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Asus Eee PC is No Longer Voided by Memory Upgrade
Posted by Mark Wilson at 9:00 AM on December 10, 2007
The Asus Eee PC has been a runaway hit. (Who would have thought that people would want small, cheap laptops?) The only real thing that users have been complaining about is the "warranty void if removed" sticker on the laptop's access panel, saying that users couldn't perform a simple memory installation without giving up their warranties. But today Asus has pulled off the dogs and decided that they won't unduly punish their loyal users who install extra RAM.
ASUS Computer International ("ASUS") recently received feedback from one of its valued customers with questions concerning the purpose of a seal stating, "Warranty Void If Removed" over the access door to the single SODIMM slot on some models of the ASUS Eee PC. ASUS wishes to assure its customers that merely breaking or removing this kind of seal will not void the ASUS Limited Warranty.They go on...
...ASUS will honour all other terms of its Limited Warranty and that it will not refuse warranty service simply because a customer has either broken a warranty seal, installed non-ASUS components or software, or because the customer's unit has been opened or serviced by a non-ASUS-approved service facility or by the user.Asus will also be ditching the current sticker for one that will merely "warn users that ASUS will not be responsible for the damage caused by improper hardware change." This is very good news, indeed. [asus via dailytech]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Yvette Grant
Posted December 15, 2007 7:32 AM
I just purchased one of the EEE mini computers. I loved it.
However I have a BIG problem.
When I tried to open a PowerPoint presentation that is password protected, I get the following error:
"Read-Error. The loading of password-encrypted Microsoft PowerPoint presentation is not supported"
I am a Trainer. My client\'s training materials are all password protected for obvious reasons.
I already have a laptop that is very tedious to travel around with. HENCE THE REASON I PURCHASED THIS BEAUTIFUL MINI PC.
I do not need or want XP or Microsoft on this machine (that is an option).
I can open Word files, Excel FIles and PowerPoint files without a problem as long as there isn\'t a password which most companies use for security reasons.
I am trying to get some technical help maybe a patch or some file. I have not been successful. So it is a disappointment for me. I am seriously thinking of returning it. I received it 3 days ago.
I am also trying to contact the company directly but to no avail.
It seems there should be a simple solution if this little baby was made to help professionals like me.
Junklord
Posted February 11, 2008 1:22 PM
Yvette, this seems to be a long-standing issue with OpenOffice.org. I tried opening a protected ppt in version 2.2 and received the same error as you. Perhaps you could ask at:
http://user.services.openoffice.org/en/forum/
I don't think you will find a quick solution though. The only other thing I can advise is to ask the client to password-protect the directories rather than the actual files or zip the files and password protect the .zip file.
HrPingui
Posted 7:23 PM 9/12/07
Which models can you upgrade with more RAM? I heard the surf ones have the RAM soldered in.
HrPingui
calaverasgrandes
Posted 6:16 PM 9/12/07
to be more of a Lenovo fanboy, I can pretty much replace everything short of the cpu and still be under warranty. Too bad my waranty expires in a couple weeks. Maybe I should take it bungee junping?
nah. Flying to NYC should be enough. Lets hope the TSA doesnt balk at all my weird music gear.
calaverasgrandes
oo0cyst0oo
Posted 6:08 PM 9/12/07
they opened the door for any kind of mod, on that right?
am i mistaken?
oo0cyst0oo
electrikecho
Posted 5:55 PM 9/12/07
Nice, my eee PC is getting a gig tomorrow!
electrikecho
gattsuru
Posted 5:33 PM 9/12/07
Given that the sticker would likely violate the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, it's a good thing that they're changing things, if only for their own sake.
Now to strip Xandros out, toss DSL or some other sub-gigabyte OS in, and it'd actually be a good toy to play around with.
gattsuru
theelk801
Posted 5:31 PM 9/12/07
This is great. I'm getting one of these soon, and the ability to upgrade will be great.
theelk801
strider_mt2k
Posted 8:46 PM 9/12/07
Awesome news
strider_mt2k
darex
Posted 8:38 PM 9/12/07
I have XP on mine in a 600MB install (using Nlite), and 2.5 GB free, plus a 4 GB SDHC card. I also installed 1GB RAM.
The free PCI-e slot is awaiting a cheap 32GB SSD which once installed, becomes the "slave drive" in the BIOS.
In summary, no lack of storage here, and especially in the future. XP on this thing has no downside that I've found. It's wonderful!
darex
jgodsey
Posted 8:13 PM 9/12/07
...ASUS . . . will not refuse warranty service simply because a customer has installed non-ASUS components or software, or because the customer's unit has been opened or serviced by a non-ASUS-approved service facility or by the user?
damn I think i'm in love.
jgodsey
Windhawk
Posted 10:26 PM 9/12/07
Anyone have the specs for the stick of RAM?
And what is the the spec of the biggest stick you can put in?
Windhawk
gattsuru
Posted 9:26 PM 9/12/07
LSE: ASKD. TSEC:2357
gattsuru
gattsuru
Posted 9:24 PM 9/12/07
Not quite. If you try a mod and it breaks the thing, you're up a brown creek without a paddle. The policy change is going from "any modifications break the warranty" to just "Asus won't repair stuff if you tried to mod the thing and borked it with the mod".
The 4G and 8G models are all supposed to come with conventional laptop RAM sockets. The 4G Surf and 2G Surf models usually come with soldered RAM, although some people have claimed sockets on the 4G Surf.
Given the minimal price difference between the 4G Surf and 4G models, if you plan to add more memory, just go with the 4G.
Other than the part where XP is not designed for screen resolutions below 1024x768, and at very low resolutions will have buttons and text flow off the screen often?
If you're not comfortable with Linux-based systems, or need Windows-based applications, there's not much choice, but there are some Linux operating systems that take less physical space, are more memory-efficient, and are designed for use on interfaces like that of the EEE PC.
gattsuru
retlawmacpro
Posted 9:24 PM 9/12/07
Cool! But does ANYONE know if these guys have a ticker name? I was interested to find what their stock is like but i couldnt find them.
retlawmacpro
GizFanAlpha
Posted 11:08 PM 9/12/07
I think they should make a desktop pc too, concidering they make parts for them.
GizFanAlpha
fuzzycuffs
Posted 10:49 PM 9/12/07
Well then...
Upgrading mine tomorrow! :D
fuzzycuffs
Mandatory_Field
Posted 11:56 PM 9/12/07
@darex: The one downside to your scenario, is that from what I've read on eeuser.com and elsewhere, if you plug an SSD into the PCI-e slot, you shut down the onboard 4GB. You don't get to have them both at the same time. That raises some interesting possibilities for dual-boot, anyway...
The other thing, is that there have been some published reports that certain units lack the PCI-e slot entirely. I just ran upstairs and ripped the warranty label off (on reading that it was ok), and checked under the access hatch on my Eee. I have the PCI-e slot, thank goodness.
Mandatory_Field
jrghoull
Posted 1:13 AM 10/12/07
@darex:
"...I also installed 1GB RAM.
The free PCI-e slot is awaiting a cheap 32GB SSD which once installed, becomes the "slave drive" in the BIOS..."
not trying to be a dick, (and admittedly i dont really know the price of that stuff) but after all that is said and done, wouldnt one be better off just getting some regular, 400 to 500 dollar laptop?
my only problem with the eeepc is that while it is cheap it is not THAT cheap, and i'm hearing all these stories that are making it sound like people are throwing enough money into these machines to the point that they are defeating the purpose of getting a cheap linux laptop all together...sorry for the rant...but am i wrong?
jrghoull
Reilao
Posted 12:55 AM 10/12/07
Coolness. Asus comes one step closer to world domination.
Reilao
whiskey
Posted 4:12 AM 10/12/07
@gattsuru: That thing you said is a myth and i would like to debunk it. XP does run great at 800x640, the pc i connect to a tv (which is not entirely an htpc) does work great. This is why 800x600 is the lowest and standard resolution (Don't believe me? go try it on a vmware or virtualpc).
But you could also get it to work in 640x480 mode by refusing to switch to a better resolution and disabling theme support, though it is mostly non necessary nor practical.
If you want more screen real state you could also change the default visual style to a minimalistic one...
whiskey
ogremustcrush
Posted 3:33 AM 10/12/07
The cheap is only part of the appeal of the eee. I would bet at least 50% of its buyers already own larger more powerful laptops, and they are buying the eee specifically because of its size and open factor. At least thats its appeal to me, though their a bit too small for my big hands. I'd rather have a superlight 12in widescreen notebook.
ogremustcrush
Brian Sexton
Posted 7:18 AM 10/12/07
@Brian Sexton: Of course, s/EEE PC/Eee PC/g. I am tired, OK? :)
Brian Sexton
Brian Sexton
Posted 6:59 AM 10/12/07
@jrghoull: The price is one thing that interests people in the EEE PC; the small size is another; the fact that having been specifically designed for GNU/Linux, all of its components are known to work with GNU/Linux is another; the fact that it is manufactured and sold by a well-known company with a good reputation for quality is another; the fact that it actually comes with GNU/Linux pre-installed rather than Windows, so there is no money wasted on an unwanted Windows installation is another; the fact that the EEE PC uses only flash memory rather than a hard drive with moving parts is another. There may be other reasons as well; those are just off the top of my head. For example, some people might actually prefer the display resolution to higher resolutions in some other similarly-sized systems because it may keep things at a more usable size for them.
Even if you throw a couple hundred dollars in upgrades into one of these, you are still paying less than for similarly-sized systems and about the same as many low-end larger systems that come with Windows pre-installed and infested with crapware. If you can customize an EEE PC to do everything you need in a small notebook for the price of the notebook itself (currently three hundred fifty to five hundred dollars, depending upon the model) plus fifty, a hundred, or whatever more as you determine for your own needs, why not?
If I could afford an EEE PC right now, I would jump at one of these. They look great for studentry and I happen to be a student who does not already have a notebook computer.
Brian Sexton
nutbastard
Posted 12:07 PM 10/12/07
@jrghoull:
besides, you only hear about those people who are jacking em up. 90% of eee owners wont crack em open, but you never hear about those people.
nutbastard
nutbastard
Posted 12:06 PM 10/12/07
@jrghoull:
yeah man it's all about having all that packed into a lightweight package. cheap, hard-drive based laptops are everywhere, but we dont want them. we want something that fits in our glove box. if we can take that thing and jack it up to more-than-reasonable specs, even if it costs us more than a cheap fullsize, we still like this better.
nutbastard
jgodsey
Posted 8:49 PM 10/12/07
i figure they see the Everex Cloudbook coming out in jan and luring some customers, so perhaps they are feeling a little bit vulnerable.
jgodsey
burningmonks68
Posted 11:20 PM 9/12/07
@gattsuru:
They are an unlisted stock, which means that they are do not get much attention and are traded very rarely. The last trade that i looked up was on yahoo finance under this ticker symbol. I believe it is them. AKCPF they traded at 3.1208 on Nov 16th. Until they become popular it isn't worth the risk. Wait until they become more popular in the stock market. I think I might have to go buy one of these computers now and upgrade it.
burningmonks68