Asus eecpc 901 vs Acer Aspire one.

dave_bass5 · 07-01-2009, 11:15 PM

Looking to get one of the above.
I love everything about the Acer other than the battery life. I would be going for the 1GB 120 HDD Linux version so there is only about £35 difference. The Asus seems ot have a fantastic battery life, smaller storeage but more thna i would really need.

Just looking to get some views, probably more from Ausu owners as ive already posted in the Acer thread.

Cheers.

virtual_boy · 08-01-2009, 12:30 AM

I have a 701 (xandros) and 901 (xp) and my friend has an aspire one, both myself and my friend would choose the 901 over the aspire hands down.
If your handy go for the Linux model and install xp as iirc it has a larger ssd than the stock xp model, you could even try the new windows 7 beta.
Anyway my point being stay away from the xandros Linux distro, slightly off topic but if I were you I'd rethink my options and buy a samsung nc10 it's the best netbook on the market.

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 9:01 AM

Thanks fro the reply.
First off the NC10 is way out of my budget and Im really just looking for a web surfer and something i can use on journeys to watch films on.
The Acer looks ideal other than the poor battery life. On the plus side it has a big HDD though.
5-6 hours battery life sounds amazing, even if i get less than that its way more than the Acer.
Im not too bothered about the smaller keyboard on the asus either.

I do have Win XP pro, Vista and Windows 7 so yes, as the linux version has a larger capacity i could put any of those on. Ive never used linux but looking forward to the challenge.

Can i ask, if i put a 16GB SD card in the 901 does just show up as a removable drive or does it become part of the total available space?
Is there any slowdown from reading off the card?

Cheers.

virtual_boy · 08-01-2009, 9:48 AM

An SD card will just show up as a removable drive in XP but Xandros can be configured to write to the SD by default and could probably be incorporated into system memory with some heavy OS tweaking.
Be warned though trying to do anything other than whats given to you within a Linux distro is a right pain.
I upgraded both my 701 and 901 with 2GB of RAM but for the 701 to see it I had to write a whole new kernel into the OS.
As for read/write speeds its really dependent on card class, a class 6 card is fastest, you can pick up a 16GB class 6 card for less than £20 now.

Edit: As for OS choice, consider a copy of TinyXP or even MicroXP as they take up far less HDD space and do away with much of the system hogging bloatware built into windows.

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 9:58 AM

Thanks again.
Ive already got a class 6 16GB SD card so was thinking about using that.
sounds like linux might be a bit of a struggle if i need to use command lines etc. Still willing to give it a go but i have a feeling i'll end up putting XP on it, just to make my life easier.

Anne-Sophie · 08-01-2009, 11:38 AM

Edit: As for OS choice, consider a copy of TinyXP or even MicroXP as they take up far less HDD space and do away with much of the system hogging bloatware built into windows.[/QUOTE]

I have an Asus 701 and find it great within its limits, the downside for me is having to scroll around to see a whole web page, though maybe there is a way around this, if anyone knows one.

Regarding Linux, it's very good until you have a small problem or want to tweak something, then when you go onto a forum for Linux users you meet very dedicated and techy people who go into far too much detail for my limited knowledge.

I was therefore considering installing XP using a disc that came with My Dell laptop, but now you have intrigued me by mention of TinyXP and MicroXP. Can you tell me what they are and from where I could download them, or do I have to procure a disc?

Thanks.

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 11:50 AM

Hi Ann.
Not sure what the two OS's mentioned above are (yet) but i know you can install XPlite which is probably the same sort of thing. I believe it will take up about 1.3GB so quite a saving over the full XP and i would be going for that if i do revert to XP.
I know what you mean about the support forums being quite technical, although i know i can figur eit out if needed.

what web browser are you using that wont let you view whole pages at once? Ive not come across that before. I know FF3 will let you view the web at full screen.

Ive been trying to order a black 901 20Gb all morning but i keep coming up with problems. Either i have the wrong CC card with me, they want to deliver to my billing address or they are too expensive. Ill get there in the end though but it looks like ill have to wait until tomorrow before i can order. Thats far to long to wait as i then wont get it until monday

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 12:19 PM

Just realised XPLite is a utility for un installing various XP components.
Just tried it on my work PC and its pretty good at getting rid of anything you dont need.
You do need to run this after installing XP from a disc though.

Anne-Sophie · 08-01-2009, 12:50 PM

OK, thanks for that Dave.

The OS I'm using is the one preinstalled on the 701, I believe it is Firefox but not sure what version; I must fish it out and have a look.

My other problem is that my XP disk doesn't have any service pack updates so that will complicate matters further though I have already reinstalled it onto my Dell laptop.

A further complication; I bought my Asus 701 in France so the version of Linux on it is in French, though I am hoping this won't stop me changing to an English version of XP.

NOTE to virtual_boy ...Can you please give me more details on TinyXP and MicroXP including where to get them from.

w3dal · 08-01-2009, 12:56 PM

i ordered my aspire one yesterday gone for the 120 gig on linux.

should be here today and by the weekend will hopefully of done the RAM upgrade to 1.5gig and installed XP

i decided togo for the 120gig version over the 8gig SSID as windows doesnt always run so well, but obv fine if your running linux.

looking forward to having a play with linux, although i use UNIX at work anyways so i may duel boot it.

for me the acer was the one to-go for over the Asus.

Dal

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 1:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anne-Sophie

NOTE to virtual_boy ...Can you please give me more details on TinyXP and MicroXP including where to get them from.

Have a look here.
[Mod Comment - Link removed. This is illegal software, and not endorsed by Microsoft. Any more talk regarding this software and I will close this thread and issue infractions.]

w3dal · 08-01-2009, 1:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

Have a look here.
[Mod Comment - Link removed. This is illegal software, and not endorsed by Microsoft. Any more talk regarding this software and I will close this thread and issue infractions.]

ok this makes things interesting. now do i install this version - i assume i can still use my Pro XP key.

not looked into much detail yet but it does look good

Dal

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 1:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w3dal

i ordered my aspire one yesterday gone for the 120 gig on linux.

should be here today and by the weekend will hopefully of done the RAM upgrade to 1.5gig and installed XP

i decided togo for the 120gig version over the 8gig SSID as windows doesnt always run so well, but obv fine if your running linux.

looking forward to having a play with linux, although i use UNIX at work anyways so i may duel boot it.

for me the acer was the one to-go for over the Asus.

Dal

Dal.
Thats the one i was going for but im really hung up on the low battery life.
Im off to Florida next month and i was hoping to take some films with me for the plane. I cant see me getting much out of the battery in the Acer where as the Asus should give me at least two films.

w3dal · 08-01-2009, 1:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

Dal.
Thats the one i was going for but im really hung up on the low battery life.
Im off to Florida next month and i was hoping to take some films with me for the plane. I cant see me getting much out of the battery in the Acer where as the Asus should give me at least two films.

i agree in fact we are also off to Florida in June and was intending on buying one out there, but looking at the costs and deal i got through work i decided to buy one here and then take it with me.

there are bigger batterys you can purchase which are 6cell, which should see you 6-7 hours.

interesting times, wish the delivery guy would hurry up

Dal

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 1:27 PM

Yeah, ive seen the 6 cell batteries but they look quite big and make the Acer a bit bigger.

To be honest im hoping to stick with Linux so am planing on getting the 1GB, 20GB black Asus. But if not then ill get the same as yours. I do like the keyboard on the Acer.

And yeah, i hate delivery days, they always seem to drag ;-)

virtual_boy · 08-01-2009, 1:29 PM

Sorry for the long response time but have been a bit busy with the new addition, she is 2 weeks old

[Mod Comment - comments removed. This is illegal software, and not endorsed by Microsoft. Any more talk regarding this software and I will close this thread and issue infractions.]

w3dal · 08-01-2009, 1:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

Yeah, ive seen the 6 cell batteries but they look quite big and make the Acer a bit bigger.

To be honest im hoping to stick with Linux so am planing on getting the 1GB, 20GB black Asus. But if not then ill get the same as yours. I do like the keyboard on the Acer.

And yeah, i hate delivery days, they always seem to drag ;-)

i know what you mean about the size but there is an option if you need it.

whats the difference in cost between the Acer and Asus your looking at?

Dal

w3dal · 08-01-2009, 1:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by virtual_boy

Sorry for the long response but have been a bit busy with the new addition, she is 2 weeks old

[Mod Comment - comments removed. This is illegal software, and not endorsed by Microsoft. Any more talk regarding this software and I will close this thread and issue infractions.]

congrats on the new addition

will look into this lite version and no doubt will try both

Dal

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 2:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w3dal

i know what you mean about the size but there is an option if you need it.

whats the difference in cost between the Acer and Asus your looking at?

Dal

The Acer with 1Gb RAM and 120GB HDD is around £225, might be postage free depending on the store used. The Asus 1GB 20GD SSD is £251 inc postage from one place, £249 inclusive from play but they will only deliver to my home address and ill be at work.
Both Linux versions.

Ive just got back from london's west end and the cheapest i could get the Asus for was £280 but they also had the 1000 for £300. that was tempting but its a bit more than im willing to pay for what will be mainly used an hour a day most of the time. It looked nice though and that was with XP and a 160GB HDD. very tempting

**Theydon Bois** · 08-01-2009, 4:32 PM

Please note that any more information regarding TinyXp and or TinyVista will prompt me to close this thread, and issue infractions.

The software is not licencesed by Microsoft, and is a hack of their software. Please do not post links or discuss it here.

Thanks,

Theydon

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 4:36 PM

Sorry boss :-)
I'll delete my link

EDIT: Oops, too late. thanks for doing that.

w3dal · 08-01-2009, 4:45 PM

mine has just arrived and so far so good. boots up in 15 secs and the linux software so far has been very easy to get to grips with.

webcam looks rather clear. wont be able to give it a proper test until i get home but first thoughts are very good.

Dal

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 4:52 PM

Lucky you.

Have fun.

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 9:19 PM

Bugger.
Just ordered the Asus 901 but i wont get it until monday now.
Funny thing is i ended up using my master card through paypal. I had forgot it was already set up, i could have ordered it this morning for delivery on Friday.

Oh well, something to go to work for on Monday.

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 10:18 PM

This is a link posted in the Acer thread that shows how to create a cut down version of your own WinXP disc.
I assume this is ok to post as its not been deleted from the other thread.
Think ill give this a go if i do go over to XP.
i64X.com - nLite Windows XP Install on Asus Eee PC

virtual_boy · 08-01-2009, 10:47 PM

The forbidden OS's were created using nLite, its just someone has done the hard work for you.
They would no doubt be smaller than one created by yourself unless you had in depth knowledge of Microsoft Windows, but as you would be using a product key owned by yourself there should be no legal issues.

dave_bass5 · 08-01-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by virtual_boy

The forbidden OS's were created using nLite, its just someone has done the hard work for you.
They would no doubt be smaller than one created by yourself unless you had in depth knowledge of Microsoft Windows, but as you would be using a product key owned by yourself there should be no legal issues.

Yeah, i realised that after i looked at the .nfo file.

**Theydon Bois** · 09-01-2009, 9:41 AM

And the Forbidden OS's had product keys embedded in them, and within the thread that was linked it was mentioned that other software such as ghosting and backup software (all full versions) where included in the iso (much like the various boot disks that are obtainable) - another reason for it not to be linked.

I am sure there are many of you that would use your own keys, but others would not, hence my post.

dave_bass5 · 09-01-2009, 9:58 AM

Totally understandable. Again, apologies for posting it.

I was think though, dont we need as multi user licence to use XP on another PC, assuming we already have it loaded on our home PC's. And what about activation? Ive not looked at the terms and conditions but im sure you can only load it on one PC at a time. so, are we still pirating?

Just thinking out loud.

dave_bass5 · 09-01-2009, 1:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w3dal

mine has just arrived and so far so good. boots up in 15 secs and the linux software so far has been very easy to get to grips with.

webcam looks rather clear. wont be able to give it a proper test until i get home but first thoughts are very good.

Dal

Hows it going Dal?

After reading quite a bit on the Linux/EEE forums im going to put XP on my 901 as soon as it arrives.
I cant even figure out how im going to configure the WiFi connection to use a static IP address and manauly configure DNS etc