Verdict
Review
This laptop has occasionally frustrated and confused (what hardware doesn't?), but on the whole generally worked. I had originally set up a replacement fund over two years, but since it doesn't need replacing yet, spent some of that on a new gadget instead!
I quite liked the Asus-ified Linux OS it arrived with, however the version of unionfs used was buggy. The bug manifests itself by applications inexplicably reporting disc full, when there is plenty of space left. What actually happens it that the system runs out of inodes, as deleted files leave ghost copies on the hidden partition. In addition upgrades to software would install in the user partition, not the hidden system partition, and generally get in the way.
In spite of these errors, Asus managed to pack a lot of software into the 4Gb of space, a feat I've failed to replicate using "netbuntu" (now "netbook edition" of ubuntu itself). The addition of an extra SDHC card permanently mounted to /usr has solved this issue.
The extended battery means I can leave it on/suspended all day and still be able to use it on the way home or in the evening.
I'd buy one of these again, maybe to replace this one if/when it dies. The Asus tablets are looking interesting though..
@public,review,laptop,asus,701
Last modified: 2012-05-18T02:24:52