Can anyone give me advice on an Eee?

[JellybeansMom]

I just discovered this little "laptop" as I was browsing around the web today, and I am very intrigued.

I want something that I can surf the internet on when I'm not at home. I don't care if it has word or excel, or anything like that on it, and I don't care if I can store music on it, and I don't need a webcam. I just want to do my surveys, read my email, and surf, oh yeah, and visit OLS and sweep.

Would a basic Eee do this for me? I am pretty computer proficient when it comes to windows software programs, the web, etc., but I know nothing about the "guts" of a computer and what it is that I need to do what I want.

So, basically I just want to be able to be connected at any time, any place.

There is a green Surf version on Amazon for $299...is this something that would do what I am looking for? http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Screen-Celeron-Processor-Preloaded/dp/B001150JQ8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1209690783&sr=8-9

Oh yeah, and I've read a little about the Eees and Linux...what is that, and would I really need Windows XP because I saw a lot of arguments either way.

One more thing...I don't want to spend a bunch of $$$.

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

Please help!

[fastfreddie1959]

http://www.linux.org/info/index.html

[JellybeansMom]

http://www.linux.org/info/index.html


I understand that it's different, but I don't understand all of the technical stuff...that's why I'm here looking for help. I need someone to explain things to me in simpler terms...

Can anyone help?

[fastfreddie1959]

I understand that it's different, but I don't understand all of the technical stuff...that's why I'm here looking for help. I need someone to explain things to me in simpler terms...

Can anyone help?
Here's a dictionary of all the tech terms.
It would take months to try to explain what the difference is
in both OS's.
The only online dictionary and search engine you need for computer and Internet technology definitions.
http://www.webopedia.com/

[htg20]

Linux uses just like Windows. I mean I had never used Linux before and tried out a couple diff Linux versions (Ubuntu/Fedora) and didn't have any real problems. Those computers are supposed to be good and are in great demand if I'm not mistaken.

[lummer5000]

The Eee pc is available with XP.

The problem is that XP takes up a lot more memory than Linux.

I finally saw one of these in person. The keyboard is small. It's fine for Hunt-and-Peck typers, but touch typists' hands wont fit the keys. My fingers covered ASDFG, when on a standard keyboard, they only cover ASDF.

If you're comfortable with Firefox, just get it in Linux. You might get a few problems with websites that require IE, but most sweeps don't do that.

[redfantum]

A friend has one of these to play around on the internet on long breaks at work. It seems to fill that function quite well and is a lot easier to carry around than the rest of us with our full size laptops. I've been hoping to win one - it seems to be a nice toy.