Computer Notebook Computer Notebook: EEEPC Landmarks

This content is saved for historical purposes and is no longer updated. In February 2016, my EEEPC (with a replaced battery appearing as white in the photo) was still going strong!

Eight Years of the EEEPC (2016)

EEEPC at 8 years

EEEPC with Xubuntu

Although I intend to keep the EEEPC operating for a while longer, I've now moved to a tablet computer for my primary computer for mobile use.

Seven Years of the EEEPC (2015)

In February 2015, my EEEPC was still going strong!

EEEPC at 7 years

EEEPC installation with Xubuntu

The EEEPC Refreshed (2014)

In February 2014, I refreshed my EEEPC with a new keyboard and new operating system. Why? The computer still works, and I wanted to see if I could get a satisfactory operating system working on it. There still isn't a netbook computer that is smaller or lighter that (of course, many current tablets are, but I like having the attached keyboard). See: Updating the EEEPC.

The EEE PC 701 Refreshed

Five Years of the EEEPC (2013)

I received my EEEPC on February 13, 2008, so on February 13, 2013, I wanted to recognize its fifth year of operation:

mke-2013-02-13 689_90_91_A

The EEEPC has worked well over these five years. The issues are these:

  1. The Solid State Drive (SSD) is only 4 GB, and so I have only limited space for an operating system. I updated the operating system to Linux Mint. Specifically, I have Linux Mint 11 LXDE on my EEEPC because that is the last version of Linux mint that can be installed in 4 GB.
  2. The keyboard has suffered some problems. I think this relates to my use of the EEEPC at cafes and while eating. I also spilled a cup of ice water on the keyboard. The result is that I use an external keyboard that plugs neatly in the USB Port. Note: The built-in EEEPC keyboard can be replaced. Simply buy a new keyboard and take out the old one and put in the new one.
So other than the aging operating system limited by the size of the SSD and the keyboard flaking out, the EEEPC works fine. Notably:
  1. The speed of the processor is fine. Once I got Linux Mint LXDE installed, the speed and responsiveness has been completely satisfactory for Web browsing, listening to streaming music, and text processing.
  2. The size of the screen does not bother me. The screen is just 17.78 cm diagonal, but that is fine. I am still able to see what I need, and I appreciate the small size. EEEPC Screenshot
  3. The battery has worked flawlessly. I have not gotten a new battery nor have had many problems with it. I usually charge the battery completely at home and use the battery in a cafe for about an hour. Since the installation of Linux Mint LXDE, I can't remember the last time I've had to plug the computer in the wall when out in a cafe or somewhere else using it on battery power. I expect it lasts about 2 hours.
  4. Linux Mint LXDE is the absolute key to being able to continue to use the EEEPC. The operating system delivered with the EEEPC was confusing to me, slow, and difficult to keep updated.
  5. I've continued to appreciate that it weighs just about 1 kg (0.922 kg) and is just 22.5 cm by 16 cm by about 3 cm in size.
I have made some observations on the EEEPC, and at the five-year mark, the big issue is this: will I replace it? The problem is netbooks are going out of favor--I don't see ASUS even making new ones that rival the one I have in terms of mobility and value. Also, I don't see a small device (about the size of a book) that is lightweight (about 1 kg) that is reasonably priced (around $200 or so) on the market at all. I'll keep looking, and I figure that I will replace the EEEPC with a tablet computer.

References

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2023-06-19 · John December · Terms © johndecember.com