Translations: Nederlands
Eee PC Models
Many pages on this wiki were written when only the earliest models were available. We will update those pages to include details for other models as needed. For example, our ../HowTo/Install should cover all models for which the installer has support. The following pages should not be used to avoid updating those pages or filing appropriate bugs with model-specific usertags (see ../Bugs/About), but instead should summarize the status of work on model-specific issues. In time, we should scrub away as many of these differences as possible by letting the software do all of the work.
If your exact model is not listed here, see http://event.asus.com/eeepc/comparison/eeepc_comparison.htm for a more complete table from Asus. In general when you see 802.11b/g/n on the Asus site it is Ralink, whereas 802.11b/g is Atheros (except 701SD uses Realtek rtl8187se instead, 1002HA uses Atheros AR928X).
Unsupported models
Asus releases so many models in short time that it is difficult to catch up with supporting them. As Asus does not care if the hardware is well supported by free drivers this task can become very difficult. So we decided not to support the Eee Box line. This model is more like a conventional PC. Coincidentally for the current generation of Eee Box, the debian-eeepc.img installer works because it includes rt2860. Just don't count on this for future models.
Differences between models
Hardware differences
This table aims to compile the different hardware drivers and issues known to the different models. Latest models may have hardware elements in common with any other model, so this table may be a start point for troubleshooting issues with new models.
Hardware differences that are totally transparent to the system (processor type or amount of RAM) won't be displayed here.
|
Ethernet |
WLAN |
Bluetooth |
Silver hotkeys |
Front mic. issue |
Touchpad |
2G Surf (700) |
atl2 |
Atheros (madwifi as ath0) |
No |
None |
No |
Elantech |
701 |
Synaptics |
|||||
900 |
6-byte Synaptics |
|||||
900A |
atl1e |
Yes |
Elantech |
|||
901GO |
4 |
??? |
||||
1000HD |
atl2 |
Yes |
??? |
6-byte Synaptics |
||
901, 1000, 1000H |
atl1e |
Ralink (rt2860sta as ra0) |
Yes |
Elantech |
||
904HD |
Atheros |
No |
??? |
6-byte Synaptics |
||
701SD |
Realtek (rtl8187se as wlan0) |
None |
Elantech |
|||
1002HA |
Atheros AR928X (ath9k as wlan0) |
Yes |
2 |
|||
1000HE |
Yes |
4 |
Note: “6-byte Synaptics” may be Elantech.
See here for more information about the front microphone issue.
ACPI differences
This table aims to compile the differences that the eeepc_laptop (or eeepc_acpi) module sees between models. When the kernel module is loaded, it sends an ACPI command that probes the capabilities ("control methods supported") of the eeepc it is running on. This can be seen by running dmesg | grep eee.
Model |
BIOS version |
Control methods supported |
701 |
801 |
0x101711 |
701SD |
303 |
|
900 |
601, 704 |
|
901 |
1101, 1603, 1703, … |
0x101713 |
901GO |
2003 |
0x301711 |
900A |
0306, 0703 |
0x181711 |
1002HA |
0205 |
0x101713 |
1000HE |
0605 |
0x301713 |
The meaning of those control methods bitmaps can be better understood by looking at the CM_ASL_* constants in the source code of the eeepc_laptop / eeepc_acpi kernel module. From right to left, the bits mean "WLAN, Bluetooth, IRDA, 1394 (Firewire); webcam, TV (tuner?), GPS, DVD-ROM; display switch, panel brightness, BIOS flash, ACPI flash; CPU FV, CPU temp, CPU fan, chassis fan; USB 1, USB 2, USB 3, modem; card reader, lid". There are ACPI commands for toggling the 3G modem on and off, but no correspondence to any control method bit (as of yet). Disassembly of the asus_acpi module (2.6.21.4-eeepc, xandros on eeePC 901GO) suggest, that the 3G modem toggling support is indicated by bit 21 instead of lid. Wimax is probably indicated by bit 22. I'll test a kernel patch against eeepc-laptop platform driver and update the wiki afterwards.
These control methods control if the control files (i.e. /proc/acpi/asus/*) are created or not.
It is currently unknown if applying user hardware hacks (i.e. bluetooth on the 900, 3G modem on the 901) affects the control methods. If so, it would mean that the BIOS is quite smart when it comes to autodetecting new specific hardware.