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laptops
Asus Eee PC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Developer | AsusTeK Computer Inc. |
|---|---|
| Type | Subnotebook, netbook |
| Operating system | Linux (Aurora, formerly Eeebuntu; Xandros) Windows XP/7 |
| CPU | Celeron, Atom |
| Website | eeepc.asus.com |
The first Eee PC was a milestone in the personal computer business, launching the netbook category of small, low cost laptops. According to Asus, the name Eee derives from "the three Es," an abbreviation of its advertising slogan for the device: "Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play".
History
Eee 700 series
Both the price and the size of the device are small in comparison with similar Ultra-Mobile PCs. The Eee series is one response to the XO-1 notebook from the One Laptop per Child initiative. At the Intel Developer Forum 2007, Asus demonstrated the Classmate PC and the Eee PC, and listed specifications for four models of the Eee PC.
In some countries, the products have the marketing names EeePC 8G, 4G, 4G Surf, and 2G Surf, though in other countries the machines are still designated by the model numbers 700 and 701. The 4G Surf uses socketed RAM but some revisions do not have a door to access the slot.
Asus released a version of the Eee PC with Microsoft Windows XP pre-installed in January 2008. In Japan, the version is known as the 4G-X.
Eee 900 series
The Linux version is named the EeePC 900 and comes with a 16 GB SSD. Some of these Eee PCs also have a 4 GB SSD installed similarly to that in the 701 for a total storage space of 20 GB. Those that do not are named the Asus EEE 900 16G. The Windows XP version is named the EeePC 900 Win and also comes in two versions: one with a total storage of 12 GB (one 4 GB SSD and one 8 GB SSD) and one with 16 GB (on a single SSD). The Linux 20G version is sold for the same price as the Windows 12G version. In the case for the 16G EEEs, the Windows version costs more than the Linux version.
The Windows version comes with Microsoft Works and Windows Live Suite preinstalled. It also includes StarSuite 8. The machines are otherwise identical to each other with 1 GB of RAM, an 8.9-inch (226 mm) 1024×600 LCD and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. This model has the same Celeron CPU as the Eee PC 700, running at its full 900 MHz clock speed (rather than the 630 MHz speed seen in the Eee PC 700).
Other Eee 90x models
On June 3, 2008, Asus unveiled the Eee 901 at Computex Taipei, the 901 was a revision of the 900 series with a different chassis. The 901 features an Intel Atom Diamondville CPU clocked at 1.6 GHz, an "expanded" battery (listed as 6-cell), and "Super Hybrid Engine" software for power management which will provide a battery life of 4.2-7.8 hours. Bluetooth and 802.11n Wi-Fi are also included. The 901 uses the Intel 945GME chipset, meeting the requirements for Windows Aero for Vista or 7. The 901 is otherwise similar to the 900, shipping in Linux or Windows XP configurations which have different sizes of SSD storage. It was also discovered that the Eee 901 has capacity for a "3GCard" upgrade.The Eee PC 901 "Linux" model featuring an advertised "20 GB SSD" storage actually contains two SSD drives; one 4 GB and one 16 GB. The 4 GB drive has been reported as faster than the 16 GB drive.
The Eee PC 904HD was one of the first Eee PC models which features an HDD (80 GB) instead of an SSD. This model features an Intel Celeron M running at 900 MHz and gets its power from a 6-cell battery. Like other Eee PC 90x models this Eee PC also features 802.11 b/g WLAN and a 1.3M pixel webcam. Windows XP comes pre-installed.
The Eee PC 900A features almost the same specs as the Eee PC 901 (except the primary SSD, Bluetooth, 1.3M pixel webcam and the 6-cell battery, that has been replaced by a 4-cell battery) but in a case nearly the same as used in the Eee PC 900 model.
Battery controversy
There has been some controversy regarding the battery supplied with the EeePC 900. Versions pre-released to many non UK journalists and reviewers were equipped with a 5800 mAh battery, but the first retail versions in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Singapore were shipped with a smaller, 4400 mAh (76% of that capacity) battery, which commentators note has led to a great variation in the machine's battery life in reviews, in some cases as much as 90 minutes. As a result of the objections to this, Asus provided a free battery replacement program in Hong Kong and Singapore, and ran a paid-for battery exchange program in the UK.Asus has stated that the smaller battery is "[p]resently the standard battery supplied in the UK" and "the default standard battery pack for Asus Eee PC 900 worldwide." Asus provided a battery exchange to all UK Eee PC 900 customers for £10, and released a firmware update which claimed to extend battery life by 30 minutes ("BIOS 0601: Updated all battery discharge tables to extend battery life").
In Australia and Italy, the situation was reversed: Reviewers received EeePC 900 systems fitted with the 4400 mAh battery but the retail models were equipped with the 5800 mAh battery. Customers of Media Markt in Italy received the EeePC 900 at the beginning of sales (May/June) with a 5800 mAh battery and later (June/July) with a 4400 mAh battery.
Best Buy's custom variants of the 1000HD and 900A also both include a 4400 mAh battery.
Part of the above problem extends from the fact that the entire range were substantially more successful than Asus had originally anticipated. Currently, Asus has several large complexes scattered throughout Taiwan and China, with the largest in the city of Suzhou (China), being the size of eight football fields. Upon the unexpected success of the range, Asus factories worked around the clock to keep up supply and further development. Consequently, even within Asus testing labs in Taipei, many variations were found within test models. Generally, however, Asus does inform reviewers that the final retail model may contain different features from those offered in the review model.
Eee 1000 series
The 1000HA released in October 2008 also costs less than the 1000H but has the same Intel Atom 1.6 GHz CPU, 160 GB HDD, and 1 GB of RAM. It also has wireless and some models present Bluetooth. The 1000XPH has the same Intel Atom 1.6 GHz CPU, only 80 GB HDD, and 1 GB of RAM. 10/100 LAN, 802.11 b/g Wireless LAN, Integrated Webcamera but no Bluetooth.
In February 2009, Asus unveiled the 1000HE, using the new Intel Atom 280 processor with a 10-inch LED-lit display, 6-cell battery, 160 GB HDD, Bluetooth, 802.11n wireless networking, 1.3 megapixel camera, and a revised keyboard.
The 1005HA comes in three models, from least to most expensive they are the 1005HA-B, the 1005HA-V and the 1005HA-P. The 1005HA-B has a removable 3-cell battery with rated 4 hour life, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and uses the N270 processor. At the higher end, the 1005HA-P has a removable 6-cell, 5600 mAh, 63 Wh battery with rated 10.5 hour battery life, a 1.3 megapixel camera and uses the N280 processor. There is also a 1005HA-H model, sold in Poland, equipped with 6-cell battery, N270 processor and 0.3M megapixel camera.
Asus officially announced the first Eee with Nvidia Ion graphics, the 1201N on November 19, 2009, later replaced by the 1201PN and then 1215N, with a more powerful dual-core processor Atom D525 and Ion 2 graphics.
Technical overview
Processor
The earliest Eee PC models used a 900 MHz Intel Celeron M processor underclocked to 630 MHz. Later models shipped with this processor at normal speed. Current models use a 1.6 GHz or 1.66 GHz Intel Atom processor. The Atom is a simple, scalar, in-order execution microprocessor that is significantly slower per-clock than the Celeron M due to its microarchitecture. Still, 1.6 GHz and 1.66 GHz Atom-equipped Eee PCs tend to perform similarly to their Celeron-equipped counterparts, due to the higher clock speeds and Hyperthreading. The desirability of the Atom lies in its low power consumption compared to even mobile-rated processors such as the Intel Celeron-M.Budget models, and versions of current models, also feature Celeron processors. For instance:
- 1000HD (distinct from 1000, 1000H and 1000HA)
- 904HD
Display
The Eee PC 700 has a 800×480 pixels 7 inch (178 mm) display, measured diagonally. The screen does not cover the entire space within the lid; instead it is flanked on the sides by stereo speakers and, above, by the (optional) camera in the trim at the top. The Eee PC 900 and 901 come with a 1024x600 pixels 8.9-inch (226 mm) display, almost filling the lid.The Eee PC 1000 comes with a 10-inch (254 mm) or 10.2-inch (259 mm) display with 1024 x 600 display.
With all models, an external display can be supported through a standard VGA connector. The manufacturer does not give any specifications on maximum resolution and display configuration (mirroring, extended desktop), but most models can handle an external display at native resolution of 1440 x 1050, and even 1600 x 900 although performance starts to slow down. Models that ship with Xandros do not have access to the full capacity of the external VGA output by default, allowing only 'mirroring'. Users must reconfigure their xorg.conf file, or install a more feature-rich OS such as Eeebuntu to allow the higher resolution output.
Keyboard
On a normal, "full size" computer keyboard, the 10 keys Q–P measure 190 mm (7.48 in). The 700 and 900 series are equipped with similar keyboards, 82 % size of a generic one, meaning that the Q–P keys measure 155 mm (6.10 in). The 1000 series, as it fits in a more spacious case, has 92 % of a full size keyboard, where the Q–P keys measure 175 mm (6.89 in).The 1000HE's revised keyboard is similar to keyboards used in Apple computers and Sony's VAIO series, where the keys are reminiscent of Scrabble tiles, being spaced apart and raised from the surface below.
Storage
The SSDs used in early Eee PCs also had extremely poor random write performance (The S101 does not have this problem).
In the 2 GB and 4 GB models of the 700 series of the Eee PC, the SSD is permanently soldered to the board. In the 8 GB model, the SSD is a card connected via the internal PCI Express Mini Card connector, leaving the original SSD area on the motherboard empty.
The Eee PC 900 comes with a removable PCI Express Mini SSD module, with or without four additional 1 GB memory chips soldered on the main board. Different models come with different-sized SSDs. One Linux version has 4 GB, a Windows XP version has 8 GB, and all remaining ones (Windows XP or Linux) have 16 GB.
The Eee PC 1000 contains a fast 8 GB internal SSD and a slower 32 GB internal flash drive.
Some models, such as the 1000H and 904HD do not have a SSD, and instead have a SATA internal hard drive of either 80- or 160 GB, which can be upgraded by the user.
All Eee PC models also include a memory card reader, supporting SD, SDHC and MMC cards for additional storage while the Eee PC S101 also has support for Memorystick and MS-PRO.
Eee PC 1004DN is the first model with a Super-Multi optical disc drive (ODD) that reads and writes data to DVD or Compact Disc.
Memory
Most EEE PCs use 533/667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM via a standard SO-DIMM module, which can be swapped out. The 700 and 701SDX have RAM soldered to the motherboard.The black model EEEPC 4G SURF (4GS-PK008), and newer white models (4GS-W010) have a removable panel on their underside that allows the user to change the RAM without fully disassembling the system. The older white models (4GS-W010) lack this access panel, and need some disassembly to access the RAM.
The hardware supports up to 4 GB (2 GB for the 1000 series, and some of the 900 series),but the preinstalled Xandros kernel of the 700 series only supports up to 1 GB.
Cooling
In an EE380 talk (video archive), an Asus engineer mentioned that the Eee PC uses the keyboard shielding as a heat sink to absorb the heat generated by the processor. The Eee PC has a fan, and some vents to also cool off the system.Compatible operating systems
As the Eee PC uses a standard x86 processor, most operating systems can be installed with little effort, though full hardware support varies, especially for the latest models.The following operating systems are known to work:
- Microsoft Windows
- GNU/Linux, BSD, Solaris, Joli OS, MeeGo, Android, and other Unix-like systems
- Mac OS X v10.4
- Mac OS X v10.5
- Mac OS X v10.6
- Syllable
- Haiku, development releases
Linux on the Eee PC
Xandros
The operating system drivers for the ACPI and wireless devices supplied with the pre-installed Xandros operating system are versions of software licensed under the GNU General Public License. The company released the source code as a ZIP file along with the product; however, it has been reported that a small percentage of the source may be missing, and some device driver software appears obfuscated. In the absence of necessary source code, other Linux kernel versions and distributions on the device are less easy to use with some of the hardware. Asus has since released the source code for the ACPI module. They have also released the patched Linux kernel sources and their Busybox sources. The Synaptic Package Manager and apt-get can be used to install additional software through the repositories.
Forks and other distributions
Current Asus Linux development policy generates forks of code as they change. This means that their changes do not go directly into upstream versions and remain available only through Asus source code releases. If one wants to change to another distribution or update the software, it is necessary to determine what has been changed (using, for example, the diff utility) and port into a newer version or other distribution. For example, the Eee PC 900 model has a sound card that needed some modifications to the Linux kernel driver to work. Asus' modifications were against version 2.6.21.4 from June 2007. This problem was removed with the kernel 2.6.28 and above.
Configurations Naming of the 700 series of models of the device appears to relate to the size of installed SSD, camera, and battery size. The Eee PC Surf models include the 4400 mAh battery pack and no webcam, while the non-Surf models have the 5200 mAh battery pack and a webcam installed. The model numbers (700, 701) may still be the same as has been seen on pre-production samples. Asus may offer upgrades for the SSD storage via the empty Mini PCIe slot, which has been shown to be labeled FLASH_CON in take apart photos of the 4G. When a Mini PCIe card is inserted into the spare empty slot, the internal SSD gets disabled, making the device unable to boot from the original SSD. There are also signal lines for a USB port on the Mini PCIe pins which have been used to connect various USB devices internally. Some 701 models with serial numbers starting at 7B do not have a second mini PCIe slot soldered onto the motherboard, though the circuit traces and solder pads remain.
A controversy over a "warranty void if removed" sticker on the RAM access cover panel prompted Asus to release a statement clarifying the matter, stating that "merely breaking or removing this kind of seal will not void the Asus Limited Warranty" (emphasis is original). Since then, Asus has offered to replace the labels with ones specifying merely that Asus will not be held "responsible for the damage caused by improper hardware change." Furthermore, Asus altered their Limited Warranty to "eliminate any provision stating that the Asus Limited Warranty will be voided simply because the product is serviced by a non-Asus-approved service facility, or if non-Asus-approved components or software are installed or used."
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