Cheap Laptop & NoteBook - ASUS Eee PC 1000 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, 20 GB Eee Storage, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Fine Ebony

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ASUS Eee PC 1000 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, 20 GB Eee Storage, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Fine Ebony
From Asus

Price:

1 new or used available from $357.00

Average customer review:

Product Description

Easy to Learn, Work, and Play Easy to use with one click interface 7.5 hour battery life allows for "One Day Computing" Travel light, weighting only 2.94lbs Drop tested, Shock-Proof design Wireless 802.11b/g/n connectivity Save time with fast 15 sec boot time Preloaded with over 50 applications including Open Office Wide Multi-Touchpad for comfort and convenient Glossy IMR Pearl White color for elegant look Connect with friend with built-in Camera ZBD Guaranteed for best quality LCD Store & Share your files with 20G internet storage Protect your investment with sleeve case

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #568 in Personal Computers
Color: Fine Ebony
Brand: Asus
Model: EEEPC1000-BK003
Dimensions: 1.12" h x 10.47" w x 7.53" l, 2.50 pounds
CPU: Intel Atom 1.6 GHz
Memory: 1000MB DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Disk: 40GB
Processors: 1
Display size: 10

Features

Easy to learn, work and play
Excellent mobile Internet device
Exciting multimedia enjoyment
Shock proof design for reliable computing
Unique design to fit your individual personality

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
The Asus Eee PC 1000 provides the power of a full-sized laptop in a compact body with an extra-large 10.2-inch screen, and is now powered by the latest Intel mobile processor. Designed specifically for mobile devices, the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor uses a brand new design structure new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--to conserve energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. Coupled with the ASUS exclusive Super Hybrid Engine, you'll also enjoy up to 8 hours of battery life with this Linux-powered laptop.

The Asus Eee PC 1000's 10.2-inch screen is easier on the eyes.

Much more compact than a standard-sized notebook and weighing less than 3 pounds, the Eee PC 1000 is perfect for students toting to school or road warriors packing away to Wi-Fi hotspots. And because it uses flash memory instead of a hard drive (with 40 GB of storage), the Eee PC 1000 consumes less power, allows the device to boot quickly, produces less heat, and is less susceptible to shock damage. The Eee PC 1000 also features 1 GB of RAM, 1.3-megapixel webcam integrated into the bezel above the LCD, tri-mode Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n), integrated Bluetooth connectivity, Secure Digital memory card slot, multiple USB ports, a VGA output for connecting to a monitor.

The integrated webcam makes video chats a snap, and the keyboard is 95 percent the size of standard notebooks for easy typing.

It comes preinstalled with the Linux operating system, which is useful for users who desire task-based icons and an easy point-and-click interface. Well suited for children or users without any computer experience, it provides a fast boot-up time--ideal for fast Internet access while waiting for public transport, or taking notes on-the-go.

The new Eee PC 1000 has a customized, cutting-edge Infusion casing technology in Fine Ebony. Inlaid within the chassis itself, the motifs are an integral part of the entire cover and will not fade with time. The Infusion surface also provides a new level of resilience, providing scratch resistance and a beautiful style while out and about.

It's also equipped with the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine for automatic detection and adjustments of CPU frequency, voltage, and LCD brightness to minimize system noise and power consumption to save up to 15 percent power consumption, or to maximize system performance according to individual needs.

For the students and professionals, the Eee PC comes with a powerful selection of software to maximize personal productivity--over 40 built-in applications. The StarOffice 8 suite of software enables the user to open, edit and create documents, presentations, spreadsheets and databases that are compatible with Microsoft Office. For journalists, photographers and other professionals who need to use a computer in the field to create, to communicate and to collaborate with other colleagues, the Eee PC's combination of power, extreme portability and rugged build makes it the ideal computing solution. The keyboard is 95 percent the size of standard notebooks, making it more comfortable to type for larger hands.

No technical manual required with the specially designed, user-friendly Linux operating system interface.

It's also a great choice for young students, with a built-in Dictionary that's great for homework, and it includes two modes of intuitive graphic user interface design to accommodate both experienced and inexperienced PC users. The Eee PC also handles your digital images, movies, and music as well as Internet radio.

Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965 AGN LAN chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots). With the Bluetooth connectivity, you can communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones

Nicely light at just 38 ounces, the Eee PC 1000 has an 8.9-inch wide TFT LCD with a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution (WXGA)--making it more comfortable on eyes than its predecessor. In addition to its wireless LAN, it also offers wired Fast Ethernet connectivity and a 56K modem. You get three USB 2.0 ports, a VGA output for connecting to external monitors, headphone and microphone jacks, and a Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot (compatible with MMC memory cards). It's equipped with a 1.3-megapixel webcam (placed in the bezel above the LCD) and integrated microphone, allowing you to snap still photos of yourself while on the go for sending via email or join video chats with friends and family.

The Eee PC includes software for Web browsing (Firefox), e-mail, StarOffice 8 for creating and editing word processing documents and spreadsheets, and a suite of other productivity software to help keep you on track.

Battery-Sipping Processor
The Intel Atom processor uses a brand new design structure that packs in 47 million transistors into a single chip sized at just 22mm (0.87 inches), and it uses just 2.5 watts of power--less than 1/10 of the 35 watts used by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor--for excellent battery management. This 1.6 GHz Atom processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache (which temporarily stores data).

Together with the exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine, you'll enjoy a longer battery lifespan of up to 6 hours, allowing you to stay in touch and be connected for a longer period of time while on-the-go. It offers a choice of performance and power consumption modes for easy adjustments according to your computing needs.

Online Storage from ASUS
With this Eee PC, ASUS also provides 20 GB of online storage (easily accessible via a desktop icon), which enables you to download up to 5 GB of data per day. It also provides secure file encryption and accessibility from both Windows and Linux platforms. Whether you want to share images with friends and family or store big business presentations, you can now access your data with ease and not worry about space constraints.

Specifications

Internal memory: 40 GB solid state disk
RAM: 1 GB DDR2
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom
Memory expansion: Slot for MMC/SD(SDHC) cards
Operating system: Linux
LCD: 10.2 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels
Networking: Tri-mode Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), 10/100 Fast Ethernet
Peripheral connectivity: Three USB 2.0
External video: One VGA
External audio: One headphone and one microphone port
Webcamera: Yes, 1.3 megapixels
Battery: 6 cells, up to 8 hours
Weight: 2.93 pounds (47 ounces)
Dimensions: 10.5 × 7.5 × 1.5 inches

What's in the Box
ASUS Eee PC 1000, AC adapter, printed operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty on parts and labor.

Nicely light at just 38 ounces, the Eee PC 1000 has an 8.9-inch wide TFT LCD with a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution (WXGA)--making it more comfortable on eyes than its predecessor. In addition to its wireless LAN, it also offers wired Fast Ethernet connectivity. You get three USB 2.0 ports, a VGA output for connecting to external monitors, headphone and microphone jacks, and a Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot (compatible with MMC memory cards). It's equipped with a 1.3-megapixel webcam (placed in the bezel above the LCD) and integrated microphone, allowing you to snap still photos of yourself while on the go for sending via email or join video chats with friends and family.

Specifications

Internal memory: 40 GB solid state disk
RAM: 1 GB DDR2
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom
Memory expansion: Slot for MMC/SD(SDHC) cards
Operating system: Linux
LCD: 10.2 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels
Networking: Tri-mode Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), 10/100 Fast Ethernet
Peripheral connectivity: Three USB 2.0
External video: One VGA
External audio: One headphone and one microphone port
Webcamera: Yes, 1.3 megapixels
Battery: 6 cells, up to 8 hours
Weight: 2.93 pounds (47 ounces)
Dimensions: 10.5 × 7.5 × 1.5 inches

What's in the Box
ASUS Eee PC 1000, AC adapter, printed operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty on parts and labor.

Customer Reviews

Better than expected, and I was expecting a lot
My EEE PC 1000 40G just arrived today. In the past hour I've managed to unbox it, plug it in and power it up, connect it to a secure WiFi access point, create a Google document, sync all my Firefox bookmarks from my other computer, and log into a secure system at work - and this is the first time I've ever used Linux (though computers are my day job.)

I was worried the 1000 would be too much larger and heavier than the original 700 model, but the difference is barely noticeable. What I DO notice is how much easier it is to type on the 1000's keyboard, and how pleasant it is to be able to view a typical 1024 pixel wide Web page without having to scroll sideways to see all of it.

It's going to be very easy to get used to how much quicker this boots than other computers I use.

Perhaps I'll add more later, but since no one else has reviewed this at all yet, I figured knowing a bit about it would be better than just wondering. So far, I'm extremely pleased. No regrets at all.

Update 8/20/08: Still no regrets, but one problem I'm still having is worth noting: two automatic updates are failing to install. On checking with Asus tech support via Email, I was advised to fix that by updating the BIOS (currently version 0602), but there is no updated BIOS for the 1000/Linux offered yet as of today on the Asus download site. Humorously, another Asus tech suggested using the automatic update to get the BIOS update, even though that failing was the originally-reported problem. If waiting for such early adopter glitches to be worked out bothers you, the 1000H model with Windows XP now has an updated version 1005 BIOS available.

An Excellent Travel or Second Computer
This computer ASUS Eee PC 1000 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Pearl White would be relatively few peoples' choice as a primary computer. It does not have the power to accomplish processor-intensive tasks such as audio or video editing, photo manipulation, or other such tasks. Nor does it even have a built-in CD, much less a DVD, drive to play those media devices. (They can be played via an external drive should the owner desire to do so.)

However, for use when traveling, or at home, for simple web-surfing or e-mail communications, and/or for those for whom the included simple capabilities are sufficient, it is a superb piece of engineering, available at a VERY economical price. If your requirements are few, it COULD be your primary or only computer but, in any case, it makes for a superb - and I do mean SUPERB - travel companion.

That is its primary purpose.

Having researched this relatively new laptop/notebook category ("netbooks") for the past few months, I determined that this particular netbook is the best one currently available, offering the best performance, the best features, the best compromise in size and weight, and, far and away, the best value for money.

This new category has seen its sales skyrocket in the one year that it has been available and it is predicted that sales will greatly increase (even though sales of other computer categories are falling, due to the current economic conditions).

This is apparently due to the fact that a great many people find that a so-called "smart phone" is just not adequate for staying in touch, reading news (or e-mail), or surfing the web. Something larger, though still inexpensive and easily transportable, is required. "Ultra-portables" have been around for quite a while but, priced in the $1000.00 - $3000.00 range (more or less), they are not affordable or practical for most people. Hence, this new "netbook" category was introduced late in 2007. The AsusTeK company was in fact the originator of this class.

I received mine from Amazon on January 20, 2009 and I have been using it since. Now let me tell you that both my wife and I have been using Ubuntu Linux on our respective main computers since May of last year (we both completely gave up on that disaster known as Windows Vista!) so I have some familiarity with Linux. But I was not prepared for this version, evidently a modified Xandros version of Linux. It is so simple to operate (and so stable), that it is almost "scary!" There is just no way to make something complicated out of this simple system! Those people who are familiar only with Microsoft Windows (or even Mac) will be positively amazed as to how simple, easy and, above all, INTUITIVE the operation of a computer can be made to be! This operating system is an ideal way for someone to get into the "computer age" and also to become comfortable with using Linux.

(You really have to wonder: with all of their large, highly-paid, engineering and design staffs, why can't Microsoft or even Apple design a computer operating system which is truly simple for anyone to use?)

I shall flatly state that ANYBODY who is able to read this review will be able to use this particular computer and its Linux operating system, even someone who has no experience whatsoever with operating a computer. There will be NO "computer classes" necessary! (It comes with a printed Software User's Manual which has instructions such as this: "WEBCAM - Click Webcam and start video recording or image capture. Activates Webcam.") Believe me, no instruction manual is necessary at all. This is TRULY the computer "designed by geniuses for use by idiots" (and I include myself among the latter).

If you are familiar only with Windows (or Mac), at first glance the operating system will appear VERY strange to you. But take my word for it: within a day at most you'll be wondering why you ever put up with all of Microsoft's foibles!

Even my wife, who generally has to be shown how to use something new (and who doesn't really like "new" things or "changes") had absolutely NO difficulty at all operating this computer. Without any instructions from me, she reacted, on her first exposure to it, as a duck does to water the first time it goes in! (I had told her that she would have absolutely no problem with this "new" operating system. She did not believe me at first. But when she actually used the computer, she had to agree that I was right!)

A helpful printed Hardware User's Manual, helpful in that it assists you to quickly get familiar with the computer's switches, lights, and connections, is also included. I do recommend reading this.

The computer comes compete with its restore disks as well. These disks are often omitted with lower-priced notebook computers yet can really prove invaluable. (To use them, you would need an external drive as mentioned above.)

The Linux "user interface" is six different "desktops" named, respectively, "Favorites," "Internet," "Work," "Learn," "Play," and "Settings." Each one contains items on which you will click. Several have sub-menus containing other items. (For example, clicking on Web Mail brings up some sub-menus allowing you to choose your web mail service, Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, and AOL.)

You can select your "Favorites" by using the "Customize" icon within "Settings" and then you would only rarely need to even navigate to the other desktops.

"Web" activates Firefox 3.0. "Music Master" (which is really Amarok, a fabulous music player [it can be used with Windows, Linux, or Mac and I highly recommend it]) is available as are icons for "Web Mail." "Documents" brings up Star Office (similar to Open Office and also by Sun Microsystems), should you wish to prepare a document, and there are more items than there is space here to mention just waiting for you to use. Nor is mentioning them in a review necessary; when you see them, they are totally self-explanatory. It even offers built-in Skype computer telephone service!

Connecting to the internet is a breeze either wired or wireless. The wireless connection procedure is so simple and obvious that a child could accomplish it. (We use Verizon Wireless but I'm certain that wireless connection would be easy regardless of the ISP.) A wired connection is simply connecting your computer to your DSL/cable modem. With a wired connection, you're on the internet instantly! (I tried it myself just to see.)

There are those on this site who, in their reviews of this computer and its operating system, have characterized the included Linux system as "a joke" or even worse. Take my word for it - FOR THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THIS COMPUTER WAS DESIGNED THIS LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM IS DEFINITELY NOT "A JOKE," at least in my opinion! Being so simple to operate, this operating system is all anyone will ever need on a travel or second computer. (When traveling, you just want your computer to function properly AND simply, without having to worry about its operation, security, functionality, etc.)

If a particular person wishes to replace this Linux version, fine, that's their business, but I think that, overall, they will NOT be improving the overall usefulness of this computer when on vacation or travel. (The minimal, though battery-friendly, processor is the limiting factor, not the operating system.)

Frankly, though I much prefer Ubuntu Linux for its almost limitless capabilities (and its extreme security) used on a "main" or "primary" computer, when I'm on vacation or visiting friends, I am not interested in performing esoteric computer tasks; I merely wish to, 1) get my e-mail, 2) surf the web a bit, and, 3) listen to internet radio. We often show people some of our pictures which we keep on our computers.

But that's about it so I personally have no intention of replacing this simple Xandros Linux operating system. It accomplishes all that I require of a travel computer and there is no sense, in my opinion, to try to "convert" this computer to allow it to perform tasks which may be beyond the capabilities of the Intel Atom processor included.

This relatively new processor is designed to use very little power (thus maximizing battery life) and to accomplish simple tasks.

It does this very well indeed and I think that the computer should be accepted for what it is - a good TRAVEL/SECOND computer.

At least that's the reason for which I bought mine!

Is that the reason YOU are considering this computer?

If so, I believe this one, as configured here, is the best current choice.

Others' opinions will vary, naturally. As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I do not believe that this small netbook computer has the power to be most peoples' primary computer. That, of course, includes upper elementary, high school, and college students. If you want a more capable computer, it is my opinion that you should buy one of those ultra-portables - which are far higher in price ($1000.00+) and, possibly, in weight and size as well as in capabilities - rather than one of these simple small netbooks.

This little computer accomplishes all of the basic tasks I listed above simply and reliably. I think that is all most people need when traveling or visiting. (Your main computer can be left at your home.) As with all Linux operating systems, it is inherently secure from viruses, trojans, spy- and other malicious software so you can be quite confident that your computer won't be damaged or compromised if you are using a public or hotel internet access point.

Mentioning the word "little" - it most certainly is that and, though it's claimed to weigh about 3 pounds (including battery and AC power supply), I have to tell you that this is the LIGHTEST 3 pounds I have ever "hefted!" It seems to weigh nothing at all! The 10" screen is a great compromise between TOO small (with a grossly undersized keyboard and reading difficulties on the sceen) and TOO large (with weight and battery-life concerns). I think that this size is just about perfect for travel.

I bought mine in white; I had read that the black version shows fingerprints. I do not know if this is, in fact, true (I assume that it is, however) but I can tell you that the white version does not shown them inordinately. (Plus, for those who take such things into consideration, the white version looks like a "miniature Mac.") The computer even comes with its own soft carrying case (black) which holds the computer, the battery, and the AC power supply and maybe one or two other small items. I only wish that either the computer itself or the case had a handle. I do not understand why portable computer manufacturers do not include this simple adjunct which would make carrying these things so much more pleasant. (Amazon does sell, at additional cost of course, Asus EEE PC 1000 / 1000H 10" Premium Memory Foam Pouch Case - (Black) which does appear to have a handle.)

At Amazon's current price ($386.99), this computer is, in my opinion, irresistible. Their service was, as always, what service ought always to be but rarely is nowadays - superb.

There are a few things that I have discovered by going to the Eee PC forums; the main one I will mention here is that should an owner wish to use the Synaptic Package Manager (which is the primary way of adding new programs to a Linux computer), with this operating system you press together; this brings up the Terminal. Then you merely type "sudo Synaptic" (without the quotation marks) and the Synaptic Package Manager appears. This is, so far, the only "cryptic" control that I have found that I wanted.

And, for most users, using even this "cryptic" control will be totally unnecessary, in my opinion. For use as a second or travel computer, this one is complete right out of the box.

The keyboard is satisfactory to me though I will admit that I am a subscriber to the "Hunt & Peck" method of typing. (I have found, over the last week, that I myself never use the right shift key, the positioning of which has been noted by some users.) The display is a thing of joy, presenting most beautiful images which are easy on the eyes. Reading documents is a pleasure.

The machine is very quiet; there is no hard drive noise at all as the drive is solid-state. However, you will hear the internal cooling fan. This is not obtrusive.

Some people have indicated that they prefer a traditional hard drive as opposed to the solid-state one here and in other netbooks. On first glance, at least one of their reasons appears to be valid: traditional hard drives are much larger in capacity than the currently-available solid-state drives. (But see below for more thoughts on this matter.)

However, I think it is important to take into consideration the main advantage of a solid-state drive IN A TRAVEL COMPUTER - its robustness. Traditional hard drives are rather delicate and can be easily damaged or destroyed, especially when jostled around on a trip. (Unfortunately, there are many users who can attest to that fact!)

A solid-state drive can survive jostling, bumps, drops, and other injuries which can easily occur on a trip. For this reason alone I think that, with regard to TRAVEL COMPUTERS, solid-state is the way to go. (But please do not think that I am advocating using this computer as a Frisbee! Please give it the care it deserves - the best care of which you are capable.)

Asus offers a solid-state drive for this model both in its Linux AND its Windows versions. But --- due to Microsoft's pricing and Asus' desire to keep the retail price the same for both versions, the Windows version comes with only a 16 GB (total) SSD while the Linux version comes with a 40 GB (total) SSD.

In my opinion, again, the choice of versions should really be a "no-brainer." (And that's not even considering that the Windows version comes with all of Windows vulnerabilities and problems and the Linux version comes with none!)

Build quality appears to be exemplary. Battery life is everything they said about it. I used it on battery for over five straight hours and there was still plenty of juice left. If you wish to play a CD, MP3 disc, or DVD, as mentioned above, you will have to attach an external drive. There are three USB 2.0 ports so you can easily attach one of these or an external USB-powered hard drive (or thumb drive) for accessing more data. The solid-state hard drive is 40 GB in size, thus far the largest solid-state one I have seen on a netbook. With the addition of a small portable USB-powered external hard drive, now extremely inexpensive (check Amazon's prices), you can take along as much data as you require. (An advantage to this is that the data resides on that external hard drive, not your computer; you can hide the external drive or carry it with you always and, even if a thief stole your computer, he/she would not have your important data. Also, if some accident were to happen to your external drive, it is, as mentioned, inexpensive, Replacing one of these is FAR less expensive than replacing a computer.) There is even Bluetooth (short-range wireless communication) included for those who use it.

It barely gets warm in use; I had it on my lap for those five hours on battery and did not feel any excess heat at all. Thus, no "laptop cooler" device is necessary. (Naturally the instructions warn against using it on your lap - as do all "laptop" manufacturers - but I had no problem at all with heat.)

Regarding listening to internet radio with this computer: though its internal speakers are surprisingly good (better, in my opinion, than those in my 15.4" Acer Extensa computer), I suggest buying a good set of very small, but good quality, portable amplified computer speakers and plug them into the headphone jack. I use Sonic Impact 5009G Gen3 Portable Speakers which I like VERY much - but this model appear to be discontinued. In any case, the current price, from one of Amazon's "partners," is totally out of line. The original list price was $19.95 for these speakers. (The Sonic Impact Portable Speakers Gen 1.5, unfortunately not available through Amazon, are also superb in performance as well as being lightweight, small, foldable, inexpensive, and easily transportable; I own a pair of that model as well and they can be had for less than $20.00.)

And by the way - if you are familiar with listening to internet radio only via the Windows operating system, you are doubtless aware of the extreme annoyances you face each time you try to listen - sudden stopping and starting of the program, "buffering," "congestion," loss of station, etc., etc., etc. Let me tell you that NONE of this occurs with either of the two Linux versions I use. With both Ubuntu on our main computers and the Xandros system on this netbook, the music (or whatever) just plays - and plays, and plays, and plays. Rarely there might be a very brief "hiccup" (perhaps a split second) but that's relatively rare. Windows, at least in my experience, is such a "memory hog" that the slightest little change in background usage causes loss of your internet radio station. This is a major annoyance, to say the least, and really spoils the listening pleasure. This sort of thing just does not occur with Linux, at least in my experience.

Thus, listening to internet radio stations (and there are many, many thousands of them from all over the world - all free of charge) via this little netbook is a genuine joy and can be a major adjunct to the enjoyment of, for example, spending the evening in a hotel room.

I must mention, however, that, depending on the station(s) to which you wish to listen, you MAY have to reconfigure Mozilla Firefox (under Edit->Preferences->Applications). You may have to change some of the "Content Type" associations. I changed MOST of them - not all of them, of course - to "Amarok." (You must "Browse" for that.) This is a problem that exists with Mozilla Firefox regardless of the operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux) you are using. (Whoever said that computers are ALWAYS easy and fun? Sometimes, regardless of the system, they can be downright aggravating!) I believe this difficulty also occurs with Internet Explorer as well as other browsers.

That said, however, for the purposes for which it was designed, e-mail, web-surfing, listening to internet radio and other music, creating and reading simple documents, and viewing photographs, I do not think anyone will find a travel/transportable computer superior to this ASUS Eee PC 1000 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Pearl White at the present time, especially in its Linux version.

And you won't find a better price for it than at Amazon. Plus, if you buy from them, you'll receive Amazon's usual superb service.

I highly recommend this computer.

======================================

Update - February 2, 2009:

This morning I read Ms. Nancy Baiter's "1-Star" ("wireless doesn't work") review of February 1, 2009 (in which she says that she could not connect to a public wireless point and access the internet) with a great deal of interest and trepidation and I admit I was very concerned.

Taking this computer on trips and connecting to the internet via various public and hotel hot-spots was the primary reason I bought it!

Being as apprehensive and concerned as I was, I walked over to our public library (a ten-minute walk from our home) and attempted to connect to its free public (unencrypted) wireless access point.

I was "on" in about twenty seconds and I am, in fact, typing this update at the library and it will be published via their Wi-Fi access point.

I have no doubt that Ms. Baiter encountered some problem but I suspect that it was something that she did herself. As for J&R Music World's technicians being unable to help her, I further suspect that the reason for this was their unfamiliarity with Linux in general and with this computer in particular.

In any event, my concerns have been allayed and I can confidently tell anyone reading this that they need not worry at all about connecting to public wireless hot-spots (or any other wired or wireless network access point).

In my own experience, the process is both quick and easy. You merely wait a few seconds until the balloon message at the bottom of the screen shows that internet connections are in range; you then click on the balloon and all the possible connections will appear. You merely click on your desired connection. If it is unencrypted, as at our library, you are connected immediately. If it is encrypted, you must, naturally, enter the password for which you will be asked (and which hotels will supply to guests).

This just couldn't be easier!

P.S. I see that Amazon has lowered its price again for this computer, at least in its "white" version.

======================================

Update - February 10, 2009

On occasion I need to use a dial-up internet connection. This computer does not have any internal means for connecting in that manner.

The solution? This 56K USB Modem Windows Mac Linux which, contrary to at least one of the reviews, does indeed work perfectly with this ASUS Eee PC 1000 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, 20 GB E-Storage, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Pearl White. I received mine yesterday from Amazon.

NO drivers or other installation is necessary; as soon as one end of the cord is plugged into a telephone jack and the other end is plugged into a USB port on your computer, the modem is active and running. This is easier than installing it with either Windows or Mac.

But you WILL need to use your brain in order to get it to connect to the internet the first time.

The difficulty is in figuring out how to actually access the modem. The process is not an intuitive one; to use the vernacular, it ain't easy! (The instructions on the included CD-ROM are of no help at all.) But once you have figured out what to do (it took me maybe fifteen minutes of head scratching), and once you have entered your necessary dial-up account information (telephone number, user name, and password), connecting is a breeze and will remain that way.

The modem is also very small and easy to carry. It is even white in color and matches this particular computer.

I highly recommend this external modem as well as this computer for those who always or even just occasionally need to use a dial-up internet connection.

======================================

Update - March 19, 2009:

I have now owned this computer for two months now and I am very pleased with it.

I am not, however, pleased with the AsusTEK Computer Inc. Company's service.

I had noticed that, on my Asus netbook, Mozilla Firefox was not being updated; in other words, the version on my computer was the 3.0.4 version which was shipped to me.

Obviously I wanted to update Firefox to the latest version, currently 3.0.7.

I did some research (perhaps not thorough enough) on the EEE PC group but, though I found plenty of discussions about Firefox, I couldn't find, in my admittedly not thorough search, the answer to my problem.

Thus, I telephoned Asus' tech support telephone line. I spoke with two representatives, neither of whom were of any help.

The second representative did give me an email address to contact Asus in Taiwan and I wrote to it. After two weeks, I finally got it into my head that I was not going to receive a reply.

So I then went on Asus' site and, after some digging, found their "Contact Us" section, filled out their forms, described my desire to update Firefox in their message box, and sent the message.

The next day I received an automated acknowledgment of receipt; this email stated that my problem would be addressed and the answer would be sent to me in 48 hours.

That was a week ago.

So, today, I "Googled" < update firefox eee pc > and, among the many links offered, I found one which had the answer.

The process is actually quite simple -- ONCE YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS!

For anyone reading this who wishes to update Mozilla Firefox on their Eee PC 1000 (Linux), here is how to do it:

1. Turn on your Eee PC and make sure that your internet connection is active.

2. Type the three keys < CTRL plus ALT plus T > all at once. This will bring up the "Terminal."

3. In the Terminal, type < sudo firefox > (just the words, not the brackets).

4. This will bring up Mozilla Firefox and, if you've customized your version in any way, you will notice that this one looks different; it is the default Firefox.

5. Go to "Help" and click on "Check for Updates" (which is normally grayed out in the Firefox you usually use). This update link is fully functional in the version brought up by the Terminal.

6. Firefox will then check for updates and, if it finds any, it will ask you if you wish to download and install them. Of course you do!

7. It will also check to see if Add-ons are compatible. When the process is complete, CLOSE this version of Firefox and THEN also close the Terminal.

8. At that point, click on "Web" to start your normal version of Firefox. This too will check for compatibility of your Add-ons. When the process is complete and Firefox is up and running, if you go into the "Help" section and click on "About Mozilla Firefox," you will see that you now have the latest version.

That's all there is to it!

Frankly, I do not know why SOMEBODY at AsusTEK couldn't have told me this; I also do not understand why Firefox cannot be updated by Asus itself (in the manner of Ubuntu which DOES automatically include Firefox updates in its service).

In any event, this was really the only concern I had had during my two months of ownership of this computer and now it has been addressed.

Thank goodness for Google! I recommend that, if ANYONE has any sort of problem with this or any other computer, "Google" the problem. I'll bet you'll find the answer!

So I continue to highly recommend this computer; it and its Linux operating system remain the best "travel computer" of which I am aware. Just do not think you can rely on AsusTEK for help; the "community" and "Google" is where you go for that!

By the way, if anyone unfamiliar with Mozilla Firefox is interested, here are the Add-ons I currently use:

1. Adbock Filterset.G Updater
2. Adblock Plus
3. Adblock Plus Filter Uploader
4. Adblock Plus: Element Hiding Helper
5. BugMeNot
6. ColorfulTabs
7. CustomizeGoogle
8. DictionarySearch
9. DownloadHelper
10. Flagfox
11. Ghostery
12. Locationbar²

Many other people use many other Add-ons but I have found these to be very useful and all I need on my ASUS Eee PC 1000 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, 20 GB Eee Storage, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Pearl White.

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Update - March 24, 2009:

I just received this Crucial 2GB 667 Mhz CT25664AC667 DDR2 200-Pin SODIMM Laptop Memory and installed it in my Eee PC. If you go to the product page, you will find my 5-star review of it.

To make a long story short (not usually my forte!), this card is superb. It makes for an excellent and VERY inexpensive upgrade, especially if you buy it from Amazon, whose prices and service I find consistently to be exemplary. It will allow your Eee PC to work at the maximum speed of which it is capable.

Obviously, I highly recommend this upgrade.

Great Linux Ultra Portable
I have had my eee for about a month now and really love it. The screen looks absolutely great. Native resolution is 1024x600, which is more than adequate for most stuff. The built in speakers are also surprisingly good. MP4 movies and MP3s play and sound great on this little guy. The keyboard is a reasonable size and very workable compared to the earlier versions of the eee. Network connectivity is good. It seems to connect to most Wifi hotspots very well. Although, it is slow making the initial connection. The power brick is also very lightweight which is a nice surprise. It comes with 1 Gig of Ram which should be more than adequate for most people. I upgraded to 2 gig with no issues. Also, the hard drive is solid state, no moving parts.

The OS uses Xandros Linux which is a Debian variant. The User Interface is not customizable unless you know a little bit about Linux or are willing to learn. If you do know a little about Linux, its pretty easy to tweak. All the tools you need for a traveling NetBook are there. Firefox 2.x, Thunderbird 2.x, Skype, Open Office 2.x, Terminal/Shell, File Manager, a media player (MP4 movies play great), and MP3 Player. The MP3 player has a funky UI, but it works with my iTunes library just fine. I just had to copy the files over and put them in the eee's music folder.

Only a few negatives that I have run across. The fan seems to run a lot which is kind of odd since it has a solid state drive. The right shift key is very small and on the wrong side of the arrow key. This messes up touch typists. Inserting or removing USB devices while the NetBook is on may cause it to lock up. It works find with USB Drives and Mice as long as they are connected with the machine powered off.

If you want a nice travel NetBook for light duty work, some e-mails, some blogging, a little surfing, movies and MP3s, this machine is great. And its only $1200 less than a MacBook Air.