Asus Eee PC 1005HAB Net Book Computer
I enjoy using my little Asus EeePC Netbook. If you are not sure what a Netbook is, Google the term and you will find a lot of information I do not need to explain. Let me just say it can be a low cost, albeit low power access to the internet for email, casual browsing and some text editing. I can do some picture editing with Adobe Elements.
It is a fact that the Netbook class of computer was purposefully designed to be low cost, low power and inferior to the more powerful feature rich Laptop class of portable computer. Even the Operating System is purposely limited. This has been done by the industry to “protect” the value of the higher priced systems. Even so, the Netbook is a very popular second computer.
A Netbook is most fully useful if you can connect to a network. Hey! It’s called a Netbook, right? It has no floppy or CD drive. I run some file servers on my network and that is a good place to keep all long term Netbook storage. Windows Live is also a good internet storage area if you set up the Sky Drive. Other similar Internet services are available and are also suitable. Cloud computing seems right (ripe?) for the Netbook.
My Netbook doesn’t have all the toys and accessories as the Apple iPad and other slate type device. For me the purchase price is the real attraction. My Netbook cost me a few hundred dollars and runs Win 7 Starter like a full size computer. Linux is also a good substitute for the Operating System. My Netbook came with the Win7 Starter installed so I see no need to change it. It allows me to run standard commercial software programs (like Adobe Elements) I do know how to use GIMP (on Linux) so there is an option for a free well established photo editor with that OS.
What is an annoyance is the lack of network connection when away from Wi-Fi access. All portables have the same issue. The solution is to subscribe to one of the wireless (cell phone) data networks. However, the 3G and 4G connections are just too expensive for me when I am already paying too much for a high speed home connection and a data cell phone connection.
Yearly cost for unlimited 3G and 4G services go for between $600 to as high as $1200 after the gimmick sign up rate expires. That is plain crazy but a lot of folks must be doing it. The available 5 to 8 device personal hot spot (it turns 3 & 4G into low to medium speed Wi-Fi) may be a good business tool, but all I have is a single Netbook. I am already paying $480 a year for my unlimited 3G access for my data cell phone through my company plan. That fee alone is twice what I paid for the Netbook.
The fact is I don’t really spend that much time away from a Wi-Fi so I can do without connection when not available. I don’t intend to use the Netbook to entertain myself while 3 & 4G connected to the internet. All I want is an occasional email connection and the data cell phone does that well enough. What is needed is a Netbook link to the phone but that is called “tethering” and has an insanely high $240/yr additional fee to the data cell phone. It is truly a rip-off to protect discrete subscriptions rates just for computers.
There are some $180 – $240 a year plans available if the users can limit themselves to just checking email. These plans offer about 250 GB a month in data transfer. I question if even I would have the discipline to not exceed that amount. But again, why duplicate the function of the data cell phone? Short text emails are easy enough on the phone and long drafts (on the Netbook) can wait until a free Wi-Fi connection can be located.
The cost of being totally connected is insidious. When all are added together and looked at as a yearly cost, I find it alarming. Take a look at your connections.