ASUS Eee PC 2G Surf

Conclusion

So, what is the Eee PC, and does the 2G Surf change any of our impressions concerning the system? It is easier to address this question by stating what it is not. It is not all things to all people, as it is too specialized a device. It is not a machine for mass local storage. It is not a machine for video editing or hardcore gaming. It is not a machine for those who need to install a large variety of specialized applications. If your usage falls outside of the above, then the ASUS Eee 2G Surf might work for you.

Opinions vary widely on this device, and people have arguments for and against, even for the same uses. We think the 2G Surf can be great as a secondary PC for business travelers or salespeople who only need to access corporate email, surf the web, take notes at meetings, and give presentations (external VGA output at 1024x768). Blackberries can only go so far. It can also be a great choice for a student who has a desktop, but wants a light portable device on campus to surf the web, edit reports, and so on. Using the 2G Surf as a primary PC demands some serious attention to its limitations; it will not be suitable in that role for a large amount of users.

The ASUS Eee 2G Surf is the right tool for the right job. The hard part is defining that job. We also recommend careful consideration of whether or not you can live with the 2GB total storage space, most of which is already in use. An extra $50 to upgrade to the 4G Surf so that you don't need to worry about running out of space on the primary Linux partition might also be a good idea. Adding flash memory via the SD slot is another option that may be less expensive, but sometimes it's just easier to have a single storage partition with all your major applications and data files.