I have been using this small laptop for over 3 months now and I can say it’s a very nice piece of hardware. I can pop it in any bag an off I go. So without any more delays here is my review.
Construction:
It’s plastic, but of good quality. My only grief is the plastic area around the Ethernet port. When I remove the cable from the port, the plastic tends to move outwards. I’m afraid in a violent movement it will brake. The hinges are top knots. I haven’t seen such good hinges in bigger laptops.
Speakerphone/Microphone ports:
The speakerphone port was giving me heaps of problems. If I put my headphone with the L shaped connector at the end, it need lots of pulling strength to come out, and this is a worrying matter.
Inbuilt speakers:
Located on the side of the screen there are not the most fantastic ones (what did people expected? Honestly now!) but they do their work ok. I wouldn’t use them to light up a party though.
Screen:
It’s 7 inches. With 2 resolution modes. I have read a lot of criticism in technical magazines in regards how bad some Internet sites are looking and so on. Yes it’s true, you need to pan around a lot, buuuuuuuuut after a while you do get used to it and it doesn’t feels that much of a strain. I have find more of a nuisance that I can’t have the task bar on screen all the time. To make things better I have the bar on autohide and installed the excellent software RocketDock from PunkSoftware to give me the ability to clean up my desktop and have my most used shortcuts close.
The quality of the screen is very good, but it does gets tiring for the eyes after couple of hours.
Keyboard:
The keyboard is very plasticy and the weakest link on the laptop. The keys, again despite what technical magazines say, you can tough type if your hands are not of considerable size, aka tennis rackets. The only problem is that sometimes the keys are not responsive to hits resulting misspelled words. This is definitely something that ASUS needs to work on. A somewhat better quality keyboard it would very good.
Mouse:
The mouse that comes with the laptop is a wired optical. Quality is OK and the keys responsive. Nothing amazing but it does its job.
Hard drive:
Well it doesn’t have a mechanical HDD but a Solid State Disk. That has the advantage in case of drop that it will not scratch the platters. But on the other hand it doesn’t have enough storage (8 GB) and it’s welded on the motherboard so if there is any problem you can’t change it for something else. Speeds are not breaking any record. I wish it was a mechanical one. Anything better than this. Although the SD card reader (High Capacity one) gives you a bit of breathing space.
If you have the Windows version, like I do, it’s a good idea to install all programs to the SD card. This way you can back it up in an external HDD or flash drive and when the new 32 GB cards became cheaper to copy everything there. Presto! Instant expansion of space.
Battery:
With wireless on about couple of hours. Nothing different than any entry-level laptop at this time in the market.
Power brick:This is the BEST power brick I have seen EVER in a laptop. It’s small, with long cable and weights less than anything I have seen. If all laptops had a power brick as this we would all be much happier. Points to ASUS for this. And it comes in white too.
Conclusion:
The first try of ASUS to the ultra portable laptops has been a bulls eye. If ASUS fixes some small niggles with the 900, they have a big chance to continue be number one in the entry ultra portable laptops this year also. If someone asked me if I would buy again, I would say YES. Definitely!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Linux vs Vista
Vista. Ahhhh. The promise of a OS that would have changed our way of computing. Start me up and the WOW starts now.
I’m still waiting for the WOW. It’s more like ARGGGG! (Imaging a red face with steam coming out of the ears). I can’t understand what in the hell all those experts are seeing as revolutionary!!!!
Ok Vista maybe more secure, but I don’t know anyone running Vista as a “factory-settings” machine. Everybody (well almost) have a third party software for antivirus (proper that is, looking at you OneCare, or should I say OneCrap), a firewall that gives a bit of a feedback and an anti-spyware software.
In the resend months when the company I work buys PC they come with Vista. The problems that I had to solve are raging from the most idiotic (5 mins for some MB of copy? FIVE MINUTES??!?!?!?), to the most extreme ones, like programs crashing at start up with no errors at all.
Yes you might tell me about SP1 and missing drivers and such. I will tell you the following. I applied SP1, the copy still SUCKS, and as for the programs, there are from a BIG company and a version that was made AFTER the Vista launch. The conclusions are yours.
And I had to disable the AutoTuning function of Vista because it was playing havoc with the network. Here are the commands for those that may need them:
netsh interface tcp set global rss=disabled
netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
And the shutting down? 15 minutes? FIFTHEEN? What is the blazes? Who was stupid enough to give the tick of approval, from a Quality Assurance point of view, that 15 minutes are acceptable and progress the user’s experience with an OS? Starting up is OK I guess, but shutting down?
And how about those laptops that you will find in specials all around the world with the Vista Home Basic installed? Trying to run Vista, even the Home Basic one, in a laptop couple of years old is akin to pulling my nails out. And enjoying it. While I deep in hot lava. Hmmm tasty!
Well there are some things in Vista that are passable. The interface for one. Great graphics and crisp. (Although a cover doesn’t make a book if you know what I mean.). And the UAC. A lot of criticism has come about that feature. Lets not forget that Linux does the same and no-one complains. It’s not a bad feature and I’m 100% behind it. BUUUUUUUUUUUT, Microsoft should get the hint from Linux and asks about Admin rights ONLY ONCE. After the second time I want to through the PC out of the window.
As time goes by I see a lot of other problems arising, that the MS people should have thought. Older programs don’t run? Why? Who are you Mr Brain-in-the-department-of-new-OS in Microsoft that will dictate to me which program I can use? If a program that I pay for it three years ago does what I want then you should have though of something like, I don’t know…virtualization maybe for older programs?. OH NO SHOCK HORROR!! How can I think so ADVANCED!! Wait a second.. AAAAA now I get it. That’s why Windows 7 will include it as default. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Extra cash to be made? Wink-Wink! And NO virtual Pc 2007 still sucks. You need to have license for an older OS to use it. More money to spend huh? Idiots!
By the way I would like to make a mention on a great piece of software that I found yesterday in my search for something BETTER than VPC 2007. It’s called VirtualBox and it’s from Sun. Here’s the link:
http://www.sun.com/software/products/virtualbox/index.jsp
Well done to all people that made this program. Excellent job.
That’s why I love Linux. . I don’t mean the let’s-get-married-right-now-love but the love to a maturing OS. A love to an idea that lets everybody uses THEIR computers as they see fit and work as THEY see fit. Not as a big company THINKS how they want to work.
I started with Red Hat 5 and finally reached the Ubuntu 8.04. During the journey I got upset, angry, vowed never to use Linux again, felt comfortable, amazed and finally impatient for the new version.
I have installed it in numerous computers with different specs every time, and I can say I had minimal troubles. The only troubles I keep on having is with the Compiz because of NVIDIA.
Let me tell you the easiest OS is the one based on Ubuntu, Mint Linux, Ubuntu etc. Perfect. I tried Mandriva, had tons of problems with the Compiz and Emelarld. Tried KDE 4. Didn’t like it. I think the widgets are OK but the implementation is leaving a bitter taste to the mouth. Maybe KDE 4.1 will be better.
By the way the Compiz 3D effects rips Vista in millions of tiny specs of dust. I like the Vista interface like I said, but boy talking about embarrassment from Microsoft when they tried to play down Compiz. Ok little boy try again in version 7. Run along now. Good boy!
With one OS I can get ALREADY packaged into the DVD all the programs that I need to start in an office environment. Ok some programs that you can’t live without maybe a bit more difficult to port (if Wine is not working on them), but maybe some day when Linux picks up more steam the big software companies might consider porting them even if it doesn’t fit into the GPL licensing scheme.
In this point please allow me a mention to XARA Extreme as an example. A very good software that came from a company that makes software for Windows and sells them, and it’s free. Give it a try if you are in the field of arts. Link: http://www.xaraxtreme.org
What am I going to do with my computer? Hmmm tough question. I love my games, so I can’t not go to Linux straight up. But if I was to set up a new office for someone it would have been Linux ALL THE WAY.
The penguin is here to stay. Learn to live with it.
I’m still waiting for the WOW. It’s more like ARGGGG! (Imaging a red face with steam coming out of the ears). I can’t understand what in the hell all those experts are seeing as revolutionary!!!!
Ok Vista maybe more secure, but I don’t know anyone running Vista as a “factory-settings” machine. Everybody (well almost) have a third party software for antivirus (proper that is, looking at you OneCare, or should I say OneCrap), a firewall that gives a bit of a feedback and an anti-spyware software.
In the resend months when the company I work buys PC they come with Vista. The problems that I had to solve are raging from the most idiotic (5 mins for some MB of copy? FIVE MINUTES??!?!?!?), to the most extreme ones, like programs crashing at start up with no errors at all.
Yes you might tell me about SP1 and missing drivers and such. I will tell you the following. I applied SP1, the copy still SUCKS, and as for the programs, there are from a BIG company and a version that was made AFTER the Vista launch. The conclusions are yours.
And I had to disable the AutoTuning function of Vista because it was playing havoc with the network. Here are the commands for those that may need them:
netsh interface tcp set global rss=disabled
netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
And the shutting down? 15 minutes? FIFTHEEN? What is the blazes? Who was stupid enough to give the tick of approval, from a Quality Assurance point of view, that 15 minutes are acceptable and progress the user’s experience with an OS? Starting up is OK I guess, but shutting down?
And how about those laptops that you will find in specials all around the world with the Vista Home Basic installed? Trying to run Vista, even the Home Basic one, in a laptop couple of years old is akin to pulling my nails out. And enjoying it. While I deep in hot lava. Hmmm tasty!
Well there are some things in Vista that are passable. The interface for one. Great graphics and crisp. (Although a cover doesn’t make a book if you know what I mean.). And the UAC. A lot of criticism has come about that feature. Lets not forget that Linux does the same and no-one complains. It’s not a bad feature and I’m 100% behind it. BUUUUUUUUUUUT, Microsoft should get the hint from Linux and asks about Admin rights ONLY ONCE. After the second time I want to through the PC out of the window.
As time goes by I see a lot of other problems arising, that the MS people should have thought. Older programs don’t run? Why? Who are you Mr Brain-in-the-department-of-new-OS in Microsoft that will dictate to me which program I can use? If a program that I pay for it three years ago does what I want then you should have though of something like, I don’t know…virtualization maybe for older programs?. OH NO SHOCK HORROR!! How can I think so ADVANCED!! Wait a second.. AAAAA now I get it. That’s why Windows 7 will include it as default. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Extra cash to be made? Wink-Wink! And NO virtual Pc 2007 still sucks. You need to have license for an older OS to use it. More money to spend huh? Idiots!
By the way I would like to make a mention on a great piece of software that I found yesterday in my search for something BETTER than VPC 2007. It’s called VirtualBox and it’s from Sun. Here’s the link:
http://www.sun.com/software/products/virtualbox/index.jsp
Well done to all people that made this program. Excellent job.
That’s why I love Linux. . I don’t mean the let’s-get-married-right-now-love but the love to a maturing OS. A love to an idea that lets everybody uses THEIR computers as they see fit and work as THEY see fit. Not as a big company THINKS how they want to work.
I started with Red Hat 5 and finally reached the Ubuntu 8.04. During the journey I got upset, angry, vowed never to use Linux again, felt comfortable, amazed and finally impatient for the new version.
I have installed it in numerous computers with different specs every time, and I can say I had minimal troubles. The only troubles I keep on having is with the Compiz because of NVIDIA.
Let me tell you the easiest OS is the one based on Ubuntu, Mint Linux, Ubuntu etc. Perfect. I tried Mandriva, had tons of problems with the Compiz and Emelarld. Tried KDE 4. Didn’t like it. I think the widgets are OK but the implementation is leaving a bitter taste to the mouth. Maybe KDE 4.1 will be better.
By the way the Compiz 3D effects rips Vista in millions of tiny specs of dust. I like the Vista interface like I said, but boy talking about embarrassment from Microsoft when they tried to play down Compiz. Ok little boy try again in version 7. Run along now. Good boy!
With one OS I can get ALREADY packaged into the DVD all the programs that I need to start in an office environment. Ok some programs that you can’t live without maybe a bit more difficult to port (if Wine is not working on them), but maybe some day when Linux picks up more steam the big software companies might consider porting them even if it doesn’t fit into the GPL licensing scheme.
In this point please allow me a mention to XARA Extreme as an example. A very good software that came from a company that makes software for Windows and sells them, and it’s free. Give it a try if you are in the field of arts. Link: http://www.xaraxtreme.org
What am I going to do with my computer? Hmmm tough question. I love my games, so I can’t not go to Linux straight up. But if I was to set up a new office for someone it would have been Linux ALL THE WAY.
The penguin is here to stay. Learn to live with it.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The first Contact
And here we are. First post. This is a blog that I will use to enrich the world with my opinion of stuff happening around the world of IT and things that pissing me off.
So without any further delay, I welcome you into my blog.
Oh and yes....Expect a healthy dose of cynicism.
So without any further delay, I welcome you into my blog.
Oh and yes....Expect a healthy dose of cynicism.
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