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I expected to have some configuration issues with the hardware, but everything worked right out of the box. I upgraded the memory to 2 Gigs of ram and added an 8 Gig SD card to store my documents. All other programs are easily viewed. Plus the little unit is tough. The stock interface seems childish, but then it is marketed to people who have never used anything but windoze, and it can be used right away by anyone.There are other Linux versions that can be placed on the 701, but I am not switching yet, it just works too well. The screen is a bit small but clear and bright, and I use the +/- on firefox to make web pages fit. I purchased the Linux version of the 701sd as a compact writing machine and traveling emailer. Battery life is around 3.5 hours of heavy use.
If that is an issue, consider a 900 or 901. I think this is a great unit for the price, it's features and usability are far beyond what the 701 cost. Don't be afraid of the linux version, it is faster and more stable than windows , and comes with all you need to be creative and productive. I have found that it makes for a great camera down loader and photo viewer out in the field. I was connected with my network with in minutes. I carry it in a motorcycle tank bag and life on the road is hard on gadgets.
The keyboard is small but usable.I have been using window CE deices for awhile and it is bigger than those units. The ssd drive is supposed to be crash proof, so your photos will be safe until you get to a desktop,and the Gimp image editing software works well on it. The only downside I see is web browsing on the small screen. Written on an Asus 701SD
Not much to say about this product except it is perfect for travel. when on a trip then this can not be beat. Small, lightweight and connects very easy to the internet. If your need is to be able to get online for e-mail, etc. No disk drives, not a lot of processing power but if you need that then lug the heavy bulky laptop around. This is a netbook and perfect for its intent.
I gave this computer as a Christmas present and didn't see my daughter for two days after she opened it. It is an excellent learning computer for kids. My only problem is the inability to provide a safer surfing experience. Overall, an good product.
Very desirable laptop in very small package. If you are looking for something to browse the web, get and send your email, and write letters, this will do it. The installed operating system is OK for people new to computers, but for more experienced users will want to install a better version of linux such as Ubuntu.
I managed a little over two hours of web surfing with a wireless connection before it started giving warnings. Charger is about the size of a cell phone, so much, much easier to transport the netbook and charger than a fully sized laptop. I was using the preloaded Windows XP.Worked fine hooked up to an external monitor, and drove the monitor at much higher resolution.If you can spring for an extra $150-200, consider the higher end versions. For the most part, sites like You Tube work OK.
This computer would easily slip into any briefcase or a large purse. Very compact and lightweight. Smaller than a full sized laptop, but much larger than an iPhone or Blackberry. At 800x480, the height is too small for some web sites.
This means you have to bump against the top and bottom to move the view up and down. The keyboard is a bit challenging. With some practice, its reasonable to touch type on this keyboard, and I have fairly large hands. I wouldn't want to type a long paper, but for e-mail and routine web surfing its adequate. An interesting product at the low end of the "netbook" category.
Between the menus and toolbars, and then web site headers, there's almost no room left for any real content. The solution is to switch to 800x600 desktop resolution. In many cases, though, you end up moving the menus or web site cruft off the top, and you can see the content. Again, I wouldn't want to do major word processing or spreadsheets, but for online work, its not bad.I bumped this machine up to 2GB memory. With this netbook, I write the same sort of responses as on my laptop or desktop. Comes with a neoprene sleeve. A little jerky sometimes, and the CPU is pretty busy.
On my iPhone, I write terse responses to e-mails. The screen is more troublesome. But, again, given the small size, its an acceptable tradeoff.Battery life was a bit less than expected. The physical size is about the same, but the faster Atom processors and the larger screen and higher screen resolution are worth it.
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