Asus Eee PC 1000HA New and First Impressions - Page 3

tompe · 03-24-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

With a 2" smaller screen and 92% keyboard it is no where near as large and the D420. The weight with the battery is similar but the battery life on the ASUS is twice the battery life of the Dell. If you get the larger more equal battery then the Dell weighs much more.

Of course the battery time is better on a newer machine.

But the size is pretty similar. if 1000HE has the same dimensions then they are:

1000HE: 266 x 191.2 x 28.5 - 38 mm

D420: 295 x 210 x 28 mm (measured)

Maybe the difference handling it is bigger when using it but on paper the size difference does not see so big and 1cm thicker at one end I assume can be annoying.

I had thought about buying a netbook but having one that is nearly the same size as my laptop then I can just continue using my laptop.

DaleDe · 03-25-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

Of course the battery time is better on a newer machine.

But the size is pretty similar. if 1000HE has the same dimensions then they are:

1000HE: 266 x 191.2 x 28.5 - 38 mm

D420: 295 x 210 x 28 mm (measured)

Maybe the difference handling it is bigger when using it but on paper the size difference does not see so big and 1cm thicker at one end I assume can be annoying.

I had thought about buying a netbook but having one that is nearly the same size as my laptop then I can just continue using my laptop.

Your laptop is fine, although more than an inch wider, and there would be no reason for you to replace it with a netbook. You have a dual core processor and none of the netbooks have anything approaching that. This is one reason your battery life is poorer as well as backlight technology.

Today you can't get XP new on anything but a netbook but you already have it. Until Windows 7 there is nothing better on the market IMHO.

Dale

nrapallo · 03-25-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Today you can't get XP new on anything but a netbook

Oh, I loved that too about my netbook!!!!

taosaur · 03-28-2009, 05:51 PM

I'm on week 2 with the MSI Wind U100, and I'm quite happy with it so far. I was thinking I would want to get a bigger battery right off, but even with a little traveling I haven't had to worry about the battery life yet, so I might stick with the 3-cell.

The one thing I haven't been able to get out of it is a decent ebook experience--I never did ebooks before the Wind, and I thought this would be the perfect chance to try them out, but the software choices I've seen so far are atrocious.

CDisplay on the Wind has totally opened up comic books for me again, and proven that there are no issues with the screen and form factor for reading. Isn't there something similar for ebooks? All I'm looking for are:
1) Fullscreen display with "fit" options, rotation, and no GUI
2) Preserve indents and spacing from the original text
3) Do this for all common formats
4) Nothing else: don't bog it down

Has anyone found a good fit for ebooks on a netbook? I'm still working my way through apps, but it's frustrating so far.

jgray · 03-29-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

Has anyone found a good fit for ebooks on a netbook? I'm still working my way through apps, but it's frustrating so far.

None of the available programs have everything I want yet, but FBReader is what I use on my netbook. It still has a ways to go with some display issues with certain formats, but it does read quite a few different formats.

You can choose to use the existing CSS from an ebook, or override it and set everything yourself. You can select font, size, margins, indent, line spacing, etc. I prefer the "traditional" progress bar vs a scrollbar in FBReader, which is also a choice. To go fullscreen, just hit the ENTER key. I also define the SPACEBAR as a "Large scroll forward" (next page). Hitting the SPACEBAR is easier.

DaleDe · 03-29-2009, 09:11 PM

What operating system is on your wind? Many of the windows implementations allow screen rotation in the OS (Asus does for example). Once that is accomplished then you start the tool of your choice. There are many reader programs available depending on what formats you want to read. There is a list of eBook reader software in the wiki.

Dale

taosaur · 03-30-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgray

None of the available programs have everything I want yet, but FBReader is what I use on my netbook. It still has a ways to go with some display issues with certain formats, but it does read quite a few different formats.

You can choose to use the existing CSS from an ebook, or override it and set everything yourself. You can select font, size, margins, indent, line spacing, etc. I prefer the "traditional" progress bar vs a scrollbar in FBReader, which is also a choice. To go fullscreen, just hit the ENTER key. I also define the SPACEBAR as a "Large scroll forward" (next page). Hitting the SPACEBAR is easier.

That's exactly what I came up with, after trying out half a dozen readers yesterday. I was surprised to find the concept so undeveloped, but I guess not many people would have wanted to read from a Windows machine before netbooks.

I've been testing it out with some freebie books, and I don't know whether it's the software or the files, but do ebooks usually preserve formatting like italics and spacing from the print editions? It's no biggie with what I'm reading now, but I'm thinking of some of Stephen King's books where he uses italics extensively, and occasional odd spacing to set things off. From what I've seen so far, I can't help but think we'd be better off with zipped images of the actual, physical pages displayed like .cbr files.

Dale, I'm running XP but the Intel display driver doesn't support rotation as far as I can tell. I believe there's a hack for it on the Wind forums, but I don't see why I would portrait-mode any app that needed more input than "next page," what with the keyboard being attached and all.

DaleDe · 03-31-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

Dale, I'm running XP but the Intel display driver doesn't support rotation as far as I can tell. I believe there's a hack for it on the Wind forums, but I don't see why I would portrait-mode any app that needed more input than "next page," what with the keyboard being attached and all.

Exactly, but if you use several eReader programs that don't support portrait mode then the rotation can be useful. When placed in full screen mode and using hotkeys you will find that many eBook reading programs can become more useful. PDF reading in reflow mode for example can be used reasonably well. I like FBReader but I don't really mind having more than one eBook reading program loaded. It does allow multiple DRM eBook formats to be used. Microsoft Reader also works well for LIT files and includes TTS and Dictionary support. The new version even has a image view mode than can zoom and scroll an image. Useful when there is a map or other complicated image in the eBook.

Dale

Dale

badgoodDeb · 03-31-2009, 02:49 PM

I too just ordered an ASUS eee, albeit the 901 model. I'm planning to convert it to Ubuntu (eeeBuntu). Will FBReader work on that? I don't see Ubuntu listed, although Linux is. In a desktop version, not a teeny netbook version. Any suggestions?

wallcraft · 03-31-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

I too just ordered an ASUS eee, albeit the 901 model. I'm planning to convert it to Ubuntu (eeeBuntu). Will FBReader work on that?

Yes. Use the debian/ubuntu version.

A netbook typically runs full-up desktop Linux apps, perhaps with some mods for the small screen. So the "desktop" version of FBReader is perfectly ok on netbooks, and it has recently been optimized for them. FBReader is a relatively light weight application, and even the iRex iLiad and Digital Reader are essentially running the desktop version.

badgoodDeb · 03-31-2009, 03:43 PM

Thanks you -- that's what I needed to know!

kguthrie · 04-04-2009, 09:42 PM

Just got mine in the mail today. I'm excited.

taosaur · 04-24-2009, 06:43 PM

I find I'm actually on the internet less and reading considerably more since I got my MSI Wind. The screen is great for nearly all light conditions, and the form factor really delivers a book-like experience. It could stand to lose a pound, perhaps, but it's not unwieldy, and the short battery life hasn't been an issue yet--there are few situations where I'm away from an outlet for more than two-and-a-half hours and would want to have a laptop or a book, though I can see how that would be a problem if you're on a plane or a train for hours at a stretch on a regular basis.

I'm thinking this is the format that's going to popularize the ebook: lightweight, full-function computers with the 10" screen (likely a convertible tablet) that will be comfortable to read and people will have with them anyway. Smart phones might take up this role, but I think a lot of people are doing the same math I did in discovering netbooks--why would I get a quasi-disposable item with an all-thumbs keyboard and deliberately hobbled software when I could have a small, complete computer from highly respected manufacturers for the same money or less?

I don't see a strong future for eInk, unless perhaps integrated back-to-back w/ LCDs in netbooks.

badgoodDeb · 04-24-2009, 07:05 PM

You must be young, and have young eyes still! I'm only just beyond the half-century mark, but my eyes hurt after reading on a backlit screen for long periods. E-ink has been a REAL reading revitalizer! (well, of course, there's still paper!)

taosaur · 04-25-2009, 11:18 AM

Heh, my eyes are neither young nor old; they're thirty

Still, I've given them a hard time between CRTs, LCDs, print, and large doses of unadulterated sunshine. I'll get eyestrain trying to read long texts from the big glossy LCD on my desktop, but with the matte display on the Wind I just adjust brightness until my eyes are comfortable and set a good contrast in FBReader (right now I'm using black-on-yellow, and I can read comfortably in a dark room with brightness at minimum). In anything short of direct sunlight, it's less strain than an old paperback in indirect light. Maybe that will change a fortnight of years from now, but for the time being it's the best Swiss-army-knife gadget ever.

I do think LCDs and eInk will evolve to the point where a single device can provide the benefits of both. Who knows, though, maybe netbooks and smartphones will end up being "gateway" readers, introducing people to the medium and serving as a stepping stone to an eInk device down the road.

04-24-2009, 06:43 PM	#43
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	o I find I'm actually on the internet less and reading considerably more since I got my MSI Wind. The screen is great for nearly all light conditions, and the form factor really delivers a book-like experience. It could stand to lose a pound, perhaps, but it's not unwieldy, and the short battery life hasn't been an issue yet--there are few situations where I'm away from an outlet for more than two-and-a-half hours and would want to have a laptop or a book, though I can see how that would be a problem if you're on a plane or a train for hours at a stretch on a regular basis. I'm thinking this is the format that's going to popularize the ebook: lightweight, full-function computers with the 10" screen (likely a convertible tablet) that will be comfortable to read and people will have with them anyway. Smart phones might take up this role, but I think a lot of people are doing the same math I did in discovering netbooks--why would I get a quasi-disposable item with an all-thumbs keyboard and deliberately hobbled software when I could have a small, complete computer from highly respected manufacturers for the same money or less? I don't see a strong future for eInk, unless perhaps integrated back-to-back w/ LCDs in netbooks.

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03-28-2009, 05:51 PM	#34
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	I'm on week 2 with the MSI Wind U100, and I'm quite happy with it so far. I was thinking I would want to get a bigger battery right off, but even with a little traveling I haven't had to worry about the battery life yet, so I might stick with the 3-cell. The one thing I haven't been able to get out of it is a decent ebook experience--I never did ebooks before the Wind, and I thought this would be the perfect chance to try them out, but the software choices I've seen so far are atrocious. CDisplay on the Wind has totally opened up comic books for me again, and proven that there are no issues with the screen and form factor for reading. Isn't there something similar for ebooks? All I'm looking for are: 1) Fullscreen display with "fit" options, rotation, and no GUI 2) Preserve indents and spacing from the original text 3) Do this for all common formats 4) Nothing else: don't bog it down Has anyone found a good fit for ebooks on a netbook? I'm still working my way through apps, but it's frustrating so far.

03-29-2009, 09:11 PM	#36
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	What operating system is on your wind? Many of the windows implementations allow screen rotation in the OS (Asus does for example). Once that is accomplished then you start the tool of your choice. There are many reader programs available depending on what formats you want to read. There is a list of eBook reader software in the wiki. Dale

03-31-2009, 02:49 PM	#39
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,551 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	I too just ordered an ASUS eee, albeit the 901 model. I'm planning to convert it to Ubuntu (eeeBuntu). Will FBReader work on that? I don't see Ubuntu listed, although Linux is. In a desktop version, not a teeny netbook version. Any suggestions?

03-31-2009, 03:43 PM	#41
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,551 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Thanks you -- that's what I needed to know!

04-04-2009, 09:42 PM	#42
kguthrie Member Posts: 13 Karma: 20 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: none	Just got mine in the mail today. I'm excited.

04-24-2009, 07:05 PM	#44
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,551 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	You must be young, and have young eyes still! I'm only just beyond the half-century mark, but my eyes hurt after reading on a backlit screen for long periods. E-ink has been a REAL reading revitalizer! (well, of course, there's still paper!)

04-25-2009, 11:18 AM	#45
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	Heh, my eyes are neither young nor old; they're thirty Still, I've given them a hard time between CRTs, LCDs, print, and large doses of unadulterated sunshine. I'll get eyestrain trying to read long texts from the big glossy LCD on my desktop, but with the matte display on the Wind I just adjust brightness until my eyes are comfortable and set a good contrast in FBReader (right now I'm using black-on-yellow, and I can read comfortably in a dark room with brightness at minimum). In anything short of direct sunlight, it's less strain than an old paperback in indirect light. Maybe that will change a fortnight of years from now, but for the time being it's the best Swiss-army-knife gadget ever. I do think LCDs and eInk will evolve to the point where a single device can provide the benefits of both. Who knows, though, maybe netbooks and smartphones will end up being "gateway" readers, introducing people to the medium and serving as a stepping stone to an eInk device down the road.

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