The message 3130303032303038482986CE98@zetnet.co.uk from Anthony Anson tony.anson@zetnet.co.uk contains these words:
The message 48297EF3.7080902@sionide.net from Simon Elliott alug@sionide.net contains these words:
Anthony Anson wrote:
I have an Asus Eee, and am not overly chuffed with their dumbed-down version of Linux - 'My Network Places', 'My Computer', 'My this, that and the other'. Yeeuch! And MSN? I ask you!
Are you sure you didn't buy the Windows XP version by mistake? ;)
I did wonder! In fact, it does have an XP CD with it. I've probably still got it...
I have - but I promise I haven't used it!
The default Linux distro is a modified version of Xandros. It's been described as a "Fisher Price OS" and it annoyed me after about a day.
Yes, I knew it was a 'modified' (dumbed-down) Xandros. That was one of the reasons I wanted an Eee.
But, simple though it is, it's appalling. Usable, but, appalling.
Do you have a 700 series or the 900 series?
How do I tell? It's got a 4 Gig lump drive.
It's got Eee PC 4G underneath it. I guess it's the cooking variety.
And the book of destructions states that 'Removing the pre-installed software is not allowed'
Hmmm. We shall see about _THAT_!
I shall be investigating the specially developed version of Ubantu
You have a couple of options here.. In actual fact, the Eee is perfectly capable of running standard vanilla Ubuntu. Although there is Eeebuntu which uses the XFCE desktop environment instead of Gnome.
Ah. Now I did like Gnome, and used it with Woody.
There are issues, which I shall come to later...
I have an Eee 900 and I've installed Ubuntu on it as per instructions found here: http://help.ubuntu.com/community/EeePC
Thanks.
You'll need a 1GB or bigger USB stick to put the Ubuntu install on (or an external cd-rom drive)
Yup. Got both.
And here is one of the issues, which pre-empts your enquiry below:
Within about a fortnight I'd run out of traffic allocation on the VogonPhone mobile dongle. And, as it's so slow (until about six months' time, when I'm told, the local connection will be upgraded) I haven't been trawling the web much.
and there are a few fixes to get all the hardware working properly, doesn't take long though. Fairly simple stuff. There are few more fixes to make the standard Gnome desktop of Ubuntu slightly more usable, in terms of maximising use of the screen real estate in the case of the 700 version with the smaller resolution.
As I say, I've install Ubuntu 8.04 on mine and it runs like a dream. Compiz desktop effects and everything. Which is brilliant from a machine that gets 1.2/5 for Vista compatibility! I've also upgraded the RAM to 2gb just to make things run even smoother still. You will need Kingston DDR2 667mhz 200pin SO-DIMM memory. £31 for Ebuyer http://www.ebuyer.com/product/119498 - definitely worth the investment and very easy to install and doing so doesn't void your warranty either.
Thanks again.
I shall have to use a friend's unlimited access, and my USB unforgettory sticks.
I don't know much about the Vodafone thing let us know how you get on though.. I'll be using Walking Hotspot on my mobile when I need Internet on my Eee (see: http://sionide.net/2008/04/23/walking-hot-spot/ )
Duly noted. As said ^ up there, the allocation of up-and-download megabittery is pretty restricted on this 'lite' variety of account. Still, since BT haven't seen fit to mend my line (despite sending a pic of their broken twin feeder in the letter) I'll put up with the Vodafone offering. At least I can use it when away from home - when I get round to running-down a script to feed the Eeeo that it takes the Vodafone dongle to its bosom.
Well, the Eee has wi-fi, but because I'm into antiques rather than new gadgets, (quite an antique myself, don't y'know, what?) someone might need to hold my hand for a while innit.
Haven't been anywhere where it's found a network yet. This is mainly because the furthest away I've been since I've had it is Norwich (13 miles), and - - - - hum! Maybe I could use that network in Norwich to download some of the goodies I've been pointed at?