I have owned a 770, own an N800 and purchased an EeePC yesterday. My initial review of it, based on an evening's worth of use, can be found here.

In short, it's a fantastic little computer. If I had to pick one device, N800 or EeePC, as a full-fledged portable computer, there's no question: The EeePC is just a tiny, 2lb laptop. Given that more capable, tiny 2lb laptops (like the Toshiba R500, which is only marginally larger) exist but are $2000CDN+, I think the EeePC will really shake up the market. The laptop market, that is.

Having given the EeePC high praise, the Nokia Internet Tablets are a far more ambitious project. 2lbs is a _lot_ heavier than .5lbs. The NIT is _just_ pocketable, while the EeePC is about the size of a student's notebook. Having used both, the EeePC is clearly a better general-purpose computer, but the N800 is an order of magnitude smaller and more interesting form-factor and software-wise.

From an evening's use, I have to say that the NITs and the EeePC aren't in the same league at all. The EeePC is just a laptop. Small, yes. Cheap, relatively, but it's just a laptop. The Toshiba R500 isn't a competitor to the NITs, neither is any other $400 laptop. Myself, I have always considered the NITs to be competing against PocketPC, PalmOS and the newer wifi-enabled iPod-based devices.

I split the purchase of the EeePC with someone else. We'll both use it as a secondary computer, the EeePC would make a great presentation machine, but I'm not thinking of selling off the N800 even for a second. The EeePC doesn't have anything like MaemoMapper, I can't take it with me in a coat pocket, I can't easily do voice recording etc. Also, despite including Kontact on the EeePC, the N800 still makes a better PDA-replacement, which is one of the things I use mine for, despite Nokia's apparent wishes.

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To dive slightly off-topic, I must say that Nokia's dogged insistence that the NIT's aren't PDAs seems very short-sighted to me and are a detriment to the device's potential popularity. Clearly, many people seems to think that a calendar, decent contact, and to-do list would be a definite advantage. As a paying customer, I know that GPE is the first thing I install. Yes, on-line options exist, but despite best efforts, we are not always on-line with these very pocketable tablets. Even Apple includes basic PIM functionality with their closed, "limited" offerings. Wake up, Nokia!

Unlike adding a phone, this wouldn't cost more hardware-wise. GPE is even almost there as a PIM. They just need to tweak the GUI a bit more and officially sanction it. I can even sync it with Evolution (though it would be better if GPE just read standard .ics files and a directory of .vcs files natively.) Heck, Nokia owns Intellisync, so they have syncing expertise, though I'd even settle for none if the on-device PDA software was adequate and they made backup and restore decent.
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Okay, back on topic, the EeePC is a nifty thing, but the only similarities it shares with the Nokia Internet Tablets is that it is Linux-based, in the same price range, and has the same screen resolution.

Someone here mentioned video playback: Out of the box, I wouldn't think that the EeePC would be much better than the N800. YouTube playback was a bit faster, but it was still pushing the box. (It is just a Celeron 900/512MB with very little customization/optimization.) Adding software is a bit easier than it is with the NIT, but it's still not a dual-core 2GHz machine. One must have realistic expectations. There is no magic with the EeePC. Nokia have done far more optimization than Asus, and I wouldn't be surprised if the OS2008 firmware update brings video playback to parity with the EeePC in it's current state.

Great review, Ben. I was going to write a review of my new Eee for the forum but I'm not sure there's any need now.

Incidentally, I think we might be technological soul mates -- we have virtually identical computer hardware, even down to the same BT keyboard.

Thanks Ben, that is an excellent review, in particular your comparision to the tablet, to the point, unbias. And I cannot agree more with your concluding remarks about their similarities. For my personal taste, minor details in their difference. The form factor is a big thing, literally, http://internettablettalk.com/forums...&highlight=eee,

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I like to see numbers, the facts, rather then all kinds of estimations:

eee: 226 x 165 x 21 - 35 mm / 908 g (converted from above, when open it becomes 165 X 2 i.e. a little bit under 330 mm)

770: 135 x 78 x 14 mm / 185 g (141 x 79 x 19 mm / 230 g with cover)

N800: 144 x 75 x 13 mm / 206 g (13 - 18 mm?)

N810: 128 x 72 x 14 mm / 225 g

regular shirt pocket 150 x 130 mm

lab coat lower pocket 170 x 160 mm

Size wise, the eee is 4X heavier and 9X (in volume) bulkier even before open!
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The eee is equal to 9 tablets. Period. So pocketability is gone. Battery? The tablet is always on while the eee may not enjoy such a luxury. BT is absent on eee (USB BT may not be as straight forward as one thinks). In summary, the eee/price is going to shake up the laptop industry. But, as some tableteers have posted, lets go and get a eee instead of an N810 because its spec sucks, I dont think so.


bun

Just to add another perspective: think of NIT as a swiss knife (completely poketable) and Eee as a hunting knife (barely pocketable) and then do your comparison.

It's much easier for me to kill you with a hunting knife.

Then I'll steal your pocket knife... Har, har, har.

Very funny. I can do that to you too, with my hunting knife. The point is that I carry a swiss knife anywhere I go, not a hunting knife.

Where can I order online - now - the Asus eeePC - 4G or 8G ??????

Thanks for your Feedback

Expansys Europe has it on preorder for November 15th. Only the 4GB version though.

Personally, I wouldn't go for the 8gig: the Eee has an SD card slot and comes with an empty internal mini-PCIexpress slot. The latter will (allegedly) take SSD storage modules Asus will bring out early next year.

Also, the Eee takes bog-standard RAM modules (I forget what kind, but it's easy enough to find out), so upgrading your Eee to 1 gig of RAM can be done cheaply by just about anyone above the age of three.

I really like this Eee, but I'm bidding on a Pepper Pad 3 (I wasn't kidding about those munchies, it's just that they're gadget munchies ) right now, so odds are I might not get one after all.

You're already dead. I've got a pen knife, a pocket knife, a Leatherman, a hunting knife and a freakin' phase cannon.

Hey, I know school is out, but Mom wants you to quit playing around and go clean the toilet!