Let Eeebuntu Free your Eee PC
The other day my step-daughter's Eee PC had some issues. It is a Linux-based Eee so it had the Xandros netbook distribution running. There were updates to be applied so I went ahead and allowed the updates to process. shortly after the updates failed the cursor started acting twitchy. My step-daughter, without asking, decides to reboot the netbook. After the bios posts the Eee bounces between a "_" character and a X Windows "X" cursor. Not a good sign. I checked everything I knew to check and realized I was going to have to install a new OS on the netbook.
Naturally Linux was the choice. I wanted to give either Elive or gOS Cloud a try but the former required an external usb CD drive and cloud computing just doesn't suit a fourteen year old girl. Instead I turned to Eeebuntu NBR (Net Book Remix) and I'm thrilled I did.
Why Eeebuntu?
The primary reason I went with Eeebuntu is simple: It's based on Ubuntu which is one of the most user-friendly distributions of Linux available. Add to that the fact that Eeebuntu would take an Eee PC and make it more like an actual computer (instead of a toy good for not much more than browsing the web) and you have the ingredients for a no-brainer solution. And, of course, we are a Linux family so Windows XP was not an option.
Eeebuntu really does feel like a full-blown Linux distribution. Why? Because it is. Upon installation you have Firefox, Evolution, OpenOffice, Skype, a terminal, and so much more - everything you need! And Eeebuntu uses an array kernel which was designed specifically for Eee PCs. This kernel has very specific modules that help to make everything on the Eee work - and work well. From wireless to webcams, when you install Eeebuntu everything will work out of the box.
Eeebuntu is also much more efficient and responsive than the original Xandros. This is definitely a plus for a fourteen year old who has the attention span of, well, a fourteen year old. But it also allows much better use of the multi-tasking nature of Linux. You can have both Evolution (mail client) open and Firefox and not see a drop in speed.
How To Install
I would love to have to draw up all of these complicated steps for the installation of Eeebuntu (just to pat my own nerdy back). Unfortunately the installation of Eeebuntu is quite easy. Here are the steps:
- Download the Eeebuntu image.
- Download Unetbootin.
- Plug in a >= 1 Gig Usb flash drive to your computer.
- Open up Unetbootin.
- Select Disk Image and then search for the Eeebuntu image you downloaded.
- Click OK and Unetbootin will install Eeebuntu onto the flash drive.
- Close Unetbootin when complete.
- Remove the USB drive.
- Plug the USB drive into your Eee PC.
- Turn on your Eee PC and hit the Esc key a couple of times.
- Select to boot from your flash drive.
- Install Eeebuntu as you would install Ubuntu.
Done. Now you can enjoy your Eee PC as if it were a real laptop.
Final Thoughts
If you own an Eee PC and you're either struggling with the pre-install OS or you just want more from your hardware, install Eeebuntu and free your Eee.
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I’ve tried this procedure with both Leeenux and eeebuntu on my 701 4G with Xandros. Unetbootin weems to work OK, but when booting from the USB I get a message stating device is not bootable. Tried reformatting USB, does not work.
hi, im an 18 year old female student who doesn’t have a great knowledge of computer technical terms.
i have a Asus Eee pc web book thing and find it really frustrating how it doesn’t operate like a proper laptop.
This Eeebuntu thing sounds like it solves my problem however tried following the instructions of how to install it above but when i go to open it, it makes me select a programme to open it with, and none seem to work,,,,,,don’t supose any one fancies helping me out,,and the simpler explained things are the better :) id be very greatful, thankyou
Yeah, I would install Eeebuntu, its comes with all the drivers that you need for your eee pc hardware. I installed it on my 1000he and out of the box everything worked. So, I recommend you do the same.
Got my 900a switched to Eeebuntu and it is a lot better. Just one thing, now the wireless card don’t work. It did with the old sys. Whats up? Should I start over with a dif. Eeebuntu?
My father wants to replace his Xandros with another distro and I’ve been doing the research for him. He has an external CD drive he uses with his netbook. He will be able to install Eeebuntu with a CD the way he would on his desktop, won’t he?
i just got an ASUS 1000HE and have ordered the 2 g memory upgrade. i’ve read enough of the reviews to see that there are some people who have loaded Ubuntu in a separate partition.
i am very familiar with Windows XP and am OK with it. i was wanting to load Ubuntu in the partition so i could have the “best of both worlds.” I don’t know anything really about Ubuntu or Linux but i do understand it is safer to get on the web with linux than with windows or microsoft.
i’m not a techy so if i’m off on my thoughts, please help me.
any thoughts on how i should go about this whole process of having both?
many thanks for any suggestions.
Well, I can give you one great advantage of installing either XP or Eeebuntu over the “Xandros” OS that ships with many Eee PCs — You can use a higher resolution external screen! This is a big deal, since the screens are one of the biggest limitations of netbooks. The maximum screen resolution of the hardware on these netbooks like Eee PC and AspireOne is an amazing 2048 x 2048 – but you would never know it if you didn’t install better drivers and better operating systems!
Excellent blog, I cant wait to install EEE ubuntu.
The eeepc is a very effective laptop even running windoze. People have beome spoiled with their quad-core monstrous laptops. But even a small laptop with the specs of the eeepc can be a serious computer. The specs are a lot like laptops were 3 years ago, just in a cute compact package. Were laptops TOYS 3 years ago? Of course not. Just curious… what resourses does eeeubuntu mysteriously unlock that my xp eeepc can’t? I use mine as a beat machine in a music studio, type papers on it, and do email. What else would you want a laptop to do.
yes, eeebuntu is good; I find it sad though to read such objective phrases as “(instead of a toy good for not much more than browsing the web”; and “Eeebuntu is also much more efficient and responsive”; please tell us how; yes, let’s all work together, but let’s try to support our assertions with some facts
Glad to hear you have had a good experience with our distro. Hopefully catch you on the forums.
Cod