Product Description

8.9/Intel/4G Ssd/512Mb Ddr2/Linux/White,Powered by intel Mobile Processor,Intel UMA Graphics Card,also Includes Adapter, Battery.

Product Details

• Size: 8.9" screen
• Color: White
• Brand: Asus
• Model: 900
• Display size: 8.9

Features

• Asus Eee PC 900 Celeron M 900 MHz 8.9-inch Notebook General Features: Color: Pearl White
• Asus customized Linux operating system Intel Celeron M 900 MHz processor 512 MB DDR2 RAM
• 4 GB Solid State (SSD) Hard Drive Integrated video Integrated audio with built-in speakers
• Integrated 10/100 Ethernet 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Keyboard with TouchPad
• Built-in Memory Card Reader

Customer Reviews

Install Ubuntu Eee and it's a fine computer
I bought essentially the same version of the Eee from another store--and as it arrives it's not usable.

Here's why: the Xandros distribution it comes with uses UnionFS. That lets you have one read-only partition that has the file system in its initial state, and another read-write that has changes. If a file exists in the read-write partition, it's used instead of the corresponding one in the read-only partition.

That has a major advantage: if you get things totally messed up, reboot and press a key and it will return things to their initial state--all it needs to do is wipe the read-write partition.

It has a major disadvantage: it uses up more space, and with a 4 GB SSD, I found that after it automatically downloaded updates, there was very little space left. Remember, the original version is still there, taking up space on the read-only partition, while the new version is on the read-write partition--and that's separate from the downloaded file containing the update that gets uncrated into position for use. After updating one or two programs, the SSD was totally full, rendering the system unusable.

You have two choices: (1) get a larger-capacity SSD and reinstall, or (2) download Ubuntu Eee (soon to be renamed Easy Peasy) and install it, wiping Xandros from the SSD. When I did that, there was 1.5 GB left on the SSD, and a couple of updates later, there's still 700 MB left.

That said: the display is gorgeous. The touchpad is respectable, and yes, it understands two-finger scrolling. The wi-fi worked for me at a motel a week or so ago when my wife's Dell Inspiron laptop couldn't get a usable signal. Yeah, the keys on the keyboard are tiny, but I will adapt, even with stubby little fat fingers.

So: as it comes from the factory, I have to wonder whether ASUS wanted to put people off Linux--imagine the fury of a parent or grandparent thinking he was getting little Johnny a computer for Christmas only to find that after a few minutes it says the disk is full and can't be used! With a larger SSD, or with Ubuntu Eee/Easy Peasy, it's a marvelous little netbook.

Inefficiency Vendor
Great little computer, but owner/vendor does not respond to several emails and submit the access KEY for registration and efficiency. So this makes the computer inefficient due to a lack of value with customer service. So I am out of bucks for the moment!

Works for me
I bought the linux variant. It works great out of the box, pretty easy. Detects and connects to wifi wherever I go just fine. The include OpenOffice suite ensures compatibility with both Apple and MS office docs. I did decide to upgrade to 2 gbytes of ram from the default 512 mbyte; it makes heavy simultaneous usage of several apps smoother. I bought Kingston Technology KHX4200S2LL/2GR 2 GB 533MHz DDR2 SODIMM Netbook/Notebook Memory (Retail), swapped it in for a cheap and easy upgrade. Thought I would hate the tiny keyboard, but I adapted just fine within a couple days. Hooking up external monitor/keyboard/mouse is easy.

Couple negative points:
1. Lack of support for wpa2 wifi encryption, though maybe that will be solved in a firmware update?
2. I don't particularly like the two prong power cord, I'd like the option of grounding the power.
3. Occasionally when I plug the power in, it'll freeze and require a reboot. I suspect this has more to do with the sketchy wiring at my house than a problem with the netbook.