Stephen Fry and linux

[jæd]

Bollocks. I can't see any revenge fantasies on here. Yoiur ability to misrepresent the thread, lie and obfuscate really has reached new levels.

You haven't tried to get this thread back onto the subject in any way. People were rightfully dismissive of your pathetic excuse that 'So no-one at Asus at any time said, "Hey, let's drop the squinting couple. It doesn't put our product in a good light?"and your entire lack of contrition for saying the stupid racist stereotype in the first place.

I'm still interested in his claim that the Eee is a mainstream device... Because if it was, it would make his claim that having Linux on it wasn't important slightly backward.

Computer manufacturer launches a mainstream PC with Linux as the desktop would be quite something...!

 

[Crispy]

Jesus christ people. THE FUCKING LAPTOP, OR STEPHEN FRY, OR LINUX, FOR HALF A FUCKING SECOND IF THAT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE HUH???

 

[untethered]

B-. I can't see any revenge fantasies on here. Yoiur ability to misrepresent the thread, lie and obfuscate really has reached new levels.

You're mistaken if you think I'm going to discuss this any further.

 

[stowpirate]

Well the fact that the keyboard is so ungainly to use and the screen not so hot is likely to deter seniors. They even look like they're squinting in that promotional image!

Doubt it's going to the mature market picking this one up, not least for the facts that mobility doesn't seem that much of a factor for that segment.

Does this mean that if you have poor eyesight this Eee PC is not suitable

 

[untethered]

I'm still interested in his claim that the Eee is a mainstream device... Because if it was, it would make his claim that having Linux on it wasn't important slightly backward.

Computer manufacturer launches a mainstream PC with Linux as the desktop would be quite something...!

I think it's mainstream in the sense that it's marketed (in part) to the average consumer. Another huge market is the education market, which is slightly different of course.

But it's not mainstream in the same way that it would be if it were a normal full-featured laptop. If it were, and it had Linux on it, I doubt very many people would be interested outside the usual specialist crowd.

 

[tarannau]

You're mistaken if you think I'm going to discuss this any further.

I'm not asking you to discuss it any further. I'm calling you on your clear misrepresentation of the thread and your propensity to lie.

 

[untethered]

I'm not asking you to discuss it any further. I'm calling you on your clear misrepresentation of the thread and your propensity to lie.

You're talking to yourself, is what you're doing.

 

[tarannau]

Does this mean that if you have poor eyesight this Eee PC is not suitable

Well, it's not as suitable. Not insurmountable, but I'd wager that the tiny keyboard and shite trackpad may be more a hinderance than the screen to more elderly users mind.

 

[jæd]

I think it's mainstream in the sense that it's marketed (in part) to the average consumer. Another huge market is the education market, which is slightly different of course.

I haven't seen one advert in a national paper or anything on tv.

But it's not mainstream in the same way that it would be if it were a normal full-featured laptop. If it were, and it had Linux on it, I doubt very many people would be interested outside the usual specialist crowd.

Eh..? Its either mainstream or its not... Or are you trying to say its a mainstream geek toy... Which would make it a geek toy...

 

[stowpirate]

Well, it's not as suitable. Not insurmountable, but I'd wager that the tiny keyboard and shite trackpad may be more a hinderance than the screen to more elderly users mind.

That could be a problem I think the Eee PC is aimed more at children than adults

 

[jæd]

That could be a problem I think the Eee PC is aimed more at children than adults

Or grown-up children..

 

[untethered]

Well, it's not as suitable. Not insurmountable, but I'd wager that the tiny keyboard and s- trackpad may be more a hinderance than the screen to more elderly users mind.

The trackpad isn't that bad but the chances are you'll be using it with a mouse a lot of the time anyway.

It took me a few days to adjust to the keyboard but I can touch type on it now with reasonable accuracy. It's not great but it's adequate.

 

[untethered]

Eh..? Its either mainstream or its not... Or are you trying to say its a mainstream geek toy... Which would make it a geek toy...

It's available from all the major computer retailers.

Uses will depend on the user, but the main role it seems to fulfil is that of a highly portable web browser. Mrs Untethered (by no stretch of the imagination a computer "geek") is quite happy to use it for web browsing, email and occasional OpenOffice tasks.

At the moment the main barrier to it gaining a wider market is supply of the units themselves. They seem to get sold out as soon as they hit the shelves.

 

[stowpirate]

The trackpad isn't that bad but the chances are you'll be using it with a mouse a lot of the time anyway.

It took me a few days to adjust to the keyboard but I can touch type on it now with reasonable accuracy. It's not great but it's adequate.

As you can attach all sorts of things to it can you also boot another OS from a usb stick or usb hd - bios setting

 

[stowpirate]

Or grown-up children..

Not urbanites then

 

[tarannau]

Why would you take a mouse out with you? It'd be virtually as large as the machine itself.

The whole key to the Asus is that it's a highly portable unit, so cheap that it's almost disposible to a certain extent.

I'd say it has some mainstream potential, but that's been overstated. Gut feel is that it's selling in large numbers as 'toys' or 'bonus' computers to people who already own significant amounts of tech hardware. Witness the excitement on geek sites

Potentially it's a good way to get lower earners connected, but I doubt there's half as much demand for it as people have suggested. It's not a great 'do all' computer selection, and 'full size' budget laptops and desktops still offer a hell of a lot of grunt more and better perceived value.

 

[untethered]

Why would you take a mouse out with you? It'd be virtually as large as the machine itself.

I've been looking round for a companion mouse with a very small USB receiver.

The Logitech VX Nano Wireless looks just the job:

With a receiver that small you can just leave it plugged into the USB all the time.

The whole key to the Asus is that it's a highly portable unit, so cheap that it's almost disposible to a certain extent.

True, in fact the other day I took it out and didn't realise I had it in my bag until I got home!

I'd say it has some mainstream potential, but that's been overstated. Gut feel is that it's selling in large numbers as 'toys' or 'bonus' computers to people who already own significant amounts of tech hardware. Witness the excitement on geek sites

It comes back to "What's mainstream?" Plenty of non-geek people have got several computers and a low-cost machine that does some specific things very well could appeal to a broad market.

Potentially it's a good way to get lower earners connected, but I doubt there's half as much demand for it as people have suggested. It's not a great 'do all' computer selection, and 'full size' budget laptops and desktops still offer a hell of a lot of grunt more and better perceived value.

True, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone as their sole computer. When you can get a "real" laptop for £299 that's a much better bet for general usage.

 

[jæd]

It's available from all the major computer retailers.

Still doesn't make it mainstream. I can buy of lot of geeky stuff from majot computer retailers. If you asked a dozen mainstream people what a "Eee PC" was they'd not know, or say it was a PC from Manchester.

Uses will depend on the user, but the main role it seems to fulfil is that of a highly portable web browser. Mrs Untethered (by no stretch of the imagination a computer "geek") is quite happy to use it for web browsing, email and occasional OpenOffice tasks.

Quicker to get an Apple Touch...! A lot more portable...! (And a much bigger capacity) Or you could get a smart-phone instead...

 

[editor]

I haven't seen one advert in a national paper or anything on tv.

Seeing as it was stocked in 'mainstream' stores like PC World and Currys, and it's been written about it in major national newspapers and magazines, I'd say it's heading for the mainstream at the least.

 

[untethered]

Still doesn't make it mainstream. I can buy of lot of geeky stuff from majot computer retailers. If you asked a dozen mainstream people what a "Eee PC" was they'd not know, or say it was a PC from Manchester.

Give it a year and we'll see. The form factor will be well established, the technology refined and quite a few "ordinary people" will have seen one.

Quicker to get an Apple Touch...! A lot more portable...! (And a much bigger capacity) Or you could get a smart-phone instead...

They're both very different kinds of machines. Much lower resolution. No (proper) keyboard, no way to use a mouse or any other peripherals. Try using an external monitor on your smartphone.

But you do have a point, which is that the more types of devices come onto the market, the more they overlap some of the functions of things that are already there.

The Eee PC will get much more interesting once it gets a slot for a SIM card. But then will it be the world's smallest laptop or the world's biggest smartphone?

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Why would you take a mouse out with you? It'd be virtually as large as the machine itself.

I have one of those teeny travel mice with retractable cords, a couple of quid on ebuyer, and a little 50p mousemat. It would kill my wrist if I used it for any real length of time, but it would kill my eyes if I used the Eee for any real length of time anyway.

If I'm going out with it I sling the Eee in a bag and put the mouse and my 3G dongle in a side pocket - the latter two weigh less than a phone together, no space either.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Seeing as it was stocked in 'mainstream' stores like PC World and Currys, and it's been written about it in major national newspapers and magazines, I'd say it's heading for the mainstream at the least.

I think word of mouth is good for it as well. Every time I've gotten the thing out in public somebody has asked me what the hell it is, not just gadgetty types either. They're always surprised by the price too.

 

[jæd]

I think word of mouth is good for it as well. Every time I've gotten the thing out in public somebody has asked me what the hell it is, not just gadgetty types either. They're always surprised by the price too.

Personally I think the main problem with it will be by the time enough mainstream people want one, someone else might've produced one that looks less spoddy...