Oilrag wrote: Ifithelps, I`m curious as to how you have the Eee pc set up. Perhaps another thread to discuss?
Oilrag,
Obviously, you need to be online for email.
Online in my case means a Vodafone dongle, which is connected via the 'networks' option.
The 'net is fired up via the Firefox browser, which is pre-loaded on the Eee.
I have iGoogle set as the internet homepage, which gives a Google searchbox and the option of half-a-dozen gadgets, even with the Eee's little screen.
Among the gadgets is a Googlemail one and a Hotmail one.
Both give notice of any new message, which you can either open in the gadget, or go to the full page via a Firefox bookmark.
Same applies for composing a message.
Hope this goes some way to answering your question.
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Cheers Ifithelps. This is how I have mine set up, after a few f9 formats... ;-)
I found it worked best for me to to untick the box on `auto updates` in the task bar before connecting to the internet. Then it downloaded and it updated without intervention - I had some problems with updating cleanly before doing this.
Wireless is great - connected in a hotel in the Phillipines a few weeks back (original motivator for purchase) and around the house - Virgin ISP through a Netgear router. It can `see` several other wireless routers around here.
Asus download - I had problems installing Gftp, Opera (which I use for auto screen resizing) and Evolution - if trying to install these before the computer has updated itself after format. Now these are the only extra programs I use.
Printers - almost bought a new wireless printer - but i really only use a printer for air/ferry tickets and there was a real bargain in Staples on a Samsung 1630 B/W, USB laser printer (£39)
With the wireless version being almost £100 more.
I plugged the USB lead into the 701 and it just self installed - using drivers for the 1610. A whole list of Samgsung printers showed up after the wizards search. I though there were a load of implications from that - highly likely that it could connect to many unprotected printers in the community not needing a CD like windows.
Contrasting the new printer with a windows (XP) computer here, the 701SD set up the printer in a fraction of the time, not requiring a CD of course.
I keep an 8GB SDHC card in the computers card slot - keeping all documents and photos there. I`m a VERY basic knowledge user of Open Office, but find it easy to work with that and open and edit documents kept on the SD card.
I updated the RAM to a 1024 module from Mr Memory for around £12.
Using Firefox and Opera I sometimes disable images in one, for Forums..
Learning curve. I found it steep at first re the small overall size. Going back to the laptop seemed luxurious in comparison. Then, a month later - after more exclusive use, the laptop seemed to `waste space` the fonts seemed too wide taking longer to read..
Perception - what a thing!
Basically the 701SD has taken over and I can type faster on the small keyboard..
Looking at notebooks all the others seem too big - even the 900 series. But have you noticed a lot of `used` linux series Eee`s on resale, in Staples and other stores? I guess it`s too big a change for some people.
Regards
Edited by oilrag on 28/04/2009 at 15:00
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Ifithelps, How do you get those email checking gadgets? Currently I have the Hotmail and Gmail `buttons` on the Eec moved to favourites and set up to go straight in after the Linux double click. That ease of use was again a motivator to move from pop3 to web based email.
Is it easier though with the gadjets? if they read both Google and Hotmail.
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Just to clarify my point on `updates` I meant in settings, I unticked the box `confirm before installing updates`
The problem before doing this seemed to be around 24 updates needing individual intervantion to install and some of them being for the 900 series. Log jams and refusals, multiple pop up boxes and accidental installs of 900 series updates seemed to occur, but smooth as silk with the box unticked.
I wonder how many of those returned Linux Eee`s have been returned because of losing patience with that - all for the sake of an unticked box?
Sad for Asus, seemingly, if that is the case, with the computer being capable of seamlessly updating itself in the background.
Edited by oilrag on 28/04/2009 at 15:31
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Oilrag,
To get the email checking gadgets, all you need to do is log on to the internet, and bring up Google.
There's an option there to go to iGoogle, or just search for it, and that will bring up an iGoogle home page, linked to your Googlemail of Gmail account.
If it doesn't, it will ask you to open a Gmail account.
That home page will be sprinkled with gadgets suggested by Google - a lot of them will probably not interest you.
There's a 'search' or 'add stuff' command and that gives you access to the gadgets you want.
Search for 'Hotmail' and you will get a choice.
It's then just a matter of adding gadgets and deleting the ones you don't want.
I think iGoogle brags you can create your own homepage in 15 minutes, and they are not far wrong.
I've got the email ones, a calculator, calendar, BBC News, BBC Sport and BBC Football, among a few others.
You can get three gadgets across the screen and about six in all.
If you add more, you have to scroll down to see them, just like a backroom thread.
It might be easier if you have a go first on your 'big' computer - iGoogle homepages can be created on any computer.
Hope the above is fairly clear, although I'm only too well aware how easy it is to get lost/mixed up etc.
If you're still stuck, by all means ask one of the mods (thanks again, gents, oh, and one lass:)) for my email address and we will have you sorted in no time.
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Thank Ifithelps, I understand it now.
Are you using the basic desktop? I thought I would stick with it when I realized the full desktop was KDE - never liked that with its `eye candy`as opposed to Gnome that I`m happy with on the laptop - Ubuntu.
I thought about putting Puppy or Eeebunto on, but despite the reviews giving more marks they always seem to have problems with wireless or the webcam.
So I`ve resisted the temptation to mess with it ;-) but while in there fitting the RAM module I noticed the main flash drive could be changed....
I also opened a terminal and kept checking the RAM and it does now use more than was free before fitting the bigger module. Largely that`s when running photos off the SHDC card as a slide show.
I did notice that unlike XP a swap file is not enabled and wondered how the flash hard drives stand up to having that and the alleged greater `activity` of XP (on the XP option)writing to disk.
I guess that`s my thoughts on the Eee PC 701SD to date ;-)
Edited by oilrag on 28/04/2009 at 22:21
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oilrag,
My Eee is, to coin an old motor racing phrase: 'absolutely bog standard, old boy'.
I did attempt to download the latest version of Firefox, but for some reason it would not load.
There have been a few complaints from users that it's quite difficult 'putting things on' the Eee using Linux.
My use is limited to a bit of surfing and sending and receiving the odd email.
The great benefit to me of the Eee is its portability.
It's saved me hours at work, being able to fire off emails 'in the field' without having to return to the office to do it.
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This link may be of help if you manage to install Firefox:
wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:shrinkfirefox
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Stu,
Thanks for that.
The preloaded Firefox works OK, it's just the updates that don't want to to instal, or more likely, it will be pilot error.
Suppose I don't need the latest version, but the Mozilla/Firefox website did say something about the version I have 'no longer being supported'.
The updates instal a treat on the computer at work (Window XP prof) and my full-size laptop (Vista).
The version I tried to download for the Eee was clearly marked Linux.
I might give it another go one day.
Edited by ifithelps on 29/04/2009 at 14:04
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My younger offspring added the modest processor version of the Eee alongside his Dell laptop and desktop, but uses XP Pro in the Asus.
We are both quite staggered by how quickly XP boots up compared to our laptop or desktop versions.
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Isn't the speed something to do with the solid state memory of the Eee?
I read somewhere whirry hard drives are on borrowed time as solid state memory becomes cheaper and its capacity increases.
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Ifithelps, i`m on version 3.4 of Firefox - from the auto updates from within Asus.
If you`re on a previous version, best bet is to do an f9 format - untick the `confirm before installing updates` box - before getting a wireless connection (otherwise its too late).
It will then seamlessly download all the updates - in the process fixing an alleged bug in the installer itself - Firefox will be automatically updated, to 3.4 too.
After doing that Opera is worth a try from the Asus upate tab - as it can be set to auto size to the Eee`s screen with no horizontal scrolling required..
Sorry, I realise that`s unasked for advice..
Edited by oilrag on 29/04/2009 at 22:05
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....Sorry, I realise that`s unasked for advice...
Au contraire, oilrag, I may well give that a try.
I've always found the auto updates function a bit cranky, so that could be why.
No horizontal scrolling in Opera, eh? I didn't know that, either.
M'thinks you've got to grips with the Eee pretty well, and certainly a bit better than I have. :)
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That`s retirement for you - plenty of time ;-)
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i`m on version 3.4 of Firefox .... Firefox will be automatically updated, to 3.4 too. >>
No such version for Firefox.
It will be going from series 3.0.x straight to series 3.5.x which is in beta at the moment.
Current series 3 versions are: 3.0.10 and the 3.5.beta4
www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.0.10/releasenotes/
www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.5b4/releasenotes/
Edited by jbif on 30/04/2009 at 10:18
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This is the version on my Eee
tinyurl.com/5dsz2h
Sorry, should have written 3.0.4
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But this is the version of Opera I use instead from Asus Download
tinyurl.com/c29jdg
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