Rugged Little Computer

This little computer has displaced my 1st gen. MacBook as my take-it-along machine and as my easy chair machine. It's a solid little chunk that I can throw into a messenger bag or briefcase and not worry about. It's also solid in my lap, unlike my MacBook which flexes a bit and seems fragile compared to other laptops I've used (earlier 12" G4 aluminum Powerbooks, for example.)

I mainly use it for programming, writing, web browsing and email, so I'm not hitting it with heavy graphics apps or anything of the like. Flash-heavy sites will make it fire up its fan, but so long as I don't have too many windows or tabs open in the browser it'll settle back down after a bit. The fan isn't very loud, I usually only notice it when it's very quiet.

The keyboard is small, but I got used to it quickly and except for tending to hit something other than the right shift key occasionally I don't have any more problems touch-typing with it than a normal keyboard.

I've been using this system for a year now, and it's still my favorite portable machine. Even with the limited display resolution (800x480) I'll pick it  up before my MacBook with its 13.1" high resolution widescreen display (the MacBook doesn't go to waste, it's become my living room machine hooked up to the TV.)

I habitually use the machine so much that its 3.5 hour or so battery life isn't enough for me any more, so I'm planning on upgrading to an Eee PC 901 model now. My wife can't wait, since she'll be getting my 701 when I get the new one. She often borrows my 701 and really likes it as well. She says that typing on the 701's keyboard is better for her on the new 900 and 1000 series models with their larger keyboards (only slightly larger for the 900's, but enough to make a difference for her.)