In Search of the Cheap Linux Laptop

mr_mischief writes "According to Hot Hardware's recent review, Asus is getting ready to unleash a $199 compact notebook running Linux. This is entirely different from this recent $150 Linux laptop story which many Slashdot readers believed to be a scam. There's a dual-mode menu which offers a simple system for novice computer users, and a slightly more advanced version for others. It's not aimed squarely at the same market as the One Laptop Per Child project's XO, and is expected to be sold to end users worldwide. It's targeted at new users who don't own a computer or at people who want a cheap, small laptop for basic tasks. The reviewed version has a 7" screen and a cramped keyboard to match, but a 10" version is available for $100 more. It offers built-in wired and wireless networking, four USB 2.0 ports, and a three-hour battery life. The storage options are a bit cramped, as you only get 4 GB of on-board storage (8 GB on the $299 model) and no optical drive. As the review says, though, USB 2.0 can make up for that if you like, and the lack of moving drive parts makes the machine run dead quiet."

Comments

Re:32GB USB stick

[harrkev]

The big problem with flash drive (IMHO) is that they stick out.

It would be cool if such a device could have an "internal" USB drive bay. Basicly, you open a lid and there is a recess large enough to stick most USB drives. That way you can upgrade the machine without having anything sticking out.

Re:The Specs, summarized

[mobby_6kl]

Screw the optical drive. The Armada M300 I've already mentioned somewhere above doesn't have one (it's in the docking station), and there was exactly one (1) situation when I wished I had it. I don't even use the one in the docking station either, I now just pop the CD/DVD into one of my desktop drives and use the network share to access it. Skipping the CD/DVD drive means thinner laptop plus lower cost and weight, so I'm all for it.

The 8GB flash drive is a much more limiting factor though, as it means I won't be able to store as much pr0n and warez^W^Wuseful business data.

Diminishing returns?

[fermion]

Are we reaching the point on laptop prices where cheaper laptops are not feasible simply due to administrative costs? Consider these examples. Apple puts together an iPhone, and it likely costs $150 to build. They didn't use the cheapest parts but you know they did get a good price. This laptops looks like an emate, and an in inflation adjusted numbers costs only a little less. MS, who does not even need to make money, cannot put together a media player for less than $200. Each component may be cheap, but there is cost in ordering, receiving, qualifying, assembling, and verifying. Each component that is added, each new solder joint, increases the costs nonlinearly. How much did Apple save by not making the battery removable? If one has a device with 10 components, is it possible to engineer, assemble and ship the device for less $200 even if the components are next to nothing?

The point we are at right now is that there has been little advance in merging components. Computers got cheap, in part, to VLSI. Now, instead of creating a single chip laptop, we have dual cores. To get to the holy grail of the computer so cheap that we buy it for no reason, the device count has to go way down. A couple chips, a couple ports, and a screen. It may even have to have a fake keyboard, just like the cheap computers of the 80's, which, btw, were also just a few chips and few ports.

Sounds good, but...

[gshakhn]

Overall, this sounds like an amazing computer for school. About 2 pounds? That small? Awesome. However, I've got a few questions.

How easy is it to install additional programs? I'd assume they'd attempt to limit that in the basic interface, with only a few choices from preselected packages. With the advanced interface though, can you install anything you want? Do you get access to the terminal? Is there apt, yum? Something similar to Synaptic so you don't have to use the terminal? Only packages approved by Asus, or can you access any repository you want?

It says that the laptop is Windows compatible. I assume this means that the user can install another OS by themselves. With lack of an optical drive though, will it boot from the USB to install? What about drivers, such as for the webcam?

All in all, it sounds like a great deal. The small screen bugs me a bit, but what do you expect for the size?

What a perfect opportunity...

[Undead Ed]

Here we have a brand new low cost platform that comes preinstalled with Linux. All the ney-sayers are simply yelling sour grapes because Microsoft will not be able to field anything like this in North America or Europe in the foreseeable future.

I am going to buy two for my grandkids - they will love it. They'll be able to play music and TV off the home wireless network. They can VoIP with video using Skype. They can read books from Project Gutenberg. They can message and chat to their hearts content. Hey, they may even do some homework and learn something, Who Knows!

For me, I can add a 22" LCD monitor and create a wireless multimedia node for the bedroom. I can also use it as a smart thin client with USB keyboard & mouse and some speakers.

Add some external storage like a 2.5" 120 gig HD and some earbuds and I can listen to music or avi's until the batteries wear down. I can store all my contact information and write some emails, Skype some friends (VoIP with video), message, play games and chat for hours away from my desktop computer.

This machine is great and I for one am going to promote it to all my friends including the ones that are afraid of computers.

What a great standby machine!

Just so you know, I have 3 laptop computers 'Dell Inspiron 5100 - big, hot and heavy', 'Toshiba Tecra 8200 - smaller, lighter but tied to the power supply now' and 'Dell Latitude CPx - nice but slow, also tied to the power adapter'. These machines, for one reason or another, are unsuitable for newbs and kids whereas the Asus 3ePC looks perfect.

I have no problem with the screen layout the way it is - there are speakers on either side of the screen and a microphone and camera there as well.

All that power, connectivity (WiFi b/g, Ethernet 10/100, modem and USB), excellent memory - 512 meg, sufficient storage with USB addons as required, stereo speakers, microphone, web camera, 3 hours on battery AND it comes with an OS with a FULL office suite, Firefox, Skype, email and lots of applications!

All for $199!

LOOK OUT MICROSOFT!!!

This is the killer product Linux needs to get it's foot in the door - this machines will sell in all the usual outlets plus drug stores, gift shops and grocery markets if promoted properly and Asus may be the guys to do it.

Yep - put XP on that thing and it will be a pig with no room left for anything else. With a light-weight Linux, perhaps Ubunto or Kubunto or even Slax, and the user may really haved something.

This is just my two-bits but I am excited.

Undead Ed

Re:What a perfect opportunity...

[Wicko]

There are a few exceptions to your statement about XP, using nLite to reduce your XP image to only essentials, or look for TinyXP, (assuming you own XP already, ;) ) and you will hardly use up any space at all.. a version of TinyXP that I have is 150MB. Haven't used it yet so I have no idea what its size is uncompressed, but it certainly won't be that bad. A solution for those of us who don't want to be stuck with Linux.