An EEE PC running WinXP as a main laptop?

Hey guys. I have never owned a laptop and was wondering if I could use an EEE PC as a kind of 'stepping stone' into them. It also helps that they are SOOO cheap ($350 is a great price!) If I were to buy it, I'd run XP on it (or wait for the pre-loaded ones to launch) and run it as my main laptop. Considering all I want to do is browse and listen to MP3s, it should fit my needs perfectly.

One question tho - will it run CS:S at all? It would be on all low, obviously, but would it do it? That would be fun

 

4GB...hmm...XP + music think there would be enough room? I guess you could get a SD card and store stuff on that.

 

Have you looked at the Dell Vostros?

 

I wouldn't suggest the EeePC as your main computer. Most people who own an EeePC have 2 or more systems since the Eee is really a "sub"-notebook. The reason is mainly due to the limited hard drive, screen size, and graphics capability. Note that you can expand your space via an SD card, but even with that, it's no where near what a regular hard drive can offer in terms of capacity. Also, if you install XP, it would be beneficial to install 1gb of ram. Keep in mind that if you do so, you'll void the warranty. As for gaming, the Eee will run the most basic/old games, but are limited to newer games (I'm not sure about CS source though).

I'd strongly recommend you get a budget 15" notebook instead of the Eee. It'll provide a better gaming experience and offer a much larger hard drive for mp3s, games, etc.

 

it could run war carft 3 and cs ,but you must turn off every thing
a game vido of eeepc
http://www.pconline.com.cn/notebook/testing/cn/asus/0711/1169241_3.html

 

You are better off with a low priced normal laptop like the Vostro 1000.

It should be able to run CS, but NOT CS:Source, Source requires a video card...

 

I could picture a EEE being a main computer, maybe with an external HDD like WD Passport for media and some programs. It all depends what you want and need out of it. Web browsing, word processing, music and movies are all a big yes, but there are catches. For one, small screen, how long could you type up a document or watch a movie and on most web site a high res is almost a must. You could hook it up to an external, most LCD HDTVs have VGA in now a days. How about typing on such a cramped keyboard, you could just use a USB Keyboard and Mouse. Installing and adjusting (tweaking) Windows XP on an EEE though is gonna take a bit of experience. Gaming is pretty much a no no, but not impossible. I don't know about CS:S, but maybe CS. Nothing is gained without some measure of sacrifice. I also have a few PCs, a desktop to big to move around, a notebook to power hungry to be portable and an old notebook thats on the way out. An EEE would be perfect for on trips or at the cafe. I can see someone who doesn't need a whole lot from a computer being perfectly happy with one.

The screen size and the 4GB of RAM still bug me a bit, I could live with the screen and just an SD card for more space for other programs.

 

Keep in mind that I have a nice desktop built for gaming. I just want this as a web-browsing and audio device that may be able to play Source.

This is just a step into the laptop realm; it won't be my main COMPUTER, but it will be my main laptop

 

I would just save your money and get a real notebook. As far as I am concerned, the Eee PC is more of a novelty.

 

The thing is, it goes:
EEE PC (High end mobile device/ sub-notebook) ----> add $100 and get a Dell clunky piece of junk.

 

If you plan to play games on the Eee PC, I very much doubt the battery will last long. What good is "portability" if you have to carry an adapter with you everywhere? CS Source cannot run on the Eee PC because it requires a direct x 7 graphics card.

When I say save money for a better laptop, I don't mean getting a Vostro 1000. I mean saving money to get a better notebook in general.

 

Agreed and the EEE is not a novelty, its a functional notebook. If you put XO on it your gonna need to work on keeping it lean.

 

Indeed. I plan on getting this and then getting a real laptop (T61p) later.

All I want is AIM, WMP/RealPlayer, a lean version of McAfee, and thats basically it.

 

It will cost you a lot of more if you if mod/tweak it to run XP.

First, you will need more RAM, and you void the warranty if you upgrade the RAM on the Eee PC (unlike other notebooks).

Second, the battery WILL be reduced with XP. It will run 2hrs max brightness, with wifi at 2hrs-2.5hrs doing nothing.

 

I don't recommend McAfee, try brisoft.com AVG (its free), the Windows firewall should work fine as well and look into a RAM upgrade to at least 1GB (or 2GB, no big price difference).

AIM (or Trillion) and try the K-lite Mega Codec pack instead of Real (hell anything, just get real alternative). WinAmp is still good, basic version should serve you well.

Real and McAfee are the two worst things you could do to kill performance, I wouldn't even bother with an anti virus.

 

I think the Eee is a great step towards a cheap ultra-portable laptop, but I think it's a long way off from being a laptop that can be used for even a main laptop.

 

And remember even if it cost you $350-$400, you got to add in the cost of XP, a external HDD and/or SD, RAM upgrade, etc., so there's another $200-$300. And the Vostros are cheap, but all in all there not bad for there price.

 

I won't run it at max brightness then

Well, running a full McAfee and being on the desktop with nothing else running takes about 375MB RAM. I think that if I just install the base McAfee system and maybe 1 or 2 of it's plugins, I could cut that number in less than half. Then, I'd go into heavy system optimizations.

I've got XP, can get an borrow an external DVD drive, SD cards can be had cheap, and RAM upgrades are $30 for a 2GB stick AR...

I don't know that I'd do the RAM upgrade - I like warranties...

 

If you just want internet browsing and MP3, you could just stick wiht Linux you know

 

I'd rather get XP...

What if I wait for the XP pre-load versions? Are they going to be more expensive?

 

Well it sounds like you've made up your mind. Do let us know how it works out. Really, I think it sounds very interesting.

 

Undoubtedly

 

JCMS nails it. What you plan to use it for - is just as good if not better - with an Linux OS. What's the point of getting XP with all those extra incurred costs for the same outcome.

The Eee PC can be a practical device if used that way. It doesn't mean all users treat it as a practical device. It sounds to me Maximos wants a new toy with modifications

 

Hehe...you may have gotten that right

I'll see how Linux is...if I don't like it, on XP goes

Probably it is a better idea if I wait for the XP pre-loads.

 

I have an EEE running XP.

1. Don't plan on it being a main PC, but you say you have a desktop and you only plan on using it as a surfer, emailer, movie watcher. So you're good.

2. I suggest getting a 4Gig SD card and at least 1 gig of RAM for XP. So you can store music on it and some movies. I have 1 Gig free with Office 2003, Real Alt, QT Alt, XP Codec Pack. Spyblaster, Comodo, and Symantec AV installed.
Strangely Comodo's firewall is the cause of the system to not be so snappy.

On the road or at home you'll some form of external storage(NAS, shared folder on desktop, SD card or Ext HDD.) I use a VPN to get access to all my files and stream music. The SD card in my EEE serves as a scratch location for temp files and my docs and music.

XP is slower than Linux. Can't change that because that distro is super slimmed down and optimized for the EEE.

I'm waiting for Sandisk to release that PCI-E SSD and I'll be able to have a 16 Gig EEE.

Overall the EEE is a solid machine, you can either use it out of the box or have a small fun project putting XP on it and testing what you can or can't install on it.

 

Do you enjoy XP overall on it? How difficult was the installation procedure? What version - Pro, Home, or 'Lite'?

Does the build quality seem solid enough not to worry about the warranty being voided?

Finally, does the low res hamper usability that much?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

If you are going to void the warranty to upgrade the RAM, you might as well go the full hog and get a 2gb stick. Wait a few months and upgrade the drive to a 32 gig SSD. Only $500-600

 

Oh, of course. With 2GB sticks at these prices, who wouldn't?

I'll be sure to drop one of those 32GB babies in.

 

Yeh I would say I would enjoy using XP on the EEE. It's not like my main laptop in that apps open instantly or boot in 10 seconds. But It's not dog slow.

Plus it's nice I can pretty much carry it where ever I go.

The build quality is Asus through and through, the only thing is it runs warm but that's probably because it's small. If you're in America that Sticker means nothing. They'll have to prove that the RAM upgrade caused the malfunction.

The low res does get annoying when you're viewing sites that don't scale well and are optimized for at least 1024x768. It working on Office docs and reading forums it's fine.

Forgot to add my version of XP. It took about 2 hours to install and tweak. I made XP using an XP Pro disc and Key I had. I used nLite to thin down the crap I wouldn't use on it like movie maker and slip stream the drivers. I just started the install went away for a bit and came back and it was done.

 

That sounds good. If anything happens to go wrong, I'm sure that I'll be able to convice them.

There are rumors that the RAM upgrade does not void the warranty out there, however...

 

Like I said if you're in America they gotta prove it. The magnason vs moss case I believe it is.

 

Cool. Does it take pc5300?

Also, hows the installation procedure for XP on it?

 

Yeh it takes it.

I didn't want to go through the trouble of doing it through the USB drive so I just got an ext USB DVD drive. You can use check EEEuser for a full guide.

 

Good stuff. Thanks alot man.

And one final question: What is the difference between the Surf version and the non-Surf? From what I see, a bigger battery along with a 2 year warranty (psh!) Is that all? Thanks again

 

As much as I love my Eee I would never have it as my main notebook (though I have used my main notebook a lot less since getting the Eee). The keyboard is too small for lots of typing and the screen is very small (hard on eyes after a while). I can work on it for smaller sessions (1-2 hours) with no problems. Longer sessions like 4+ hours would get to me. Watching movies on it is very good and they look great on the 800x480 screen (XviD and h264). My recommendation is to get the Eee as your main laptop if you are not planning on doing a lot of typing and only plan on using it for short sessions.

I think the Eee runs surprisingly well on XP. I have compared boot time and opening application time (Office 2007, FoxPro 9, etc.) to my main notebook (2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo) and it is very close. It does not seem slow to me on any of the apps I'm using on it. I have never had any issues playing videos on it, they run very smooth. I have installed a very lean version of XP SP2 on my Eee though. I would never use the Eee to encode video or other intensive tasks like that. Another reason I have XP on it is there are just too many Windows apps that I have to have on it. For me it is also a matter of space on the SSD, Xandros and all its stuff just took up too much space. I have everything I need on my Eee (including Office 2007, Visual FoxPro 9, VLC Media Player, Picasa 2, Opera, Foxit, Winamp, etc.) and I still have 2gb of space left on my SSD.

The GMA 900 is Direct X 9 Accelerator so it technically could run Source but I doubt it would do it well. I ran Doom 3 on it but it crawled. I have found that it runs most games made through 2003 very well. I have COD installed on it (on SD card). It seems that Quake 3 games run well on it.

If all you are going to do is listen to music and browse the web the Eee will work well for that. Music sounds very good from the Eee with a decent pair of headphones or external speakers. Browsing the web is also good, I recommend Opera. It has an autowidth feature which works great with the 800 pixel wide screen.

 

That all sounds great! How are the stock speakers?

I like the sound of that autowidth screen. This means it squeezes pages to fit horizontally, correct?

Reading reports, it seems that not all SDHC cards work well with it. What are some recommendations?

Well, Source is a ton less demanding than the ape that is Doom 3, so...

ps: woot! 100 posts

 

Here is another possibility. For the price of the EEE PC, RAM upgrade, and an 8GB SSD, I can get an off lease IBM T41. It's got a 1.6 GHz PM, 512MB RAM, 40GB HD, a 14.1" 1400x1050 screen, and so on. Another option is to get an X40 off auction for a comparable price. What do you guys think?

And again, whats the difference between Surf and non-Surf?

How are the speakers?