Following up my previous post I’ve been down to my local Maplin to check out this Elonex One T (one two) look-alike. The first thing that struck me was how small it was – obvious you may say, but I think it’s got something to do with this really looking like a proper laptop.
This is a long way off a full review, as I was stood in the shop for only a few minutes, but here is a quick run thro’ of what the laptop is like.
Keyboard:
This was a pleasant surprise. The keys have a ‘real’ feel and look to them and seemed to be a lot more robust than those on my eeePC (my nephew managed to bust the arrow keys on mine in a short space of time playing games). However, typing was a little odd, mainly because the ‘real’ key shape means that the top surface of each individual key is even smaller than those on the eeePC.
Mouse Touchpad:
This was a touchpad for movement, with a button either side. This is an odd departure from the established format of button beneath the touchpad and would take some getting used to…. I’ll be plugging in a USB mouse I think.
Screen:
Although similar to the eeePC in most respects it seemed easier on the eye. No problems here.
Software/Operating System and Speed:
Software seemed to be as the description on the Elonex website for the One t. I opened up the word processor, email client, web browser and software installer/update programme. Much of the software was branded XiP.
Word processor was Abi Word. This took a fair few seconds to open, was basic but usable fonts included chinese symbols.
Web browser was Firefox Bon Echo.
The desktop environment was icon-based with a toolbar at the bottom and tabs at the top. It had the feel of lightweight Linux desktops (Puppy Linux, Slax, that sort of thing). Some of the dialogue boxes had an elderly ‘Gnome’ feel about them. The overall feel of the desktop environment seemed a little disjointed – a fairly smart looking desktop, but individual applications varying in aesthetic feel.
Speed was hard to gauge. It was apparent that emphasis was on the selection of a lightweight desktop and applications. The choices have been tailored to the machine’s abilities, and this appears to have paid off as the laptop was quite usable. I only opened up two applications at a time though.
Price:
In the shop at £169.99. At this price it seems a reasonable alternative to a PDA. A threat to the eeePC? I’m not so sure, especially if the extra £40 to £50 is not a problem to you. However, many people like me have only paid £100 (£110) for an Elonex One, then upgraded for free – I reckon I’m getting a bit of a bargain.
Although from the outside, both laptops look identical except for branding, we don’t really know what Elonex will do with the operating system and software. Things may well be very different…..
