The Everex Cloudbook has been seen as a very slow machine compared to the Asus EEE PC. How slow is it actually?

Thanks to the nice folks over at http://digital.xy.hk/ and http://www.umpcfever.com/ we got this video showing the Cloudbook and EEE booting Windows XP side-by-side:

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Actually, if you analyze the video a bit and starting counting the time when Windows starts loading (XP Splash screen) to the balloon pop-up is displayed they are pretty much on pair with each other (the time measured is the time stamp in the video):

EEE XP Splash: 19 sec
CloudBook XP Splash: 25 sec

EEE XP Balloon pop-up: 1 min 1 sec
CloudBook XP Balloon pop-up: 1 min 14 sec

Using the formula “XP Balloon pop-up time” - “XP Splash time”:

EEE XP boot time: 42 sec
CloudBook XP boot time: 49 sec

So the boot time is only 7 seconds longer. If you look at the timing it seems like the reason why the Cloudbook takes longer is that it spends more time in BIOS POST, but apart from that it’s almost the same and the extra storage is definitively worth the extra boot time. What would be interesting is if it is possible to put something like coreboot (formerly known as Linux BIOS) on it.

Thanks to Everex Cloudbook UMPC for the link.

I got two older sites (securitytinker.com and proxy.11a.nu) which has some content I want to migrate over to this blog as well as to the wiki (depending on the content). So far the import process has been fighting against me every step of the way, and it seems like Drupal is a write-only CMS with very limited data extraction functionality.  I have been venting out my anger at WordPress before but this Drupal business sure takes the price.

Perhaps I could use the xmlrpc functionality to extract the content from the old sites - I’ll see what I can make out of it tomorrow because right now I need to get some sleep so I can wake up early tomorrow (I have some business to attend to).

After reading up on the Cloudbooker forum on what other people are doing with their Cloudbooks I found out that the connector for the webcam is a standard USB connector, so I’ll just add a USB hub in there so I don’t need to run so many cables between the motherboard and the lid (just one or two, to power the hub). Much neater, and the USB hub is cheap (S$9.90). I’ve also just ordered a GPS unit for my Cloudbook. That, combined with a Bluetooth adapter and 2 WiFi adapters, will make the Hackbook complete in terms of wireless security testing.

All I need now is my Cloudbook and I hope that it will arrive tomorrow morning. As you might have noticed I am not a very patient guy when it comes to my Cloudbook modifications.

I am expecting the Cloudbook to arrive either tomorrow (Saturday) or next week, and I have already prepared myself for a few mods:

• Upgrade the RAM to 1 Gb (ok, not really a mod in the purest sense)
• Add USB hub to facilitate more mods
• Add Bluetooth adapter
• Add touch panel
• Add 3G (HSDPA) modem

Those are the mods I’ve prepared for so far. Some are in-progress already as I started preparing the components for the mod.

I am particulary happy with the Bluetooth dongle I found. It is small, got good range and seems to be made to be used in modding projects.

My daughter’s EEE will be running Windows XP as the educational software we have bought for her only runs on XP (plus I want to try out Windows XP on the EEE), and I am updating the Windows XP installation disks using nLite. Not only do I make sure that all the relevant servicepacks and hotfixes are included by default (so I don’t need to spend hours patching the system once it has finished installing), but also includes all the relevant drivers for the EEE (I am also adding in the drivers for my other machines [Shuttle, X40 and Hackbook] while I am at it).

I just got the word that my Cloudbook is now in the hands of the US Postal Service and is expected to reach me in 5-6 business days (which I hope means end of this week, but more likely beginning of next week). I have also ordered custom laptop skins for my Cloudbook and my wife and kid’s EEE PC, photos of them all will be available when I get the equipment.

Please note that WalMart.com has Cloudbook IN STOCK and is accepting orders.

Not a day too early (actually, about a month late but who keeps count? ).

One of my friends pointed out that the Ubud UMPC from Zyrex is very similar to the Cloudbook, and looking at the pictures and the hardware specifications it is very likely it’s the same machine - or close enough for most people.

Here’s the hardware specifications:

As you can see the hardware specifications are pretty similar to the Everex Cloudbook and Packard Bell XS.

I just transferred money for my Cloudbook to my friend in the states using Western Union - and it wasn’t cheap.

Using the measurements that WalMart provides on it’s page the USD$399 notebook will be about USD$450-USD$500 after all the shipping, sales tax etc are done. Add in the Western Union remittance fee of S$70 and you have to fork up about S$800 in total.

If you are still interested let me know.

I am currently reloading WalMart and NewEgg page for the Everex Cloudbook every 5 minutes now to see when there is stock so I can order some. But the stock has to come soon. I like the way the Cloudbook is designed (been at the shop and messed around with the Packard Bell XS20 again), contrary to popular opinion I actually like the placement of the mouse pad as well as the gap under the screen - however, there is a limit on how long I am willing to wait, and as many have been pointing out that the Asus EEE PC is waiting for me in the local computer store. Looking at the hacks made to the EEE I think I could survive the smaller disk space by using a high capacity (HC) SD card in the machine. Come on Everex, ship the f’ing machine already - or I give my dollar$ to Asus instead.

Asus EEE PC had a advantage that no-one else had: they were the first one with a really cheap (~USD$400) UMPC, so there was no competition to steal their sale. Now every single UMPC at the USD$400 price range are being compared to the EEE, and delays are benefiting the already existing machines on the market - namely the EEE. I also think that Everex made a bad deal offering Packard Bell an exclusive deal for the Singapore market. Here Packard Bell isn’t a well-known brand, and at S$1298 it’s just very too expensive. I wonder how I could get hold of the sales figures of the Packard Bell machine, but I can imagine that it’s not that good - especially as the computer stores displays it side-by-side with the Asus EEE PC that cost less then half as much. Even if you add in a memory upgrade and a WinXP license to the EEE price it’s still less then what the XS cost (same goes for the Cloudbook version).

This is my current stance: By the end of this month I will have, or at least have ordered one, UMPC (either Cloudbook or the EEE). If Cloudbook is available by then, it will be a Cloudbook - else I get myself a black EEE. I am just getting tired of waiting, and the EEE is available now in the computer store.