Asus Eee PC Discount Code @ Dixons

The Eee PC is our new favourite gadget, and perfect for mobile computing. Dixons are selling the 4gb model for £249.99 which isn't particularly cheap as we've seen better deals elsewhere, but they have just released some 10% discount codes on the Blue, Pink and Green models which takes the price down to a more attractive £225.


Click here, select Blue Eee PC and enter the discount code EEEPCBLUE to get 10% off.

Click here, select Pink Eee PC and enter the discount code EEEPCPINK to get 10% off.


Click here, select Green Eee PC and enter the discount code EEEPCGREEN to get 10% off.

No news on when the code expires, but we will update this blog post when the offer ends.

Using Sony Ericsson K850i as Modem With Asus Eee PC

I got my Eee PC on Monday (see my Eee PC Review) and to be honest, I imagined that connecting it to the internet with my Sony Ericsson K850i would be a major pain, whilst still using the supplied Xandros Linux distribution. Connecting using my Windows laptop and Sony software isn't always that reliable anyway, so I had very low expectations and was fully expecting to have to install XP to be able to get my phone recognised.

I was wrong, it's easy.

I was looking at the EeeUser forum and took heart from a couple of threads so just gave it a go. I connected my K850i to the USB port, went into Connections, added a dial up connection, selected my phone as the modem and entered *99# as the phone number number with "username" and "password" for the password. At this point, the instructions I saw for other handsets implied I'd have to change some other config files but being the impatient type, I just tried connecting. I couldn't quite believe it when it promptly connected up with no problems at all, and I was surfing the web using my phone as the modem. This thing is so cool, and makes mobile computing a lot more mobile than it has been previously.

And not only is it possible to connect with the supplied Linux, it is actually better than doing the same thing in Windows and using the awful clunky Sony software.

Asus Eee PC Review

You might well have seen the Asus Eee PC featured elsewhere, as this cool bit of kit is garnering positive headlines and reviews all over the place. Basically, it's an ultra mobile notebook computer which is very light and very portable. It doesn't have an optical media drive, and it doesn't have a hard drive - opting instead for some solid state memory - which means there's no moving parts and it's really light.

I took delivery of my Eee PC (4GB Black) this morning and you can see from this video how small it is - about the size of an A5 flyer - and quick it is to setup and get working.



First thoughts are that it really is very simple to use. It comes pre loaded with a Linux distribution and probably all the applications most people will need - a web browser (Firefox), OpenOffice, some games as well a multimedia applications and Skype. It's all very straightforward to use and intuitive too. Extending it beyond the default setup by installing new applications is probably a bit trickier than anyone from a Windows background will be used to though.

On most models there is a webcam built in ("Surf" models don't have this) and the quality is good although the Instant Messenger client it comes with, Pidgin, doesn't support its use at the current time. It does work with Skype, however.

As a mobile PC, I love it. It's small, rugged and easy to throw in a bag and take anywhere. It's cheap enough to not care too much if it gets the occasional knock or scratch. My existing Sony Vaio laptop is in theory a portable computer but generally I find that its great for moving around the house but actually taking it out with me is an arduous task as it requires its own bag and its kind of heavy. Not with the Eee Pc. I can seriously imagine taking this almost anywhere and it will be great for a traveller. I'm going to France this weekend and I specifically ordered this before I go because it's just perfect for that kind of thing. It has Wifi and ethernet connectivity options so you should have no problems getting it online wherever you go.

It's also possible to get Win XP on there which I am going to attempt at some point so I can link up my Sony Ericsson 3G phone using one of the three USB 2.0 ports and enjoy truly mobile working. Using one of these with a USB dongle would also be a great mobile solution.

Eee PC is definitely recommend by myHotspots.

UPDATE: Where can you get it? (01/04/08)

I got an email asking where I got my Eee PC, as it does seem to sell out very quickly or some retailers or putting the price up when they do get limited stock. I got mine from BT Shop for about £228, with black being the only colour in stock at time of writing but other colours due back soon.

They are also available from Marshall Ward for about the same price and available in all colours.