October 3rd, 2008
Our second Linux laptop has a real keyboard
The Linux laptop series has been enormously popular. Today we got our second review unit.
It’s another EeePC, but this one has a slightly bigger screen (10 inches) and a much, much better keyboard. It’s one I can probably touchtype on.
It’s called the EeePC 1000 and was announced in May, just as the earlier model was hitting stores. I have seen what looks like an identical model selling for $580 at Buy.Com.
I plan on doing far more extensive tests with this unit. I hope to produce some of these posts on it. I intend to take it on vacation. I will put real data on it, and try to depend upon it.
As with the previous unit this runs a version of Xandros Linux along with a shell that gives point-and-click access to applications. (I would not be surprised if they eventually switch to the Linux Intel is doing through OpenedHand.)
Since this is a blog, and not a column, thus interactive, I am hoping that you can suggest tests I might make with this unit that will make the coming reviews more relevant to you.
I’m looking forward to trying them out. And if you’re a hardware vendor not named Asus who would like a Linux laptop reviewed in this series, I am at your service.
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
