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General discussion

Input on ACER please!

Sep 26, 2004 12:46PM PDT

All-

I've been on the lookout for a good notebook for a couple months now. I've read pretty extensively in this forum and attempted to make some purchases based on the reco's found here. I tried to buy the HP zt3000 (same as Compaq X1000) based on favorable reviews from Ken Sanramon and others. However, I am currently stationed in Okinawa with the Marine Corps and neither Toshiba nor HP will ship to FPO addresses.

I've found what looks to be a pretty good deal on an Acer at 3 sites (CDW, ElecroDiscount, NewEgg) that will ship to FPO addresses. It looks to be pretty much the total package for $1300.00. The problem I'm having is that I don't know much about Acer. I went to their homepage and they appear to be a pretty large, international company. I note that their reliability and customer service were not even reviewed by consumer reports, however.

That said, I would appreciate any input on the company and/or the particular model I'm looking at (specs below). Any other guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

MJK

SPECS:

Acer Aspire 1681WLMi Notebook Pentium M 715 - 1.5GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 15.4" WXGA TFT, 512MB, 60GB, RADEON 9700, WLAN, DVD+/-RW, WinXP Home


Model# LX.A2705.008
Item # N82E16834115139

Specifications:
Part#: LX.A2705.008
CPU: Pentium M 715 - 1.5GHz
Display: 15.4" WXGA TFT
OS: Windows XP Home
Memory: 512MB
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, 64MB
HD: 60GB
Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW Drive
Communication: 56K Fax/Modem, 10/100 Mbps LAN, Acer SignalUp wireless technology
Ports: 3xUSB2.0, VGA,S-video,FireWire,FIR, Audio Ports
Average Battery Life: up to 2.5 hours
Weight: 6.5 lb.
Manufacturer Warranty: 1 yea

Discussion is locked

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Re: Input on ACER please!
Sep 26, 2004 7:56PM PDT
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Re: Input on ACER please!
Sep 27, 2004 4:36AM PDT

This Acer notebook has great specifications -- ATI 9700 video card with 64mb (faster than Compaq X1000 ATI 9200 with 64mb) -- it has the Dothan 715 1.5 (2mb L2 cache, 512mb RAM, etc) .. also it has the 15.4" widescreen.

The negative I have heard about this model is it has an extremely small battery so you note the low battery life for a Centrino (2.5 hours). Supposedly, an 8 cell battery like that in the Compaq X1000 may be available (this Acer battery is only 4 cell). If so, then get it with the 8 cell.

The Acer 2000 series is available with the ATI 9700 with 128mb dedicated RAM and it has the larger battery if you can order that (but that is at or over $2,000).

At any rate, the Acer you are looking at has good specifications overall if you can do something about the battery issue.

Note, that the Compaq X1000/HPZT3000 with the 8 cell battery if rated at 5 hours while the Acer is only 2.5 hours (as battery is 1/2 the capacity 8 cell versus 4 which makes sense).

However, the real time life of a Compaq X1000/HPZT3000 is in the 3.5-4.5 hour range using wi-fi etc meaning the Acer may only get 2 hours or less under the same conditions.

You are buying a Centrino for battery life so see if you can order the 8 cell battery.