It seems like every time I open up my Google Reader account, there’s news about another company that released a knock-off of my beloved Asus eeePC 4G Surf (701) (interestingly, it looks like eeepc.asus.com is down at the moment of writing). Even Asus has released numerous (I think the product like is now up to about 10 variations) follow-ups to the 7″ beauty, now up to 10″ in size (though, admittedly, I’m less-than-enthused about their Windows models).
With the new semester here, I am (unfortunately) back in class. And I’m very happy to report that I’m starting to see eeePCs in more and more hands. Granted, my classes are in the IT program, but I was quite surprised last night to be sitting in my Internet Security class and notice no less than four eeePCs in a class of about 25 people. While I’ve just relegated my own 4G to my server room bag, replacing it with a (used, surplus from work) IBM ThinkPad T41 (14.1″ display, 1.4GHz Pentium, 768MB RAM, and a DVD drive). Though my heart sank when I found that half of the eeePCs were running Windows, it seems that in my travels around campus, I’m seeing more and more eeePCs, and more laptops running Linux.
While the academic world has surely embraced new technologies, and non-mainstream technologies, quicker than other sectors (specifically considering Linux and the apparent popularity of the eeePC), it’s definitely a good omen. Seeing non-geek, and perhaps even non-CS and non-Engineering, students using Linux speaks quite well for the expansion of the Linux user base when these students graduate and enter the “real world”
Miscellaneous Geek Stuff asus, eeepc, linux
So, I’ve started a new OpenSuSE install on my eeePC. The 4GB SDHC card that I originally used was getting a bit cramped – I couldn’t even fit the kernel source! So, I bought a new 8GB SDHC card and started from scratch. I know that OpenSuSE 11 is coming up soon, but I just couldn’t wait, so I just used OpenSuSE 10.3 again.
I followed my previous how-to, and also am updating it with some new information – such as my xorg.conf. Most interestingly, though, I actually got MadWiFi to work with the Atheros AR5BXB63 on the eeePC! I haven’t tested everything yet (specifically WPA/WPA2) but it seems to work fine. I’ve updated my HowTo with the instructions, but mainly it hinges on using madwifi-ng-r2756+ar5007 (gzipped tarball) and compiling from source.
Note: This HowTo is based on the original eeePC 701 4G and OpenSuSE 10.3. It may not be needed for newer versions of OpenSuSE or newer versions of the eeePC.
Tech HowTos atheros, eeepc, madwifi, wifi, wireless
More to come sometime this week, when I have enough sanity and time to write.
In the mean time…
So it’s been two weeks since classes started again, and that means two weeks using my now-beloved eeePC 4G Surf (details in a previous post). Granted, I have my “desktop replacement” laptop (a Linux Certified LC2464) to use at my desk at home or at my apartment – though the “desktop replacement” really means that it’s easy to move from one desk to another.
So far, I really love it, but I have a few issues:
- I should have bought an 8GB SDHC card instead of the 4GB that I got – especially with a full install of OpenSuSE with Sun’s JDK and OpenOffice, the 2GB root partition is 99% full!
- After using a desktop for hours, it takes a few lines of text for my fingers to re-adjust to the small keyboard. Hopefully it’ll get easier with time.
- Unfortunately, I don’t have space for kernel headers or source, so I can’t compile the customized version of asus_acpi. I can’t find any binary packges, or binary kernel modules for my kernel version. That prevents me from using sleep/hibernate/suspend, and also means I don’t get accurate battery calculations. I’ve found from usage that the battery lasts 2-3 hours with wireless on and minimal screen brightness. Also, unfortunately, (maybe because of the ACPI issue?) if I dim the screen and then the screensaver comes on, when I log back in it resets to full brightness.
- As of this week, there’s still no MadWifi driver for the Atheros card in the 4G. I have to run it under Ndiswrapper. As a result, I can’t get monitor mode, so the eee is effectively useless for wireless site surveys and security work. There’s talk of a forthcoming MadWifi, but if nothing shows up, I may have to go with a USB adapter (I don’t want to void the warranty by swapping out the internal Mini-PCI adapter).
- Not a problem with the eeePC, but it seems like quite a few web sites that I’ve visited are horribly coded – with static screen sizes assumed. On the small screen on the eee, the biggest issue is when the first few characters of every line on some sites are cut off, thereby rendering the content illegible. This is an issue out of Asus’ control, but can be a hindrance to full use. I have, however, found that for many sites, switching FF to “full screen” mode (F11) helps.
Stay tuned for more, and some new scripts to automate wireless surveys, rogue AP detection, etc. And maybe even some work with autonomics and or configuration tools.
Reviews eeepc, linux
