeeXubuntu: Ubuntu distilled for your Eee
For all you Eee users out there who've been trying to squeeze Ubuntu into the little white box, some help is on the way. A kind and enterprising Linux enthusiast has used their precious time and energy to put together an Eee-customized build of the much-loved OS, which includes fully-integrated hardware support, native wireless drivers, functioning Ethernet support, tweaks for low-resolution desktop environments, and a bunch of other little enhancements that will make using Canonical's powerhouse a lot more pleasant on your tiny laptop. Word on the street is that development and refinement continues on the build, so expect improvements as time wears on. Now, if only someone could perfect that Amiga OS build for the Eee...[Via Digg]
Asus sez Eee PC warranty still valid if you break seals
Ever noticed that "Warranty Void If Removed" label over the access door to the single SODIMM slot in your Eee PC? Apparently, Asus wants you to just ignore those four little words. In a warranty update posted to the firm's website, it plainly states that "merely breaking or removing this kind of seal will not void the Asus Limited Warranty," and while it recommends that customers use company-approved service facilities, it wants to ensure that buyers "are free to make appropriate hardware and software modifications and upgrades, regardless of whether the service is performed by an approved facility, a non-approved service provider, or by the customers themselves." Going forward, it seems that Asus will be using a label that simply informs users that it won't be held responsible for any damages that may occur as a result of any tinkering, but yes, you can indeed feel free to piddle around till your heart's content knowing Asus still has your back.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Poll: What OS are you running on your Eee?
So ASUS' little low-cost monster, the Eee, has wormed its way into the hearts and minds of gadget lovers, their friends, family members, and random dudes and chicks you know (if this year's holiday wish-lists are any indication). It turns out everyone wants a piece of the 7-inch heartthrob, and that got us thinking. With the multitude of OS options for the miniscule laptop (ASUS' Xandros build, XP, Ubuntu, Debian, even OS X), we want to know: current users, what OS are you running on your Eee? %Poll-6755%
Asus says it'll ship 3.8 million Eee PCs next year
It's no secret that Asus has some big expectations for its low-cost Eee PC, but it looks like the company is now getting a bit more specific on the matter, with it saying it expects to ship some 3.8 million of the laptops in the next fiscal year. To put that in some perspective, HP (currently at the top of the laptop heap) shipped some 6.2 million laptops total in the last quarter, while Apple sold approximately 1.4 million in the same time period. Given that Asus is talking about one particular model (with few variations), however, 3.8 million in a year certainly isn't too shabby. What's more, as Daily Tech reports, at least some of those 3.8 million laptops will be shipping with Windows -- specifically, a stripped-down version of XP that's been designed for "emerging markets." Stripped-down or not, however, those'll apparently still demand a $30 to $60 premium over the base, non-Windows model.[Laptop sales figures courtesy of CNET News.com]
Asus' Eee PC on sale with 8GB SSD, 1GB RAM for $499
Don't look now, but those not quite satisfied with the Eee PC's 512MB of RAM and 4GB hard drive can finally get what they've been asking for. E-tailer Dynamism is offering up Asus' 7-inch darling (in Pearl White and Galaxy Black) with 1GB of RAM and an 8GB SSD, but all of the remaining specifications look to be the same. Of course, you'll be coughing up nearly five bills for this version, so we'll leave it to you to decide if it's worth it. Oh, and don't expect either flavor to arrive before "mid-to-late December."[Via jkkmobile]
California school district getting 1,000 Asus Eee PCs
Students in California's Fresno Unified school district have a little something to be excited about this week, as officials have just invested $650,000 in 1,000 Asus Eee PCs, set for classroom deployment over the next few weeks. The concept is to use the miniscule laptops alongside good, old-fashioned textbooks, with each student being given the chance to create a "digital portfolio" of essays, drawings, and whatever else they can get away with. The computers will remain in roughly 60 classrooms, and will be shared by students -- but some worry they'll hinder the learning process by distracting pupils. Says Stephen Lewis, a geology professor at California State University, Fresno, "Teaching and learning is a person-to-person business. Are we moving toward a remote-control classroom?" We're not sure what he means by that... then again, we drifted off half-way through his statement to watch a video of that dog on a skateboard.
Asus clarifies Eee PC GPL issues, says omission was a mistake
We never really assumed foul play by Asus when it was discovered that the Eee's Linux source package was missing the ACPI module, especially after Asus released it with little fanfare soon after it was first noticed -- and now the company has released a statement formally calling the omission a mistake. Asus also said it's working to publish all the Eee's source in the appropriate forums, and that it intends to respect "the spirit of the GPL." Which is great and all, but considering how much time Asus had to sort this out, you'd think they'd have their ducks in a row.[Via TG Daily]
Eee PC mod brings some internal Bluetooth
The Asus Eee PC isn't missing many must-have specs right out of the box, but there's always going to be a reason or three for some internal Bluetooth. Luckily, the hack really isn't too terribly difficult as demonstrated by tnkgrl -- as long as you've got a basic idea about what you're doing when it comes to a few stray USB wires and a motherboard. It involves a standard USB Bluetooth dongle stripped to its essentials and hooked up to the mini PCIe slot that also hosts the Eee PC's wireless card. The hack doesn't mess with your original wireless, and provides the sweet, sweet Bluetooths to XP and the standard Xandros OS. And speaking of Xandros, someone's also gone through the trouble of getting their WM6 HTC TyTN up and tethered with the Eee -- which seems like a natural next step after you manage the tnkgrl hack, but we're not the boss of you.Read - Internal Bluetooth hackRead - TyTN tether
Asus posts more Eee source code to comply with the GPL
While we're certain Linux fans will continue to pore over every aspect of the Eee's Xandros distro to make sure Asus remains in compliance with the GPL, it looks like the company is doing its best to make amends by posting the source to the Asus_ACPI module that kicked off the controversy in the first place. The module's code was not originally included in the 1.8GB source .zip Asus had made available, but it's now chilling out on Asus' public FTP server -- we're certain three of you are absolutely thrilled.
Does the Asus EeePC violate the Linux GPL?
A group of Linux users have spoken out against Asus and their apparent non-compliance with certain aspects of the General Public License attached to Xandros Linux distro that comes with the Eee PC. This flustered controversy centers around Asus modifying a module of the Linux kernel without distributing the source code, something that breaks the rules of the license. Your average Eee PC owner isn't going to give a damn about such a trivial point, so end users can safely ignore this debate. As for whether Asus will step up and do what it should have done from day one, that'll depend on how loud the developers involved make their case. Type harder guys![Via Slashdot]
