We posted earlier about loading Windows 7 on a new Asus Eee PC (previous blog post).
Last weekend there was some writing to do but I did not want to lug home the Tecra S10. It was used, on battery, for about a couple of hours in total on the weekend.
This morning we had an on-site to install four new workstations on our client’s SBS 2003 network. The Eee PC was not plugged in to charge up before the service call.
The on-site started at 0830Hrs (830AM) this morning and ended at 1330Hrs (130PM) this afternoon. The Eee PC finally gave up around 13:15Hrs which was about 15 minutes too soon! :)
All in all, the unit gave us about 7 hours of uninterrupted work time while on battery with an active wireless N (2Hrs) and a cellular modem (5Hrs).
Note that the Eee PC 1000HE comes with an 8700mAh (62Wh) battery versus the smaller 6500mAh batter in other Eee PCs. Bigger cells means a longer on-battery life.
The unit was plugged in when we got back to the shop and took about three or so hours to charge fully while off.
Having the ability to run the unit on the battery while doing service calls is pretty critical in that some of the server closets we work in have no available sockets or are running their 15Amp circuit to the max already.
Having a laptop, or the Netbook, while working at a client site is truly a necessity. Having access to the Internet via cellular modem allows us to download drivers, do research on any problems we may be faced with, update our service requests, or any other mundane Internet related task that should not be done from a server . . . especially a client’s server.
Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book
*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)
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