Adding components to the Asus EEE PC

[Andaho]

After reading this article from the hexus news I'm seriously considering buying the EEEPC and upgrading the RAM, internally connecting a 8/16GB USB flash drive, and for use it the car; a GPS unit and FM transmitter.

My question is; what would be the best value way to add internal storage space: an 8/16GB USB flash drive, or a memory card reader with a high speed 8gb SD card? I'd want to be able to use the storage for MP3s, videos and documents - even a slow memory card could seamlessly play a video file can't it? - I'm wanting to do this because I would like to have decent internal storage as well as using multiple SD cards in the slot.

would something like this Veho 8GB Class 6 150x Hi Speed Secure Digital Card last and perform in the real world as well as an 8gb USB flash drive?

[RavenNight]

You don't need a memory card reader as it has a built in SD/SDHC slot, I've got an 8GB Adata happily sat in there.

[Andaho]

You don't need a memory card reader as it has a built in SD/SDHC slot, I've got an 8GB Adata happily sat in there.

Yes, to add to my plans; I want to install XP on it as a dual boot, so I want a second permanent internal drive (probably trying to get it on the SSD but will be putting all the system files on my modded second internal drive) so I still want to be able to use the slot for media/doc files.

Doing some reading up on the EEE, I'm going to wait for the 8" or 8.9" model that are supposed to be comming out very soon.

[Wyoming]

Flash drives are relatively easy to install and if you buy a decent one it'll be a lot faster than a class 6 sdhc, but if you're not experienced at soldering or if you don't want to sacrifice a USB port then go for a card.

I'm also waiting for second gen models to come through, so tempting to buy a 4g now though.

[Parp]

You could wait for the 8GB version. It will come with 1GB of RAM, an 8GB solid-state disk and will cost about £300.
I'm not sure when it's out in the UK but it's supposed to be soon.

Edit: Waiting for the one that has the 8.9" screen would be best. I have heard it will do a resolution of 1024x600 which is a good improvement over the 800x480 of the other models. I just hope it isn't to expensive.

[staffsMike]

Probably due to the EEE's success there are so many other manafacturers going to bring a laptop like this the market in 2008 by the looks of things. Certainly Acer so if you're waiting anyway might be worth checking them out as they filter through.

Bigger screens will be nice but bigger SSD's would be better

[Andaho]

Bigger screens will be nice but bigger SSD's would be better

I don't think larger than 8gb SSD drives are important in a tiny ultra-portable laptop... because it's not designed for playing games on or running powerful large programs. SDHC or usb flash seem like they're gonna be just fine for storing docs and media on - With these laptops becomming popular, I predict places will start selling 32gb SDHC cards.

As for the screen size... I am looking forward to the 8.9" filling the whole of the lid.

[staffsMike]

Fact of the matter is as the technology grows the prices will fall anyway and so it will be economic to put in bigger SSD's.

Then someone will actually use a bigger SSD.

Then.. everyone will do the same in order to compete.

and so on.

As I said with other manafacturers entering the market the competition will only grow between them.

[Andaho]

Fact of the matter is as the technology grows the prices will fall anyway and so it will be economic to put in bigger SSD's.

Then someone will actually use a bigger SSD.

Then.. everyone will do the same in order to compete.

and so on.

As I said with other manafacturers entering the market the competition will only grow between them.

Still, to quote your original comment on it -

Bigger screens will be nice but bigger SSD's would be better

I'd rather have a screen that fills the lid nicely than any size of bigger SSD - thinking about it more... yeah, literally ANY bigger size... lets imagine if there were 2 units priced at £250; 1 had the 7" screen and a 200GB SSD, and the other had the 8.9" screen and a 8GB SSD, I'd still want the 8.9" version, simply because of what it's going to be used for - I'm not gonna be downloading stuff off the internet on it because it's not a desktop replacement. The graphics won't power any recent games, and if you wanted a portable PC for entertainment, surely it's better to get a normal 15"+ laptop?... and even if I was going away for a boring secluded holiday and wanted to use it for entertainment, I'd still be able to fit 11 700MB movies on a single 8GB SD card to watch on the bigger higher res screen

For those of you that haven't seen it:

This is the 7" next to the 8" and behind them is it the 8.9"????? (the site the photo is on doesn't say - is it a 9"-10" iBook perhaps?)?????



from: Bigger Is Better: Real Live Pictures of 8-Inch Asus Eee PC

[Wyoming]

You could wait for the 8GB version. It will come with 1GB of RAM, an 8GB solid-state disk and will cost about £300.

I'll be upgrading the RAM to 2gb anyway and I have some "interesting" storage plans lined up anyway, I can't justify the extra cost for myself.

[staffsMike]

the one behind looks like the normal mac book to me..

8" one looks much better though.

To go back to my original point though, there wouldn't be a 8GB 8.9" available if there was a 200GB 7".. it wouldn't make sense lol

But I do see your point about the useability of it being more important than it's specs given the nature of its use.

[Wyoming]

Andaho - The EEE rumour mongerers have decided that the notebook in the background is an Apple not an EEE

I can't see the 8" being useful unless it has a higher res, and most reports suggest it wont. So I'll wait for something 8.9" or above.

[Andaho]

Andaho - The EEE rumour mongerers have decided that the notebook in the background is an Apple not an EEE

I can't see the 8" being useful unless it has a higher res, and most reports suggest it wont. So I'll wait for something 8.9" or above.

Yeah, if the res is gonna be the same = no big deal!

Is there anything else on the market even close to competing with the EEE? - like a decent 10 or 11"? All I can find in the <>10" all cost over &#163;1000!!!!!

[staffsMike]

there is a parcard bell.. but thats a pacard bell...

And others are coming, acer and a few less know brands.

[Wyoming]

Well you've got the Everex Cloudbook, which is ugly and underpowered, designed for Walmart...

Gigabyte's offering, doesn't look great to me.

Then Acer and Dell but details on both those notebooks are thin on the ground.

The IT world has seen the success of the EEE and is trying to emulate it (it's Asus' most successful product and now makes more than Sony Vaios), but you might not see real competition until Q3.