What is Digg?51 Comments
- ggarron, on 11/28/2007, -0/+66Good to see they solved it quickly, well done Asus.
Think that this makes some marketing also, because of all posts about this on the blog's community. - oracleofmist, on 11/28/2007, -0/+46Either they went...oh *****...they found us and complied
Or they just made an honest mistake.
I don't know enough to say which of the two it is, however I am glad they complied. Dugg for corporate responsibility - VSack, on 11/28/2007, -2/+29Terrific.
Let us now re-commence lavishing this device with the praise it deserves. Every company that releases products like this that embrace the hacking community should be evangelized so that the closed source tyrants begin to see the shape of the future.
If companies like Asus, Nokia with N770, N800, N810, Google Android, and others can post real-world numbers showing profitability using this type of model, we will begin to see this niche market blossom into something wonderful we can all be happy with.
Not to mention, the Eee PC is a pretty sweet little device all on its own ;) - troydoogle7, on 11/28/2007, -1/+16good job asus. Keep on the right side of computer users and you may even get some really fanboys soon.
Am waiting for eeepc version 2, that bit faster, and a 2nd generation platform - vwvan, on 11/28/2007, -2/+16ASUS is a good company, glad they came clean. Having used the others, I prefer their products over Sony, HP, and Apple.
The service at HP is lousy, Sony cuts off the service contract and doesn't tell you, and Apple is always behind on good apps...
My dual-core ASUS from Newegg.com is the fastest, dirt-cheapest computer money can buy. It runs everything and just works. Building your own computer is easier than fixing a flat and I did it my way. - Cheeseness, on 11/28/2007, -1/+11If it came up in a search for EeePC, I might have found it.
Either way, so long as the word gets out, I'm happy. - err404, on 11/28/2007, -0/+10I had always thought that they were required to provide code it if requested. Either through the mail or online. I don't quite understand where they were in in violation for simply for not being proactive in the distribution.
In this case, the response in posting code seems to be sufficient and timely, so they are in compliance. - bradleyland, on 11/28/2007, -0/+9I'd tend to believe the latter, considering the speed with which they responded, and without any dog and pony show. They just posted the code as requested.
- Opiate, on 11/28/2007, -0/+9yup, they don't have to provide any certain type of distribution just make it available when requested.
- honeymonster, on 11/28/2007, -0/+8Do you need some hay up there to go with your high horse?
Yeah a company trying to do something good with Linux, lets give a good kicking for a tiny mistake (that has been resolved quickly and easily) that makes total sense... - grexeo, on 11/28/2007, -0/+8I'll pretend for a moment that you asked nicely and didn't use profanity...
A 'GPL violation' is the term used to describe when an individual, company or organisation doesn't comply with the terms of the GNU General Public License (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html) - webcrumb, on 11/28/2007, -0/+7I love my Eee, but couldn't stand the Xandros that came with it. Quick reformat later and I have Ubuntu running with the root drive on the SSD and my /home on an SD card. Compiz Fusion works beautifully (except Blur, which I presume is still down to the intel driver). Everyone who sees it wants one, and they are taken aback by the price. It's a real shame Asus didn't see the demand coming and make sure they could ship enough devices, lots of people will be getting PCs for Christmas.
For a first-gen example if a product line, I'd call this one a keeper. Now the sources are out it won't be long before everything is working perfectly in distros other than the (frankly pants) original Xandros. - GMorgan, on 11/28/2007, -0/+6Plenty of honest mistakes are actually made in this business. Which is why the likes of the FSF advocate not suing the balls off everyone who isn't playing totally within the rules, at least not until all other options have been exhausted.
- DangerCollie, on 11/28/2007, -0/+6*golf clap* That's exactly the right way to respond to those concerns. I agree. Well done, Asus.
- EagleTG, on 11/28/2007, -0/+6In case anyone cares, here's Asus' official statement on the matter:
http://eeepc.asus.com/en/news11272007.htm
I have an EeePC, and haven't changed the Firefox default homepage, so it takes me to the Eee site and I saw this news update/post from them. - absurdist, on 11/28/2007, -0/+6Yes, of course. When a company uses Linux, makes a mistake re the GPL, and corrects it almost immediately, they, instead of being given the benefit of the doubt, should be crucified. THAT will encourage other companies to adapt Linux, no doubt.
Idiot. - andycr512, on 11/28/2007, -0/+5Starbucks charges for access, you have to spoof your MAC to that of one of the authenticated machines to get access...
Not that it detracts from your point, or that I'd EVER try such a horrible thing... ;) - VSack, on 11/28/2007, -0/+5The 8GB is on its way, and we shall see about screen size improvements. There is definitely room inside them to grow the screen a little bit if it is not cost prohibitive.
You would be shocked to see how well the screen works. The size is not only good, but the clarity makes it gorgeous. I haven't futzed enough with it yet, but I am thinking that if I can get some magnification going like you can use in OS X and Compiz Fusion, it might make this thing that much better.
Don't forget it has a slot to drop in as much as an SD can hold. I intend to install XP on a card so I can do work related things if need be that cannot be performed in Ubuntu.
Xandros and the deal with Microsoft is the only real blemish on this first gen product. - GMorgan, on 11/28/2007, -0/+5Ubuntu takes up plenty of room itself. It's compressed quite heavily onto that one CD. Of course, Ubuntu gives you the whole cake, not just the base.
- Stonekeeper, on 11/28/2007, -0/+5Google goatse
- VSack, on 11/28/2007, -2/+6license != law
- hokie47, on 11/28/2007, -0/+3I am all with you about building your own computer, but easier than fixing a flat, I guess sometimes, but nothing sucks more than when things go wrong. Counting the number of bios beeps, having one jumper setting incorrect. Having to flash the bios because your new hot CPU is not supported. Tracking down a bad piece of hardware.
Everything is getting easier now days, but it still can be a pain. I thinkt a lot of us tend to forget our building hardships after everything is finished. - inactive, on 11/28/2007, -0/+3a stock install of Windows XP with nothing at all is around 1.2GB so it doesn't take up the whole hard drive but then you have to install a ton of other stuff to get complete functionality that Xandros offers. Office, Winamp, Pidgin, Firefox etc can quick take over a lot of Hard drive space and not to mention that th page file will have to be turned off inorder to prevent storage space shortage.
Personally i would stick ubuntu or Vector linux on it. XP would be a good idea on a machine with 8 gigs of memory though. - Stonekeeper, on 11/28/2007, -1/+3"In response to criticism from Linux enthusiasts"
Er, more like "To comply with copyright law...." - cmdrNacho, on 11/28/2007, -0/+2agreed.. its great seeing more devices run linux, and hopefully attract more users. At $400 price point this machine is definitely a good one. Also saw some one loading up xp on it, but they said xp took up most of hdd space. Does anyone know the site to get the software where you can strip xp down to just minimum stuff needed and create an installable iso ? Anyways good work asus
- eean, on 11/28/2007, -1/+3Apparently its pretty common for embedded devices to not bother to release their source code or just meet the bare minimums of GPL compliance. Unlike folks making Linux servers, embedded folks don't often release new versions. So there is less incentive to work with others and ensure their code gets back into the mainline.
- MattBD, on 11/28/2007, -0/+2I would have opted for Xubuntu, after all Xfce is a perfectly usable desktop and faster than GNOME or KDE (and I'm a huge KDE fan - I use Kubuntu).
However, I do understand why they opted for Xandros - it's not intended as a toy for Linux users after all, it's aimed at people who want a portable mini-laptop, most of whom will be used to Windows, and a distro like Xandros which strives to look as much like Windows as possible is ideal for that kind of thing. - tybris, on 11/28/2007, -0/+2"satisfy most of the critics"
How can you satisfy a critic? - init100, on 11/28/2007, -0/+2"I don't quite understand where they were in in violation for simply for not being proactive in the distribution."
If they don't provide the source with the binaries, they have to provide a written offer to distribute the source upon request to the recipients of the binaries. Otherwise, how would people know that they are eligible to receive the source? - sdubois92, on 11/28/2007, -0/+2Asus is one of the best laptop companies
- kidcodea, on 11/28/2007, -0/+2dude, asus has good reliabilty (engineering) but LOUSY support. and their forum yuch its just place to vent they dont do u *****... and their download drivers section....yuch.
and if u mail to tech support via web section for that u wont get an answer either. how ***** great.
so asus engineering = yes, asus as company = sux - kidcodea, on 11/28/2007, -0/+1its when a grand prix legends driver glances at a modern sim and likes it.
- eean, on 11/28/2007, -2/+3offtopic...
- GMorgan, on 11/28/2007, -0/+1Look at all the confusion recently between OpenBSD and Linux driver development. If people who devote huge amounts of time to FOSS can make mistakes then I assure you some company can as well.
- Malakin, on 11/29/2007, -0/+1I guess that's an Asus marketing quote?
Anyways, the Eee will not automatically connect to wireless networks, unless you've configured it to do so.
There's a little icon you click to see the wireless networks available, and from there you can click on one to connect to it. Once you've attempted to connect to a wireless network it will remember that network, but it will still not automatically connect to it. You can then set the remembered wireless network to "on boot", which will make it automatically attempt to connect to it in the future. - digitalvoid, on 11/28/2007, -0/+0Yep you are uptight about it. ;)
Your first post is particularly harsh in that you overlook the reference to "the 1.8GB archive made available online by Asus following the launch of the Eee PC". Someone there thought there were doing the right thing but it "did not include changes made by the company to the asus_acpi kernel module."
Ok, so it was brought to their attention and they released that and other things they had overlooked. They read the agreement and were trying to be good open-source citizens. Cut 'em some slack if they didn't get it exactly right the first time. A 1.8 GB archive, I can understand how they could have messed up on a few modules considering they have to track which GPL code they don't change, which components they do change and then their own bespoke code which isn't covered under GPL. Managing all that source takes quite a lot of effort and that's only a part of the final product. - sliksta, on 11/28/2007, -1/+1Maybe I'm too uptight about it but try to see my point. Ok, its good Asus used Linux(actually its great). But I just can't accept these 'mistakes'. Asus is a multimillion dollar company. When they use paid licensed intellectual property from vendors do do they pay the bill? Asus gets to use this GPLd code for FREE. For their benefit! They are profiting from this computer.
Now maybe it was an honest mistake. But can't a multimillion dollar company put out the minimal manpower it takes to comply with the GPL provisions?
I simply want to back the good folks that write free software. There would be no Asus EeePC as we know it if it weren't for these people. Asus sure isn't sharing the profit with them. So the least they can do is show respect for the license. All I'm trying to say. - NineInchSamus, on 05/27/2008, -0/+0404 Not Found.
And they are using Microsoft IIS web server. - sliksta, on 11/29/2007, -0/+0GMorgan and digitalvoid. I appreciate the constructive criticism, you have brought me understanding. Did not realize that it was not trivial. Never had the time to really get into programming, hope to someday. In the meantime I like to enjoy free software as it is usually what I can afford ;) Hope to give back code someday.
So sounds like Asus is being straight up. Seems so rare these days. - stevex0r, on 11/28/2007, -0/+0What? The eee pc isn't an embedded device.
- ghoch, on 02/07/2008, -0/+0Thank you for article
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http://www.sooslic.com - AICkieran, on 11/28/2007, -1/+0You can do that (amongst other things) with nLite:
www.nliteos.com - PePas, on 11/28/2007, -2/+1Like I read on the other Digg thread, Cliff L. Biffle posted about this:
http://cliffhacks.blogspot.com/2007/11/asus-eeepc- ... - inactive, on 11/28/2007, -2/+010 inch screen and 8 gigs and i am sold. It so obvious that it needs it and has the potential built in to have it already so no redesign is required. Why ASUS why? Why you Torment me?
- schestowitz, on 11/28/2007, -6/+4It happens to everyone sometimes. Just digg the first one and ensure it gets exposure. :-)
- FKnight, on 11/28/2007, -6/+2So why exactly is my comment being buried? Really, just curious.
- FKnight, on 11/28/2007, -12/+8"You’re always connected with built-in WiFi 802.11 b/g that automatically detects and connects to the Internet at any hotspot."
Wow. Prepare to get arrested and charged because you had the audacity to turn on your computer while sitting in the park across from Starbucks. - sliksta, on 11/28/2007, -11/+2If Asus wanted to use GPL'd code they should have read the license first. Are end users not required to read the EULA? (the End User License Agreement). I don't believe for a second that it was an honest mistake. Maybe they thought they'd get away with it. Maybe it was just not a priority and they were gonna get to it later. Fact is they broke they license terms, and the law.
- JamesMorris, on 11/28/2007, -17/+3What the ***** is a gpl violation...?
- ptFoe, on 11/28/2007, -20/+5Dupe
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Asus_Eee_PC_GPL_Problem ...
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