A Threatened Romance? I Don't Think So.

I received an update via e-mail from YugaTech (I'm a fan of Abe..haha) in this article that there's a definite threat to the ASUS Eee PC. In the article, it's said to have been spotted in an Octagon store in Metro Manila and was even displayed side by side an ASUS EeePC. It's called the ASTONE UMPC, being sold at P19,500 SRP. It actually boasts of better specs in terms of hardware running on a Via C7-M with a clock speed at 1.2GHz processor, 1 GB RAM, 30GB HDD, a built-in 1.3mp webcam, WiFi, and 7″ LCD touch screen (with handwriting capability, WVGA 800×400. Quite impressive? Sure. But there's no pre-installed OS. You have to buy yourself one if you want to actually use it. Windows XP installation shouldn't be a problem though, considering the HDD's capacity, and RAM of course. I have yet to see one myself because all I know about it, I just read. It was also mentioned that the video cam is placed at the right side, as opposed to the norm of putting it at the center. If I had myself one of these, I'd probably use it to experiment installing a Linux distro, DSL (Damn Small Linux) that's USB-based. Hmmm.. I've been dying to try that out on my ASUS Eee PC but I'm already happy with Xandros Linux right now, and it's not broken, so why fix it, right? :) But with the ASTONE UMPC, since it doesn't come with an OS, that's the first thing I'll do. While it might just snap a few future ASUS Eee PC buyers and fans, I doubt that it'll ever change the fact that ASUS did it the first time. And nothing beats a first time. :) Whatever pimping or upgrading competitors may have up their sleeves, ASUS will always find more and more ways to improve the Eee PC. Besides, the ASTONE's drive is HDD, pretty unsafe to drop if you ask me.. :) And Intel will always be Intel. I don't know about you guys, but I'm happy with my EeePC right now. If I wanted more RAM, I can always buy and install. If I needed additional storage, I can buy an SDHC. It's actually a matter of preference based on your current requirements. If you use a lot of Windows-based apps that eat up a lot of RAM, then perhaps the ASTONE is for you. If you prefer to store large files on your local drive, then maybe you should opt for the ASTONE. But as for me, I'm in love with the ASUS EeePC. And in gadgets, as in love, a better one will always come by and lure you by its charm. It's okay to look and appreciate. But if you're happy with what you have, why look further? Doing so might just make you miss the beauty of what you already have. :)

ASUS Eee PC Offered by Globe/Smart: Strengthening the Eee PC's Popularity Even More

The ASUS Eee PC is already popular as it is. But as if it's not enough, it's becoming even more and more a household name. Thanks to Globe and Smart, two of the countries leading telecommunications companies. Globe offers the 2G Surf model bundled with a landline for as low as P1495 per month* (* locked for a period of 24months). You have the option whether to charge it to your monthly bill or your credit card. There's a one-time downpayment of P2000. Speed offered is 384kbps. Not bad. Actually, it's worth the money, if you ask me. For Globe Handyphone subscribers/new applicants, you can get the same Eee PC free on the P1800 plan. If you want to up it a notch higher, you can add an LG KU380 for only P2500 monthly. That way (if you don't have a 3G phone already), you can use that LG phone to browse the internet. And because Globe has already launched "time-based" browsing, you can now enjoy 15minutes of connectivity for only P5! Just text TIME to 1111 to enable this feature/new browsing pricing.If you worry that P1800 monthly is too much for you, you can choose among the lower plans such as Plan P500 by shelling-out P9500; Plan P800 by parting with P6700 of your savings or Plan P1200 for only P2200. This is good news for all Globe and Eee PC fans out there. Smart mobile communications, on the other hand, offers the same Eee PC for free on the P1800 Smart Gold plan. Bundled with either a Nokia 2630 or LG KU380, it will cost you P2500 monthly. These are also subject to 24 months lock-in period (for new applications). It's basically the same offer for both networks, cost-wise. Not to mention, almost the same bundled gadgets as well. I guess it's just gonna be a matter of network preference. Globe's promo ends May 11, 2008. Smart's ends May 15, 2008. Which means, promo availability might also be a factor. Either way, one is certain. The ASUS Eee PC is here to stay, for a long time. And I bet, longer than the 24-month lock-in period. Things can only get better. The mere thought of it is enough to excite me. How about you? Do you think the Eee PC is here to stay?

Bitten by the Love Bug

I recently sold an Eee PC Digifocus laptop bag to a fellow Eee PC lover. We had a nice conversation about how and why we love our babies. I even learned that she has relatives who are happy and contented with the Eee PC as well. No wonder. Anyone who's actually used one (no matter how cold-hearted) will eventually give in to the Eee PC's allure. Next thing you know, you're so into it, that you begin to wonder how you ever got along in the past without it. Proud Eee PC owners are learning more and more about the gadget and are improving it on their own. The only problem right now is the lack of enough available accessories that would pimp your Eee PC. I was once contacted by an online computer and gadget store manager in Hungary, looking for an Eee PC accessories supplier. It would have been great had these accessories been available to me, but I'm neither a manufacturer nor a wholesaler. I am a "small-time" retailer. So, obviously, I couldn't accommodate the request. Too bad for me, I guess. Hahaha.. anyway, that alone convinced me that there really is a market out there, a big one and growing bigger everyday, mind you, for Eee PC accessories and associated peripherals. Especially now that here in the Philippines, two of the largest telecommunications companies are actually "giving away" ASUS Eee PC's as perks for retaining/extending your current postpaid plan or as a come on for signing-up to a new one. Similarly, other non-IT-related companies and consumer goods giants are giving Eee PC's as prizes for their promos. We're seeing a proliferation of these devices earlier than we expect. I'll blog about that in detail on my next entry. Watch out for that. A little warning though, the Eee PC love bug goes around. So, don't be surprised if you get bitten one of these days. I have been a victim. See what it's done to me? :)

What Made Me Fall In Love

Sure, the Eee PC looked good on the outside. But just like the Transformers, there is more to it than meets the eye. It was built on the premise that it will operate on 3 E's or Easy's at that. It's Easy to Learn, Easy to Work, Easy to Play. And true enough, one close encounter with this baby let's you just how easy it is to do things with the ASUS Eee PC. The preloaded OS (operating system) which is Xandros Linux is impressive. It's not loaded and bloated with apps that we won't probably use in this lifetime. Let me enumerate the many reasons why I fell in love with it.

1. Display - it may not be impressive at 7" but it does the job and that's what's important.
2. Intel CPU (Intel Mobile) and Chipset is reliable and fast.
3. Preloaded Operating System (Linux) performs extremely well. Windows XP is an available option should you feel uncomfortable with Linux. But I'm pretty sure you'll find it easy as pie to use.
4. Ethernet Communication is available.
5. WLAN otherwise known as Wi-Fi is also supported, ready to use out of the box.
6. Memory: 512MB (DDR 2) is good enough for not-so-RAM-hungry programs.
7. Sturdy and practically shock-proof, thanks to S.S.D. Storage ( solid state disk)
8. SSD Storage Capacity of 4G should be enough to get you through the day unless you have loads of files. But if you do, you can always buy extra storage because it's also SDHC-compatible/supported.
9. And ah, yes.. for the chatting aficionados, it has a 0.3mp webcam as well.
10 .Audio: High-Definition audio stereo speaker
11. Has microphone
12. Battery: 4 cells, 2.8~3.5hrs*
13. And one of the best features, it's very light at 0.92 kg, thus ensuring portability.

These are just a few of the reasons why I fell in love. I'm sure I will write many more in the days to come...

How We Met

I owe it all to my dear friend Joyce who is now based in Taiwan that I got acquainted with my love. She told me her hub bought one for her as Christmas present for 2007. She showed me how cute it is through a usual chatting schedule we had almost everyday. Thank God for webcams. :) It looked all nice and neat on cam and thought I wanted to know it some more. So, I went ahead and Googled my way into its heart. I was not disappointed at all. As it turns out, its beauty is more than skin-deep. I felt excited and couldn't resist. In fact, I went all YouTube-crazy, watching every demo and "unboxing" video there is. I dreamed of it every night and thought to myself, I want to see this in person. Weeks after that, there it was. All sleek and handsome. I knew right there and then, ah..this is love. :)