Today is the first day of my masters class and I've brought with me the EEE because on of the readings is a PDF file. The wireless internet connection is relatively easy to access here and would seem to be pretty easy for students if they are taught how to do it for the first time. All one has to do is click on the little signal icon on the bottom right status bar and find the router to connect to.
As for the PDF, Xandros-lite(as I will continue to call this OS on the EEE), uses Adobe Reader to open the PDF files. Reader runs relatively smoothly and usually comes free with any OS. The benefit is that it can read any PDFs but cannot make PDFs. Then again, there are other programs out there that can do that that are free (but it doesn't seem too easy to add these programs to Xandros-lite, if they make them for this OS). Adobe reader is excellent but with a smaller PC, the text(if very small) needs to be zoomed in. Otherwise, it runs relatively smoothly. There is another PDF reading program on Ubuntu that runs very smoothly as well in terms of scrolling which I can't remember right now.
The other window I have open is a powerpoint presentation I have for the first class. Xandros-lite uses StarOffice(a kind of multiple software suite with a liking to Microsoft Office or OpenOffice) to open PDF files and runs relatively smoothly. Again, the smallness of the EEE might make the text hard to read if there is a good amount of text on the slide, but making the presentation full screen really helps. Writing notes on the PDF may be kind of difficult though as it makes the screen extremely tiny with the top half showing the slide and the bottom half allowing you to type. The problem with this is that you literally cannot read any of the text. It's way too tiny. I would probably open another word processing program to take notes on instead.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Asus, Xandros, Ubuntu
So i've been doing a bit of reading since I last posted and I realize that I mentioned the OS(operating system) on the netbook is Xandros. Technically, this is not quite true. It turns out, this is a specific OS made for the Asus EEE laptops when first introduced and was helped in part by the Xandros developers.
Some dub this OS as Xandros-lite as it is a rather simplistic OS without too many demanding features but has hints of Xandros. Actually, it is possible to install Xandros onto the netbook but that will take a bit more difficulty.
Xandros and this netbook's OS are both distributions of Linux. Xandros itself is a commercial release while this netbook's OS exists similarly. Of course, beyond Xandros, there are many different distributions of the Linux kernal. There is RedHat, OpenSuSe, Ubuntu and many more. Many companies use these different distributions of Linux mostly because of the ability to custom design software that is especially suited for the company. Case in point, Virgin America, the airline owned by Sir Richard Branson, has an in-flight piece of software called RED which is built upon RedHat and is in the front of every seat of the plane.
The beauty of OpenSuSe and Ubuntu is that both distributions are open source. This means that both distribtions of the OS are free and accessible to the public. The reason being is that it allows others to actually see the source code of these distributions and make improvements upon them or to add different software to the distribution. This is, in my opinion, a brilliant idea. While it is a bit more difficult to work on, I liken it to Wikipedia. While it may not be the end-all-be-all source for knowledge, it is a very robust living encyclopedia that the internet community continually works on and updates. I believe that these open source distributions are similar as there many mavens out there that have interest in programming and using different types of software. It would be extremely boring if there was only a two party system (Windows&Mac) and there are those who will be willing to play around with and work together to make some creative stuff.
In my opinion, Xandros-lite is a bit too simplistic, but this is with someone who is a good amount more knowledgeable with computers than a starting learner.
Some dub this OS as Xandros-lite as it is a rather simplistic OS without too many demanding features but has hints of Xandros. Actually, it is possible to install Xandros onto the netbook but that will take a bit more difficulty.
Xandros and this netbook's OS are both distributions of Linux. Xandros itself is a commercial release while this netbook's OS exists similarly. Of course, beyond Xandros, there are many different distributions of the Linux kernal. There is RedHat, OpenSuSe, Ubuntu and many more. Many companies use these different distributions of Linux mostly because of the ability to custom design software that is especially suited for the company. Case in point, Virgin America, the airline owned by Sir Richard Branson, has an in-flight piece of software called RED which is built upon RedHat and is in the front of every seat of the plane.
The beauty of OpenSuSe and Ubuntu is that both distributions are open source. This means that both distribtions of the OS are free and accessible to the public. The reason being is that it allows others to actually see the source code of these distributions and make improvements upon them or to add different software to the distribution. This is, in my opinion, a brilliant idea. While it is a bit more difficult to work on, I liken it to Wikipedia. While it may not be the end-all-be-all source for knowledge, it is a very robust living encyclopedia that the internet community continually works on and updates. I believe that these open source distributions are similar as there many mavens out there that have interest in programming and using different types of software. It would be extremely boring if there was only a two party system (Windows&Mac) and there are those who will be willing to play around with and work together to make some creative stuff.
In my opinion, Xandros-lite is a bit too simplistic, but this is with someone who is a good amount more knowledgeable with computers than a starting learner.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Specs and photography
I believe that the closest specs I can find of the netbook I am currently using is can be found here.
When I first borrowed the netbook, I discovered that there was a SD card slot on the side. This I find interesting because I am interested in photography(visit my other blog: D40 Journal). I figured that instead of reading specs, why not take a few pictures of what I am working with.
Top view of the netbook. My phone is next to it to compare the size.
Comparison to a 15-17inch regular laptop.
A comparison of the two laptops open.
Opening screen
The size of the power supply. Its darned tiny.
I used photobucket to upload these pictures from a 6mp camera. Uploading the pictures showed me that a netbook is vastly different from a typical computer because it took a while for the upload the the lag did not allow me to use another tab to surf the net. Of course, one has to realize that this computer is not made for photo editing. This machine is for light use. It is good in it's own way.
The SD card slot was easy to use and acts exactly like a USB flash drive would, instantly allowing me access to the folders which contained the pictures. Gwenview is a built in program on Xandros that allows me to open the photos. Xandros is the built in OS for the netbook that I will discuss at a later time.
Aside from all of that, I am still trying to get comfortable with the keyboard. It is really tiny and I have big hands. I am almost tempted to get a separate mouse, but in the interest of adapting, I will do what I will for now.
When I first borrowed the netbook, I discovered that there was a SD card slot on the side. This I find interesting because I am interested in photography(visit my other blog: D40 Journal). I figured that instead of reading specs, why not take a few pictures of what I am working with.
Top view of the netbook. My phone is next to it to compare the size.
Comparison to a 15-17inch regular laptop.
A comparison of the two laptops open.
Opening screen
The size of the power supply. Its darned tiny.
I used photobucket to upload these pictures from a 6mp camera. Uploading the pictures showed me that a netbook is vastly different from a typical computer because it took a while for the upload the the lag did not allow me to use another tab to surf the net. Of course, one has to realize that this computer is not made for photo editing. This machine is for light use. It is good in it's own way.
The SD card slot was easy to use and acts exactly like a USB flash drive would, instantly allowing me access to the folders which contained the pictures. Gwenview is a built in program on Xandros that allows me to open the photos. Xandros is the built in OS for the netbook that I will discuss at a later time.
Aside from all of that, I am still trying to get comfortable with the keyboard. It is really tiny and I have big hands. I am almost tempted to get a separate mouse, but in the interest of adapting, I will do what I will for now.
Introduction
This is the first entry of hopefully many that I will write. The main purpose of this blog is to first understand the ability and capabilities of the Asus EEE netbook I am using currently and to see what it can do, especially in the case of educating.
I am currently borrowing this netbook from a professor where I will be studying soon. I've read a couple of his papers and I believe that technology and education will eventually need to come together and work together hand in hand. With information becoming so instant and vast, students have the access, especially with netbooks being introduced in schools. What needs to be worked on next is quality and critical learning.
The blog seemed like such a great idea because the main purpose of a computer designed as a netbook is to go online and be able to do simple functions like word processing, email, etc. This way, I am able to use the netbook to its full potential.
I am currently borrowing this netbook from a professor where I will be studying soon. I've read a couple of his papers and I believe that technology and education will eventually need to come together and work together hand in hand. With information becoming so instant and vast, students have the access, especially with netbooks being introduced in schools. What needs to be worked on next is quality and critical learning.
The blog seemed like such a great idea because the main purpose of a computer designed as a netbook is to go online and be able to do simple functions like word processing, email, etc. This way, I am able to use the netbook to its full potential.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)