Comments on: Asus Eee PC as an e-book machine: New model offers 8.9-inch screen, higher res, starting U.S. price of $499 http://www.teleread.org/2008/03/10/asus-eee-pc-as-an-e-book-machine-new-model-offers-89-inch-screen-higher-res-starting-us-price-of-499/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:03:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: joey b http://www.teleread.org/2008/03/10/asus-eee-pc-as-an-e-book-machine-new-model-offers-89-inch-screen-higher-res-starting-us-price-of-499/comment-page-1/#comment-965634 joey b Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:05:34 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/03/10/asus-eee-pc-as-an-e-book-machine-new-model-offers-89-inch-screen-higher-res-starting-us-price-of-499/#comment-965634 I got one for school. I had to pay $400. It loads quickly at first, but when you go on the Internet, the browser can take forever. The only thing useful is that it is small and you can bring it with you wherever you go. Please don't buy it. [Edited for clarity. - <a href="mailto:drNOSPAMteleread.org" rel="nofollow">D.R</a>.] I got one for school. I had to pay $400. It loads quickly at first, but when you go on the Internet, the browser can take forever. The only thing useful is that it is small and you can bring it with you wherever you go. Please don’t buy it.

[Edited for clarity. - D.R.]

]]> By: George http://www.teleread.org/2008/03/10/asus-eee-pc-as-an-e-book-machine-new-model-offers-89-inch-screen-higher-res-starting-us-price-of-499/comment-page-1/#comment-733083 George Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:59:56 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/03/10/asus-eee-pc-as-an-e-book-machine-new-model-offers-89-inch-screen-higher-res-starting-us-price-of-499/#comment-733083 I'm currently using an EEE PC 701. In theory, the small size and eminently reasonable price should mean that it has a lot to recommend it as an e-book reader. There are a few bugbears though - the oversized speakers to the left and right of the screen mean that the usable display space feels quite cramped, and more serious is the rather constrained battery life - two and a half hours per charge is typical, so it's in no danger of competing with the Iliad or the PRS-505 in the endurance stakes. However, there's enough that's right with the concept to make me think that a future generation of the EEE could be a serious contender. I’m currently using an EEE PC 701. In theory, the small size and eminently reasonable price should mean that it has a lot to recommend it as an e-book reader.

There are a few bugbears though – the oversized speakers to the left and right of the screen mean that the usable display space feels quite cramped, and more serious is the rather constrained battery life – two and a half hours per charge is typical, so it’s in no danger of competing with the Iliad or the PRS-505 in the endurance stakes.

However, there’s enough that’s right with the concept to make me think that a future generation of the EEE could be a serious contender.

]]> By: Brian Carnell http://www.teleread.org/2008/03/10/asus-eee-pc-as-an-e-book-machine-new-model-offers-89-inch-screen-higher-res-starting-us-price-of-499/comment-page-1/#comment-732921 Brian Carnell Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:32:57 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/03/10/asus-eee-pc-as-an-e-book-machine-new-model-offers-89-inch-screen-higher-res-starting-us-price-of-499/#comment-732921 If they can hit $499, I'd buy one. One of my co-workers got the current version and, frankly, the screen is way too small. Tablet mode would be awesome. If they could just make the screen flip with a few "back/forward" buttons, even that would be amazingly useful. If they can hit $499, I’d buy one. One of my co-workers got the current version and, frankly, the screen is way too small. Tablet mode would be awesome. If they could just make the screen flip with a few “back/forward” buttons, even that would be amazingly useful.

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