Back on July 4th, I wrote the following:
Now most people think of the Asus notebooks as “netbooks”, primarily suited for working with Web applications like Google Docs, i.e., working in the Internet cloud. Now this was probably true for the early eee PCs, given their limited RAM and especially their limited Solid State Disk (SSD) resources, but with the 900 model I’m not so sure. In fact, over the upcoming days and weeks I plan on running a little experiment with Vanilla Shake to see if I can’t get it set up as a full-blown production PC for my computer consulting work. This effort will be kind of the opposite of my buddy Kevin Tofel’s current experiment on trying to work exclusively in the cloud for a month.
So after just four days I am concluding the experiment. I have my answer, although it took me a LOT more work to accomplish and a lot more digging into the inner workings of XP than I ever dreamed. So (drum roll please) the winner is………..the Asus Eee 900 XP!
Yes, I have been able to set up Vanila Shake (so named by my wife, Barbara) with all of the software and files I need for my job as a consulting IT Enterprise Architect. I have installed Office 2003, Visio 2003, Project 2007, Firefox 3, Thunderbird, iTunes, Twhirl, PINs (password manager), Ccleaner, Scanner, and the AVG Free 8.0 anti-virus software. Skype was already installed on the machine by Asus. The only install problem I had was with Project 2007, which intially would not install on the 900. However, I found a patch on the Asus support site that said it enabled Office 2007 installations on the Eee 900 XP. Downloading and applying the patch allowed Project 2007 to install without a hitch.
I then copied all of my work files from my Kohjinsha SH6 UMPC onto the 16GB SDHC card that serves as the E: drive of my 900 and is home to the My Documents directory. These work files total about 6GB of Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Visio, Project, and PDF files – an archive of all my work for the past 5 years and everything I need to serve my clients. I now have over 8GB free on my E: drive. I also have over 5GB free on my D: drive, where all my installed software resides, so I have plenty of room left for installing any additional software I might need. Performance of this unit has proved to be very good. It’s consistently quicker at most tasks than my Kohjinsha SH6.
So there is no doubt i my mind that I could use Vanilla Shake as my work machine. Will I do so when I return to work from my leave of absense? Only time will tell, but don’t be surprised if you see pictures posted to this blog in the future showing my Asus Eee 900 XP sitting on my desk at a client site! I think the only way to know for sure will be to actually try it.
July 11, 2008 at 8:26 am |
Thank you for this wonderful article. I ordered my eeee pc 900 last night and will take your article to try to do what you did. I have owned treos for a while and like them too. I am using 700 p now.
Simple question for you, please. I want to add some simple programs. I assume I buy a usb cd reader, is that correct?
Regarding the 16G SD card, does it make any difference which brand to use?
Thank you again. Your article is an obvious gift to the eee pc community.
I am sorry, also, to learn about your wife’s illness. All the best for her and you.
Godfrey Oakley
July 11, 2008 at 10:01 am |
Yes, I’ve tried both a CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drive with the Eee 900 and they both worked fine. As for the SDHC card, any reputable brand will do, just get the fastest one you can.
Thanks for your concern!
Michael
July 12, 2008 at 4:17 pm |
thanks
July 13, 2008 at 1:42 pm |
[...] Eee 900 at Work – And The Winner Is… [...]
July 14, 2008 at 4:49 pm |
Michael,
My 900 is susposed to arrive tomorrow so I am doing some preparation. I currently use xp pro on IBM T40. So I have not done Hkey_ etc but with the help of Windows XP pro, the missing manuel by Pogue et al I find how to get the process started.
I am able to work my way starting with regedit down to windows\currentversion\ but here is no “ProgramFilesDir” entry. Perhaps a difference between xp pro and xp home that I think is on the 900.
Would appreciate your help on this.
Godfrey
July 14, 2008 at 5:09 pm |
I’d wait for the 900 and see if you can find the Program Files registry entry then.
Michael
July 14, 2008 at 5:29 pm |
will do and thanks.
July 17, 2008 at 11:29 am |
Ran into a problem because of my in experience with register. I could not find program files directory under current version. Took it to the IT guys at Emory and they immediately saw the problem. I needed to double click on current version and it then showed an expanded list of fils/folders and there was program files directory. They also showed me how open that file and then how to change the C to a D. It is done. Now I can go home and add the programs I want to add.
This as been about as painless as I can imagine because you were so kind as to put such good directions on the blog. Thank you. Thank you.
I have 1.4 gibs on C drive free, 7.4 free on D drive and I thought I only needed 8 GB for my sd card that is all free for the time being.
Be well and may there be more people as helpful as you have been
July 26, 2008 at 4:46 pm |
have taken on trip and it performed well’ battery just a lit6le over 2hrs with wireless on.
thanks again for your hel.
Godfrey