Home > Consumer Reviews > ASUS Eee PC 1000 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, 20 GB Eee Storage, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Pearl White

Just got my Eee Asus 1000, white, running Linux. First I have to say is that I really can not stand Microsoft, or XP, or Vista, or the New Office Suite. So I really don't have much use for non-*nix operating systems. OK, got that out of the way. Linux rocks. Microsoft was good it's day, but we're kinda past the visi-calc days. It's a web centric world. Who wants to be tied into one company's proprietary format in this day and age?

I really like this box. The build quality is very nice. Xandros seems to fit it perfectly. I use ubuntu on 3 other boxes, so I'm pretty used to it. I've been reading about Eeeubuntu, but to be honest, I'm not sure I want to switch over. I think Xandros is a really nice distribution for this little guy (I'm writing the review on it now). Seems to be a really good fit.

I got the web storage to work. It was a little flaky. Kept rejecting my code. Then decided to take it. I'm not sure but I think they are using Amazon's s3 service. Sure feels like it. Anyway, it works fine.

Speaking of off-line storage and Amazon - check out [...], and download their s3 extension for Firefox. As a primer for this, go to [...] and get the scoop. Shows you how to easily integrate Amazon's storage (read: fast and cheap) for all your off-load data needs. I had it up and running on my eeeAsus firefox in minutes. And give the folks at rjonna a measly donation, would you? If this was developed for the Window's world, it would cost $[...]. What's a $[...] contribution. You just spent $[...] for the box. (No, I don't know them).

OK - gripes. You got it - the stupid right shift key. Duhhhhhh Asus. Really really really don't like this at all. And it would have been so easy to move it to the left. It's a major design weakness in my book. However, having said that, I would not let that dissuade you from purchasing this little gem. My wife loves it. My kids love it. What can I say? It's all in there!! Go for it.

I like my 1000, but have yet fall in love with it like some others have. It's very portable, and great batt life. For internet on the go, you can't beat it. And the fact that it has a Wireless-N card built in is a nice bonus compared to its competitors.

The knock is definitely on the Xandros OS that comes installed. It just sux. The first time I booted up, it ran ok...but every day since, it seems like it gets a little slower. A week into using it, I had to upgrade it to 2GB RAM just to get it running at an acceptable pace. I will be trying out different Linux OS's in the near future, but haven't got around to it yet. From what I hear, that'll be a huge help.

The native software DOES NOT connect to a public wireless network, verified by the techs at J&R when I returned the machine. It sees the network but goes no further. Somewhat experienced with Linux I searched and searched the Web (from a public desktop) and found that this has been a problem with Asus from its first release. What's the use of a netbook that can't reach the 'net?

Tried to install easy-peasy (Ubuntu for the Asus EEE) from a thumb drive, as recommended on the web site for this distro. Ha! Got the 'non-system disk' message, which I thought had gone out with DOS.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, it is a lovely machine - if I knew this problem was solved I'd buy it again in a NY minute! :)

I've been using computers since the late '70's, and when the Mac came out in '84 figured then that command line and DOS prompts programming was a thing of the past. Well, if you ever expect to load ANY software on your Eee, or get it to do anything more than run installed software - be prepared for exciting terminal action.

As for the installed software, Staroffice fails to spell check, and there is no simple fix - the 24-7 tech support asked me to call back on Monday, and then I was told to reset the software to factory settings - losing all the limited set-up I was able to do before. That reset did not help.

Also, bluetooth on my 1000 does not work at all, since the discover device window instantly closes itself with an error message. I work in a university setting and have great help so will probably keep trying for now, but XP Pro is only a few inches away right now. Linux in the Xandros version is far from ready for prime time. If you know how to use windows and do not want to become a programmer, beware - unless all you want to do is web browsing - it's pretty awesome at that.

I like the small size and SSD and would prefer this to the 1000H with the HD, so I'm not disappointed in the machine. Linux, however is a great disappointment. Who wants to use terminal software in the 21st century?

BTW - do not expect much help from Asus tech support, they apparently know nothing about Linux or Xandors. The Level 3 support that I spoke with offered only two suggestions:
1. Reinstall the OS (which I did - and it did not help)
2. Send the computer back to them in exchange for a rebuilt one (declined)
In addition, the Asus support reps I dealt with were unpleasant. Oh well.

UPDATE

Still using Xandros, as per post by Fletch, bluetooth works now, I installed Open Office after removing Star Office and that works much better. The Repositories (sites that store software for this particular OS) do not contain some of the best free releases (like GIMP for photo editing) because Xandros might not work right if they are installed without modification. I've spend much more time setting this maching up than I expected, and am pleased with the maching, but doing it today would probably choose the XP version for 150 less at cost co.

ANOTHER UPDATE 10-5-08
After battling with the lame Xandros distribution and lacking the gumption to install a more robust distribution, I decided to purchase a 1000H XP system with a 160G HD. Without question for me, XP wins hands down. I booted both machines side by side prepared to weep while watching the XP version lag behind, it did, but only by a second! Every problem I had on the Xandros:

1. Impossible to install the print driver for my Konica DL2300 printer
2. Impossible to install Cisco VPN
3. Impossible to access internet using sprint Mogul

was immediately accomplished on the XP version. Also had to uninstall Star office and install open office to get spell checking to work on the linux box - this problem did not exist on XP - Star Office works without changing anything!

XP runs very lithely on this machine. It is just as fast as my Sony Vaio TX250, maybe a little faster.

It seems clear to me that the Linux-Windows debate is as vitriolic as any fundamental religious difference. I prefer to be flexible, and stepped out of my comfort zone to try the Linux system. I spent at least 40 hours learning about Linux, Xandros, Commands, Repositories and trying like heck to make the free software work for me. Very little results for the time spent. Frankly, there are better ways to spend my time than learning Linux - everything works perfectly for me on XP. Why fight it? If you are thinking about trying linux for the first time, like I did, prepare to spend a bunch of time working on this. Also - the SSD yield no appreciable speed benefits, and the HD is very quiet, so there is no downside to the XP version.

If I could I would change my star rating for this product from 3 to 1. XP gets five stars!

+ easy to use default Xandros system, wireless network working out of the box (though I've replaced it w/ Ubuntu already)
+ pretty OK keyboard and display size
+ battery feels like it does not end (compared to my notebook..)
- way too NOISY! What's the point of whisper-less SSD when the CPU fan is like a tractor, noisier than both of my other computers together.
- cheap feeling, display cracks when you move it, touchpad buttons a bit too hard.
- 1GB RAM.. why not 2? The reflection of it in the price would be insignificant.
- costly: it is not worth the nearly $500 I payed on it.