Amazing Cheapest Lappy by Asus.

motorguy

ABH wrote: »

What is a 'proper laptop' exactly? The first laptops were the size of a large suitcase, today laptops are on average the size of an average portfolio. Generally things get smaller and more expensive, though that seems to have changed lately. Perhaps a better way to look at it would be, trying to apply its use to what the individual user requires.

So you're a typical 'home laptop user' as opposed to a 'typical laptop user'. You might as well invest in a desktop and be done with it You obviously don't need portability.

You know what they say, 68% of all statistics are made up (yep even that 68%... I just made it up).

Perhaps if you were a 'typical' traveller who had to lug their laptop on an airline and be worried about its treatment while in the hold, or even worked in remote places, where you have to send a report back to the office every so often, or a reporter out doing whatever reporters do. You might think of things differently.

Though you may see it as a downgrade, I'm certain if you visited the eeepc forum, you may find a group of people who don't share that view.

We ran our own computer retail unit for a couple of years, and 95% of our computer sales were laptops for home or small business use, only 5% were desktops. People were buying them to use at home - on the kitchen table for homeworks, in the kids bedroom, in the livingroom - as they dont require a dedicated space in a house to set one up. Thats the reason most are bought, not because people have a need to use one on an airplane. Even business users tend to bring them to work, set them up on a desk, work for the day, then take them home.

Even of the 40+ laptops my current company has for managers, only one person actually wants something smaller for use on the train on the way to work. The rest prefer the balance of screen size, keyboard size, speed and features that a typical laptop these days offers them.

Just because laptops have got smaller and lighter over time, doesnt mean that this Asus unit is the next step - laptop screen sizes have settled around 15.4 inch for typical usage, and 14.1 or 12 for lightweights. Theres a good reason for that - much smaller and you end up with something thats not entirely usable.

I still think that even of those people who require true portability from a machine only a small percentage will want the ultimate in portability at the expense of screen size, features, etc - and thats based on my experience in the retail market and in the business world.

Of course theres a forum of Asus users who think its great - that doesnt necessarily make it right for the majority of people who would otherwise be buying a standard laptop. I'm not being dismissive of other peoples views, but heralding the Asus as 'the answer' is like telling families to buy a Smart car because its cheap and cute, when they really need a Ford Focus.

motorguy

ABH wrote: »

Well to each their own, but you shouldn't be so dissmissive of others requirements. Just because you see fit to spend £400 on a portable media player\recorder\tv doesn't necessarily mean everyone else should.

I was referring to someone elses comment that Archos users were changing to the Asus. And i never said everyone should buy an archos.:rolleyes:

BigBouncyBall

ABH wrote: »

Well to each their own, but you shouldn't be so dissmissive of others requirements. Just because you see fit to spend £400 on a portable media player\recorder\tv doesn't necessarily mean everyone else should.

Though you may see it as a downgrade, I'm certain if you visited the eeepc forum, you may find a group of people who don't share that view.

Who's being dismissive - it think your post is a very 'high horsed' post imo.

epz_2

Andy_L wrote: »

Anybody tried watching movies ripped off DVDs on it? Whats the picture quality like?

if you mean mpeg4 stuff like divx then its processor can handle it no probs as long as it aint HD.

re the memory im a long time linux user, i am probably about as much of a power user as you get, i dont user over 512meg ram on a full desktop and kde4 can do the same effects as vista with 256megs only ram so unless you want windows there is no point in upgradeing it.

Andy_L

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Sounds like a good laptop, although if I purchased it I would have to upgrade the ram. Photoshop is a bit slow on 1gb of RAM. I think 512mb would kill it.lol.

You'd want to use photoshop on a 7" screen :eek:

ABH_3

pgilc1 wrote: »

We ran our own computer retail unit for a couple of years, and 95% of our computer sales were laptops for home or small business use, only 5% were desktops. People were buying them to use at home - on the kitchen table for homeworks, in the kids bedroom, in the livingroom - as they dont require a dedicated space in a house to set one up. Thats the reason most are bought, not because people have a need to use one on an airplane. Even business users tend to bring them to work, set them up on a desk, work for the day, then take them home.

I see where you're coming from and obviously accept given your experience that to be the case in your location. But you're relatively local going beyond your city boundaries there are business class users that require a little more portability, something the likes of Sony, Panasonic and Asus all cater for. The OP of the post I replied too represented themself as a 'typical' user of a laptop when infact there isn't a typical user as such.

Even of the 40+ laptops my current company has for managers, only one person actually wants something smaller for use on the train on the way to work. The rest prefer the balance of screen size, keyboard size, speed and features that a typical laptop these days offers them.

I think you're missing a point in all of this that being if you think that your typical laptop user is typical of all laptop users. Then you are it has to be said mistaken.

I obviously don't know much about this kind of thing, however my friend owns a computer shop and through hardwork and perseverence he's find himself in the enviable position of supplying the local councils with various laptops, and associated support. As well as various other businesses dotted around the county. Taking this as an example, the council workers are given a choice of what they want in a laptop and 'lightweight' is top of the list, sure they want to take them home and stick them on the kitchen table. But they also don't want to be lugging the things around if they're going to impact on their day to day business. Likewise the various companies he supports seem to want lightweight and long battery life.

Just because laptops have got smaller and lighter over time, doesnt mean that this Asus unit is the next step - laptop screen sizes have settled around 15.4 inch for typical usage, and 14.1 or 12 for lightweights. Theres a good reason for that - much smaller and you end up with something thats not entirely usable.

Yes there's an element of truth to that, but providing such devices have space enough for a keyboard and key positioning seperate enough to not require you to reach for a stylus when you need to input something or check a few dates. I suspect it's got a market somewhere.

But you've also discounted the fact that the big box shifters like Dell et al all keep the market for ultraportable expensive, if it was more in reach of Mr and Mrs Average, I suspect that they may buy into this particular branch of laptops. As everyone even businesses are motivated by saving money, the thought that they may have to spend 4million over 3million to buy lightweight machines usually has them going for cheapest option.

I still think that even of those people who require true portability from a machine only a small percentage will want the ultimate in portability at the expense of screen size, features, etc - and thats based on my experience in the retail market and in the business world.

Well from my own rather limited experience, assisting my friend in his when he's stuck and other friends who work in 'business' environments. They're lazy. They want something to work when they want it to work, they want it durable enough so they don't have to take care of it, they want good battery life.

Of course theres a forum of Asus users who think its great - that doesnt necessarily make it right for the majority of people who would otherwise be buying a standard laptop. I'm not being dismissive of other peoples views, but heralding the Asus as 'the answer' is like telling families to buy a Smart car because its cheap and cute, when they really need a Ford Focus.

I wasn't heralding the asus eee pc as the next thing for Mr and Mrs Average. I was merely pointing out or at least it was my intention to point out to the OP of the post I replied too, that their experience of 'typical' doesn't befit everyones. The eee pc isn't for everybody I see that, it doesn't make it anything less than what it is however and that's a piece of technology that has broken a few barriers, it's got solid state memory, small screen and form factor, a cheap operating system with various options available to them.

Will it appeal to the business sector, probably not. Will it appeal to Mr and Mrs Average, probably not, but it does seem to appeal to someone as it's flying of the shelves and has done since it first appeared. Some business users may have purchased it, whether this is because it's the latest and greatest new toy, or whether they think it may set them apart from their peers only they can answer that. But someone out there requires 'Ultra Portablility' as otherwise devices like these:

Fujitsu LifeBook P7230 11 inch screen
Sony's VAIO TZ150 11 inch
Fujitsu LifeBook P7230 10.6 inch screen
flybook V33i 9 inch screen
VYE "S37" 7 inch screen
OQO "uPC" 4.5 - 5 inch screen
Nokia N810 4 inch screen

Wouldn't exist. They all fill the gap between 12.1 the 'average' ultraportable\laptop user and offer ease of use and some form of keyboard for input.

How does the Asus differ asside from being targeted at Children as the original Asus eee pc was, I would sugest the pricetag. Possibly with the exception of the Nokia none of them fall into the £200 \ $400 price bracket and is as attainable as the Asus. I also hear that the eee pc is being trialled by various schools due to its robust nature and the accessable price point, the idea being they can move away from Microsoft Licensing in some cases and into Linux providing the 'staff' can get used to it. The Asus may then be deployed to the children for use in classrooms.

ABH_3

BigBouncyBall wrote: »

Who's being dismissive - it think your post is a very 'high horsed' post imo.

Thank you for your opinion BigBouncyBall, don't be afraid to go back and re-read my post as I suspect you missed the point of it.

motorguy

ABH wrote: »

Will it appeal to the business sector, probably not. Will it appeal to Mr and Mrs Average, probably not, but it does seem to appeal to someone....

Which was the point i made, wont suit 95% of users, but there are a few who will put ultimate portability over everything else.

BigBouncyBall

hahahaha - i love people who say "i think you've completely missed the point" you couldn't be more patronising if you tried!

Drop the attitude sweetie - you only work in an office

motorguy

BigBouncyBall wrote: »

hahahaha - i love people who say "i think you've completely missed the point" you couldn't be more patronising if you tried!

Drop the attitude sweetie - you only work in an office

and hes argued his way round to agreeing with me.... :rolleyes: