Eee PC gave notebook-like mobility to the people who require little more than that. But I doubt many people will buy lackluster all-in-one desktop for $500, especially when they can have a fully capable modern PC for the same amount of money, save for the display.

There's a troll wart who's on my mind, for a little time, tessss-tudo; he has a knee jerk mind tessss-tudo he has nothing but time tessss-tudo Live from Mommy's basement! Well can't spend all day here myself, I best get back to work.

"It's nice to argue that 'It doesn't run OS X, so who cares', but they aren't making the computers for you (the mac-elite who believe nothing can be done better then what Apple puts out), so they don't care what you think either."

I can also buy a $20 tennis racket at Sports Authority but for my needs a $150 one is the only way to go. I can't very well go against other 5.0 players with that $20 number, it's just not up to it. But it's fine for hackers until they improve.

As for the unnecessary mac-elite comment... Are you saying this is potentially a "better" machine than a Mac yet somehow much much cheaper? If not then what's your point other than the obligatory dig that you can't live without?

Why is every new thing an **Insert Apple Product Here** killer? If price was the driving force behind consumer spending, the Mac mini would be flying off the shelves. It's not. It does well but, it's not Apple's best selling computer. Last I checked, the iMac and the MacBooks are. They cost well over the price of a Mac mini.

The problem with the mac mini is the fact that, looking at it, it doesn't look like a 'real' computer (to whom apple's marketing it to), and to those who are looking for a first one, it lacks, well, everything (no keyboard, no mouse, no monitor).

I can also buy a $20 tennis racket at Sports Authority but for my needs a $150 one is the only way to go. I can't very well go against other 5.0 players with that $20 number, it's just not up to it. But it's fine for hackers until they improve.

And that's the point. Most people don't need a high-end piece of hardware when all they do is surf the net and read email. So why spend $1000-$2000 when they can spend $300-$1000?

And for most people, a $20 racket will do just fine, for they won't get past the "I'm just playing tennis" phase and into anything serious where they go "h***, I even understand his 5.0 comment!".

As for the unnecessary mac-elite comment... Are you saying this is potentially a "better" machine than a Mac yet somehow much much cheaper? If not then what's your point other than the obligatory dig that you can't live without?

I'm not saying it's a better machine, but unlike many others, I also won't discount it for superfluous reasons such as looks or what OS, since most people could care less what OS they're running (and notice these would be running Linux, not windows).

And so it's OK to make an unnecessary dig on a product because it doesn't run OS X (which is what they were doing), but not OK to make a dig at those who make those comments?

"And you break your own point. Most people don't have those resources, and can't afford to make the puck's food as well as he. Same goes with computers. Most can't afford to pay the extra for the 'experience' of a mac, mainly because Apple refuses to "lower" itself to that market. "

And you make my point beautifully, testudo, by missing the point as usual - we aren't talking about people buying Macs ... we're talking about ASUS' ability to design an iMac killer. And in that case, ASUS is clearly the 12 year-old competing in Wolfgang's world.

"And that's the point." uh, yeah, that's what I said.

"And so it's OK to make an unnecessary dig on a product..." uh, yeah, it's a frickin product. I ride a Gary Fisher, not a Huffy, because I think it's better all around. I'm not going to ride something that doesn't have quality components. You want to ride around on that, go ahead, but not me. It's not safe, you'll have mechanical failures, etc., but hey, it's cheap. Am I an elitist now?

And you make my point beautifully, testudo, by missing the point as usual - we aren't talking about people buying Macs ... we're talking about ASUS' ability to design an iMac killer. And in that case, ASUS is clearly the 12 year-old competing in Wolfgang's world.

Then that shows your own foolishness, since why is anyone even making comments on the 'x**-killers'. The only people calling it that are MacNN/Electronista. Everyone knows that, but, hey, if that's what gets you off, have fun.

"... who's the bigger fool: the fool, or the fool who follows him?"

Seems you have more posts here than anyone.

I ride a Gary Fisher, not a Huffy, because I think it's better all around. I'm not going to ride something that doesn't have quality components. You want to ride around on that, go ahead, but not me. It's not safe, you'll have mechanical failures, etc., but hey, it's cheap. Am I an elitist now?

Yes, if you don't think there's a reason to buy a Huffy, or understand that some people can't afford a gary fisher bike, or don't want to spend the money on that.

And that's the type of people who generally comment about everything not-mac. To the people here, you'd think Apple was the only person making a computer, and there's no reason to buy anything else.

No one buys an iMac because it's the cheapest computer they could find. The people I know who have switched to Macs (and it's a surprising number of my friends and family over the past few years) all did so because of the "it just works" aspect of owning a Mac (that's the switchers talking, not me the long-time Mac die-hard).

There is no conceivable way that a cheap Linux box lures anyway away from an iMac. 1) The iMac is popular specifically because it's runs a great OS; 2) iMac buyers don't have price as their top priority.

So this thing, while cool and interesting and relevant, is anything but an "iMac killer." Redmond has more to worry about from this than Cupertino.

"Yes, if you don't think there's a reason to buy a Huffy, or understand that some people can't afford a gary fisher bike, or don't want to spend the money on that."

There's an uneasy assumption on your part. It doesn't seem to occur to you that people may choose a product because of it's quality and shun others because of its lack of. It's always social or intellectual pretension with you.

I choose a Gary Fisher and shun the others for that very reason - quality. If someone says that it doesn't have OS X then that's a very valid reason for not buying something for them. If I say if it doesn't have Shimano components then its' not for me, that does not make me an elitist. If I pass judement on those that choose lesser then I am. Passing judgement on the product does not.

Been a die-hard Mac fan since '86. I built my very first PC rig (for gaming) using many Asus parts, and I can't complain. Wanting an Ultra Portable replacement for my aging TiBook, I was pretty disappointed with the MacBook Air. It's just too big. I need something small for all the air traveling I do. I can't even open my TiBook on half the aircraft that I fly on.

So, I ordered an Asus EEE PC from NewEgg. I should have it Thurs, and I'm as excited as a teenage girl with tickets to Hannah Montana! It's too bad that I won't run OS X (although hacks are out there), Linux is my #2 choice. Windows is certainly my last.

Cheers, Grendelmon

....the previous post may be viewed as a TiBook killer. Where has this thread taken us?

Why should anyone bother to "kill" something that has a marketshare equivalent to a line on the pie chart?

Tiger or Leopard natively ?

Its true that Microsoft has more to fear form Linux then apple. MS has dropped the price of XP to $40 to get asus to install it on the japanese eeepc. Around the world the machine has sold over 300000 units. They are not cheap and S*****, the build is much more solid thn my IBM desktop at work. The flavour of Linux that comes installed on the eeepc laptops is to simple to do anything but web surfing, music and divx. Its not designed for Photoshop or video editing. That said its free and easy to install a top notch Linux distro like ubuntu or even an optimised version called eeexubuntu. Over all mac zealots should embrace any machine that eats away at Microsofts monopoly. Living in a Microsoft only world is the most annoying thing about using a Mac. I used a mac from LCII to 12" Powerbook, since then it has been all Linux. Its a great OS that can be poked and proded in to any shape or form. The fact that it runs google.com and my eeepc is testament to that fact.

Nat are you trying to tell us that you are a discerning consumer and therefore a superior human being?

Seems pretty pointless in the anonymity of a web forum.

We don't know you from a bar of soap and can't see the designer labels sewn on the outside of your clothes as you pose with your expensive tennis racket on your exclusive bicycle.

But then again being a forum dweller that's probably just your avatar! In reality you are grossly obese, ride an electric scooter and are dressed by WalMart.