I have just managed to get the advanced desktop working on my Asus eee pc. Now I can't get the machine to go back to easy mode (even when I click on the easy mode option). In addition I cannot seem to open my terminal from the advanced desk top. Can anyone help me with either or both of these issues?

I'm not exactly sure what you want. I don't know what "easy mode means" and you don't mention what distro you're using. Usually ctl-alt-F1 (or F2, F3, etc) will get you into terminal mode. ctl-alt-F7 gets you back to your graphical mode but I don't know if this applies to your system since you don't tell us what you're using.
cheers,
jdk

The asus eee pc comes with Linux and the desktop in what's called "easy mode". Through a great deal of pain and frustration you can switch to advanced desktop mode, which would be the kind of layout most people require. having done that I can no longer switch back to easy mode and that's shut the gate on accessing the terminal. your suggestions sadly have not had the desired effect. being brand new to linux I have little understanding of what i'm doing let along what system it is. However I can look up some stuff. Linux version 2.6.21.4-eeepc. KDE version 3.4.2. I simply wish to access the terminal.

You'll find a lot of helpful information for the eeePC here: http://forum.eeeuser.com/
and here: http://wiki.eeeuser.com/

That said,

Usually it's MenuButton -> System -> Konsole
or <CRTL><ALT><F1> then <CRTL><ALT><F7> to get back to the GUI

If I remember right, you then have to logout and login again to go back to "easy mode". It doesn't "just happen".