ASUS eeePC 1000 for Programming ?

Question

Hello, I am a CS Student and am looking for a computing device for programming. I already own a desktop, and the choice I have is between a 10" - 1GB RAM- 160 GB HDD - 1.6 GHz Atom Processor - ASUS eeePC 1000 HE which comes for 400$

or a Notebook - mostly from DELL maybe an Inspiron 1535 which will set me back with close to 800-900 $

I have enough money saved for the NetBook but for the Notebook - I might need to wait for another Semester.

My programming needs are - Ruby on Rails, Web Development, LAMP (PHP,Perl, Python), C, C++, Java and Visual Studio. I don't do gaming or Photoshop or any other Graphics Intensive stuff.

Wanted to know suggestions about using a 10" netbook esp. the ASUS 1000 HE which has a MacBook style chiclet Keyboard for core programming.

Thanks !

Answer 1

Well, I've got the Samsung NC10 with 3G, and it's wonderful. I've got both Visual Studio 2008 and Eclipse installed, and while neither are particularly nippy, they're definitely usable.

My main laptop is a Dell Inspiron 1720 with a 17" screen and a dual core CPU. Nippier, but much bulkier. I use the netbook for my commute and my main laptop for prolonged work at home. (Having said that, I still use the netbook for quick checks of stuff - for instance, I'm using it now, despite being at home.)

I'd say the main factor in deciding whether to get a netbook or a "big" laptop is how much you're likely to want to travel with it.

EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention: if you go for a netbook, upgrade its memory immediately. Stuff as much as you can in it. That's hugely important for development.

Responding to the comment: if you're going to be using this for a month or two at a time, I would strongly consider getting a "proper" laptop. Netbooks are fine for occasional (or even frequent-but-brief) use, but I don't think I'd want to use it for prolonged stretches. If the travelling is occasional, the portability isn't as much of a problem. (Whereas I use my netbook on a train, bus and tube every day.)

Answer 2

I don't think I'd want to use Visual Studio on a 10" screen regularly.

Answer 3

I nearly bought a EEE PC last summer, and am glad I didnt'.

I went with a samsung Q210, which I got for £500 (about $730), which has a near-full size keyboard, and it was a much better buy (it's MUCH more powerful and therefore much faster to compile stuff).

The main problem with the EEEs and other netbooks is that any serious coding on them is really weird cus of the tiny buttons, but the thing that really gets me is that end and home tend to be function buttons or in weird places.

Answer 4

I have an EeePC 901 that I carry with me to and from school. So far it's been perfectly fine for every programming assignment I've been given, but most of them have been in C++ and Java.

I also use it to develop cross-platform applications. My 901 is currently running Eeebuntu, with Eclpise as an IDE. Eclipse starts up a little slowly but once it's up and running it's fine.

It looks like, except for the Visual Studio, you could use Eclipse as one IDE for all of your languages.

I probably should add that I also have a Windows machine at home that I use when I need a little more oomph. But for all my school assignments, the Eee has been fine.

Answer 5

The one thing that I would be concerned about is whether the keyboard is big enough to comfortably type on. Also, the lack of screen real estate could get in your way. That being said, I'm sure that it would have enough power to run everything decently.

Answer 6

i have an MSI U120 .. and i run pretty much all the same stuff on it that i run on my 17" HP laptop. The keyboard is something you can get used to. And altho its clearly slower than a core 2 duo, it's faster than I was expecting. I can run Apache and MySQL and Eclipse and Flex Builder - and they all operate fairly nicely. I've even tried Unity3D IDE on this thing with some success.

The 2 main problems with these Atom netbooks are

1. the screen size - 1024x600 is super cramped and not really made for busy IDE windows. Debugging can be pain because of this also
2. graphics power - they all have Intel 945 graphic accelerator currently and it just cannot handle any serious pixel pushing or hibitrate streaming video. Sites like Hulu are just not possible. My Papervision3D stuff runs kinda aslow too.

Finally, -not really related to capability for programming, but I need a game or 2 on my PC and these netbooks are kinda limited in that regard as well.

One thing I have NOT tried (really really) but which I understand is another reason why these netbooks are popular is they can be Hackintosh-ed pretty nicely. So if OSX is on your list of needs, something to .. consider?

Answer 7

I own a Eee 1000h and use it for light coding, but as people have already mentioned you're main concern is likely to be comfort more then power.

I find using the touch pad very awkward and avoid it as much as possible; turned out to be a good thing as it got me experimenting with other editors now vim is my main editor. The screen is a bit small for heavy weight IDE's (I've installed Net Beans and VS) and whilst usable it wasn't great.

Surprisingly the keyboard was reasonably comfortable once I got use it, being a touch smaller then your average keyboard meant slightly less movement and by no means do I have small hands.

The real problem if you plan on using VS on your netbook is resisting urges to install Linux on it, there is always wine.

Answer 8

it is ok but 10" it is too small !

Answer 9

Why not take advantage of the portability and sufficient computing power of the netbook, and to ameliorate the effect of the small screen (and keyboard?), why not just set up a docking station where you do most of your work? For the price of a regular laptop, you could get a nice netbook, monitor, keyboard, and mouse... right???