My little technomad computer
ENI fell for a netbook. Yes, one of those cheap and light netbooks. When I travel in Asia in "backpacking" mode, I usually leave without my MacBook Pro.
I'm a bit afraid of breakage, theft, weight, size (15 inches). And I manage on the spot with the bikes of the internet centers...
But now, my departure for Thailand is approaching and I don't want to spend hours in a web-center. I can see myself writing on the terrace of my bungalow, or sorting out my photos in front of the beach. And then spend only a few minutes in the internet center to transfer everything to Bubbles Underwater & Beyond!
Of course, during my previous stay in the Dominican Republic, I did not hesitate to take the Mac with me. But for this Thai trip, which will be more "backpacking", I don't want to load or expose my precious computer to the hazards of the trip.
Medion Akoya Mini 10 inches
So I will be from now on "technomade" with my new acquisition: the Medion Akoya Mini E1210 (it's also the one sold by Orange). If I chose it, it's mainly for the comfort of the keyboard.
I tapped on all the machines I found in the store, from eeePC from Asus to the ECAF of Hercules, the Aspire from Acer and their many little brothers. On the screens, I left explicit messages behind: "This keyboard here is too small, not easy to write stuff, when it counts, anyway, on a computer, right?"
It made the people who passed by behind my back look at the netbooks on the shelf and smile. On an eeePC, there was even a guy who came to complete my text afterwards: "Yes, indeed, it's way too small..."
The Medion Akoya (a clone of the better-known MSI Wind) is one of the few netbooks on which I managed to type quickly without looking at my fingers, as I usually do on a full-size keyboard. The trackpad is quite large, better than on others (I don't like at all the ones with the click keys on the sides).
The screen (10 inches) offers a reasonable comfort, too. There is enough space to store 160Gb and the performances seem to be correct for my use. Finally, it weighs 1.25kg including battery (the "6 cells", the one that lasts a long time).
Well, it's still a PC...
Its only defect: for the moment there is Windaube on it (well inside) as the label indicates (which I will remove). A horror.
I knew I was a Macophile. And I'm sure I'll stay that way, despite this little technomade cut in the contract...
UPDATE. After this experience with a mini-PC, which, in use, turned out to be really lacking in power for photo and video processing, I finally went back to my first love. After the Medion, I started to travel with a MacBook Air, very small and light, really great. Then again slowed down by the lack of power (aging computer and bigger and bigger video and photo files), I acquired a new more powerful machine in 2016, a MacBook Pro 15 inches with Retina display...
Because I almost got mad when, for the 15th time, Windows asked me to restart, after 50 million security updates. And even more when I took three hours to find MY wifi network, a network that Macs find by themselves (I had to activate the search by pressing the Fn key + the F11 key, I'm dreaming!!!).
And then when the antivirus, for the 20th time, said to me, "Oh boy, don't you want to buy Our-Super-Program-the-Herd (it has a big, scary red dog on it, not like the beta mutt in the help program) that will effectively protect your computer?"
Purééééééeeee.... Just like in the famous Apple "Mac vs PC" commercials.
I uninstalled the hound, back to the doghouse! Then I quickly put Internet Explorer in the dungeon, and installed Firefox to navigate properly on the internet.
Then I removed all the pre-installed gadgets and other stupid shortcuts I don't need, and already the desktop is cleaner.
Anyway, the machine is cute, but it confirms all the bad things I already thought about Windows. When I think about all those people who have PCs. But it must be a CAUCHEMAR to turn on your computer every day, not a pleasure at all!!!
Hackintosh?
Well, for the moment I'm not touching anything in the system's entrails, I'm too scalded as it is, I might make some mistakes. But I have a feeling that I'll get to the joys of Linux one day soon. Or even better...
I would like to get the same result as on the picture below. But formatting a PC to turn it into a "Hackintosh" seems to be a bit tricky to do. (And not at all to Apple's taste, of course.)
In the meantime, I'll stick an apple sticker on my netbook. There's nothing wrong with that.
😂
Finally, I discovered that the new ultra-laptops from MSI (not yet released in France, presented at the CES of Las Vegas) are strangely similar to MacBook Air ... it leaves you dreamy.
I think you can install a Mac OS on this one, I think Vincent did it (http://www.viinz.com/).
you can ask him how he did it.
I also installed Mac os on an eeepc. If you need any help, don't hesitate.
Otherwise, I loved your comeback. I've been a Mac user since 1993. I've had a laptop for work for 1 year now.
To cut a long story short, I could have written the same article as you.
It made me smile, bravo!
@Blues: well, I gave up my notebook PC I bought in 2009 a long time ago. It wasn't powerful enough to view and edit HD videos. I ended up investing in an 11" MacBook Air instead. I'm very, very happy with it.
😀
#macforever
Oh, I don't believe it, you've cracked!!!!
You cracked, you cracked... Copious! Since I set up my daughter's Akoya (pink!), I've been on the verge of buying one too. 4h of verified autonomy... Lightweight... Cheap... Nickel keyboard... You made the right choice: it's a real PC, small but complete. Your description of PC hell is hilarious. Unfortunately, it's true. Like the guy who hits himself over the head with a hammer because “it feels good when he stops...”.”
I can only see one advantage to using a PC: you can happily switch to a Mac. The opposite is more painful...
BUT! In the latest SVM (on newsstands) you'll find the procedure for installing MacOS on this netbook. It's illegal, but we don't care, and it costs less than €30! One memory bar to change, two configurations and... Hop. Thanks who?
Well, I go back to the editorial office of Morocco ...
But I think you did the right thing cracking!!!!
@ Denis: Thank you! This info on Viinz's blog had escaped me, even though I've been collecting quite a few links on the subject for the past two days. He replied. Hey, hey!!!
😀
@ Francis: Copious, me? Tss-tss... Good. I admit that if there had been the pink model on the shelf, that's the one I'd take. Just so I could play girlie-geek all the way.
🙄
I didn't choose this netbook entirely by chance, I must say. I'd already spotted that it was one of the models that could eventually be turned into a ...biiiip... well, you know, those things with an apple on it. And I'm glad to see that you're a real Macophile.
😉
Anyway, thanks for the tip about SVM. It will complete Viinz's indications. For once I've decided to save money by not buying any computer magazines this month... This issue of SVM slipped my mind. I'm off to get it tomorrow!!!!
😈
@ Helen: That's right! I cracked, I cracked, I did well to crack! Na-na-na-na-na-nèreuh! (I'm surprised I didn't get any ironic comments from Greg!)
😆
Traitor! lol
It's true that this computer is cute. I'm still mourning the death of my 12" PowerBook, which Mac has no intention of ever doing again! 🙁 I came very close to falling for the eeePC a few months ago. Still, I'll have to see if this mini Akoya is on sale in Quebec... (And they make it in pink?;-) I always change my mind at the last minute because PCs make me rave too... Will I resist much longer? Not so sure...
I hadn't had time to see the video, it's excellent 😉
Congratulations, you're a real webtrotter. When you travel, the netbook changes your life: easy to carry, ideal size for the tablet on the plane, good autonomy, what a pleasure. The only problem for me is Linux, which is still very esoteric. In Thailand, “open” wifi networks are everywhere, you just have to “sniff” a little. I regularly embarrass my wife by going around hotels with my cell phone on.
EeePC 701 for a year.
@ Marie-Julie: Moo! I'm not a traitor, because I intend to turn this cute little computer into a “Hackintosh”... But shhh! What's more, yes, they do make it in pink (if they'd had it in the store I went to, I'd have taken it!). At MSI, I think they even make the Wind in a “Hello Kitty” version... Personally, I'm sorry that Apple isn't entering the netbook market. The MacBook Air is nice, but unaffordable if you just want to use it as an occasional techno-mad computer.
🙄
@ Denis: Yes, I love these ads. Plus, now I can testify that it's not that overdone.
😆
@ Gulick: Sorry, I just discovered your comment, which had landed in spam... Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I know that in Thailand it's pretty easy to get online in tourist areas, hey, hey!!!! As for my brand new netbook, I'm going to try to get it running under Mac OS (but shhh)...
😉
Thank you Mariju... I'm swimming in doubt, your positive comment reassures me!!! 😉
I'm not sure I'm going to keep that photo or that typeface. I'm testing. You know how hard it is to choose a banner that “sticks” to the image you want to give your blog. It's about time I changed it anyway.
Off topic: I really like your new blog header!
😆
What a traitor you are, Alimata!!!! An MSI Wind for mommy???? 😡
And in addition you want to play the troll hair ??? Tss-tss !!! With all the keywords you just typed, it may bait them ...
😀
Well, I'd bought my mum the MSI Wind for Christmas and...
Hein !! What?
No, no, absolutely not! It was for my darling momam, not for me. I didn't say I wouldn't have borrowed it to go to Indonesia, if she'd offered, but hey, she's going to the West Indies with it 😡
I was going to buy my own, and then I came across your article. For me, the Akoya was just an (expensive) MSI clone made for Orange. Out of a clear conscience, I looked around a bit and, surprise, for 30 euros more, the clone included wifi “n”. Well, I'll wait a few more days, maybe by then they'll come out with a 10-cell battery or a 20″ fold-out screen...
As for MAC vs Windows, I can smell a troll. We could go on with FF vs IE, Dotclear vs WordPress, Routard vs Lonely, PADI vs CMAS, Ventrale vs Dorsale, Roux vs Combaluzier, Coton vs Dentelle, Tampon vs Serviette, Voile vs Moteur and Bannièrebambou vs Bannièrepaysage 😉
@ Marie-Julie: This photo was taken in Koh Phi Phi ... (sigh)
I'm going to leave this banner as is for now (and forbid Alimata from coming back to feed the “Bamboo vs Landscape” troll!!!). 😆
In a few weeks' time, we'll see if this headband stands the test of time, or if I feel a new inspiration...
😉
There's nothing to stop you changing back in a few weeks if you're still in doubt! That's what I told myself when I changed my headband, but in the end I was too lazy (and busy!) to think about it again... Anyway, I really like the photo you chose! 🙂
Yes, that's why I have doubts... And why I'm still looking for inspiration. It's interesting to hear your opinions.
I have a feeling that this banner isn't quite what I'd like it to be. For a while, I even thought of using nothing at all, just black and a few sober letters. Or using the flash image banner from my other site (very “Asian travel”):
http://southeastasia.fr
I finally opted for this image, by default. Your reviews are pretty accurate... 😉
In fact, this image brings back fond memories (Koh Phi Phi). You can see the sea and “Asian” cliffs, but it doesn't really reflect the content of the blog very well, it's just. It's a compromise in the meantime.
As for the bamboos, I take exception!!!! 😮 They are perfectly autentic, photographed in Malaysia, in 2006, no but!!!! 😛
At the time I put them on, as I was talking more about my travels than my dives, and exclusively about Asia, it was fitting. But since then, “Petites Bulles d'Ailleurs” has evolved and the bamboos no longer “fit” at all...
I think I'm going to do a photo-montage with lettering, combining images of Asia and diving, but that's a bit more work... I'd like to do something about travelling in Asia “on land” and “under water”, on and below the surface. At the same time, the theme of my blog is broadening, and I'm no longer just talking about Asia...
Besides, I don't want to do something too “diving” oriented. I want to keep the “travel” aspect, with a visual focus on the sea.
Anyway. I feel like I'll be meditating on this for a while yet, with the benevolent company of my buddy the hairy troll...
😀
We were just talking about your banner with Francis and he told me he didn't think yours was very much in keeping with your site's theme, which is true.
The previous one (the bamboos) had the merit of reminding us a little of Asia, even if the photo had obviously been taken at the Jardin des Plantes. As far as travel and diving were concerned, it's true that we were more into homeopathy and subliminal messages.
This one gives the impression that the journey has stopped in the Cote d'Or, at the Roche de Solutré. You'll tell me, it's almost in the South-East, but not really in Asia...
On the aquatic side, diving and the southern seas, it's true that scientists agree that Burgundy was bathed by warm seas in the Upper Mesozoic. Some even admit that Solutré was formed from fossilized coral reefs. Despite all this, I'm afraid your readers will have trouble making the connection.
It was just my opinion, and far be it from me to start a hairy troll, but I'd love to hear the opinion of regulars. We've got something to say!
@ Alimata:
Well, you see, finally, unable to choose, I reverted to a flash banner scrolling images, as on my other site http://southeastasia.fr ...
😉
- VERY WELL - SUPER - GENIAL - BRAVO -
It was worth going to bed at ... 4h06
😆
Well, between a late return home because of a festival to cover + a backlog of papers to finish off late at night + a banner to redo + a slight insomniac tendency... I'm not doing too badly.
😛
@Nono: When it comes down to it, there's nothing better than the notebook + pencil... A tried-and-tested piece of nomadic equipment that never breaks down, takes up little space, is inexpensive, sturdy and lightweight, and can be used in any situation, in any climate.
🙄
Well, I realized that I certainly wouldn't risk a netbook because with my level I'd quickly become a goat. It would break down, I'd scream... So I'd continue to travel with a pencil, a notebook, a camera and the Internet, where I'd only feed my blog a little. But I'm happy to follow the adventures of those who are able to blog from day to day.
I do not understand anything about your comments and analysis.
I have a Mac at home and a PC at work.
And my faith is fine, both together.
Although I never learned how to use all the Mac apps.
The Mac/Versus/PC ads are very well done, like an American blog buster series: it just makes you want a third thief to disturb the rather too impeccably tuned duo formed by these two Majors Cie, doesn't it?
Happy New Year to Corinne B. and all those correspondents
@Richard: Happy New Year too!!! 🙂
Don't look for it... It's normal that you don't understand anything. In the comments above, there's a mixture of private jokes, geeky recipes, inappropriate allusions to my banner change a long time ago, interspersed with enthusiastic contributions from Mac lovers. Enough to lose the thread of the initial discussion. 😆
If you like the “series” of Mac vs. PC ads, I found this new link:
»All Mac ads on one page
Finally, to come back to the subject of this post, I didn't really tweak the system on my travel mini-PC. It works very well as it is for the use I have of it (storing and sorting photos, writing texts, web connections). I'm resigned to using Windaube, with which I'm similarly familiar thanks to the duck's computers.
The advantages of this “nomadic” auxiliary computer: small, light, inexpensive. I took it with me on my latest escapades, all the way to Borneo. I'm very, very happy with it. Even though it's... a PC!
8)