Two weeks with an Eee
Discussion
Tycho said:
pgilc1 said:
pgilc1 said:
75_Steve said:
pgilc1 said:
So, can we agree that someone specifically needs a computer thats very small and light the EEE might well be the answer, however if that isnt someones priority, then an equivalently priced laptop is a better buy?
I never claimed it was anything else....75_Steve said:
As a device to browse the web / check email / watch downloaded TV shows / ripped DVDs, use instant messaging or even VOIP / Video calling, the Eee is ideal
but hey, as long as we're in agreement now thats the main thing. I just dont want people reading stuff like you've put and other people put about the EEE, without flagging how small and fiddly it is and what can be bought for the same money in a proper laptop.No doubt its a good machine. It just needs to be kept in perspective
Edited by pgilc1 on Sunday 24th February 15:46
Edited by pgilc1 on Sunday 24th February 15:47
If you need a small laptop which can do the basics well then it is ideal. If there wasn't a market for it then there wouldn't be a lot of expensive alternatives on or coming to the market.
At the end of the day, you don't see the point and seem to be on a mission to put people off buying one for some reason. Steve however has used one, finds it extremely useful and has told people about his experience and for that I am grateful.
Steve has put a lot of effort into modding it, to make it useful for himself - changing its default o/s adding more memory etc. He spends a lot of time travelling for which it is great. No doubt about that.
My concern is, with statements like "As a device to browse the web / check email / watch downloaded TV shows / ripped DVDs, use instant messaging or even VOIP / Video calling, the Eee is ideal" you could put people in the position of buying one to fulfill that need, without seeing what else is available for the same price that could do the job better IF you dont travel with it.
Maybe its the salesman in me who doesnt want people to buy into the hype of something that may not really suit their needs.
Is having that concern really so bad or unreasonable?
Edited by pgilc1 on Sunday 24th February 17:05
75_Steve said:
CommanderJameson said:
zaktoo said:
CommanderJameson said:
"COA"? Wat eez theez?
Certificate of Authenticity, I'd guess... I'm going to rip out my Alfa's V6 and stick an Opel OHV in its place in protest to Steve's installing XP where once a Linux frolicked happily...
It certainly passes the MS 'genuine advantage' tests, which is legal enough for me, given that I have the COA stuck to the inside of the memory slot.
Sorry.
The argument over whether OEM licenses should be non-transferable is a whole other can of worms.
pgilc1 said:
So, can we agree that someone specifically needs a computer that's very small and light the EEE might well be the answer, however if that isn't someone's priority, then an equivalently priced laptop is a better buy?
No.You appear to be promoting a larger laptop as a home-based do-it-all machine, which is misguided. If you want a decent machine for general use at home, one should generally consider a desktop. This will give you greater performance/pound, a far better (and healthier on your hands) keyboard, a larger monitor, upgradability, and (assuming it's set up correctly) a far better posture when in use.
pgilc1 said:
My concern is, with statements like "As a device to browse the web / check email / watch downloaded TV shows / ripped DVDs, use instant messaging or even VOIP / Video calling, the Eee is ideal" you could put people in the position of buying one to fulfil that need, without seeing what else is available for the same price that could do the job better IF you don't travel with it.
Maybe its the salesman in me who doesn't want people to buy into the hype of something that may not really suit their needs.
A salesman with a conscience? Maybe its the salesman in me who doesn't want people to buy into the hype of something that may not really suit their needs.
Why is it your business to police people's threads about their views on their hardware? Should the OP have posted a disclaimer before sharing his opinions?If someone's going to run off half-cocked and buy an eee when it doesn't suit their requirements at all, then more fool them. Likewise, buying a larger desktop-replacement laptop when they don't require (and won't take advantage of) its limited portability is daft.
mft said:
You appear to be promoting a larger laptop as a home-based do-it-all machine, which is misguided. If you want a decent machine for general use at home, one should generally consider a desktop. This will give you greater performance/pound, a far better (and healthier on your hands) keyboard, a larger monitor, upgradability, and (assuming it's set up correctly) a far better posture when in use.
Its not misguided, its how it is. Your view of the computing world is how it was 3 years ago. I owned a computer retail business up until recently and laptops outsold PC's at least ten to one. People bought them predominantly because you dont need a dedicated space in the house to use it, and because you can surf / use it where you like, and because laptops are now pretty much at a similar price to desktops.mft said:
A salesman with a conscience?
Yeah, i dont particularly want to see people buy the wrong product. Sorry for caring.mft said:
Why is it your business to police people's threads about their views on their hardware? Should the OP have posted a disclaimer before sharing his opinions?
Sorry, is that not what forums are for? Debate and sharing opinions. Giving two sides to the story. Helping people get the right info? Just because mine doesnt match yours doesnt make mine wrong?What would be the point in a forum if nobody questioned anything?
mft said:
If someone's going to run off half-cocked and buy an eee when it doesn't suit their requirements at all, then more fool them.
Mate, maybe thats the difference between you and me then. pgilc1 said:
zaktoo said:
pgilc1 said:
Well, unfortunately i havent driven every alfa ever made, but go on then, whats that much better than, say the GTA 3.2 V6 engine, that warranted such an ignorant response?
Alfa have had some of the best engines around for decades. The 1290cc four from the Giulietta for instance, was a marvel. The 1570cc as fitted to the GTZ & TZ2 was awesome. Even the 1779cc that was produced into the mid eighties was excellent. The 1962cc from later Spiders was also highly regarded. Go back further, and there are even better - 8C 2900 for instance. Recent engines fitted to Alfas are mostly not really Alfa engines at all - either GM- or Fiat-derived. You're right about recent engines though - mostly vauxhall derivatives. Even moving from the 32. GTA's to the 3.2s now in the 159 and Brera are soulless vauxhall efforts that Alfa have been allowed only to breathe on lightly.
Its a great pity. You're right, alfa has a great heritage, but its relying far too heavily on that now to sell themselves as a 'sporting' brand, which clearly they're not.
Fiat have their eye on Alfa now, and after their spectacular turnaround, maybe we'll see that with alfa too.
Then i might go back to driving them again.
All this (Alfa engine debate) started because *you* stated that apart from the V6, they'd not made any decent engines. That was an ignorant assertion, which I responded to. Nobody is saying Alfa is relying too heavily on the past or not - that's a strawman argument from you and you alone. And I for one couldn't give a s
t whether or not you'd go back to driving an Alfa again, quite honestly.
lonk:zaktoo said:
pgilc1 said:
zaktoo said:
pgilc1 said:
Well, unfortunately i havent driven every alfa ever made, but go on then, whats that much better than, say the GTA 3.2 V6 engine, that warranted such an ignorant response?
Alfa have had some of the best engines around for decades. The 1290cc four from the Giulietta for instance, was a marvel. The 1570cc as fitted to the GTZ & TZ2 was awesome. Even the 1779cc that was produced into the mid eighties was excellent. The 1962cc from later Spiders was also highly regarded. Go back further, and there are even better - 8C 2900 for instance. Recent engines fitted to Alfas are mostly not really Alfa engines at all - either GM- or Fiat-derived. You're right about recent engines though - mostly vauxhall derivatives. Even moving from the 32. GTA's to the 3.2s now in the 159 and Brera are soulless vauxhall efforts that Alfa have been allowed only to breathe on lightly.
Its a great pity. You're right, alfa has a great heritage, but its relying far too heavily on that now to sell themselves as a 'sporting' brand, which clearly they're not.
Fiat have their eye on Alfa now, and after their spectacular turnaround, maybe we'll see that with alfa too.
Then i might go back to driving them again.
All this (Alfa engine debate) started because *you* stated that apart from the V6, they'd not made any decent engines. That was an ignorant assertion, which I responded to. Nobody is saying Alfa is relying too heavily on the past or not - that's a strawman argument from you and you alone. And I for one couldn't give a s
t whether or not you'd go back to driving an Alfa again, quite honestly.lonk:It wasnt an arrogant assertion it was a flippant throw away comment made about a really good engine, which you jumped in with both feet with a large picture of a turd? How mature was that? Why not just say, hey dont forget about this engine or that engine? If you have to quote engines from 20-30-40 years ago to find a decent one then you go right ahead. But why get on like a retard?
I personally dont give a monkeys about you or your primative view on life, my point was that a lot of people have given up and moved to other brands, myself included. Alfa needs to win those people back, thats common fact, not my opinion alone.
But hey, if getting all agressive makes you feel like a man, you go for it.
Edited by pgilc1 on Sunday 24th February 23:42
Edited by pgilc1 on Sunday 24th February 23:44
pgilc1 said:
The 2.0 twin spark was a good engine, but was eclipsed by the creamy v6's found in the 2.5v6 and the 3.2GTA. Find me an alfa owner who'd willingly not have a v6 in order to get the four pot. Alfas are meant for v6's.
Plenty of people prefer the handling balance of the 2.0 over the 3.0 or 3.2V6 in the GTV, and the 2.5V6 in the 156.pgilc1 said:
Look at the 147 range - £17500 for the two litre 'hot hatch' and the ride height of a moon buggy - laughable. The 159 - alfa admit themselves its far too heavy
There isn't a 'hot hatch' in the 147 range, hasn't been since the GTA stopped. Odd that you should mention the cost of the 147 and the 159 weight (heavy, but comparable to many of its rivals) when it seems that...pgilc1 said:
the point was to do with 'great' engines, not necessarily the car its in, or the relative cost of its rivals.
pgilc1 said:
You're right about recent engines though - mostly vauxhall derivatives. Even moving from the 32. GTA's to the 3.2s now in the 159 and Brera are soulless vauxhall efforts that Alfa have been allowed only to breathe on lightly.
Can you describe for us exactly what 'breathing on lightly' involves?edit - feel free to start a new thread in the Alfa forum.
Edited by jamieboy on Monday 25th February 10:31
Im really chuffed with my Eee, bought it on a whim as usual but its turning out to be really useful. I take it almost everywhere i go, i just got a PAYG 3G modem which works really well.
The main reason for owning one is the size and portability, I already have a laptop and a high spec desktop at home, im finding i use the Eee more than either of them now.
Even the default Xandros OS is good, it recognised the 3G modem with no issues at all and it has every thing i need on it, i would recommend that the Maximising screen space hacks are done as this makes browsing and email so much better. I think its great that you can get something so portable for £220.
The main reason for owning one is the size and portability, I already have a laptop and a high spec desktop at home, im finding i use the Eee more than either of them now.
Even the default Xandros OS is good, it recognised the 3G modem with no issues at all and it has every thing i need on it, i would recommend that the Maximising screen space hacks are done as this makes browsing and email so much better. I think its great that you can get something so portable for £220.
pgilc1 said:
It's not misguided, it's how it is. Your view of the computing world is how it was 3 years ago. I owned a computer retail business up until recently and laptops outsold PC's at least ten to one. People bought them predominantly because you dont need a dedicated space in the house to use it, and because you can surf / use it where you like, and because laptops are now pretty much at a similar price to desktops.
I'm well aware that since laptops have come down in price, their sales have grown vastly in comparison to desktops, for the reasons you've given. This is just a reflection of people's preferences - but it doesn't make it right.As a caring salesman --which you clearly are-- maybe you should be counselling people against the dangers of buying a laptop when that's not the right choice for them, given their requirements. Aside from the technology aspects, regular use of laptops brings with it a greater risk of hand/wrist problems (I'm loathe to use the term RSI) and promotes a posture that wouldn't get past any H&S department in industry.
pgilc1 said:
Yeah, i dont particularly want to see people buy the wrong product. Sorry for caring.
Oh stop being so sensitive 
pgilc1 said:
Sorry, is that not what forums are for? Debate and sharing opinions. Giving two sides to the story. Helping people get the right info? Just because mine doesnt match yours doesnt make mine wrong?
What would be the point in a forum if nobody questioned anything?
You didn't appear to be responding to the OP's points - you were just on an anti-eee rant. He described, very specifically, the conditions in which he'd used an eee, and the tasks for which it was good, and why.What would be the point in a forum if nobody questioned anything?
You reminded me of various threads about the iPhone, where some people seemed hell-bent on hating it, whatever was said - simply because it was the newest sexiest thing.
pgilc1 said:
Mate, maybe thats the difference between you and me then.
What? If someone goes and spends hundreds of pounds on an eee without first considering whether it fits their needs, on the strength of the OP's comments on it fitting his needs, you wouldn't say more fool them?From my perspective the EEE has 3 markets:
1. Business travel people, who's company will not spend the £800+ for a micro-laptop. (which is basically what the EEE is). Trust me, I wish I had one, I have to carry my brick of a Dell M70 all over the world.
2. Newb's, if all they want is email, net, some small WP etc then this will be fine. Yes a spec'd up machine approaches the price of a laptop and I think the argument has shown it is horses for courses.
3. Kids, the small form factor is good for kids to type on. The size and low weight make it easy for them to handle. The non-availablity of the XO at this time and already having linux means Sugar can be added as the GUI.
1. Business travel people, who's company will not spend the £800+ for a micro-laptop. (which is basically what the EEE is). Trust me, I wish I had one, I have to carry my brick of a Dell M70 all over the world.
2. Newb's, if all they want is email, net, some small WP etc then this will be fine. Yes a spec'd up machine approaches the price of a laptop and I think the argument has shown it is horses for courses.
3. Kids, the small form factor is good for kids to type on. The size and low weight make it easy for them to handle. The non-availablity of the XO at this time and already having linux means Sugar can be added as the GUI.
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