Laptops and links

[tarigwaemir]

Haste Street on the Feast of Ste. Julia Billiart

Those of you who don't follow gadget blogs like Engadget and Gizmodo as compulsively as I do probably are not aware of the new market for cheap low-end ultraportables created in the aftermath of the Asus Eee PC debut. Originally intended to be an easy-to-use (hence the triple "E" in its name) laptop for children, it quickly became the must-have toy for gadget addicts. I'm too lazy to dig up all the relevant links to describe the trajectory of the Eee PC's somewhat unexpected popularity, so I'll leave it to you to read through the blogs if you're really interested.

Anyway, in my usual fashion, I've been waffling over whether to buy the Eee PC or not ever since it came out. First, it was, "I'll wait for the black model to come out and then decide." Then, "I'll wait for the high-end model with the 8 GB SSD and 1 GB RAM." Now, Asus is apparently releasing a second-generation model with a 9-inch screen (but same size form factor) and potentially larger SSD...!

Of course, each new model is more expensive than the last. The Eee PC 8G (the higher-end model currently available for purchase) is $499. The Eee PC 4G with half the memory and storage capacity is $399, a much cheaper alternative. Who knows how expensive the second-generation Eee PC 900 will be?

If you, like angelyrique, are wondering why on earth I'm so excited over a laptop with so little screen space, storage space, processor speed and memory, when I could probably get an refurbished laptop with better specs for much less on eBay, you are missing the point. The Eee PC weighs less than three pounds, runs a Linux-based OS (although Windows XP models have just come out), and has a solid-state drive. Portability for the win!

To further add to the confusion, rival companies have been releasing similar laptops:

• Everex Cloudbook ($399), which has a regular hard drive (30 GB) and only 512 MB RAM (but the upcoming Cloudbook MAX supports WiMAX!)
  
• HP Mini-Note 2133 ($499), just became available today, with 4 GB SSD, 512 MB RAM and 1.0 GHz processor (even lower specs than the Eee PC 8G but the chassis looks so pretty)
  
• MSI Wind PC, not yet available for purchase
  
• Van Der Led Jisus, only available in Europe, comes in several colors with 4 GB SSD, 512 MB RAM and 1.0 GHz processor
  
• Acer as-of-yet-unnamed model

Uh, yes. Obviously I like reading Engadget a lot. Also, I know I'm missing one from the above list, but that's probably more than enough links for now. Anyway, isn't this the best laptop trend ever?

Edit: I forgot to include the gorgeous ECS G10IL about which there has been no further news, alas.

Eee PC, by virtue of being first and being trendy (there's even an unofficial support site with Wiki and forums), is probably the best value for your money. The real question is, do I really have money to spend on a laptop? Probably not, given that I'll have to move sometime next month.

On Paper Cuts, A Brief Interview on Brief Interviews: David Foster Wallace fans might be interested to know that one of the actors from The Office (American version) has bought film rights to Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (Amazon) and has apparently already begun casting. (Trying to imagine Wallace's writing translated to a film medium is just mind-boggling.) Edit: IMDb entry indicates that it's coming out this year.

Via Reading Copy, an article in the Guardian, My uncle is not a slum landlord: Fiction is not autobiography. You know, after always hearing that creative writing adage to "write what you know", it's awfully reassuring to hear that you're not the only one making it all up as you go along. (Usual train of thought in my head while writing, "Hand-waving! I have no idea but let's pretend I do! Looking things up on Wikipedia counts as research! I don't know how this character would feel in this situation but let's pretend it's analogous to how I feel about a completely different situation that is not in the least related!")

From last week on the BBC, Daily caffeine 'protects brain': By which they mean, rabbits were less likely to suffer the consequences of a fat-rich diet if they were also administered caffeine. Still, any excuse to justify my increasing coffee intake. >_>

Via Lifehacker, How to bind papers without staples or clips: Useful when you run out of staples in the lab stapler.

Also, some book-related links up on bibliophages here.

Yours &c.

Comments

[tsutanai.livejournal.com]

Being as I've stopped carrying my 5lb notebook around due to weight (iBook)--daily, I need my portable dictionary, loads of paper, etc. to lug around too--these ultraportables are mighty tempting. I'm not completely sure it'd help me out all that much, though, all be told: my notes are only partially incomprehensible because of handwriting. Mostly I have no idea what I was going on about, whether I typed it in or wrote it out. >_> (Might help with the whole database and stats thing, tho, hmm....)

[troisroyaumes]

I don't have a laptop at the moment, and occasionally I feel tied down to my desktop, so having a low-end ultraportable would be perfect for me but it would still be an extravagance. >_>

[tsutanai.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I wish I had a desktop (particularly when, like now, my stats applications are threatening to burst my hd, making me delete my mp3 files, why? ;_;). But I bought the laptop right before grad school (when I was still employed) because: other side of the country, plus going to Japan regularly? So, portable primary computer.

Lack of customability/upgradeability when it's you're primary machine, tho? Frustrating.

[issen4.livejournal.com]

I can definitely understand the attraction. I was pleased when I got my 2-kg laptop, but now I want something even smaller and lighter. I only use it for net surfing and typing stuff, after all.

By the way, have you heard of Kohjinsha, which makes also ultraportables, but it has a tablet version (http://www.pocketables.net/2007/02/review_kohjinsh.html)?

[troisroyaumes]

Yes, I would only use a laptop for Internet and word processing, since my desktop is already tailored to whatever heavy-duty computing needs I may have. I keep thinking of how nice it would be though to read PDFs in a coffeeshop rather than in my room (thank you, California weather) and getting tempted.

I love the look of that tablet! I've seen other UMPC tablets on the market too, but like the Kohjinsha model, they are all > $1000. (The Kohjinsha is the cheapest though!) Still, if I were willing to spend that much money, I would, well, buy a iBook or a Dell.

[solidark.livejournal.com]

I must say that the weight was the most important factor for me (I've got the first gen eeePC) and so far I can't complain. It's pretty fast and stable and I actually only need it as a lightweight and portable typewriter. But I've got the Linux-version (don't sell the one with Win XP in Europe yet) and adding Win XP as a second OS is my next project :)

[troisroyaumes]

!!! You have an Eee PC! Glad to hear that you like it. Any drawbacks, in your opinion? I actually think the Linux OS is a plus since it means I don't need to install a terminal application.

[solidark.livejournal.com]

Hm... not really drawbacks. More stuff you need to get used to ^^;; For example the keyboard is very, very small, so you need pretty thin fingers (which I have) or the ability to perform very precise movements (this is the part I need to work on *lol*) if you want to type something. But, as I said, you get used to it. Same with the touchpad. It's smaller than that of a normal notebook and at the beginning working with it is like working with a USB mouse if you're used to a big, old one. But it's not a big problem and after a few days you do it automatically.

Sure, Linux is great but I plan to implement Win XP as the second OS because there are programs (like Winamp ;)) that won't work on Linux but that I need anyway. I'll have to overclock the processor first but since it's a 900 MHz processor that is chocked to a 450 MHz performance (for reasons that only Asus knows) that shouldn't be a problem.

I can make pictures if you want to have a better impression of the size... ^^;;

[troisroyaumes]

Oh, thanks for all the info; this is really useful to know. I've seen photos in reviews, but wouldn't mind seeing more if you don't mind taking them! ^_^;;

[solidark.livejournal.com]

Sorry that it took me so long but finally I got around to making pathetic three ugly photos ^^;;

Photo #1 (http://pics.livejournal.com/solidark/pic/000c1qgf) - eeePC closed in comparison with my cellphone (a Nokia 6085 which is just a little smaller than most modern cameras)

Photo #2 (http://pics.livejournal.com/solidark/pic/000c29er) - eeePC open with cellphone

Photo #3 (http://pics.livejournal.com/solidark/pic/000c35se) - eeePC on my desktop under the keyboard for further size comparison. On top my new tiny mouse and the mouse's USB plug.

[troisroyaumes]

Saying belatedly, thank you for the photos! The size comparison with the keyboard was especially useful. That mouse is extremely adorable too! ^_^

[schwimmerin.livejournal.com]

Unless you count Jamocha shakes at Arby's, I still haven't had any coffee ever. Although a guy in my program from Bosnia-Herzegovina insists that I must try his Turkish coffee and I will become an instant coffee lover. XD

Also, you know so much about computers! I am clueless, haha.

[troisroyaumes]

I've never tried Turkish coffee. Let me know what it tastes like if/when you drink it.

I was doomed to be computer-obsessed. -_-

[uminohikari.livejournal.com]

That laptop...has more RAM than my desktop has. >>

[troisroyaumes]

Haha, you're right. I mean, my old desktop ran fine on 512 MB, though granted it is now five years old.

[darcenciel.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about the eee also, but I read some reviews about the first gen that made me think I might wait till they come out with the 2d gen. Let us know what you think, if you do get one! ^_^

[troisroyaumes]

I've read mostly glowing reviews of the Eee, although with certain caveats to be sure that it won't function as a primary machine. But I'm still vacillating and thinking about waiting for the second-generation myself--that 9-inch screen looks awfully nice. ^_^

[solidark.livejournal.com]

Yes, I thought about waiting for the 2nd gen but you have to remember that a bigger screen also means bigger size and a higher weight and that's the reason why I opted for the smaller version anyway. And I watched the most recent Doctor Who episode on the train today and it was glorious :D (the screen is small but I don't watch things in fullscreen on my desktop computer either so it's roughly the same picture size)

[angelyrique.livejournal.com]

I knew coffee was good for you.

[troisroyaumes]

You comment not on the computer part of the post?!

It doesn't prove coffee's good for you; it just proves that coffee may be good for rabbits eating too much fat.

[angelyrique.livejournal.com]

Coffee shown is a positive light is good enough for me >_> XD
I just skimmed the other part >_> naaarf

[troisroyaumes]

And after I went to the bother of mentioning you! XD

[serendip.livejournal.com]

These sound perfect for me, cos I would basically want a laptop for internet surfing and word processing, but I'd love something light and macs are just too spendy, tho pretty, to be honest XDDDD

[troisroyaumes]

Yes, the advantage is the size and the price. Also, I figure, one Mac is enough. ^_^

If you choose to get it, let me know what you think of it.

[ldmoonflower.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you posted about this stuff! My college laptop has had an overheating problem forever, and Paul thinks I'd better replace it within the next year before it dies. I'm tempted to get an ultraportable and a desktop, but seeing as I'm not in school yet, it doesn't seem like a justifiable use of money at this point.

[troisroyaumes]

Forgot to reply to your comment, but yeah, I think an ultraportable and a desktop is the best combination, because laptops are still relatively fragile, even though they're building better and better desktop replacement models these days. Whether it's worth the expense...well, that's a different question. ^_^