[plug] Eee 901 and other "netbooks"

sothisistheinternet sothisistheinternet at gmail.com
Thu Sep 11 23:25:39 WST 2008


On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 11:50 AM, Trevor Phillips
<trevor.phillips at gmail.com> wrote:
> Going on an extended road trip soon, I'm sorely tempted to pick up
> something like an Eee, for the odd bit of wireless browsing, ebook
> reading, Starcraft, and portable web development. ^_^

<snip>

> The problem is - the 900 seems to be around $550, while the 901 seems
> to be more like $700 (even though the XP equivalent is under $650) -
> and hard to get hold of locally! $150 for a little bit more
> performance and battery life seems a bit steep...

I just bought the 1000H and am preparing to put eeebuntu on it. I'm
replying specifically to address the pricing issues you've brought up.
You can get the 900 for under $450 online (see the sponsors specials
forum for OnlineComputer's latest advert on the overclockers.com.au
site). You can get it for $499 at Myer (windows version). I think
you'd be happier with the 901 because of the battery life! The 900 is
a three cell unit, and the 901 and 1000H are 6 cell units. This is
particularly important for extended trips where you can get 4-7 hours
battery life from these.

You can get either 901 model at Netplus for $669 Linux and $639 XP,
and Netplus' new store in Myaree is still doing a discounted XP 901
for $595 for walk in customers. The OnlineComputer folks are also
doing both these models for about $599, see the reference in my
previous paragraph.

Personally, I found the 900 (windows version) to be sluggish compared
to the 1000H.

> Does anyone know any Perth places (or reliable online ordering) that
> would have the Linux 901 (pref. Black) for a more reasonable price?
>

Netplus has stock.

> The other alternative is to pick up a 700 for $300 somewhere, just as
> a filler & experiment, and get something a bit meatier when they're
> cheaper.

I think you'll be unpleasantly surprised by the battery life and
resolution of the 700, but if $$$ is the main issue perhaps not.

>
> Or, there's the competitors "netbooks". I'd rather not start fiddling
> with full distro installs and fiddling with driver compatability so
> close to leaving, but it is an option.

There's the new Dell mini inspiron, the Acer Aspire One (windows
version has better specs), as well as the MSI Wind (make sure to get
the 6 cell version, and there've been reports of problems with one of
the types of touchpads being used). You might even consider the 1000H
but you'd have to do a Linux install on it with guides available
online, I was planning on trying it out this weekend - there's always
the restore disc if I mess up!

>
> Even Dell now have a pretty decent looking Netbook, the Dell Mini 9 -
> except in Australia they don't list the Linux version as an option,
> and I don't know if it'll arrive before we go. Oh, and it's a Dell.
> ^_^

4 cell battery on that one, and apparently if you phone them up you
can get an education 5% discount if that applies to you.

>
> Has anyone compared the Eees to the alternatives now filtering on to
> the market? Any recommended place in Perth that'd have stock & decent
> prices? ^_^
>

I did a LOT of shopping around. I eventually went into JB Hifi for the
1000H. They're asking between $689-699 for it but I got it for $650.
Over East people routinely get it for less at the JB Hifis over there
(JB bought up all the stock, so pretty much have a monopoly on this
particular model). However, with all EeePCs be careful about the new,
and cheaper, HD versions - these have the cut down celeron processor,
not the Atom.

For the new windows version of the Acer Aspire One you should not pay
more than $650, and then you get $99 cashback. For the older linux
version, you should not pay more than $500 before cashback.
Officeworks (and possibly PLE) have the new XP one, and Good Guys and
Netlplus have the older one (phone first to check stock).

A word of warning: ask to start the system up in the store to make
sure it's working before leaving - that way you can check:

1. That it's not been a returned item being sold as new (happened to me at JB)
2. It doesn't have dead pixels (the reason for number 1 above).

Anything else,  just ask :)

Regards,

Ari



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