Asus eeePC - low cost power in the hand

A few months ago I briefly discussed personal machines for data analytic work in the field. At around the same time, the Asus EEE PC came along and I was given a batch of five to try out. Designed for primary school use as a 'go anywhere' one-per-pupil device (it is one result of Intel’s 'classmate' specification) it has been made robust, inexpensive, connected, and surprisingly powerful – all of which appeals equally to the 'go anywhere' scientist. I review it here, in what is usually a software slot, not just as itself but as a representative of the new 'netbook' class of devices and a fingerpost pointing to the possible future shape of individual scientific computing. [more...]