35 replies to this topic

[sherifgti]

It seems units in the UK (black in particular) are lacking the PCIe slot in the memory bay area. This would be very unfortunate if this was a worldwide change, as it will narrow our expansion options.

Please post here if you have looked under your new EEE. Let us know if you have or don't have a Mini PCIe slot in there.

(For the un-initiated, its under a small plastic cover under your EEE where you can upgrade your RAM. If there is a warranty sticker and you peel it off, it will void your warranty!)

Mine comes in tomorrow and I will provide my own input and pictures. Lets get some feedback rolling!

[technoronin]

That would be bad. My main use for the eee pc is to provide good mobile connectivity, so I was planning on putting some flavor of 3G card in that slot.

[been]

My black EEE just arrived from NewEgg, and it has it. :)

[tristand]

My eee (UK, Black bought from eBuyer 2 days ago) does not have it.

[barnesy]

Mine's a black UK one from laptopsdirect. It doesn't have the port.

[Insider]

Typical, UK consumers paying more for less!

[pezcado]

should i be concerned if i'm planning on getting the white 701 one from expansy's soon?

is it just black models from the UK, or just any models from the UK that don't have these slots

[Tpunk]

Mine sure as hell better, I'll be very pissed if it does not.

[sherifgti]

While I am a little relieved to hear that a newegg purchaser got his with the slot I am sad for the UK purchasers... does Asus feel that Americans will buy into their accessory market? I do know they mentioned upgrades being available for EEEs... this must be some kind of product targeting and profit maximization.

[mkrishnan]

Quote

should i be concerned if i'm planning on getting the white 701 one from expansy's soon?

Eh... right now, we don't have that much to do with it. If you're interested in hacking your Eee, though, it will make things somewhat more difficult.

Quote

is it just black models from the UK, or just any models from the UK that don't have these slots

We don't know for sure yet. So far, however, all the reports of units without the slot have been for over there....

[PhiBeR]

Guys,

Those with and without the mini-PCIe slots.. Can you do me a big favour?
Can you post out the first 5 digits of your S/N found on the barcode label under the EEE PC and also the tiny number under "MB Rev"?

Asus seems to have stripped out the mini-pcie connector on all new batches, i am trying to verify the batches that are affected! :)

[crayonshinchan]

I've got a black model, but am reluctant to "void" the warranty to check. Can it be done using eg "lspci", if so what am I looking for?

[cr14mson]

Linking to PhiBeR's survey: Click Me. Thanks! ;)

[sherifgti]

I think its turning out to be a regional issue rather than a serial range. I would be reluctant to share serial information, especially since you're voiding your warranty and basically volunteering that info on the web :)

At least if you send it in without the sticker you can claim it wasn't there...

[TheBronze]

I doubt that they will really be able to enforce the sticker removal aspect of that warranty. it's not reasonable to deny an end user the ability to do a RAM upgrade. Obviously, if you start soldering in components and doing crazy stuff, they are going to tell you to pound sand. But if you get a failure and ship it back with the 512 stick, they probably won't even bat an eye.

As far as sharing your serial number...I wouldn't do that anyway. I put a portion of mine up in a different post for some clarification, but not all of it... :)

[PhiBeR]

We dun really need all of the S/N...
I think we just need to see the first 2 characters, 7A (And below) should have the connector..
7B (and possibly above B) should not have the connector..

So far, no one has proved otherwise for my hypothesis..

Also, It's also the same situation in Taiwan now.. all the NEW Pearl White EEE PCs 4GB/512mb/Webcam starting with 7B does not have the connector..

It's not a regional issue, it's more like a m/b revision or batch issue..

"Asus remove it to prevent warranty damged cause by user for installing a PCI-E"

Quote from my TW source, not from TW Asus as there was no official announcement..
They don't need to anyway, since the mini-pcie connector was never advertised or stated officially anywhere on their sites..

[g0myw]

Just unpacked mine from laptopsdirect UK - just the 512 stick - plenty of fresh air where I was going to put the extra memory !! :-(

[Longhorn Engineer]

Newegg- US Black EEE

Mini-PCIe slot is present.

[sherifgti]

Update :)

Black EEE PC from Newegg. Mini PCIe slot is present.

It seems its just UK suffering this silly thing. Keep us posted everyone@!

[Electroman]

I'd like to testify too that my black eee whos serial number begins with 7A does have a Mini PCIe slot.