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The Hands-On, Straight Dope on the Asus and Acer Netbooks

We've written widely about Asus' under $400, Linux based Eee PC netbook laptops, which have been having a lot of success and introducing a lot of users to bundled open source applications. We've also covered Acer's competitive response with its similarly priced Aspire One Linux-based netbook. I own one of the Asus Eee PCs and love it (although not as my primary laptop), and I have tried the Aspire One. Now, our sister blog JKOnTheRun has collected some excellent reviews of the Acer netbooks. Here, below the fold, are links to their findings.

If you've been considering whether to get one of the Asus Eee PC systems or the Aspire One from Acer, JKOnTheRun finds the operating systems on the machines to be a key differentiator. This item on what they deem to be the disadvantages of the Linpus Lite Linux distro on the Aspire One systems is worth reading. Check out the problems they had getting Skype going on one of the Acer systems. (Skype is pre-loaded on the Asus Eee PCs.)

The (often too small) displays on these netbooks are typically the chief complaint that people have about them, and even though Asus has improved the size of its displays, JKOnTheRun really likes the display on the Aspire One netbook. Take a look at their list of five things to like about the Aspire One. While you're at it, though, check out their list of five things they don't like about the Aspire One and their unboxing video.

Both Asus and Acer have made the decision to offer Windows XP-based versions of their netbooks in addition to the Linux-based systems. JKOnTheRun also has some thoughts on the XP-based version of the Aspire One, and a link to a hands-on review of one of them.

After trying one of the Aspire One systems and evaluating the thoughts from JKOnTheRun, I remain sold on my Asus Eee PC. Its display is too small to use as my primary laptop, but as a Wi-Fi enabled browsing and writing system for use around the house it's great, for very little money.

You can buy the Asus Eee PCs at Target for $299 and $349 now with tons of open source applications pre-installed. The Acer Aspire One systems are also now available at Circuit City. Asus forecasts that it will sell five million of the Eee PCs this year, putting OpenOffice, Firefox, and tons of other open source applications in front of kids going back to school, in Wi-Fi ready homes, and in the hands of workers. Who says open source can't go mainstream?

• Asus
• Eee PC
• Acer

by http://acernetbook.net/ on Dec. 11, 2008

These netbooks are getting better and cheaper every year. With the way the economy is going, I wouldn't be surprised that these will sell more than your regular lappys.

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