Asus EEE PC, newest LAPTOP mag Editor’s Choice
Now this shocked me a bit when I read about it on CrunchGear: the Asus EEE PC not only got 4 out of 5 stars in a LAPTOP magazine review, it also earned an Editor’s Choice award! I’m keeping my own commentary to myself for now simply because I want to use this device without passing any judgement. Since it’s really a different spin on mass-produced laptops with its low price, low specs and custom Linux build, I wouldn’t feel right to say a word without actually using it. For now, I’m peeping at it through LAPTOP’s eyes. Pending how it works for me, I’d almost already agree with their statement: "It’s an excellent secondary computer for households with children." That’s the likely use for it in our house although the kids are actually enjoying Vista on their machines.
Early UMPC adopters should note that Asus is struggling with a problem that we’ve faced for some time with the 800 x 480 display: "Menu screens dipped below thetaskbar occasionally, making it difficult to click Next or OK. Thishappened when we were attempting to set up an e-mail account fromwithin the PIM application. We couldn’t move the window in question uphigh enough or shrink it down enough to move to the next screen, whichwas quite frustrating. You’re supposed to click the Alt button whilemoving the window with the mouse."
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With regard to the dialog boxes on a 800×480 screen, what I’d like to see would be a 2×2 virtual window arrangement with a shortcut Win+Cursor to switch between them.
Then a dialog box can wrap around horizontally and vertically to allow a dialog box up to 1600×960…
“Menu screens dipped below the taskbar occasionally, making it difficult to click Next or OK…”
Like for my Samsung Q1, it’s the time to promote again the UMPC Scrollbar…
A powertoy not by the “Microsoft dream team”, but by Vikram Madan
For XP
http://blogs.msdn.com/vikrammadan/attachment/2031126.ashx
For Vista
http://blogs.msdn.com/vikrammadan/attachment/2016649.ashx
Use it with a new Asus EEE PC or any UMPC… or wait for an Apple “Big iPhone UMPC” in some months to avoid this inflation of tricks… And a best UMPC experience…
It’s perfectly the right counterweight to get Microsoft stripping down Vista to better work on UMPC resources. Or better completely switch over to Linux-land? Ubuntu on the Desktop, Eee PC in the bag, and Nokia n810 in the pocket?
“You’re supposed to click the Alt button while moving the window with the mouse.”
Of course! That’s the Linux way things should work on all (graphical) Linux systems, actually. (Hold alt.) You can right-drag to resize, too… I miss it when I’m on Windows, so I use WinMover (a free app), but it causes all sorts of chaos with Vista.
I use it with my UMPC instead of the UMPC scrollbar, though. :)
Have a look here to see some videos of the Asus and even more informations:
http://www.tabletpcreview.com/default.asp?newsID=996
Youtube, iPod, USB wireless mouse, all integrated! Sound likes a cool mobile cheap PC :)