EEEPC

E V E R Y O N E !!!!!!!!

I think it's a matter of size. I had a look a the EEEEEEEEEEEPC in Harveys last weekend and was impressed with it's size- if only to use as a stand alone navigation puter.
I'm using a PDA at the moment and that extra bit of size on the EEEPC would make life a lot easier- and I really can't see a lappy being a 'convenient' car nav. computer.

Don't they have a solid state hardrive that doesn't damage as easily as disk drives; or am I thinking of something else ?

Size is a main consideration for me. Haven't purchased one yet but am looking at getting one soon but the main draw card for me is that it has a solid stae hard drive. which means it can handle the bumps and knocks of 4wding as opposed to a laptop.
The one I am looking at has 20g hard drive and 1 gig of ram that is expandible. I think those cheap laptops come out with 512 ram and can only upgraded to 1 gig

Like the others, I reckon the size is the winner, even if some laptops are only $100 dearer. A laptop is just a bit clunky in the vehicle, a Palm too small to read, whereas the EEEPC looks just a nice size when using it for just a navigation instrument.
Power consumption should be lower too.
My only concern is the life of the solid-state 'drive', which theoretically has a limited number of r/w cycles; in the order of 100,000. But it's certainly knock-proof.
I will stick with my el-cheapo 14" Compaq running OziExplorer for the mo', which will have to run for another year or two before I consider my options. But the EEEPC (or similar) might have some pretty good options/specs by then.
Gerry

It's a funny business - all this GPS stuff. I must admit I am attracted to it for various reasons and I bought my first GPS after taking a wrong turn when travelling alone once.

In actual fact you can get by with a good paper map and a compass to check your directions every now and then. After all the roads that we travel on are USUALLY signposted.

I like the idea of a moving map display and up until recently have used a PDA with OZI CE via a remote GPS connection. You finish up with a mess of cables and a small display.

I now use a HP IPAQ 312 Travel Companion. This is a turn by turn navigator on the windscreen for finding addresses etc, but I have added OZI CE (latest version is great). Just the one device (smallish but very bright and nice to look at). It only costs about $450.00 and has many other useful functions. Garmin do a range of these devices but are not compatable with OZI. Even the OZI Explorer thing is debateable as Doug would confirm.

The EEE looks to be a useful substitute for any laptop but it's still awkward to mount.

Kingo

I'm running a Eee PC with ozi explorer and I find them a great little machine. does everthing a big lappy does but at half the size, 1 Gig ram, 12gig SSHD, webcam, Wi Fi, storing all my maps on SD card makes it even easier, I have the entire NSW VIC TAZZY in 1:25:000 1:100:00 as well as all Hema desert maps loaded. As well as Vic goldmining maps that I calebrated. So the potentiel is there to store a lot of files etc. I wouldn't go back to a full size lappy

cheers

Rabs

Yep, I agree.
Acer market an 8.9" laptop that has an 80gig HDD and is about the same price. Its the SAME SIZE asd an EEEPC!

>Why is everyone starting to buy EEEPC's instead of a real laptop.

Because we consider it's a better product for the application.

Yep, I have EEE pc 9" 12 Gb Running ozie and have just discovered if you hold down Ctrl+Alt+down arrow buttons you can invert the screen.
Which makes you start to think about mounting it in a overhead console. Not sure what to do about the mouse input though being upside down . Anyone got some ideas?

Cheers BoldJack

I'm in two minds about the eeepc. I've currently got a Dell laptop and have taken it everywhere over the past 3 or so years. Its got a heap of grunt and does what I need on the road - video and photo editing and it turns into a tv occasionally. If I could learn how to use my GPS with OZI I'd use it for that too!! The Dell has been on many trips and its lack of a solid state hard drive has never been a problem. The size and weight of the eeepc (with the new 10 inch screen) is very appealing and I will look at it closely but performance of a real laptop will probably win the day for me as I look to replace the heavy Dell.

I was keen on th EEE as a laptop running Ozi. But now think I will get one of the 7" GPS units as described on the patrol forum.
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18135

from Marty.

Well, not being a computer guru, we researched a little and found the eee to be the perfect option for our trip. Only 4 gig, but with the ability to expand. Memory is the equivalent to a memory stick, hence the robustness. Will do whatever you want. Linux operating system supposed to be one of the most robust? $300 we are happy to part with. Am replying using the beast as I type. In the end it's what you are happy with!
Power to the eee! p.s Numerous schools are using this 'puter.
By the way, this is only a 701 series!