eeePC to go
 

Preface: I am a technical luddite. Please be gentle (and specific).

I am getting ready to place my order for a 4G eeePC (XP version).

From reading (and having asked a few questions here), I know I need to upgrade the RAM.

What else do I need to buy in order to have everything I need to travel with this machine?

Thank you in advance for the guidance.

at this point i believe there's some confusion on whether the XP version being released right now has the media card built into it like other versions did. this could just be someone not copying over the technical specs correctly from the press release. if it's important for you to have that, i'd confirm before ordering.

i'll look around and try to find the link that mentioned that issue...

here's the post that originally mentioned the XP version not having a memory card slot.

I still think this could be a printing/website error since it seems to stem from Best Buy's listing, and I doubt they're the most accurate.

Thanks, I'll research a bit more on the media card.

I've seen discussions of travel routers. Do I need to purchase one?

Well, according to the User's Manual for the XP version of the EEEPC, there is a memory card slot.
http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/Eee..._XP_Manual.zip

Only if you want to set up your own wireless network in your hotel room for instance. If you will be using wired internet or available WiFi, you dont need a travel router.

Thank you, GadgetFreak. So, if I upgrade the RAM, I should be pretty much "good to go"? I've haven't traveled with my computer since wifi became "the thing"-think dial-up. I've been getting by with my smartphone--so, I am still way behind the learning curve.

I think so, it sort of depends on what you want to do with it. Mine is a Linux version but out of the box it does wireless or wired networking. Do you have Word, or another word processor and other software you will be using?

saw this blog post today. thought it might apply for you:

The Asus Eee PC: 10 Things You Need to Know About the World’s Coolest Gadget

One thing that you want to look into is USB mouse, some people have problems using touch pad though i have no issues. This little machine works like a charm. Oh also you will need to get a decent memory card like 8 gb or something as on board 4gb is not enough. BTW i have using XP nlited with 512 mb ram and it works pretty fast.

I have the 8 gb Linux version which came with an external mouse. But if yours doesnt come with an external USB mouse I agree with the above post and would definitely recommend that accessory.

Good link meerkat 9090. Thanks for the heads up about the external mouse ziqch and GadgetFreak. I'm adding that, and the memory card to the order.

Does nLite just remove some of the programs I may not need? And is it something a person with minimal computer skills can accomplish without destroying the system :p?

I'm really looking forward to the arrival of the eee!

Nlite basically reduces the size of windows install so its works better on a simpler machine like EEE. www.eeeuser.com is an excellent resource for EEE, it gives step by step nilte instructions in addition to a lot of useful info.

you don't need nlite. nlite is to reduce the size of a windows XP install disc and then reinstall XP. nlite is primarily used in the EEE community to install a reduced XP on a linux eeePC. since you're buying the XP version, which will already have an optimized version for the EEE, you don't need it at all.

There's a good EEE XP "How-to" here:

http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:nlitexp

It takes a little while, lots of clicking, but not technically difficult and low risk of screwing things up badly.