Selling fast in the USA is the
ASUS eee PC mini notebook.
It will begin selling in Myer Sydney on December 1st 2007 for
AU$499. It should be in other Myer Stores around Australia the day after.
It comes comes with a version of the linux operating system by Xandros. Later versions will appear sporting Win xp.
The initial linux version of the 'Eee PC 4G' available in australia will come with:
- 7" display 800x480
- Linux Operating System. Graphic user interface for simplicity and ease of use. Over 40 built-in applications. These include OpenOffice and Mozzilla. (The unit is also user installable WinXP compatible. Additional xp licence required.)
- WiFi and LAN
- 4GB soldis state disk drive + Durable, shock-proof solid-state design.
- VGA Camera
- Hi-Definition audio, Stereo speakers and Microphone.
- Battery 4 Cells: 5200 mAh, approx 3.5hrs.
- Weight 0.92 kg
- Memory card slot, 3 usb ports, ext monitor port, lan port, mic jack, headphone jack and ac adapter (included) jack.
- Touchpad.
I noted that Xandros have listed the Philips PCVC840K "ToUCam Pro II" as compatible with their operating system.
Linux compatable Astro software can be found at
http://www.astrotips.com/
This includes linux versions of AstroStack 3, Field of View Calculator, Eyepiece Projection Calculator, QastroCam (for Philips webcams), GCX, AudeLA, Stellarium and others.
Whether the linux versions of these programs are compatable is yet to be seen. The same can be said for the Sky Chart / Cartes du Ciel program in its linux incarnation.
Anyway the Asus Eeee sounds very exciting for astronomy being a small lite inexpensive mini notebook.
