That Asus EEEPC 1000H

I finally decided to get a netbook. It started with wanting to get a good PDA phone. Then, I realised there are some things that seem hard to do on those. Further then, I realised that no phone sized mobile phone was going to compile C++. Last, I realised that if I am not going to do those things, at least it should run a SSH client.

The Nokia e66 makes the cut with wifi and Symbian OS that thinks it is windows but works better. Here it runs the Symbian port of the putty SSH client, connected to the ASUS eeepc 1000H that I just obtained awhile ago as well.

Unfortunately for me, I decided to order my eeepc from VPOST. A terrible idea. First, it was out of stock and they did not bother to inform me. Second, after asking them when will stock arrive they initially gave me an indefinite answer. Imagine paying for something that might never come. Then, there was the big mess up with the delivery. They had a arrangement service that you could re-arrange a new delivery date if the first was missed. Funny thing is, they disregarded two rearrangements that they agreed to, causing much distress, and delivered when they pleased. They should just go back to doing mail and not expect customers to pay $698 and treat it as if they were sending snail mail.

Next came the delight with the new little thing. Not too small, but light enough for me. Intel Atom processor clocked at 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, Wireless N, Bluetooth, 160GB HDD, multi-touch pad ("Blasphemy!" screams my brother who belongs to the cult of Mac).

Starting up WinXP home, I wanted to swap the HDD with my 320GB external but was too lazy in the end. I got to remember to remove those ugly metal stickers.


The only point of WinXP home is to install Visual Studio and start compiling away. Works perfectly! The next thing to do, install Eeebuntu, a customised Linux distro for the eeepc.


Firing up the live image from USB and installing.




Install done. With Intel integrated graphics having excellent linux support, 3D desktop (compiz) works like a charm. In fact better than my desktop with ATI that doesn't get it right. What to do next?


Install the best open source game, Battle for Wesnoth


The best not really free open source game, Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe


Play some arcade with MAME

Curious about the Intel Atom, I decided to list the cpuinfo using the command "$ cat /proc/cpuinfo" which showed two processors. After checking it up, it seems that it is due to Hyper-threading on the N270. That makes two processors when counted with the integrated graphics.

Then, I realised something bad. One of my instant key buttons that is supposed to toggle between various resolutions does nothing when pressed. I hope this doesn't mean a lengthy trip to the service centre, sigh...