ASUS Eee PC 701 (4G) Subnotebook

Warning: Do not even consider purchasing an ASUS Eee PC unless you’re 100 percent comfortable with the term cute. Buy one, and you’re going to hear the dreaded c-word. Often. After listening to just about everyone that spied the so-called “subnotebook” on my desk squeal with delight over its endearingly diminutive dimensions, I have to admit that my male apprehensions about the size and power equation kicked in full force. While the machine does resemble something that might be packaged as part of a Barbie Goes to College play set, it’s actually a quite capable little computer. And, yes, you can really type on it. I had our library secretary Lisa, a blazing fast typist, do some keyboarding on it and marveled as the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog in no time flat.

So what else can this cute little thing do? It’s right-out-of-the-box ready to do just about any routine computing task. Though it’s not appropriate for people who frequently work with hi-res photos or video, it has everything you and your students are used to doing with Microsoft Office completely covered. Jobs like word processing and slideshow creation can be accomplished using the open-source Open Office suite instead. Or click on Google Docs to create and store universally accessible files that can be opened and edited from anywhere net access is available, not just at school.

The Eee PC 701 I tested ships with 4 gigabytes of flash memory and is usually marketed as the Eee PC 4G. Be aware that system files and bundled software take up over half of that 4 gigs. You can slip in an MMC memory card if you need more storage. Even though the brains of this machine employ no moving parts, the 900 Mhz Intel Celeron-M processor produces enough heat that you’ll hear a fan kick in now and then. Other than that, it’s almost as silent as it is small. It has a little but very readable seven-inch, 800x480 screen, surprisingly bright stereo sound, and it boots up in seconds. For a little machine, there’s a lot to like, but the Eee PC 4G had some problems, too. The built-in Web cam worked fine, for example, but when I tried to use it with Skype, it crashed after just a few seconds, taking Skype down with it. WiFi worked great, but you have to choose your network manually every time you boot up. The touch pad worked fine, too, but the pointing device froze in high humidity environments.

Clearly developed as a response to the little X0-1 PC of One Laptop per Child fame, the ASUS Eee series is among a handful of low-cost, Linux-based, solid-state drive computer lines exemplifying a new wrinkle on the concept of Universal Design. The idea that developing devices targeted at special-needs populations inevitably winds up benefiting everyone usually applies to adaptations targeted for users with physical and cognitive disabilities. In this case, a product initially designed to bring low-cost computing and connectivity to the world’s indigent and geographically remote students has spawned a flurry of innovation that seems poised to benefit even the relatively affluent. And that works for me.

Though this particular model may never make its way into your school, it seems inescapable that if we want to move toward our 1-to-1 computing ideals in education and sustain them—especially in an increasingly cash-strapped America—we have to pay attention to the evolution of leaner, cheaper, open-source, and Webcentric devices like this one.

I invite you to take a peek at the ASUS Eee PC 701 (4G) on slj.com. And no, I’ve gotten used to it, I won’t hold it against you if your first reaction is to gush “aww, isn’t that cute.”