The Ultraportable Wars Part 1: An Intro

On the day before my birthday, a new computer will be unveiled in the Philippines...

This computer is the upgraded version of a model that I had really been salivating over for the longest time, though I teeter from liking to reconsidering.

The eeePC had caught the world by storm when it was first unveiled. While all the other companies made ultramobiles harder to buy because they basically put a dent on one’s pockets, Asus made it possible for a person to own an ultramobile without the heartache. The eeePC had turned around the way personal computers were priced, and they started a phenomenon among the ultramobiles.

And yet, the eeePC was not without its glaring flaws. Its screen was too small for comfort for most, and thus, according to my TipidPC.com friend, Kuya Bongbong, his customers’ eeePC units were being re-sold after a couple of months. The reason: the screen was too small, and users had to squint in order to use the eeePC for long periods.



To remedy this and other issues, Asus released the eeePC 900. Bumped up from the 2GB/4GB and 8GB models, the Linux version of the eeePC 900 now has 20GB of Hard Drive space, as well as an 8.9” screen, instead of the eeePC 701’s 7” screen. Aside from that, the webcam on the eeePC 900 is bumped up to a resolution of 1.3 Megapixels, along with the new FingerGlide system, which may well be an adaptation of how Macbooks’ trackpads can be navigated.

Along with the anxiety of wanting a new computer, I started to list down the other gadgets I would like to have, soon. See, I have this thing of praying for the stuff I want. I believe that God wants to bless me immensely, and I do believe that I should start every purchase consideration with prayer.

I had been debating on whether to pray for the eeePC or the Macbook Air instead. When the Macbook Air was released, and I was able to try an eeePC for, like, ten minutes, I noticed that the eeePC 701’s keyboard keys weren’t exactly anchored well. The Intel Classmate PC, rebranded as the NEO Explore here in the Philippines, had a better keyboard: more stable, and easier to type on.

Now that seems like a dilemma, right? Next post will be on the pro’s and cons of the eeePC, vs. the Macbook Air, vs. the Intel Classmate PC/NEO Explore. :)