It looks like a toy, but this Linux mini-notebook has inspired a growing community of hardware mod devotees.
During the 2007 holiday season, there was another small, white and cheap tech device that became a hard-to-find bestseller: the ultra-portable Eee PC notebook by ASUS. (It also comes in black and three other colors, but the white model appears to be the most popular.) Despite looking like a toy, the Eee PC is a fully capable computer primarily meant for wireless Internet use. It runs Linux and includes Firefox and OpenOffice.
The Eee PC has appealed to a large segment of mobile computerists due to its combination of size, features and affordability. The lowest price model retails for $299. And, to those who are keen for disassembling gadgets, its potential for being easily hacked and modified has been the biggest selling point.
Soon after its release, an online scene quickly emerged around the Eee PC. The enthusiasm of this community is in large part centered on the hackability of the gadget. “It’s huge. I have never seen anything as big,” describes an individual who prefers to be referred to by the initials “JKK,” and who has worked professionally in hardware design for mobile computing devices. He became renowned for developing a touch panel and an internal 3G mod for the Eee PC.
When someone in the community successfully creates a new mod, they share information and how-to’s about their work with other Eee PC users. “I’d describe the present status of the scene as explosive,” says John Addison, who has modded his Eee PC and is an active participant in the mod scene for the tiny notebook. “There is hardly a week that goes by without a great new mod, hack or idea.”
On the EeeUser.com forum, non-technical Eee fans mingle with extremely technically knowledgeable users like JKK. There are step-by-step written tutorials and videos showing amateurs how to add features, like more internal storage space or Bluetooth to their Eee PCs.
“The beauty of the Eee PC is that you don’t need a technical background to enjoy it,” says Anthony Lusby, creator of the EeeUser.com site. “Ultimately, each mod breeds opportunity for further future mods down the road, along with creating a more solid community feel.”
Typically, the first “mod” most Eee PC owners perform is changing out its operating system. The Eee PC OS is built upon the Xandros distribution, and features a very simplified interface. It was specially designed to be used by people who are totally unfamiliar with Linux and to maximize the system’s limited capabilities. Although most in the Eee mod scene agree the included operating system is a good match for the intended audience of the Eee PC, they have figured out ways to install other Linux distros. (ASUS also provides Windows drivers for installing Windows XP on the device.)
“I think ASUS made a solid decision in using Linux,” says Lusby. “That said, I think they could have done a better job in making it easier to install and properly use other various Linux distributions with the Eee PC without having to seek help, for instance, in finding out how to get the wireless card properly working.”
Installing another OS can be necessary if one wishes to mod the hardware of the Eee PC, because the original operating system might not recognize new devices that are added to the notebook as unauthorized upgrades.
Surprisingly, JKK and Addison say they did not encounter any major technical problems when they hacked their Eee PCs. The key to a successful mod is meticulous planning, and not rushing into the project, says Addison: “I spent a good few hours just looking, reading and thinking. Even though what I eventually did was a relatively simple mod, I still had to do my homework.”
Some of the more hardcore modders in this scene are seeing just how much stuff they can cram into the small housing of the mini-notebook. JKK’s next upgrades for his Eee PC include a fingerprint reader and keyboard light.
One member of the community probably currently holds the record for most mods packed into his Eee PC: He added a USB hub, Bluetooth, GPS, flash drive, card reader, an FM transmitter, and an 802.11n upgrade.
Perhaps the easiest way to expand the capabilities of the Eee PC is to put in an internal USB hub. Addison says it is possible to fit a 4-port USB hub into the cavity space around the unit’s 7″ screen. The addition of such a hub allows for the connecting of other internal components, like Bluetooth and additional flash memory. Addison is considering fitting a TV tuner into his Eee PC by plugging it into an internal USB hub.
Having familiarized themselves intimately with the ultra-portable, members of the Eee mod scene know what they would most like to see in future versions of the Eee PC. The most common request is for a larger screen with higher resolutions. The addition of Bluetooth and removable SSD memory would also be ideal.
“For the most part, I think ASUS hit the nail on the head,” says Addison. “My only criticism is the screen. It’s not so much size with the screen, but resolution.”
ASUS recently announced some of their future plans for their Eee PC line, and they coincide with the mod scene’s wish list. Besides plans for models featuring 8″ and larger screens, ASUS is considering including some form of mobile broadband such as WiMAX.
In the meanwhile, those comfortable with handling a soldering iron and breaking a warranty can look to the Eee mod scene for ideas, resources and inspiration to add more features to their Eee PCs. “Take your time, read, examine, think and plan exactly what you plan to do before breaking out that soldering iron,” advises Addison.
But JKK warns: “You have to understand that your device may end as spare parts. You have to accept that before starting.”
Fortunately, the price is less than $300 — a risk that many in this community see is worth taking.
