With the Eee Surf, ASUS wisely trades power and functionality for simplicity and a low price, a disruptive play that should find its way into many homes as a second computer.
I learned about the ASUS Eee PC 2G Surf laptop on a recent flight. The passenger next to me opened up the airline magazine and pointed out to me a small, really sharp looking laptop that sells for under $300. The computer was designed by ASUS and Intel and is known for its combination of light weight, Linux-based operating system, Wi-Fi capability, solid-state drive (like an iPod Nano) and relatively low cost. He said he wished he had known about the ASUS Surf before because it would have made for a great second home computer for his wife and young children.
We applaud ASUS for developing a product that is targeted at a clear job to be done – provide easy access to the web and prevent household fights over the primary PC (and Internet connection).
This product breaks down two key barriers that currently prevent more people from using laptops – complexity and cost. According to Laptop magazine, the laptop is “ten times simpler to use than any Windows machine, starts up twice as fast and is about one fifth the cost of other systems in its weight class”. The interface offers only six easy-to-understand options: Internet, Work, Learn, Play, Settings and Favorite. Since the computer runs on Linux (which is free) it keeps the price of the product down (no Microsoft licenses).
Of course, breaking down the barriers of complexity and cost requires trade-offs that won’t satisfy everybody. It is hard to load new applications, skimps on internal memory (only 300 MB of the 2GB solid-state drive is free) and won’t impress tech savvy folks with its specs, but like many disruptive innovations, it meets an important and unsatisfied job to be done. Need a low-cost, easy to use computer to prevent your kids from fighting for Internet time? ASUS has the right PC for you.