Which is more a comment about the "Commodore versus MacBook Air" comparison than anything else--the inherent unfairness of picking and choosing criteria like that rubs me wrong.
One of the nice things about not using Apple hardware is that throwing a new OS on there is pretty trivial. All you'd need here is an external DVD drive, which runs about $40 new. Or a $10 USB key and a downloadable .iso. They're sold with a 160gb hard drive and Windows 7, and if you really have to have Linux on there it's easy to do.
1) there's full Linux driver support for the EEE, so you can install Linux on your formerly-Windows EEE 2) You can install anything you want, and even write programs yourself, on the EEE, regardless of Windows or Linux. No "app store", no iTunes.
I looked at the iPad and thought why not just put a touch screen on an EEE PC. Turn them into smaller tablet PCs, spin the screen and fold it up and you are down. Then you have a useful piece of hardware.
My crappy first-gen EEE PC is more portable - in that it's a clamshell so I don't worry about bunging it in a bag with a bunch of other crap, it's cheap so I don't worry about it being stolen, and it's effectively weightless. It's ugly as hell though so I am under no illusions that whipping it out in a coffee shop will get me laid. That and a consistent UI are the iPad's main advantages (also maybe the more dubious one of having easy paid access to media).
Hey, I have one of those! You should know, though, that the touch screen thing isn't entirely true - there was a guy who modded the first generation model of the EEE with a tablet, and got a touchscreen. I think he was selling them. Hold on, I'll go look.
Here it is! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8-BbOWVgXg) Except he's not selling them, but there is this. (http://www.liliputing.com/2009/07/asus-eee-pc-t91-touchscreen-netbook-review.html)
I own an eee PC 900HA and it's simply the best computer I've ever had. If you can get past its small keyboard and screen, it's just amazing. It is extremely light (remember the macbook air? it's lighter than that one) the battery lasts for about 4 hours, it was cheap, and pretty fast for most everything I do (I have been doing in-place c# coding for a client using it, and it works like a charm.) I'm thinking about purchasing a second one before naysaying idiots ruin the netbooks forever (if i have to carry around anything that weighs more than about a kilogram, it isn't really portable, now, is it?).
The iPad can go suck my balls. For additional fun at Apple-induced douchebaggery:
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 05:32 pm (UTC)Which is more a comment about the "Commodore versus MacBook Air" comparison than anything else--the inherent unfairness of picking and choosing criteria like that rubs me wrong.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 05:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 05:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 06:01 pm (UTC)To continue nitpicking, I think you can buy a video out adapter to the iPad.
Also, you need another category: has a fun (as in nice) name. The Eee wins that one in a landslide.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 06:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 06:12 pm (UTC)1) there's full Linux driver support for the EEE, so you can install Linux on your formerly-Windows EEE
2) You can install anything you want, and even write programs yourself, on the EEE, regardless of Windows or Linux. No "app store", no iTunes.
So I think you can keep both checkboxes there.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 06:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 07:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 07:04 pm (UTC)Significantly more useful device, on the whole, but not as spiffy and not sa portable.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 07:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 07:29 pm (UTC)Here it is! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8-BbOWVgXg) Except he's not selling them, but there is this. (http://www.liliputing.com/2009/07/asus-eee-pc-t91-touchscreen-netbook-review.html)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-05 10:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-06 05:58 am (UTC)eeepc
Date: 2010-02-07 12:59 am (UTC)The iPad can go suck my balls. For additional fun at Apple-induced douchebaggery:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10445381-17.html
Re: eeepc