The Linux-based ASUS Eee PC

Lim Kin Chew

16 Jan 08

Contents of presentationASUS Eee PC 4G

• Features– Hardware– Software

• Uses:– Work, study, entertainment

• Limitations• Resource links• Conclusion

Ultra Mobile PC - ASUS EeePC 4G

• First launched in Singapore during SITEX 2007 on 1st December 2007.

• Based on the popular Linux (Debian/Xandros) Operating System platform.

• Uses the window manager called IceWM.

• Ability to withstand shock using a solid state memory, no hard disk involved.

• Built-in WiFi 802.11 b/g to seamlessly connect to the Internet.

• Audio/Video capability with built-in webcam, speakers, microphone.

• Pre-install software such as OpenOffice 2.0, Firefox, KDE Kontact, Planner, Skype and other educational software.

http://www.hardwarezone.com/news/view.php?id=9497

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/notebooks/0,39050495,62035943,00.htm

易學 易玩 易攜帶

Models in the ASUS Eee PC Series

• Eee PC 8G• Eee PC 4G• Eee PC 4G Surf• Eee PC 2G Surf

(Source: http://wiki.eeeuser.com/eee_pc_701)

Comparison of UMPCsASUS Eee PC

Kojinsha SA1

Kojinsha SH811

Packard Bell XS20

Gigabyte U60

Intel Classmate

Processor Intel Celeron M 900 MHz

AMD Geode LX800

Intel A110 800 MHz

VIA 1.2 GHz VIA 1 GHz Intel Celeron M 900 MHz

RAM 512 MHz 512 MHz 1 GB 1 GB 768 MB 256 MB

Screen 7-inch 800 x 480 native

7-inch 800 x 480 native

7-inch 1024 x 600 native

7-inch 800 x 480 native

6.5-inch 800 x 480 native

7-inch 800 x 480 native

Storage 4 GB Flash 40 GB Hard disk

120 GB Hard disk

30 GB Hard disk

30 GB Hard disk

2 GB Hard disk

OS Linux Windows XP Windows Vista

Windows XP Windows XP Windows XP

Webcam Yes No Yes Yes Yes No

Ports 3 USB, SD 2 USB, SD, Compact Flash

2 USB, SD, Compact Flash

2 USB, SD 2 USB, SD 2 USB

Warranty 1 year 1 year 3 years 1 year 1 year NA

Weight 920 g 985 g 990 g 950 g 740 g Unknown

Price (with GST)

$598 $960 $1,390 $1,298 $1,549 Not available here

(Source: Digital Life, 18 Dec 2007)

The Schematic

The Celeron M Intel Processor

The Intel GMA 900 chip

It supports the memory controller for the DDR2 512MB 667MHz memory module

as well as offering the graphics core for the LCD and external VGA port.

LCD Graphics Port

Port links the LCD directly with ribbon cable.

The DDR II 512 MB RAM

Rated at 667 MHz

The Intel CH6-M Chip

Chip supports the following:

1. 3x USB ports,

2. Realtek sound chip (ALC6628) giving 5.1-channel High Definition sound,

3. Built-in stereo speakers,

4. MMC(plus)/ SD(HC) card reader,

5. Microphone

6. Keyboard

7. Mouse pad,

8. 10/100 Mbps Ethernet

9. V.92 56K modem

10. Mini PCI-E slots

11. Another vacant PCI-E port for future expansion

The Realtek ALC6628 chipset provides 5.1 Channel High Definition Audio.

The Realtek ALC6628

The LCD Panel

Here we have the 7” Optronics Display having a WVGA resolution of 800x480. The TFT-LCD has built-in stereo speakers and a microphone.

The Webcam

The Eee PC 701 4G also ships with a Webcam capable of VGA (640x480 pixels) at up to 30 FPS (frames per second, Omnivision sensor).

Wireless Communications Card

The Wireless communications card is an Azure 802.11b/g Wi-Fi PCI-E card. However, there is no Bluetooth facility in this model.

The BIOS

The BIOS is American Megatrends, Inc. (AMI).

MMC(plus) / SD(HC) card reader

Microphone & Headphone Jacks

The Complete Inventory

Some demonstrations

• Open Office

• Shell prompt

• Full desktop mode

OpenOffice 2.0

• Initial release in 2000 by Sun Microsystems and obtained its first million downloads by 2001 before its first anniversary. Reached 20 million downloads in 2003.

• Key desktop applications (word processing, spreadsheet, presentation manager and drawing program).

• Available in 65 languages, with more constantly added from the community.

• Press Ctrl + Space bar to activate the SCIM utility – Chinese, Japanese & Korean inputs

• Don’t know why ASUS uses the Version 2.0 instead of the latest Version 2.3. Most probably it might be the file size consideration.

OpenOffice 2.0

Writer• Fully equipped word processor and desktop

publisher with AutoCorrect and AutoFormat for easy document writing.

• Standard document template such as letters and minutes. Flexibility to create your own template.

Calc• Spreadsheet program with Datapilot technology to

extract raw data from databases, summarize and convert to meaningful information.

• Built-in functions and natural language formulas to assist to create your spreadsheet in less time.

Writer/Calc• Ability to convert to PDF format without requiring

to install a third party converter.

• Portability to save and open your documents in Microsoft Word/Excel format.

Writer Screenshot

Calc Screenshot

OpenOffice 2.0

Impress• All-in-one tool to create winning multimedia

presentations.

• Use Master Pages to manage consistency in your presentation.

• Equipped with slide show animation and effects to enhance your presentation with stunning impacts.

Draw• Create and edit images easily with Draw without

installing complex images editors.

• Ability to import common image formats (jpg, gif, bmp, png, tiff and wmf)

Impress/Draw• Ability to export to Flash (.swf) files from your

presentation/drawings.

Impress Screenshot

Draw Screenshot

OpenOffice 2.0

Base• Uses the full version of HSQL database engine

and stores data in XML format.

• Supports popular databases such as (Microsoft Access, MySQL, ADO) through industry standards ODBC and JDBC drivers.

• Create queries and reports to display meaningful data in wide variety formats.

Math• Create mathematical formula and equations

easily without installing any font packages.

• When used in Writer, the equation is treated as an object.

(ADO – ActiveX Data Objects ODBC – Open Database Connectivity JDBC – Java Database Connectivity)

Base Screenshot

Math Screenshot

KDE KontactYour Personal Information Manager

KDE Kontact is a PIM (Personal Information Manager) which can help you manage your communication and organize your work so that you can achieve personal efficiency and productivity.

KDE also supports various groupware servers (e.g. Kolab Server, SUSE Linux Openexchange, MS Exchange server 2000 and Novell Groupwise) such that you can access features like shared email folders, group task list, calendar sharing, address books and meeting scheduling.

Kontact consists of the following components:-– Summary– Mail– Calendar– Contact– Notes– News

(KDE – K Desktop Environment)

KDE KontactYour Personal Information Manager

Summary

• Specially customized for KDE Kontact to provide an overview of the other components.

Mail

• Standard mail client with IMAP, POP3 and SMTP support.

• HTML friendly

Calendar

• Scheduling tool to help you manage your meetings.

(IMAP –Internet Message Access Protocol

POP3 – Post Office Protocol 3

SMTP – Simple Mail Transport Protocol)

Summary Screenshot

Calendar Screenshot

Mail Screenshot

KDE KontactYour Personal Information Manager

Contacts

• Manages your contacts similar to an address book.

• Customizable to your requirements.

News

• News reader that is GNKSA compliant and allows reading of HTML articles.

Notes

• Digital sticky notes collection where you can stick them on your desktop.

Contacts Screenshot

News Screenshot

Notes Screenshot

ThunderbirdFeatures Advanced Folders View

• Offers many ways to organize and display your folders. Ability to set up RSS/News feeds to stay updated with the latest news.

Message Tagging• Allows you to tag / identify your

emails with ‘descriptors’ such as ‘To-Do’. You can even customize your own tag.

Message Templates• Allows you to easily set up your

message templates for your repeated emails.

Add-ons• Many add-ons to provide you with

more features from a regular mail client.

(RSS – Really Simple Syndication)

Message Tagging

Advanced Folders

Sample Email

GnuCashManaging Your Financials

Overview

• Competitor for Microsoft Money and Quicken on personal and small business accounting.

• Rich application with the ability to manage your money and accounts for a variety of financial needs. These needs can range from personal checking accounts to business accounts.

• Uses Druids instead of Wizards to assist you with various activities in the program such as setting up a new account or investment portfolio.

Graphical Reports

Register Screen

Limitations

• Customized version of Xandros• Need to install the full version of Linux before

you can do programming work, e.g. gcc not available

• No bluetooth facility• Limited Flash-based storage – 4 GB in the

701 model. However, can increase capacity by adding an SDHC card.

• Memory – 512 MB

New screen resolutions

• Eee PC’s original screen resolution:– 800 x 480 pixels

• New resolutions (just announced):– 800×600 pixels, – 1024×768 pixels, – 1280×1024 pixels

Other uses for the Eee PC

• Build a Portable Security Tool with the ASUS Eee PC and Ubuntu

– http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/nethub/article.php/3713806

• Classroom use by kindergarten and primary school students (like the OLPC)

• Conference presentations / presentations for clients (e.g. by insurance agents, advertising agents, property brokers)

• Students doing field work to collect data• DeviceVM’s SplashTop running on ASUS Eee PC

– http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=965&num=1

Resource links

• http://eeepc.asus.com (Official website)

• http://www.eeeuser.com

• http://wiki.eeeuser.com

Conclusion

• The ASUS Eee PC is a very convenient, lightweight and mobile PC.

• Suitable for simple uses like office work, presentations, surfing the Web, doing your school work, experimentation

• Not suitable for serious heavy duty programming.

End of Presentation

Thank you!