Operating System and Software

Asus have partnered with Xandros to develop a custom-made version of the Linux operating system for the new Asus EeePC. There’s no need to fear the absence of Windows. The Linux OS is totally user friendly, with an icon-driven system, broken down into simple groups of software – Internet, Work, Learn, Play, Settings and Favourites. The Linux OS is incredibly easy to use; the point-and-click user interface looks and feels very similar to Windows anyway.

Microsoft Windows needs a considerable amount of storage space on the small 4GB solid state hard drive (SSD), and the significant additional cost from installing genuine Windows would have increased final retail price of the Asus EeePC.

The Asus EeePC comes with a wide selection of pre-installed open source software, with over 40 applications you can use for everything from work and email to listening to music and watching movies. OpenOffice handles your Word docs, PowerPoint and Excel files. Firefox also comes as standard, and it’s not some rubbish mobile version either – it’s the proper Firefox application. Any standard movie file will play using either the Media Player application, or inside Firefox … there is no need to spend hours searching for video plugins and codecs, the movies just play. Don’t waste time downloading iTunes. Just plug in your iPod and the Music Manager detects the music player and begins importing the songs.

Almost every application on this notebook computer is both useful and easy to use. Unlike the many Windows-based notebooks on the market, the Asus EeePC just works.

If you absolutely must have Microsoft Windows don’t worry. Asus recently stated that they are teaming up with Microsoft to release a version of the EeePC that will come preloaded with Windows in 2008. It is likely to be Windows XP due to the limited storage space on the EeePC. Whether or not Windows will help or hinder the performance of the EeePC remains to be seen. In any case, you can expect the cost of a Windows-based EeePC to be higher.

For further information on where to buy the Asus EeePC 701 click here