In the last few days, I had taken the Asus eeePC with me on a trip for the first time, and the response was incredible. At the security check at Hamburg Airport, I was asked to present the device, not due to any security concerns, but simply because the officers showed an extraordinary interest in the device.
My colleagues in the London office, who like me are interested in technical gadgets, were just as excited as several other people who had approached me when they saw me working with the eeePC. And I did work with it. On the Heathrow Express, it was no problem to connect to the T-Mobile UK hotspot, even if the connection itself was suboptimal. At the hotel, I had free WLAN, as well as at a meeting and a conference. Answering emails, checking data, writing documentation, making last-minute changes to the presentation for the conference, Skyping with my family – all no problem, although Skype can be a bit temperamental. But hey, we’re talking about a small computer that doesn’t even cost 300 euros and which has significantly and noticeably lightened the weight of my shoulder bag, relieving my back. And I’m writing these lines right now on an eeePC on a Lufthansa plane to Hamburg, where the inhumane seat spacing normally doesn’t invite typing: No problem with the eeePC.
The most frequent question was whether one can manage with the keyboard, and as you can see here, it works with some practice. Some of those who had approached me mentioned that they were considering buying such a device themselves, although the rumor of a larger screen in the not-too-distant future is leading to cautious waiting. But it seems that many would like to be more mobile, but are not willing to spend large sums of money and therefore also accept less performance. Like me, and I’m really very satisfied, except for the battery life, which apparently is more than suboptimal on my device.