Acer

PC Magazine reviews the Acer Aspire One

PC Magazine has published one of the first reviews of the new Acer Aspire One ultra-portable notebook. The Acer Aspire One features an Intel Atom processor and competes directly with the ASUS Eee PC and the MSI Wind notebook. If you need a refresher on the Aspire One, here are the major specs (at least for the reviewed model):

• 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor
• 512MB RAM
• 2.1 lb
• 8.9 inch screen
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• 8GB SSD
• Wi-Fi

The verdict?

The Acer Aspire One is aggressively priced and will entice customers with an Intel Atom processor and a well-developed Linux operating system

The Aspire One is certainly a bargain at $399 – considering you get the 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and an 8.9 inch display. Unfortunately PC Mag found the keyboard cramped, the battery a bit small, and the touchpad and mouse buttons awkward. It’s a sweet looking system though! In any case, this doesn’t really change my plans on waiting for at least the MSI Wind or perhaps even the upcoming Dell E.

Acer announces the Aspire one

Acer is jumping into the ultra-low cost portable notebook market with the introduction of the new Acer Aspire one. Billed as an “all-new communication device”, the Aspire one measures 9.8 x 6.7 x 1.14 inches and features an Intel Atom processor as well as your choice of Linux or Windows XP Home. The full specs are as follows:

• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi built-in
• 8.9 inch CrystalBrite LED backlit display with 1024 x 600 resolution display
• Acer CrystalEye webcam
• Available initially in blue and white with brown and pink coming out later this year
• Intel Atom processor
• Linpus Linux OS or Windows XP Home
• 512MB or 1GB of RAM
• 8GB NAND flash or 80GB HDD
• Memory card reader for SD, MMC, MS, MS PRO, xD Picture Card

If you’re up for Linux, then you might enjoy Acer’s new easy to use interface for the Linpus Linux OS. The system also comes with one Mail software suite which can manage up to six email accounts with a single application interface. Other software features include Messenger for IM, OpenOffice 2.3, Acer eRecovery Management, Acer Launch Manager, Adobe Reader, McAfee Internet Security, Microsoft Office Trial 2007.
The new Acer Aspire one will become available during the third quarter with prices beginning at $379.

Technorati Tags: Acer Aspire one, Intel Atom

Posted by flung in Microsoft and Ultramobile PCs02 Jun 2008 11:24 pm

Microsoft announces they’re working with 20+ OEMs on nettop devices

Here’s an easy way to figure out who’s getting into the ultralow-cost desktop PC market – read the press release from Microsoft on how they’re planning to offer Windows as an OS for these systems (which they refer to as “nettop” devices”). Near the end of the release, Microsoft mentions that they’re working with more than 20 hardware OEMs including:

• Acer
• ASUSTek
• BenQ
• Dell
• First International Computer Inc.
• Gigabyte
• HP
• Inventec Corp.
• Lenovo
• Medion AG
• Micro-Star International Co
• Positivo Informatica
• Pegatron Corp
• Quanta Computer Corp
• Wistron Corp