Testing the Size

Over the weekend, I created a life-size cardboard cut-out of the eee PC 701 to determine its carryability. Basically I wanted to determine whether users will carry it around without a second thought much like they carry their mobile phones.

Well, its form factor is much larger than smartphones with QWERTY keyboards like the Nokia 9500. At 21.5mm x 16.5mm, it actually fits in the range of UMPCs but interestingly, Asus in its press release, does not refer it to as a UMPC. Personally, keyboard and screen quality notwithstanding, I would have preferred it to be smaller. Still, at its size, it should easily go into the standard messenger bag that a lot of metrosexuals seem to prefer these days or into the larger ladies' bags. Therefore, if a person is in the habit of toting these types of bags on a daily basis, at 2 lbs, the Eee will fit right in.

Now the question then would be why would they want to carry the Eee around. Well, one is to check email, another would be for IM (which is expensive on the mobile for most telcos), and another would be to surf. While these tasks may be performed on a Internet-capable PDA, typing is considerably easier with a QWERTY keyboard and surfing naturally more convenient on a bigger screen.

For email and IM, an instant-on feature will then be preferable. Per previews, the Eee will have a 15 second boot time. I am not sure if users will be willing to wait that long. Mobile phone users tend to be a lot more impatient. Well, we have to wait and see how users regard the Eee.

At least for now, it has the potential to become THE mobile device since it has more functionalities than smartphones that cost 2x, 3x, or even 4x more.

Can't wait to get my hands on one.