Another hopefully simple question :-D (WinXP and Laptop)

[Dingwhistle]

I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this W98
newsgroup.

NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
agree).
She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.

I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get her a
new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to WinXP
Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.

Thanks for your patience and help.

[philo]

"Dingwhistle" > wrote in message
...
> I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
W98
> newsgroup.
>
> NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
> wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
> agree).
> She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.
>
> I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get her
a
> new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to
WinXP
> Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
>
> Thanks for your patience and help.
>
>
>


You should really ask on an XP (Hardware)-related group...
but FWIW you can still get laptops with XP


Have a look on NewEgg.

BTW: Though I personally prefer XP to Vista...the little experience I have
with Vista
has shown that it will probably run fine on any machine with at least 2 gigs
of RAM and a dual-core CPU.

I would not purchase a Vista machine with the intent of re-loading it with
XP...
you may have a problem finding drivers and in general it just seems like a
waste of effort.

[philo]

"Dingwhistle" > wrote in message
...
> I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
W98
> newsgroup.
>
> NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
> wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
> agree).
> She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.
>
> I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get her
a
> new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to
WinXP
> Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
>
> Thanks for your patience and help.
>
>
>


You should really ask on an XP (Hardware)-related group...
but FWIW you can still get laptops with XP


Have a look on NewEgg.

BTW: Though I personally prefer XP to Vista...the little experience I have
with Vista
has shown that it will probably run fine on any machine with at least 2 gigs
of RAM and a dual-core CPU.

I would not purchase a Vista machine with the intent of re-loading it with
XP...
you may have a problem finding drivers and in general it just seems like a
waste of effort.

[Dingwhistle]

<in-line>
"philo" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dingwhistle" wrote in message
> ...
> > I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
> W98
> > newsgroup.
> >
> > NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally).
She
> > wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
> > agree).
> > She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.
> >
> > I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get
her
> a
> > new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to
> WinXP
> > Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
> >
> > Thanks for your patience and help.
> >
>
> You should really ask on an XP (Hardware)-related group...
> but FWIW you can still get laptops with XP

Yes; you're probably right. Maybe the old W98 newsgroup denizens in large
part have migrated there.
>
>
> Have a look on NewEgg.

Will do. Prefer a Dell with XP Pro (or home, as a second choice).
>
> BTW: Though I personally prefer XP to Vista...the little experience I have
> with Vista
> has shown that it will probably run fine on any machine with at least 2
gigs
> of RAM and a dual-core CPU.

Sounds "high-end", and OK, but still - do not want Vista.
>
> I would not purchase a Vista machine with the intent of re-loading it with
> XP...
> you may have a problem finding drivers and in general it just seems like a
> waste of effort.

Good point, but...even now ... so soon ? I can still find most drivers for
W98se.(albeit with difficulty on occasion) What about getting them from my
existing XP Pro machine and Setup Disk.

Thanks.
Dingwhistle
>
>

[Dingwhistle]

<in-line>
"philo" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dingwhistle" wrote in message
> ...
> > I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
> W98
> > newsgroup.
> >
> > NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally).
She
> > wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
> > agree).
> > She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.
> >
> > I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get
her
> a
> > new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to
> WinXP
> > Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
> >
> > Thanks for your patience and help.
> >
>
> You should really ask on an XP (Hardware)-related group...
> but FWIW you can still get laptops with XP

Yes; you're probably right. Maybe the old W98 newsgroup denizens in large
part have migrated there.
>
>
> Have a look on NewEgg.

Will do. Prefer a Dell with XP Pro (or home, as a second choice).
>
> BTW: Though I personally prefer XP to Vista...the little experience I have
> with Vista
> has shown that it will probably run fine on any machine with at least 2
gigs
> of RAM and a dual-core CPU.

Sounds "high-end", and OK, but still - do not want Vista.
>
> I would not purchase a Vista machine with the intent of re-loading it with
> XP...
> you may have a problem finding drivers and in general it just seems like a
> waste of effort.

Good point, but...even now ... so soon ? I can still find most drivers for
W98se.(albeit with difficulty on occasion) What about getting them from my
existing XP Pro machine and Setup Disk.

Thanks.
Dingwhistle
>
>

[philo]

<snip>
> >
> > You should really ask on an XP (Hardware)-related group...
> > but FWIW you can still get laptops with XP
>
> Yes; you're probably right. Maybe the old W98 newsgroup denizens in large
> part have migrated there.
> >
> >
> > Have a look on NewEgg.
>
> Will do. Prefer a Dell with XP Pro (or home, as a second choice).
> >
That would be as simple as just going to their site...
I have no idea what they currently offer.

> > BTW: Though I personally prefer XP to Vista...the little experience I
have
> > with Vista
> > has shown that it will probably run fine on any machine with at least 2
> gigs
> > of RAM and a dual-core CPU.
>
> Sounds "high-end", and OK, but still - do not want Vista.


Not really.
dual core CPU and 2 gigs of RAM is pretty standard today.
As a matter of fact, I recently built a dual core machine mostly from parts
I had in my junkbox <G>

A quad core CPU with a 64bit OS and 8 gigs of RAM
is more what's considered hi-end today .
(Don't forget the $700 video card)
> >
> > I would not purchase a Vista machine with the intent of re-loading it
with
> > XP...
> > you may have a problem finding drivers and in general it just seems like
a
> > waste of effort.
>
> Good point, but...even now ... so soon ? I can still find most drivers for
> W98se.(albeit with difficulty on occasion) What about getting them from my
> existing XP Pro machine and Setup Disk.
>


If you go with all new H/W on a *desktop* machine, I'm sure XP drivers would
be available (no guarantee)...
but with a lap top...you really need to do your homework carefully to see if
the drivers are available.
The mfg's do not necessarily support XP anymore...so check first.

[philo]

<snip>
> >
> > You should really ask on an XP (Hardware)-related group...
> > but FWIW you can still get laptops with XP
>
> Yes; you're probably right. Maybe the old W98 newsgroup denizens in large
> part have migrated there.
> >
> >
> > Have a look on NewEgg.
>
> Will do. Prefer a Dell with XP Pro (or home, as a second choice).
> >
That would be as simple as just going to their site...
I have no idea what they currently offer.

> > BTW: Though I personally prefer XP to Vista...the little experience I
have
> > with Vista
> > has shown that it will probably run fine on any machine with at least 2
> gigs
> > of RAM and a dual-core CPU.
>
> Sounds "high-end", and OK, but still - do not want Vista.


Not really.
dual core CPU and 2 gigs of RAM is pretty standard today.
As a matter of fact, I recently built a dual core machine mostly from parts
I had in my junkbox <G>

A quad core CPU with a 64bit OS and 8 gigs of RAM
is more what's considered hi-end today .
(Don't forget the $700 video card)
> >
> > I would not purchase a Vista machine with the intent of re-loading it
with
> > XP...
> > you may have a problem finding drivers and in general it just seems like
a
> > waste of effort.
>
> Good point, but...even now ... so soon ? I can still find most drivers for
> W98se.(albeit with difficulty on occasion) What about getting them from my
> existing XP Pro machine and Setup Disk.
>


If you go with all new H/W on a *desktop* machine, I'm sure XP drivers would
be available (no guarantee)...
but with a lap top...you really need to do your homework carefully to see if
the drivers are available.
The mfg's do not necessarily support XP anymore...so check first.

[FromTheRafters[_2_]]

"Dingwhistle" > wrote in message
...
>I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
>W98
> newsgroup.
>
> NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
> wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
> agree).

Why?

[FromTheRafters[_2_]]

"Dingwhistle" > wrote in message
...
>I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
>W98
> newsgroup.
>
> NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
> wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
> agree).

Why?

[rebel]

On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:22:46 -0700, "Dingwhistle" >
wrote:

>I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this W98
>newsgroup.
>
>NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
>wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
>agree).
>She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.
>
>I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get her a
>new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to WinXP
>Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
>
>Thanks for your patience and help.

I'd certainly recommend Dell before I'd consider an HP. And Dell offer the XP
"downgrade" as a "standard" option (oxymoron?). My SWMBO was in that same
position back in August, and we grabbed a Dell Vostro 1400 with XP. Came with
licensing and media for both XP pro and Vista something, so if ever you get
tempted by the extreme dark side you have that available.

[rebel]

On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:22:46 -0700, "Dingwhistle" >
wrote:

>I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this W98
>newsgroup.
>
>NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
>wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
>agree).
>She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.
>
>I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get her a
>new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to WinXP
>Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
>
>Thanks for your patience and help.

I'd certainly recommend Dell before I'd consider an HP. And Dell offer the XP
"downgrade" as a "standard" option (oxymoron?). My SWMBO was in that same
position back in August, and we grabbed a Dell Vostro 1400 with XP. Came with
licensing and media for both XP pro and Vista something, so if ever you get
tempted by the extreme dark side you have that available.

[MEB[_2_]]

Hmm, seems I kickin' myself recently....

It depends upon her experience. IF she has relatively little experience use
VISTA. It happens to be [at least the home versions] one of Microsoft's
easiest OSs for a newbie to use. It is *relatively* secure once you get it
updated and add Anti-SpyWare and Anti-Virus applications.
Many computers come with Norton Suite installed, which isn't that good IMO,
nor does it rate very high in testing. Might want to look at a different
firewall as well.
Forget Microsoft One Care, it comes out a the bottom of most testing.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org
a Peoples' counsel

Windows diagnostics/Security/Networking:
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
_ _
~~
"Dingwhistle" > wrote in message
...
| I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
W98
| newsgroup.
|
| NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
| wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
| agree).
| She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.
|
| I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get her
a
| new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to
WinXP
| Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
|
| Thanks for your patience and help.
|
|
|

[MEB[_2_]]

Hmm, seems I kickin' myself recently....

It depends upon her experience. IF she has relatively little experience use
VISTA. It happens to be [at least the home versions] one of Microsoft's
easiest OSs for a newbie to use. It is *relatively* secure once you get it
updated and add Anti-SpyWare and Anti-Virus applications.
Many computers come with Norton Suite installed, which isn't that good IMO,
nor does it rate very high in testing. Might want to look at a different
firewall as well.
Forget Microsoft One Care, it comes out a the bottom of most testing.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org
a Peoples' counsel

Windows diagnostics/Security/Networking:
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
_ _
~~
"Dingwhistle" > wrote in message
...
| I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
W98
| newsgroup.
|
| NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
| wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
| agree).
| She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.
|
| I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get her
a
| new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to
WinXP
| Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
|
| Thanks for your patience and help.
|
|
|

[Don Phillipson[_5_]]

"Dingwhistle" > wrote in message
...

> NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
> wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
> agree). . . . I know nothing about Laptops.

You can be guided by your wife's preferences. It sounds as if she
wants a laptop more as a toy than a tool (viz. she did not say she
wants to use it to record genealogy or calculate curtain fabric or
collect music.) Secondly because this is a gift you may consider
the cuteness factor i.e. what she would say when she opened the box..

For all these reasons I would recommend an ASUS Eee mini-laptop
which is half the price, half the size and half the weight of HP
laptops, but probably equally functional for her purposes. Although
small, the display screen and keyboard are of better quality than
the market ever expected in 2008. Eee PCs now are sold with
either Linux or WinXP OS and chip or disc drives of various sizes
and I think Wi-Fi connection is built into all models. They use
standard rechargeable batteries, one reason for the light weight
and are available in various colours.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

[Don Phillipson[_5_]]

"Dingwhistle" > wrote in message
...

> NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
> wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
> agree). . . . I know nothing about Laptops.

You can be guided by your wife's preferences. It sounds as if she
wants a laptop more as a toy than a tool (viz. she did not say she
wants to use it to record genealogy or calculate curtain fabric or
collect music.) Secondly because this is a gift you may consider
the cuteness factor i.e. what she would say when she opened the box..

For all these reasons I would recommend an ASUS Eee mini-laptop
which is half the price, half the size and half the weight of HP
laptops, but probably equally functional for her purposes. Although
small, the display screen and keyboard are of better quality than
the market ever expected in 2008. Eee PCs now are sold with
either Linux or WinXP OS and chip or disc drives of various sizes
and I think Wi-Fi connection is built into all models. They use
standard rechargeable batteries, one reason for the light weight
and are available in various colours.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

(Interleaved posting)

In message >, Dingwhistle
> writes:
[]
>> > I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
>> W98
>> > newsgroup.

(Not by me you're not.)
>> >
>> > NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally).
>She
>> > wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
>> > agree).

I agree with the others on asking what experience she has - if little,
Vista is probably better (certainly more future-proof). However, if what
she wants ...

>> > She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.

There's some evidence that the various "badges" share common parts
anyway ...
>> >
>> > I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get

Microsoft have more or less stopped the manufacturers putting XP on
anything above a certain specification, though some manufacturers will
get round it by using the "downgrade" option that is really intended for
businesses (who have a valid reason not to want to go Vista). I think
the maximum spec. is: single processor, 1G RAM, and (for machines with
built-in screen) about 10" display. (Of course, nothing to stop you
buying one such and then adding more RAM, provided you get one that can
take more.)

>her
>> a
>> > new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to
>> WinXP
>> > Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
>> >
>> > Thanks for your patience and help.
>> >
>>
>> You should really ask on an XP (Hardware)-related group...
>> but FWIW you can still get laptops with XP
>
>Yes; you're probably right. Maybe the old W98 newsgroup denizens in large
>part have migrated there.
>>
I'm here ... (-:
>>
>> Have a look on NewEgg.
>
>Will do. Prefer a Dell with XP Pro (or home, as a second choice).
>>
>> BTW: Though I personally prefer XP to Vista...the little experience I have
>> with Vista
>> has shown that it will probably run fine on any machine with at least 2
>gigs
>> of RAM and a dual-core CPU.
>
>Sounds "high-end", and OK, but still - do not want Vista.

Does to me too (though as another has said, not really these days).
>>
>> I would not purchase a Vista machine with the intent of re-loading it with
>> XP...
>> you may have a problem finding drivers and in general it just seems like a
>> waste of effort.

I'd second that. Plus, you'd be paying more.
>
>Good point, but...even now ... so soon ? I can still find most drivers for
>W98se.(albeit with difficulty on occasion) What about getting them from my
>existing XP Pro machine and Setup Disk.

Not for (a) new (b) laptops.
>
>Thanks.
>Dingwhistle
>>
>>
>
>
As another has said, have a look at "netbooks"; the cuteness factor may
well cut in, too. They _are_ cute, and available in at least a nice dark
blue as well as black and white (I think there may be a pink one out
there too). They are (because of the above maximum specification) the
only machines available _new_ with XP now, but that minimum spec. - plus
the built-in wifi, webcam, (some models) card reader, etc. - is above
what XP was initially designed for, and (by all accounts - I haven't got
one yet) more than adequate for most purposes.

Note that they _don't_ have an optical drive, though will work fine with
an external USB one.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P--Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"Forget computers; it's hard enough getting humans to pass the Turing test."
- David Bedno

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

(Interleaved posting)

In message >, Dingwhistle
> writes:
[]
>> > I hope I'm not overdoing my requests for WinXP related questions in this
>> W98
>> > newsgroup.

(Not by me you're not.)
>> >
>> > NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally).
>She
>> > wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
>> > agree).

I agree with the others on asking what experience she has - if little,
Vista is probably better (certainly more future-proof). However, if what
she wants ...

>> > She says she heard H-P are good laptops. I know nothing about Laptops.

There's some evidence that the various "badges" share common parts
anyway ...
>> >
>> > I see there are very few Laptops which have XP anymore. If I can't get

Microsoft have more or less stopped the manufacturers putting XP on
anything above a certain specification, though some manufacturers will
get round it by using the "downgrade" option that is really intended for
businesses (who have a valid reason not to want to go Vista). I think
the maximum spec. is: single processor, 1G RAM, and (for machines with
built-in screen) about 10" display. (Of course, nothing to stop you
buying one such and then adding more RAM, provided you get one that can
take more.)

>her
>> a
>> > new Laptop having XP and only can get one with Vista, can I revert to
>> WinXP
>> > Pro on it ? Most likely (?) the warranty will become void, I suppose.
>> >
>> > Thanks for your patience and help.
>> >
>>
>> You should really ask on an XP (Hardware)-related group...
>> but FWIW you can still get laptops with XP
>
>Yes; you're probably right. Maybe the old W98 newsgroup denizens in large
>part have migrated there.
>>
I'm here ... (-:
>>
>> Have a look on NewEgg.
>
>Will do. Prefer a Dell with XP Pro (or home, as a second choice).
>>
>> BTW: Though I personally prefer XP to Vista...the little experience I have
>> with Vista
>> has shown that it will probably run fine on any machine with at least 2
>gigs
>> of RAM and a dual-core CPU.
>
>Sounds "high-end", and OK, but still - do not want Vista.

Does to me too (though as another has said, not really these days).
>>
>> I would not purchase a Vista machine with the intent of re-loading it with
>> XP...
>> you may have a problem finding drivers and in general it just seems like a
>> waste of effort.

I'd second that. Plus, you'd be paying more.
>
>Good point, but...even now ... so soon ? I can still find most drivers for
>W98se.(albeit with difficulty on occasion) What about getting them from my
>existing XP Pro machine and Setup Disk.

Not for (a) new (b) laptops.
>
>Thanks.
>Dingwhistle
>>
>>
>
>
As another has said, have a look at "netbooks"; the cuteness factor may
well cut in, too. They _are_ cute, and available in at least a nice dark
blue as well as black and white (I think there may be a pink one out
there too). They are (because of the above maximum specification) the
only machines available _new_ with XP now, but that minimum spec. - plus
the built-in wifi, webcam, (some models) card reader, etc. - is above
what XP was initially designed for, and (by all accounts - I haven't got
one yet) more than adequate for most purposes.

Note that they _don't_ have an optical drive, though will work fine with
an external USB one.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P--Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"Forget computers; it's hard enough getting humans to pass the Turing test."
- David Bedno

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message >, Don Phillipson
> writes:
>"Dingwhistle" > wrote in message
...
>
>> NOW... my wife suddenly wants a computer NOW; right now. (naturally). She
>> wants a Laptop... and she thinks she'd prefer WinXP instead of Vista (I
>> agree). . . . I know nothing about Laptops.
>
>You can be guided by your wife's preferences. It sounds as if she
>wants a laptop more as a toy than a tool (viz. she did not say she
>wants to use it to record genealogy or calculate curtain fabric or
>collect music.) Secondly because this is a gift you may consider
>the cuteness factor i.e. what she would say when she opened the box..

I guess you were just speaking generally, but I don't see why a netbook
shouldn't be fine for any of those 3 (I keep my genealogy records on
this 400 MHz 128M 20G win98 laptop, and have a fair proportion of my
record collection on it too; I haven't got into curtains yet ...)
>
>For all these reasons I would recommend an ASUS Eee mini-laptop

The industry seems to be calling them "netbooks" now. Asus led the way,
but there are several, mostly identical (some in fact being stores' own
brand labels - in the UK "Advent" which is PCWorld/Currys own name, and
also Medion, which is mostly sold through Aldi supermarkets but may be
available elsewhere; both have a clone of the device originally released
as the MSI Wind U100 - the Advent 4211, and the Medion E1210, if I've
remembered the model numbers correctly). Asus sort of flooded the market
with umpteen different variants, having 7, 8.9, or 10" screens, with
varying amounts of memory, storage (using flash memory rather than HD on
the lower capacity ones), operating systems (Linux or XP), and colours.

The XP ones all seem to be: 8.9" or 10.1", 1.6G processor, 1G RAM (a few
only 1/2 - watch out), webcam/mic, 3 USB2, (some models) card slot,
wifi, 80 or 120G HD. Keyboard to match screen size (except the 7" ones
aren't _that_ diddy, as the screens have a broad bezel). I think there's
a top of the range one that has wireless internet (not just wifi, but
actually connection to one of the mobile networks) built in; all of them
will work with the USB dongles the mobile networks are pushing.

>which is half the price, half the size and half the weight of HP
>laptops, but probably equally functional for her purposes. Although
>small, the display screen and keyboard are of better quality than
>the market ever expected in 2008. Eee PCs now are sold with

The 9 and 10" ones are 1024x600 pixels (i. e. widescreen), the 7" I
think 800x400. I agree, they're good displays: I found the difference
between the 9 and 10" much less than I was expecting, probably due to
them being the same resolution.

>either Linux or WinXP OS and chip or disc drives of various sizes
>and I think Wi-Fi connection is built into all models. They use
>standard rechargeable batteries, one reason for the light weight

If you mean AA cells, that's not the case for the ones on offer in the
UK - they use a battery pack much like other laptops. Reviews mention a
"6-cell" one that lasts longer, but all the ones I've physically seen
have the "3-cell" that is nominally about 3 hours, in fact about 2.

>and are available in various colours.
>
Agreed.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P--Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"Forget computers; it's hard enough getting humans to pass the Turing test."
- David Bedno