Asus EEE for new user?
Nov 15, 2007, 8:31 pm
#1
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,690
Asus EEE for new user?
I wanted to get a xmas gift for mother something along the lines of a PC. Her knowledge of computer is sadly less than my grandpa's so I need something very simple. I think the best would be the new Asus. All she will use is some type of instant messenger, email, and word app and thats about it. Since it has wifi, I can set up network printing in the house and office so she can print stuff everywhere and I think that would be perfect for her.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Nov 16, 2007, 1:31 am
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Home
Programs: AA, Delta, UA & thanks to FTers for my PC Gold!
Posts: 7,676
Maybe you had missed the earlier thread that folks are buzzing about their first-hand experiences:
Asus EEE PC now available...
Asus EEE PC now available...
Nov 16, 2007, 8:47 am
#3
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,690
Maybe you had missed the earlier thread that folks are buzzing about their first-hand experiences:
Asus EEE PC now available...
Asus EEE PC now available...
Nov 16, 2007, 9:09 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
Everything I've read about people in your situation point to a Mac as being a good choice. I realize they cost more than the EEE but I would assume you could get a refurbished Mac for not a lot more? Maybe a refurbed mac-mini from apple.com?
Nov 16, 2007, 2:00 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: A Southern locale that ain't the South.
Programs: Bah, HUMBUG!
Posts: 8,014
IMO it'd be very good for her. You don't have to know much at all about using a PC but it has everything one needs to be functional. Get her a DSL connection, set it up with WiFi and let 'er rip. So long as she'll be ok with the size, she should be fine. I quite like it aside from the screen being too small. I just am used to MUCH more real estate.
Nov 16, 2007, 4:50 pm
#6
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,690
IMO it'd be very good for her. You don't have to know much at all about using a PC but it has everything one needs to be functional. Get her a DSL connection, set it up with WiFi and let 'er rip. So long as she'll be ok with the size, she should be fine. I quite like it aside from the screen being too small. I just am used to MUCH more real estate.
Nov 18, 2007, 7:23 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Purgatory
Programs: Too many to list. Status is a half dozen.
Posts: 9,235
I just received my EEE PC. It is of course small, and for me typing on it properly is nearly impossible. I can still manage pretty well with several fingers.
I'm keeping the Linux distro on it but have added a start menu and additional workspaces, along with VLC media player and GIMP. IM, Email and Skype are my favorite travel pals. It's a great travel tool to replace my Dell Axim PDA that was stolen from me by a gang of kids in Romania. (Laugh, if you must!)
I'm keeping the Linux distro on it but have added a start menu and additional workspaces, along with VLC media player and GIMP. IM, Email and Skype are my favorite travel pals. It's a great travel tool to replace my Dell Axim PDA that was stolen from me by a gang of kids in Romania. (Laugh, if you must!)
Nov 19, 2007, 12:40 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: A Southern locale that ain't the South.
Programs: Bah, HUMBUG!
Posts: 8,014
Nov 19, 2007, 2:07 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Purgatory
Programs: Too many to list. Status is a half dozen.
Posts: 9,235
www.eeeuser.com - lots of good stuff there for experts and novices alike. Includes a growing WIKI.
You can permanently switch it to advanced mode (which really just loads a different xwindow manager, KDE) but I prefer the "easy mode" default. Just modifying it to have a custom start menu and task bar.
On the 4GB version, if you learn how to uninstall the apps you won't ever use (i.e. Thunderbird - I use webmail on the system, I don't need a mail client) and anything else will free up a lot more. But as mentioned, using an SDHC card (8GB right now, a few expensive 16GB cards available), a USB flash disk or USB hard drive gives you all the storage you need.
You can permanently switch it to advanced mode (which really just loads a different xwindow manager, KDE) but I prefer the "easy mode" default. Just modifying it to have a custom start menu and task bar.
On the 4GB version, if you learn how to uninstall the apps you won't ever use (i.e. Thunderbird - I use webmail on the system, I don't need a mail client) and anything else will free up a lot more. But as mentioned, using an SDHC card (8GB right now, a few expensive 16GB cards available), a USB flash disk or USB hard drive gives you all the storage you need.