ASUS Eee PC 2G Surf (7-Inch Display, Intel Mobile Processor, 512 MB RAM, 2 GB Hard Drive, Linux Preloaded) Blush Pink

This little machine is one of the most capable that I have seen at this price range. I received it within a week of ordering and it arrived in perfect condition. The Xandros linux distro that comes with the eeePC 2g surf is extraordinarily capable at doing necessary computing tasks such as web-browsing and word processing. The processor isn't the speediest, but is capable of doing everything on linux with a moderate amount of speed. This particular version isn't upgradeable, but if you are using this as a backup PC you won't really need to upgrade.

Screen size isn't really an issue for me. I found the screen to be quite bright and the colors to be very nice. The mouse pad is nice, and I can even touch type on the keyboard (and I'm a big guy). They made the shift key too small and to the right of the up key, which is a HUGE problem for me. I often find myself messing up my notes because I accidently hit the up key instead of the shift. The speakers are loud and the Wi-Fi is what you would expect. Battery life is subpar, pulling in 2 hours from full charge with Wi-Fi on.

The machine boots up very fast. However, if you enable the "advanced desktop" mode (which requires a bit of terminal work unfortunately) you will find your boot-up time to be doubled. It is very capable of running Compiz and running it well.

DO NOT put windows on this machine unless you are planning to boot from an outside source. The limited hard drive space mean that you will be placing all of your extra space in virtual memory (unless you turn VM off, and then you will take a performance jab). Windows Nlite performed slightly better, but I quickly switched back to the Xandros distro solely because it is better at performing everyday tasks.

One other complaint: This thing gets hot. Using it for an hour will make the wrist wrests hot, which can get uncomfortable at times.

This PC is great and I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't have, but needs, two laptops. I use it for notes every day in college so mine sees a lot of use. Excellent product!

The unit would not connect with my Linksys WiFi router properly and the battery life was an hour less than advertised.

I ordered a 2G surf to take with me while traveling. I was so excited about getting a small, lightweight, easy to carry little computer! The package got here, I opened it and set it up right away and then when I turned it on and the screen for the license agreement came up, I couldn't do anything - the touchpad wouldn't work at all.

I tried restarting, I called the ASUS support number, they had me press the reset button and start it up, press F9 to get back to the factory install settings, etc. But nothing worked. A couple times when trying to type 'yes' to reboot - the keyboard wouldn't work either. I need it soon for a trip - they wanted me to send it back to them to CA with one day shipping and then they said they would send me another one. I checked and it would have cost me $89 to send it there with 1 day shipping. I bought it through a 3rd party here for $249. I could drive down the street and buy one for $299 from Target and it would cost less than sending this one back.

I called the shop from Amazon that I ordered it from and said I wanted to return it. They said they will pick it up tomorrow. Now I am really sad! I was really looking forward to using this little guy! Now I don't know if I want to take a chance with another one of these or not or find another brand of mini-notebook.

On the plus side - it started up quickly, as far as the startup went anyway. And I don't think the size of the keyboard would have bothered me.

I wanted small and sturdy and cheap - just to travel with now and then. I didn't expect it to function like a full laptop, but I expected it to at least work.

I am incredibly happy with this product. I bought it as a simple portable computer that I could use to type notes on, surf the internet, use a flash and occasionally skype with. It has reached and surpassed all of my expectations. This is perfect for traveling anywhere be it on a bus, subway or plane. I can whip out my computer at a coffee shop, at the mall or at a presentation and get internet connections in under 2 minutes. I have heard some people comment that it fazes the line between a PDA and a laptop. But this is not a large cellphone - it is a mini laptop.

One small disadvantage is that the laptop comes with Linux. For those who aren't used to programming, or those who simply don't want to get involved in complex applciations, it makes downloading new software and performing more complicated tasks very difficult. The online forum support for EEE pcs and Linux are helpful but involve a lot of time to figure everything. This is the kind of laptop to buy if you are happy to use things the way they come and don't need to download new programs, skins, browsers or applications.

It has all the general functions of a computer tucked into a neat package that weighs under 2 pounds. For anyone who doesn't like lugging a laptop around (and 90% of laptops today ARE a task to carry around) this is perfect. I would add that the WHITE color is beautiful and looks like a cool mini-mac. People come up to me all the time to ask what kind of computer it is, and I get compliments and comments on this laptop almost daily! It is super convenient and the price is definitely right. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light, portable computer!

I am delighted with this little notebook. I wanted a durable, portable computer that I could easily transport. That's what I got. It's great for accessing e-mail while I have coffee in a Starbuck's. It boots quickly, and I've never had a software failure. It has the essential tools tht I need: its version of Microsoft word and powerpoint. The downside is a very small keyboard. The small screen makes it difficult to find various "windows" when I'm on the internet retrieving e-mail. At the price, it's a bargain. Also, I love Linux and will be replacing Windows with it on a couple of my desktop computers. One should also pick up an external CD ROM since this occasionally comes in handy.

I returned the ASUS EEE and purchased an Acer Aspire One. The ASUS feels as if it was made for a child and appears cheap. The performance was sluggish on the internet.
I'm much happier with the Acer Aspire One - it has more bang for the buck.

I have always had notebooks, several different major brands, and lugged them around airports and Europe.
Then I saw a fella with one of these in an aiport, looked good, and I ordered it. I'll never go back to another laptop. This does everything I ever did with a Windows machine, and just as fast. 512k seems like the 3 gigs on a Windows computer. For surfing the web, reading emails, speadsheets, word processing, and so on, save yourself the Windows headaches and get this liitle gem, and get it cheap!!!

I purchased the asus eee pc 2GB surf a month ago. I love this little laptop. It is easy to use and the size makes it a joy to take with you where ever you may go.
It picks up wireless sites wonderfully and it is amazingly fast as you surf the net.
I have not regretted my purchase and would recommend this laptop to anyone.

Certainly easy to use, despite never having used a similar operating system. Its built in wireless card has a very good range, and picks up networks my desktop didn't know existed. Very handy for use in a college setting, as it lighter than my notebooks and smaller as well. If I'm carrying around 3 textbooks I don't want something bulky or heavy. Great for the simplest of things: notes, homework, and internet. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone's primary computer, but it's really handy in traveling and around campus.

Screen size is small, but that's easy to get used to. Keyboard is small as well, but that's also pretty easy to adjust to.

All in all, a great deal for a laptop to take care of your basic needs.

I am enjoying my Asus EEE pc. I am still getting use to the small keyboard but other than that I love it. It is so small and portable I can take it anywhere. There is a problem with the battery life though. For me it did not last more than 30 minutes so I would suggest you take the power cord with you and look for an outlet wherever you go. The software package that come with it are equivalent to what you would use from Microsoft. I will eventually have to load windows xp because it is difficult to add other software programs to this linux os system or sometimes to even view certain graphics online that require a download or plugin.

First of all let me say that I brought this EEEPC 2GB for writing purposes as I am a writer and I wanted something small to carry around instead of carrying my bigger laptop everywhere. I love the size, and I brought outside storage for it to be able to carry info to both my main laptop and this one.
My complaint is that it won't get on the internet, which in my case it is not really that big of a deal for what I want to use it for, but if you are buying a EEEPC FOR INTERNET, I would say this is not the one to buy. After purchase I tried to contact the company for support, not very supportive nor seem to stand behind the product, getting through to a live person is extremely hard and may take a few hours and several attempts. Still won't get me on the internet.
I felt it important to notify others who may be thinking of purchasing one of these little seemingly dream machines simply to let others know of this situation.
If you don't care about the internet then it is a dream to take along for writing like I do. Very portable and easy to access the programs in the PC which is Open Office, very easy to use so simple even a child can use it.
As for me I will use it for what I brought it for, but will be looking for something better so that I can write and also have the internet if I desire.

I'm writing a quick review here only because I called Asus customer support and I got information from them. I told them I bought the Asus eee 2gig surf and I asked if I could replace the 512 meg ram with a 2 gig ram card. The man said yes. Flat out. I asked him if it was soldered. He said no. I asked if Linux would identify the 2 gigs as well. He said yes. Now there is a lot of info online that contradicts this information.
I called Sept. 15,08 4:30pm eastern. I spoke to the Tech support Dept. If the Tech is lying, that's amazing, if the tech is stupid...

I was pleased with the performance of this little wonder. First thing I did was increase the RAM to 2 GB and have never looked back. As the owner of several group homes, I keep the medical records of each resident on this machine (password protected) which beats the alternative of carrying their medical folders with me for doctors visits. The only shortcoming I have found is the touch pad is to sensitive for my heavy hand, but using a small mouse solved that problem instantly. And during those long waits for the doctor the resident and I can watch movies saved to a 16 GB DS Card, LOL The screen is large enough to read and having a wireless built-in is fantastic. I am looking to buy the newer model with 16GB and windows in the near future.

This product was a real hit with my wife. I got the EeePC for my wife as a present so she could practice her hobby, writing, without having to lug around the weight of a full laptop. I was initially a little concerned that the Linux interface would be uncomfortable for her as she normally uses a MS Windows laptop for work, however, I shouldn't have worried. This sub notebook is so simple to use, and easy to carry, that she hasn't let the thing out of her sight since I got it a few weeks ago. As for Microsoft's applications, she hasn't missed them one bit, and it doesn't hurt that the applications save your work in files which can be read by Microsoft office when you copy them off the EeePC.

Using my Asus Eee PC is great. I like it for surfing the Internet and the pop up blocker is really worth it. I like the fact that only a website I allow can open a new window on my computer. Great! Also, The office programs are really nifty. I use the spreadsheet and word editor frequently. This laptop is easy to use in limited space making it easy to put away when not in use. It's very fast and in my case I use the built in wi-fi to connect my high speed connection really easily. The two USB ports are nice because later on I can upgrade to CD-RW for burning mp3's while the Monitor output will increase the viewable size connecting to my LCD TV. The Frozen bubble game is really fun. Finally, I appreciate this pc as being very affordable.

For the price the 2g surf model is unbelievable. I am a "techie" Grandma that builds her own desktops and teaches basic computer skills to others. Besides being drawn by the size (my daughter a college student) finds her 15" laptop too heavy for school and work travel, I wanted to try out the free Linux OS. Most of my "students" have very little cash resources and when I can piece together a system it almost always needs an OS. This system and Linux is remarkable. I bought mine 2 months ago. Since I have "classes" on the go I really, really like the size and weight. I routinely transport 2 15" laptops and just slide this one in a side pocket of my computer case. Some of my "students" have had no other computer experience at all and have a very difficult time with windows. The Linux OS is so much easier for them to start with, understand and use. It fits in my purse and goes everywhere with me. When I have been away from home I have had no problems connecting wirelessly at coffeehouses, restaurants,hotels or at any other hot spots. The SD card memory works very well and I have a portable DVD drive for home use and watching movies. It also connects to video over the internet for TV/movie viewing although this one is a little jerky sometimes, for streaming but it is remarkable for such a small inexpensive computer(and only 512 ram) that it is watchable at all. The open office works very well and is a terrific alternative for the much more expensive products. My daughter will probably get one of the larger models so the college software will run on xp, and I am going to get another one soon a 900 model or more in size, more ram and a larger hard drive are almost all you can do to improve this little miracle machine. When I want a larger keyboard I might bring out a wireless one and mouse but so far after a little bit of use I haven't had any problem adapting to the smaller keyboard and the compactness and convenience is well worth it. I could lug around one of my 14" or 15" laptops during the day but why do that when you have one of these for "on the go computing". The only con is I did have to order separately a larger battery for longer life and everyone I know keeps trying to take my 2G surf including, my 2 year old granddaughter who has already fallen in love with the "bubble" game. She seems to feel it should be her's because she says "my size puter". In conclusion if you want a larger keyboard or whatever buy a larger computer, this one is a terrific small computer which is exactly what it was made to be.

Although it's just a little slow compared to our main pc and laptop, it's convenience outweighs this factor. It's great for the kids to surf the web, pick up emails, do research for school, and even write their reports. It's compact size makes it nice to have out on the counter in the kitchen, relax in the family room with, or throw in a bag for traveling.

I know what most people are thinking, "This is too small, and is not very powerful." ... Well, frankly, for most things one does on a computer, it is powerful enough, and it is small enough to go anywhere you can take a book, and is really jsut totally convenient!

I ended up installing Windows XP using nLite to trim it down. It started as a test to show everyone at work and my friends how well it can run WinXP, but it turned out to be very useful, and I ended up just leaving it on there, and have been using Windows XP on it since!

This little guy can play video full screen with no issues, has great sound (it goes pretty loud!) and has all the cool features you would need! Ca not upgrade the RAM on this particular model, but that isn;t a problem. The keyboard is a bit small, but the only real issue I have is I keep hitting the right-arrow instead of the shift key because of the positioning. Otherwise, it is really remarkably easy to use for the small size!

Oh, and the wireless in this thing is AWESOME! It gets the best and strongest signal I have seen with any 802.11 b/g wireless device! It connects flawlessly where my other laptops can barely get enough signal to find the networks!

I use it extensively for everyday things. I would really recommend it for mobile and normal use, however, bring your adapter, It only gets about 2 hours of life on the battery, which is about the only real downside.

I LIKE THE COMPUTER.
IT I'S SMALL AND VERY EASY TO TAKE WITH YOU.IT IS NICE TO GET INTERNET ACCESS MOST EVERYWHERE I GO.
HOW-EVER IT DOES HAVE ONE SLIGHT PROBLEM.IT IS TO SMALL TO USE FOR BUSSINESS
BUT JUST FOR ME IT IS FUN.

Excelente producto, no cabe duda que una computadora Ultra-Portatil es necesaria hoy en dia, esta maquina cubre todo lo necesario, actualmente la tengo configurada con Windows y a pesar de su corto espacio de almacenamiento tengo todos los programas necesarios para estudiar, incluso desarrollar apliaciones, y entretenimiento.

Excelente producto, excelente compra.

Very simple to use. I opted to use the Linux system instead of converting to Windows XP. I purchased this Asus primarily for travel, and I like its size and light weight. Easy to slip into a briefcase and carry. It does take some time to get used to the keyboard size.

Got the 2G Surf from amazon warehouse refub deal back during the spring. Was pleased with the box manuals cd's and instructions that came with product. Set up was quick and easy and with in 1/2 hour was on the internet surfing. While item worked flawlessly for 6 months the battery appears to no longer be functioning. When the battery did work it was a short battery life of less then 2 hours,
The only complaint i have is the space bar seems lacking. While i have seen some of the reviews calling this a full fledged note book please note it does not have a dvd or big hard drive. The storage from flash drives work well.
It does seem to find the wi fi connection well but at times I have to go to "find internet connection" and click on that before surfing.
I am pleased with the product and do not regret the 2 g size . I use it to surf and email only. I have a lap top to do anything else i need to do .
Thanks amazon ware house great product enjoying it too !

I liked this so much that I sent it back and bought the one with the 9" screen.

I have a Black 4G and find it to be a well made and easy to use unit...I purchased this and returned it due to slow shipping...

Was quite interested after reading initial reviews of it. Its simply a toy at this point but a good toy. I like it and it seems to be well made and does all that its supposed to do. I feel that the keyboard is a bit on the flimsy side but aside from that I have no problems. I will soon enough be upgrading to a better one. An upgraded EEE PC possibly or another version. The UMPC's are the way to go for serious but casual portable computing,

I've had my Eee PC for about a month now, and it is THE coolest!! I get comments on it everywhere I go. It boots up quickly and works fast too. I mainly do late-night surfing on it and word processing. My only complaint is that the battery drains pretty fast, so if I'm not using it I plug it in. It's by far THE best little tech treat out there! Highly recommended!!

I bought my Eee PC about a month ago, and for the first few days I was really happy with it. Then that 'OoooHH! Shiny!" feeling wore off and I started to see the device for what it was. The battery life claims to be about three hours, while in reality it was closer to one hour. I was only word processing as well so I didn't have any other periferals running. The keyboard was small but not small enough to really bother me. It worked well.
In the end though I had to return my Eee PC because the little internal fan that keeps the system cool stopped spinning and there is no way to open the thing up to repair it.
I was not very happy with this model, but if I had the extended battery and the version with windows it would have changed the whole thing. Save your money and get a better version.

The eee pc 2gb surf is a great mini laptop to use for basic computing such as school work, business travel, listening to media, and surfing the web. As soon as I opened it from the box, it has worked well with no problems. You do not have to know linux to operate, only if you wish to download software, but with the 2gb version thats a bit of a problem. It doesn't come with alot of pre-installed programs for you to be able to download software like limewire,or shockwave player but overall its a great piece of work. The 4gb version and bigger drive models work better for adding software on to it. If you do not know how to run the terminal, the great thing about linux is that if you any trouble shooting you can always find help online from forums and better yet it is free. The great thing too is that all its office programs are compatible with microsoft so when you save a document or presentation it can run on windows without any tweaking.

I bought this computer bc I travel a ton and am always wanting to look up trip advisor reviews and/or book hotels, book activities while on vacation, check email, etc. Really the main purpose I needed it was to browse the internet. It has that and so much more! I am able to download some compatible games that keep me busy on the airplane as well as have IM chat, MS Office compatible software, software to download and listen to music/videos from my ipod, etc. It has worked out great! And it is so light, that you barely notice it.
The only issues I can see is that I wish they would have made the speakers on the side of the screen smaller and enlarged the screen. Also, it was a bit tough to get used to Linux OS since I am usually working in Windows, but after reading online on the ASUS support sites, I was able to get through it. I probably would buy a Windows next time just to avoid any compatibility issues.
Overall it is a great, scaled down computer. I can even link it to a large monitor at home and it is essentially my main computer! We are thinking of buying another one.

With just a little effort, I was able to install WinXP and Office and some other programs I use alot onto the 2Gig Surf with the help of a 4Gig SD card. Does fine with internet and e-mail and Office2007. Got a refurb under $300. Considered some of the models with larger drives and more mem, but the price starts to get a little steep(near a decent dual core notebook). Perfect for travel-it is so small and lightweight.

Just as promised: Easy to learn and easy to use

Best suited for internet access while traveling

OpenOffice applications are as good as MS Word and Excel. Only downside is the small keyboard, which works fine but is not the best for fast touch-typists or people who navigate through applications using keyboard shortcuts.

Built-in WIRELESS is EASY to setup and use.
Touchpad allows "double tap" as alternative to clicking the mouse buttons.
Touchpad itself is very responsive. Small size actually makes it more accurate.
Scroll bar on right side of touchpad does not "overscroll" but actually responds to very precise moves.
Speakers - good sound
Microphone - no problems using Skype or recording from in front of the machine.

I did purchase a 4GB SDHC card - the cardreader is on the side. Recommend doing this, as there is otherwise very little storage.

One downside: The FILE MANAGER is not as easy to use as the Windows equivalent. I'm getting better at understanding the display and changing directories, but it takes time. I've had the unit for 2 months now and made 5 trips throughout the US with it.

Battery life - 2.75 hours using internet on a a WIFI connection. Low Battery alert comes on at 20%. I have kept going for another 45 minutes (2.75 hours) before plugging it in.

Buy this if you travel alot and need something smaller than a regular laptop.

When configuring the wireless connection, the computer immediately recognized my network name, but when I tried to connect it was pending forever. Solution was as follows:
Network settings: after naming your network, in the wireless tab, under network name, change mode from auto to infrastructure. x the box next to enable encryption. Under encryption type (WEP), the key is NOT your password but the key that the router assigned to you when it was installed to your main computer. If you don't have it, reinstall the router with the CD that came with it. If CD is not available, you can download it from the router website. Once I entered the right key, WiFi was enabled within 10 seconds. Also, in general tab, change start mode to "on boot" so you don't have to type the key in every time you boot up computer.
Great notebook for it's intended purpose - internet, email and office docs. Bought a 4G SD card ($18 on ebay - same one at WalMart was $35)for additional drive space to load music, pics, etc.

I bought my ASUS to help me keep track of my email while I traveled Europe. The LINUX OS works flawlessly. I have had hardly any problems with it. Every once in a while I may come upon a web page that is too large, so I just go to another one. I can go to open air cafes and check/answer my email while dining. I have yet to find a connection that wasn't compatible with my ASUS. I also like that I can connect to web radio. I bought a 16 gb SD card that works flawlessly. Also, I use my 8gb usb flash drive and the Open Office reads all my files. I would highly recommend the ASUS for your light computer needs (web surfing, email & office suite).

The unit is quite compact and easy to open. However, I did have difficulty getting into my internet. The person I called for assistance at Asus either wasn't clear about what I was asking or didn't know the solution. I contacted a friend who is in the computer business and he walked me through the process.

The keyboard, as should be expected, is small and needs getting used to. I haven't gotten into the processes available, but with a little practice, it has everything I need.

Now that I can easily access the internet, it's great and I can take it anywhere.

I was searching for a small, portable laptop that I could carry around with me without feeling like I was toting around a small baby.
I am in the process of writing a book, and I got so tired of jotting notes down on whatever scrap of paper was around....
And I am overjoyed that I found this little gem!
The size is PERFECT, as I can just toss it into my purse and go! No hassle.

As most reviewers have said, the key pad is tine...but I found that the more I typed with it, the easier it got.....I still make mistakes but I do that anyway!

The area I'm in does not have a solid wireless access point for internet.....but it does indeed work. Again, I had it in my purse when I went shopping and it connected like a breeze!

I am thoroughly enjoying my thought out purchase!

it arrived as scheduled and is the item i requested. the only thing is that the papers were missing that show i bought it. it works well and was an excellent deal.

I purchased this to travel with on vacation. I also use it around the house and yard now instead of my desktop or an older IBM laptop. The negative is that it's obviously made for kids, and the keyboard is tiny. A lot of times, I hit the Enter key instead of a punctuation key. Other than that it operates just fine.

FYI, I primarily just use it for email and websurfing and not for the other applications.

This is the little do-all device I have been waiting for. Lightweight at only 2 pounds. This computer boots up in about 20 seconds. (compared to Vista boot time of 2 minutes and 38 seconds!)
Has no hard drive to worry about. Uses SSD memory which draws less power than a coventional hard drive.
It has 3 USB ports for various add-on devices, such as external keyboard, mouse etc.
The wireless connection works very well - easy to setup. Sound is good for such small speakers. The music program works flawlessly with my MP3 players.
Expect about 2.5 to 3.5 hours of runtime per charge.
What's not to love? Our family has 3 of these little computers and they are being used for everything - Photo edits, word processing, spreadsheets, video and music players, network management. While our desktop computers gather dust.

The main reason I bought this computer was that IT IS NOT WINDOWS!!! This is not just because I am a Apple person, just recently Intel gave Microsoft the finger by saying it would not upgrade it's 80,000 company computers to Vista, because windows is old, slow junk.
Five minutes after I opened the box I was up and running, connected to my wireless internet. Same thing at work.
The desk top has big icons and is very clear;internet,work,learn,play,settings,favorites--simple and easy.
A great value for [..]

I did have my doubts before I ordered this thing, what with the whole Linux OS and all. I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of use and amount of info available online to walk you through loading apps, etc. I got my Eee PC to be a web bowser/word processor and it works brilliantly. I expected the keyboard to be cramped, but it feels surprisingly roomy... if I can just get used to the right shift key being so small. Battery life is about two hours, and since I only get one hour for lunch that is plenty. This thing is great.

I like the small size. However, the poor resolution (800x480) of the screen makes it hard for normal internet usage. One would assume the flash drive would make the PC run very fast, but it seem to run as slow as any other sub-$300 laptop. Finally the battery life should be a LOT longer than a normal laptop since it has no moving parts, but it doesn't last very long. Next time I will just spend a little bit more and buy a laptop without the limitations this one has.

Basically, what you see is what you get. It is pretty spiffy and small though. I recommend if you want a small internet surfing machine.

This little computer does what it's supposed to and for a low price. The unit requires occasional horizontal scrolling, but other than that is identical in use to a larger one. There was no problem useing the Linux operating system--its fast and works well. This is great for travel. I only wish my Verizon wireless modem worked with Linux; unfortunately it only works with Windows.

This is a tiny laptop. It's a little bit difficult to use the keyboard because it's so small. Also the battery doesn't last very long. However it is very lightweight and perfect to take on a trip if you want to check your email and do some light stuff. It fits in my purse! I love it but as a secondary computer, you couldn't use it as your one and only.

I absolutely love the little machine! It's perfect for my needs. Friends are planning on purchasing the little PC as Christmas gifts for their kids.

I love laptops. I love notebooks even better. Of course, I had to see what the buzz was all about with this one, and in short, it is neither notebook nor laptop. It's an adorable, quality-made novelty, that I really want to give 3.5 stars, but Amazon won't let me.

My first impression was how tiny it actually is. You think you know what a 7 inch screen looks like. It is smaller than it appears. The quality seems to be typical Asus. Nice quality.

The short of it all: the battery lasts 2 hours or so. I expected a bit more, but it too is tiny. The screen is fairly bright, and if you use it mostly for Internet, it's a lot of fun. But beyond that, it's not great for much else. Just too small. But at this price, it qualifies for what they call an "impulse buy".

Yes, the USB ports, the card slot, the solid state hard drive (small) the cute (it DOES draw a crowd at McDonald's!) look--all these are cool. But pretty much--you get what you pay for. And for this price, I did.

I got this little puppy for three reasons - (1) It was lightweight and easy to cart around, (2) It was inexpensive but still had WiFi and other features that made it a good deal for me, and (3) I can take it on cruises and use it for quick download/upload on those pricey internet connections there!

I like it a lot! Haven't used it too much yet, and I did get a separate wireless mouse because I hate those little pads. But it picks up the internet just fine WiFi-Wise, and the keyboard's not that hard to get used to (small, of course, but maybe a big meaty guy would have more trouble). The true test will be a 2-week cruise in Dec.

Hey, $300... I spend that much in a month at restaurants and buying gas. This little guy will last a while.

Diane

We do a great deal of overseas traveling. Recent airline luggage restrictions place a premium on lightweight alternatives. The Asus Eee PC 2G laptop weighs 2 pounds and includes an easy way for storing digital pictures. In addition it has full wireless capability for accessing the web while on our trips.

I am typing this review on the Asus eee PC that I just received yesterday. The other reviews on Amazon are on target, but there are a few shortcomings that I discovered that I had not seen in any reviews. Here they are:
1) PowerPoint: I had hoped to use my Asus eee PC to carry PowerPoint presentations to meetings without needing to lug my laptop on the airplane. In theory, this works. The Open Office equivalent of PowerPoint opened my PowerPoint files without any problem and they look fine on the Asus. And I could connect my Asus eee to an external monitor (and presumably a projector if I wanted to). But the problem is very low image resolution. I played with several pixel resolutions (under Settings/Desktop Mode, but the image on the external monitor was always fuzzy or jagged. It would never work for a presentation, which is too bad. This would be a great way to use the Asus.
2) WiFi: If you have a WiFi connection at home that requires a WEP encryption key, you will need to type it in every time you use the WiFi. It is a real nuisance to not have the Asus remember the key like most PCs do.
3) Printer: I could not get it to drive my Xerox printer. It apparently does not have the driver installed for this model (though there are other Xerox printers listed), and there is no obvious way to install a new driver.

That said, I think I will keep my Asus eee. It is very small and light--about the size of a hardcover book. The internet access is very easy (once you type in the WEP encryption key). The screen is bright and clear. The software that it comes with is compatible with MS Office. It starts up quickly. They keyboard, while small, is relatively easy to get used to (I don't have dainty fingers). And I like the idea of using it for travel. If it gets lost, mishandled, or stolen, it is no big deal--unlike the situation a few years ago when my $1500 laptop was stolen while traveling in Europe. Finally, it is kind of cute--an interesting and useful mini-PC.

It's indeed as light as advertised. Battery time for usage seems to be less than 2.5 hours, which is not that long. The screen is small -- 7" makes sure your windows are all maximized if you want to read anything. Yahoo! Mail doesn't load properly because the screen is too small. YouTube flash videos are sometimes a little jumpy, probably CPU issues. Other than that, everything works fine -- the Messenger application is the one I use on other machines (Pidgin), so I just imported connections. The browser is Firefox 2. OpenOffice allows me to load most documents in. The auto-suspend-on-lid-close feature is wonderful, I just close it and put it in my backpack with no further thought. PDFs are read using Adobe Reader, not one of the open source alternatives, which I was not used to, but it works OK. "openvpn" cannot be installed without further fiddling -- I have not managed to do so yet. The keyboard is a bit tiny, and makes me do more typos than I'm used to. On heavy use, it will heat up.