Stretching the Fingers

On first sight we noticed noticeably bigger dimensions of touch pad than it was on its predecessor. On its belonging key there is notch that cuts it visually on left and right part. This little trick should help beginners in notebook world and prevent complete confusion that appeared with monolith shape of the same key (Eee PC 701). Touchpad brings one of most interesting novelties and bigger surface was needed for exploitation of that advanced possibility. Probably you are familiar with sensitive touch iPhone screen that can be used for assigning commands with two fingers. Something similar, now offers Asus Eee PC 900.

Behind “dual-touch gesture” name is hidden possibility for performing some operations by simultaneously moving two fingers on touchpad. Let’s say, if you move your fingers in different directions you will have same effect as Zoom tool, while bringing them closer will have opposite effect. Simultaneously moving two fingers up and down vertically and left and right horizontally will result as appropriate scroll. If you get used to this mode of “using” your fingers, you will not only speed up your work but you will make it very amusing.

Fine Adjustments

No one had complains on Xandros Linux that was installed on our Eee 701, and that’s the main reason why it is, in almost unchanged edition, once again used for Eee PC 900. Most menus have identical positions with adapted arrangement for bigger resolution (horizontal). You can install Windows XP on Eee PC 900 and on attached disc you can find all necessary drivers and software. “Dual-touch gesture” works even under XP, but whole system is much more responsive under Linux, as we expected.

Small web camera has 1.3MP resolution and picture quality is quite average. Because of bigger screen speakers are relocated on bottom side, which isn’t best possible solution. If you hold notebook in your lap, sound will be muffled but if you place it on some flat and firm surface situation will improved. Reproduced sound has a descent quality, if you pay attention on notebook’s location. As we expected, sound speakers don’t have big power but they have enough power for pleasant listening of music. Warming up of whole device exists, but temperature didn’t go sky-high, it was always in acceptable temperature range. One more thing is left to say: in package you will get grayish purse made from material that resembles deer suede.