EEE PC question

JointStrikeFighter · Post by **JointStrikeFighter** » 2008-08-17 05:56pm

If i purchased a linux version could I install XP onto it?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2008-08-17 05:57pm

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2008-08-17 07:59pm

Yes. My 4G has been running XP for a month and a half now.

However you will need an external USB DVD-drive and an SP2 version of XP for the installation. Also, in models with a 4 GB SSD (like my 4G), additional storage space in the form of an SD card is pretty much mandatory. As the XP installation will gobble up most of the space on the SSD even after it's diet. And upgrading the memory to 2 GB is definitely recommended (the machine is going run like it was stuck in tar otherwise).

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-08-17 08:12pm

He'll probably get one of the 16Gb versions. I don't remember if XP supports installing off a USB?

generator_g1 · Post by **generator_g1** » 2008-08-17 09:20pm

The EEE PC 1000 has been out for a while now. It already has XP on it and an 80GB HD.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-08-17 10:25pm

Thanks for that irrelevant statement. You're aware you can get the 16Gb model with XP on it too, right? JSF's whole point couldn't be using an existing XP licence with his new eeePC, could it?

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2008-08-17 11:35pm

Doesn't the Linux one have the bigger SSD? Would be another reason to get the Linux one and install XP on it rather than going preinstalled.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-08-18 01:20am

Pu-239 wrote:Doesn't the Linux one have the bigger SSD? Would be another reason to get the Linux one and install XP on it rather than going preinstalled.

How big is a Linux Install vs. a Windows Install? Answer this question, and yours becomes redundant.

My XP /Windows folder is 4.19 GB. I can get a *nix live cd (functional OS) in less than 100 MB.

Think you'll save money and get more stuff for less by this little cheat and you will likely be sorely disappointed.

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2008-08-18 03:20am

Stark wrote:He'll probably get one of the 16Gb versions. I don't remember if XP supports installing off a USB?

SP2 versions do support installation from an USB DVD-drive.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-08-18 04:54am

I meant a USB flash drive actually; the simplest method sans a USB drive would be to slap the install data on a flash drive and try off that.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2008-08-18 06:35am

Hotfoot wrote:
Pu-239 wrote:Doesn't the Linux one have the bigger SSD? Would be another reason to get the Linux one and install XP on it rather than going preinstalled.
How big is a Linux Install vs. a Windows Install? Answer this question, and yours becomes redundant.

My XP /Windows folder is 4.19 GB. I can get a *nix live cd (functional OS) in less than 100 MB.

Think you'll save money and get more stuff for less by this little cheat and you will likely be sorely disappointed.

A Linux install that you would actually want to use daily is significantly more than 100MB (my / partition is 8GB) is. Heck, OpenOffice alone (which is what's on the Eee) is more than 100MB. Most LiveCDs also cheat and run off compressed images, which isn't used on internal storage for various reasons.

Also, most manufacturers list physical drive space before the OS is installed.

Anyway, unless I'm missing something, there indeed seems to be a significant difference in cost/space:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834220351
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834220350
even w/o sale, although not applicable to JSF since he's Aussiek. They apparently use the cost saved on the license for 8GB more SSD unless I'm missing something.

JointStrikeFighter · Post by **JointStrikeFighter** » 2008-08-18 07:29am

I am picked this up tomorrow:

EEEEEEE

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-08-18 07:44am

Pu-239 wrote: Anyway, unless I'm missing something, there indeed seems to be a significant difference in cost/space:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834220351
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834220350
even w/o sale, although not applicable to JSF since he's Aussiek. They apparently use the cost saved on the license for 8GB more SSD unless I'm missing something.

I looked at the stats, and they describe it as having 1GB RAM, 4GB SSD, and 16GB flash. I imagine it's the same 4GB SSD as the older models with a 16GB flash chip jammed in somewhere.

JointStrikeFighter · Post by **JointStrikeFighter** » 2008-08-18 07:47am

Stark wrote:
Pu-239 wrote: Anyway, unless I'm missing something, there indeed seems to be a significant difference in cost/space:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834220351
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834220350
even w/o sale, although not applicable to JSF since he's Aussiek. They apparently use the cost saved on the license for 8GB more SSD unless I'm missing something.
I looked at the stats, and they describe it as having 1GB RAM, 4GB SSD, and 16GB flash. I imagine it's the same 4GB SSD as the older models with a 16GB flash chip jammed in somewhere.

Wiki seems to indicate as much.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2008-08-18 09:31am

IIRC you could just have linux and XP in dual boot. The default linux is great for plugging in random USB drives and connecting to networks. With XP you are certain to get infected viruses, porn bots etc unless you spent a lot of time tweaking it. So having both OSes would be useful, especially since you have ample space on teh 16 GB flash drive. You get fast, headache free reliablity of Asus linux and XP for normal stuff.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-08-18 10:33am

I really just don't see the utility of Windows on a system like the Eee PC. It's not powerful enough to play games, and that is pretty much the only reason to use Windows over *nix.

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2008-08-18 11:47am

wait, what's the difference between the SSD and the Flash storage? Aren't they the same?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2008-08-18 12:37pm

Hawkwings wrote:wait, what's the difference between the SSD and the Flash storage? Aren't they the same?

Yes.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-08-18 01:14pm

Hawkwings wrote:wait, what's the difference between the SSD and the Flash storage? Aren't they the same?

It's useful to distinguish the fact that one is removable and the other is not.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2008-08-18 04:22pm

Hotfoot wrote:I really just don't see the utility of Windows on a system like the Eee PC. It's not powerful enough to play games, and that is pretty much the only reason to use Windows over *nix.

Consistancy with desktop computers? By running windows, you can run all the same productivity apps as on your other machine, and be able to run some sync applications that you otherwise would not be able to run.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-08-18 04:29pm

Beowulf wrote:
Hotfoot wrote:I really just don't see the utility of Windows on a system like the Eee PC. It's not powerful enough to play games, and that is pretty much the only reason to use Windows over *nix.
Consistancy with desktop computers? By running windows, you can run all the same productivity apps as on your other machine, and be able to run some sync applications that you otherwise would not be able to run.

For the vast majority of operations, Open Office handles "productivity" files just as well as Microsoft Office. For the Eee PC line, they even have the files default saved in Microsoft formats.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2008-08-18 11:00pm

Eh, the problems get more obvious if you play w/ Access "databases" and more complex spreadsheets- everything but the word processor is noticibly crappier- OO.o is okay for personal use, but for business use you'll run into problems. Of course, the Eee is intended to be secondary personal computer, so really a nonissue. Agreed that Linux is probably sufficient, but he probably just wants familiarity or whatever. //redundant

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-08-18 11:15pm

Pu-239 wrote:Eh, the problems get more obvious if you play w/ Access "databases" and more complex spreadsheets- everything but the word processor is noticibly crappier- OO.o is okay for personal use, but for business use you'll run into problems. Of course, the Eee is intended to be secondary personal computer, so really a nonissue. Agreed that Linux is probably sufficient, but he probably just wants familiarity or whatever. //redundant

Also not so good if he's using it for a school class that requires him to have MS Office and not an alternative program. I'll also second OoO being crappier for anything but word processing.

JointStrikeFighter · Post by **JointStrikeFighter** » 2008-08-19 07:52am

ps who even has a USB optical drive?

or; operation use workarounds + USB flash drive is not proceeding well

JointStrikeFighter · Post by **JointStrikeFighter** » 2008-08-20 06:59am

So eventually I managed to get my EEE to boot from USB and build a bootable disc image from my XP disc, but NOOOOO, it wants an SP2 disc GRRR. I will have to track one down.