Laptop choiche

Acer Aspire One AOA150-1447 - The latest addition

Acer’s latest addition to the Aspire One series, AOA150-1147, has hit the markets. This model comes in an attractive Sapphire Blue. Weighing in at just 2.2 lb., this ultraportable netbook is aimed at travelers, business professionals and students.

Let’s look at the specifications to see what it has to offer. A 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor N270 with 1 GB RAM and 160GB HDD form the core specs. In terms of the processor you have to admit, there’s not much difference here to provide it an edge over competition. But, you have to keep in mind that all netbooks currently in the market have pretty much the same on offer. And if you take a closer look, you’ll have noticed that this unit comes with 160GB storage, which when combined with its performance could very well allow it to take the place of a regular laptop! Windows XP Home edition comes installed and I’m sure most users out there will be happy to work with a familiar OS. Acer InviLink 802. 11b/g wireless LAN and Crystal Eye web cam with integrated digital microphone, complete the list of specs.

The 8.9 – inch LED back lit WSVGA display comes with a native resolution of 1024 x 600 and Acer’s familiar CrystalBrite Technology. The screen provides good angular visibility and brightness, though it tends to be a finger print magnet.

Though Acer seems to have done its best to minimize “fat finger” issues, the 84 key keyboard can only accommodate the hunt and peck style. The touchpad comes with two buttons that provide good response without being oversensitive.

On the sides are three USB ports, the headphone jack, the microphone jack, a DC in and an RJ-45 LAN port. Card slots include an SD Card Reader and Multi-in-one Card Reader.

The built in speakers provide reasonably good sound quality, but don’t expect them to bring the house down.

The laptop runs cool and the fan, when it kicks in, is quiet. The six-cell batteries ensure over five hours of usage which is a definite plus.

At a glance then the pros and cons of this unit are:

Pros:

Compact and portable
Hard Drive capacity
Good battery life
Quality of build

Cons:

No Bluetooth
No CD/DVD drive

All things considered, Acer has undoubtedly come up with a winner! With a starting price of $325, you couldn’t get a better deal, especially keeping in mind the storage available.

Price: Approx. $350

Acer Aspire One AOA 150-1447 Ratings:

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A revolutionised notebook - HP MINI 1000

The year 2007 saw the advent of Netbooks in the form of the Asus Eee PC. Initially aimed at emerging markets, these light-weight, affordable, laptops come in smaller sizes spanning 5 – 10 inch screens and are relatively more environment friendly. Soon to follow Asus’ canny lead were Everex , MSI, Dell and HP each trying to gain a hold over the fast emerging niche market. With sales growth projected at 21.5 million this year, it’s easy to see why competition is heating up with established brands vying to produce the best. Contending for the top position in the Netbook market is Hewlett-Packard’s latest Mini 1000. Let’s review it to see if it has what it takes to out-sell competition.

The combination of Intel’s Atom CPU, 1GB RAM and Windows XP OS, being used by almost all of the latest netbooks on the market, performance wise, there doesn’t seem to be a significant difference. We’ll have to look, then, at the features that distinguish it from its competitor’s models.

The Mini 1000 definitely seems to be an improvement over HP’s earlier offering, the 2133 Mini-Note PC. Though its essential design remains the same, the use of plastic ensures a lighter unit which is also slimmer. The swirls on the shiny cover give it a classy, understated appearance. Opening the display, you notice that the keypad without a doubt is its best feature. Said to be 92% the size of a regular sized laptop keypad, the flat keyboard and large keys lends themselves to the best touch typing experience on a Netbook. The touchpad at the bottom has two buttons on either sides with the scroll pad in between and a tiny button just above to turn the pad off and on. The glossy display itself has an edge-to-edge glass cover similar to that of Apple’s latest Macbook. While the glass adds to the looks of the unit, it subtracts from the user experience by causing glare issues compounded by the fact that the display doesn’t open as much as other models. Two USB ports and a single switchable headphone and microphone jack leave you wondering what HP was thinking about when it used space to create an exclusive HP Mini Mobile Drive when a third USB port or a separate headphone jack would’ve been more welcome.

With a battery life of 2 hours and 45 minutes, the Mini is bested by both the Asus Eee PC (245 minutes) and the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 (201 minutes). But the sound quality of the speakers, located near the hinge, is very good on this Netbook. Another significant plus is the ease with which one can upgrade the RAM. All that’s required is for the memory slot on the flip side to be opened, the old DIMM to be removed and the new one to be fitted in.

Other downsides include the poor quality of the web camera and the slightly less significant annoyance of a noisy fan that kicks in when the bottom begins to heat, which it does to a certain extent.

Pros:
Great keyboard, aesthetics, portability and screen size.

Cons:

Price ($400 for Linux and $500 for Xp), web cam quality, bulky power brick and no VGA output.

Hp mini 1000 ratings:

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The Acer Aspire One AOA 150-1555: A Student’s Perfect School Companion

These days, being a student is hard work – there is so much to learn and so much information to absorb, and school is as demanding as ever. Students today have subjects about concepts and topics that did not even exist yet when their parents were students, and all this is largely due to the many technological advances that have taken place over the last few decades. Thankfully, the exponential developments in technology have lent itself to the advancement of the many tools that a student uses to survive academics, and personal computers are definitely one of the main technological advancements that have helped many a procrastinating college student survive cramming a Jane Austen book report, an English presentation, or an accounting and finance spreadsheet.

Enter the Acer Aspire One AOA150-1555 – a student’s perfect companion to surviving the rigors and demands of today’s academic world. It’s lightweight, making it the perfect carry-anywhere computer companion for those constantly on the go. More importantly, it is also very affordable, cashing in at an amazing three hundred US dollars, making it ideal for the budget-conscious scholar.

Weighing in at barely over two pounds, the Acer Aspire One AOA150-1555 is ultra light and portable, but it isn’t lightweight on the specifications – it boasts of a monitor that measures 8.9 inches, a hard drive that’s packed with 160 GB, and Intel’s new Atom processor. At the same time, the Acer Aspire One AOA150-1555 isn’t all serious and boring – with a built-in webcam and wireless connectivity, students can go online to chat it up with classmates and friends or update their profiles on Facebook and MySpace and other social networking sites when taking a break from all the homework and research.

The Acer Aspire One AOA150-1555 is also powered by a 3-cell lithium ion battery that allows the mini-notebook a considerable amount of battery life, perfect for a group meeting at a coffee shop or an hour-long presentation and panel interview for class.
As a laptop that’s affordable, ultra-portable and perfect for going online, the Acer Aspire One AOA150-1555 is the perfect companion for a student, or even a business traveler who is constantly on the go. And with a price tag that will set you back a mere three hundred dollars, doting parents of students going off to college and living in a dorm will find the Acer Aspire One AOA150-1555 a perfect going away gift for their children who are off to fulfill their college dreams and graduation goals.

Price: Approx. $500

Acer Aspire One AOA 150-1555 Ratings:

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The Ultimate Design - Acer Aspire One AOA150-1784

If you are someone who prefers to use a compact, light-weight Netbook as your primary laptop, you won’t find a more suitable option than the Acer Aspire One AOA150 – 1784! Weighing just 2.1lbs, it also makes for an ideal travel mate or a handy mobile connector for business professionals. Students unwilling to spend too much but not wanting to compromise on storage will also find it attractive. With a starting price of $329 you’d find it hard to get a better deal. Let me fill you in on the details and you’ll see what I mean.

In terms of the processor, there’s nothing new on offer but that’s not unexpected. The AOA 150 – 1784 comes with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor N270 with 1 GB RAM and a whopping storage size – for a netbook -- of 160GB and 1GB RAM (512 MB onboard/ 512MB SODIMM Slot).

Acer InviLink 802. 11b/g wireless LAN and the Acer Crystal Eye Web cam, include the other features. Windows XP Home Edition with SP3 comes installed making it easy to accomplish everyday tasks at home and work.

The chassis comes in a glossy Sapphire blue and the build quality is solid. Plastics have been used but they are sturdy and don’t exhibit any flex.
The 8.9 – inch LED back lit WSVGA display comes with a native resolution of 1024 x 600. It provides reasonably good viewing at horizontal and vertical angles but minor glare issues are evidenced outdoors. Slightly annoying, also, is the manner in which the display seems to attract finger prints in no time.

Just below the display are the integrated speakers that are surprisingly good for that size though they can’t be expected to fill up large spaces. It holds up well while watching video clips and browsing the internet without compromising on clarity. The keyboard which is the most distinguishing feature of all Netbooks, extends from end to end in an attempt to provide space between keys and minimize typos by swiping the neighboring letter. However, if this is your primary laptop, it’s advisable that you get yourself an external keyboard (acer provides an external USB Mouse). The touch pad is of a decent size and responds well though scrolling could need a bit of getting used to.

Interfaces on the sides include 3 USB ports, a VGA port, a headphone jack, a microphone jack, an Ethernet port, and AC adapter connector and a Kensington lock slot. Card readers include a Multi-in-one card reader, an SD card reader a MultiMediaCard (MMC), Reduced size MultiMedia card, Memory stick, Memory stick Pro and an XD picture card.

The lack of a CD/DVD drive and Bluetooth are significant cons. Short battery life (2.6 hours) in spite the presence of a six-cell battery, is another noticeable downside.

There’s no doubt the Acer Aspire One AOA150-1784 doesn’t offer cutting-edge technology but its ultra portability, remarkable storage size and affordable price definitely make it hard to resist.

Price: Approx. $300

Acer Aspire One AOA 150-1784 Rating:

Value for money:


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