The bloatware can always be removed by a fresh install, but it's a shame about the overall lack of build quality since that's something that you can't do anything about, I still might give it a look though since I've been in the market for a notebook small enough to carry around easily that can still manage to play TF2 during lunch and has a half-decent battery life.

Pandora92
The bloatware can always be removed by a fresh install

Which would be fine for most Hexus readers, but without an optical drive, a bit trickier for the average laptop user.

Added value it certainly isn't (it only serves to show to average Joe how slow their new laptop is), but I'm sure ASUS (and most other manufacturers) gets a nice sweetener from Symantec/McAfee/whoever else fancies handing over some money.

this_is_gav
Which would be fine for most Hexus readers, but without an optical drive, a bit trickier for the average laptop user.

This is true, I guess I was sort of only thinking about myself at that point since this is one of the first notebooks I've genuinely considered purchasing, plus technically you then need to factor in the cost of another copy of Windows since I doubt the average laptop user would plan on installing Linux (I'm presuming the copy of 7 that it comes with is an OEM version valid for one install only). :|

Pandora92
plus technically you then need to factor in the cost of another copy of Windows since I doubt the average laptop user would plan on installing Linux (I'm presuming the copy of 7 that it comes with is an OEM version valid for one install only). :|

The license is tied to the machine (generally defined as motherboard) not the number of installs. You could reinstall it every day if you liked, providing it was limited to that laptop.

Activation would be another issue - generally you can only activate so often within a certain time-frame (I don't know what that time-frame is, but you'll be talking months I'd imagine), but you can ring them up and activate it over the phone.

I know recent Acer laptops can't be activated over the internet, but do work using the automated phone system (without having to be transferred to an operator). I'd be staggered if it isn't the same for all OEM laptops.

But it's all within the EULA. :)

I very nearly bought one of these, but the bendiness really put me off, it doesn't feel like it would last well on the move. The price was a bit of an issue but you're paying for the smallness.

The Acer 3820 felt a little less bendy (certainly around the keyboard was much firmer) but has an AMD 5 series card, similar in performance but no Optimus.

In the end I went cheaper, smaller, lighter but sturdier with the Dell M101z.

The bloatware doesn't bother me, but I think it's completely fair to penalise a company for providing it, as in doing the company implies “this is how we want you to experience the product”.

I am seriously tempted to get one of these. I can't find anything of the same size & battery life that provides the same performance at this price. If anyone can, do please let me know!

As for the build quality - the ASUS 2 year warranty puts my mind at rest.