Hello everyone

I am thinking about a Netbook as a second computer (I'm on a Macbook as my primary unit) and I wanted to know which one people thought was the best. It needs to run on Windows as I have a full 2007 Office suite to put on it. This is on a CD unfortunately, so any ideas on how to install it would also be grateful. I am not computer literate beyond basic user.
To give you an idea, the one I have been looking at is the EEE PC 1000h. It's mainly for internet use and I would like to run an Ipod on it as well.

Many thanks for your thoughts

TN

Hi Timmy.

Recently bought my girlfriend an Eee Pc - the 12gb version from Pissy world. It was the Xp version. Got it home and discovered that they had split the 12 gig into two by partitioning it 6 and 6. Downloaded antivirus and latest xp updates and it instantly advised me the boot disc was low on space at 780 meg. This is a problem. Won't be long before it would need the partition deleting as updates go to the windose folder..... Took it back to the supplier and their "expert" started tapping away on the keyboard. When I asked him what he was doing he told me that he was routing all windose updates to the d drive...... Magic eh? After a while he called a colleague and asked him how to do that and discovered that it's not possible. Beware of this problem! Swapped it for a linux one and we're delighted with it!

I bought the Linux version of the eeePC 1000 (8GB and 32GB solid state disks), but put XP on it for the moment. (I intend to put Ubuntu on eventually, but the standard knobbled Linux doesn't do it for me. I followed the instructions on this page (http://www.eeeguides.com/2007/11/installing-windows-xp-from-usb-thumb.html) (I'm pretty sure it was) to install XP from a USB Key.

One thing that page doesn't mention is that you may have to bring up the boot menu (hit Escape a few times at boot) so that you can tell it to boot from the key, 3 or 4 times during the install process.

Some points specific to the 1000 that don't apply to the 1000H:
- the SSDs are a bit more expensive per GB, but it makes the machine quieter, cooler, and less of a worry if you like to carry it while it's running.
- I use no pagefile at all (it's a bad idea on solid state drives). XP runs just fine with 1GB RAM and no pagefile as long as you're a little careful.
- I put all large applications on the bigger drive, including Office 2007 running. After that... me likey. :8

I'm on the cheapest and nastiest Eee model (4G is it called?), the one with the solid state drive. It's absolutely fantastic to take on the road. I'm using it with their standard Xandros distro + a little bastardisation (extra packages from Debian repos, etc.) and booting into the so-called "Full Desktop" (i.e., standard KDE 3.4).

I found it handy to create a custom key combination to make windows full screen (you can always do it through the window's menu, but it's quicker using the keyboard), and modified Thunderbird so that it only shows two address lines (shrinkable to one), thus gaining valuable screen real estate when composing mail.

I've also switched all my e-mail accounts to IMAP, so if the thing gets lost/stolen/ran over there should be minimal if any data loss.

Thanks to those of you who took the trouble to reply. As usual, your comments crystalise the thought process. EEE PC it is...

Cheers

TN

TN

I have just sorted an EeePC 900 SSD.

In answer to your question on loading your office software. Copy it all to a USB stick and then run the set up file from the stick.

I presume you are buying the Hard Drive version of the 1000 because that comes with XP already installed. However if you want the SSD version that comes with linux, you can still put XP on it using an external CD drive with USB connection. In that event you can put your office stuff on using the same method. All the XP drivers come with the Machine.

Have fun

MC

I am delighted with my Advent 4211 ( a rebadged MSI Wind,) 80gb of hard drive so no problems with XP. I run a wireless network at home (all PCs) and network the optical drives, so transferring from CD/DVD is no problem. I also take films directly from DVD on my desktop and transfer then straight to the Advent to view whilst away from home (legally - of course) along with BBC iplayer content.