Even unlocking the extended Desktop feature of Xandros, you won’t be able to access many of the features that only a powerful Linux OS like the famous Ubuntu can bring to your EEE PC. The great news is you don’t really need to install this new OS and erase the existing Xandros system, as it can be tested and used in a ‘live’ version which simply boots from a pendrive and works from it with no effect on your SSD internal disk. This version of Ubuntu, especially modified to make the best use of the EEE PC hardware, is called eeeXubuntu and can work from a common 1 GB or larger pendrive, which you can choose as a startup disk pressing the ESC key at startup. Once loaded, you’ll see the full Ubuntu environment on the screen of your EEE PC and you’ll be able to use every application included and add others or configure the system the way you like, saving every change on the pendrive itself before shutting down your EEE PC. Next time you will always be free to start again from the pendrive and use eeeXubuntu or just let the EEE PC start from its SSD internal disk where Xandros (or the OS of your choice) is installed.
Also, if you decide that eeeXubuntu is better than the OS you’re already using on your EEE PC, you will be able to install it from the eeeXubuntu pendrive after the boot using a simple wizard started from an icon on the Desktop.
If you want to feel even more safe you can also purchase the special EEE PC backup and recovery kit reviewed on this site and sold on eBay to create a ’snapshot’ of your existing system and data on SD or pendrive and recall it afterwards if needed.
Try the eeeXubuntu pendrive from eBay now!