Previously foreshadowed but now with some photos and specs to back it up, it appears that Acer will indeed be shipping a 10.1-inch version of its Aspire One netbook this February.
Couple things to note: First, Acer loves the "don’t-show-the-front" product shots, so we can’t really ascertain if anything looks drastically different. The so-so keyboard from the current models will be the same on the new ones. The trackpad buttons, however, will be moved from either side of the trackpad to underneath it. I guess that’s good, although it’d be nice to see a bigger keyboard as well.
Second, it doesn’t appear that there’s been much done in the way of upgrades or improvements under the hood. The machine appears to be virtually identical, spec-wise, to the current models with the exception of a card reader replacing the storage expansion slot and a single memory slot that can take up to 2GB instead of two 1GB slots. Bluetooth and 3G will be optional, too, although the 3G thing’s already been done with that RadioShack promotion.
This all begs the question: why wait until February? This could have been pushed out months ago and sold alongside current models.
Also, and this isn’t aimed at just Acer, but it’s time for netbook manufacturers to either bump up the screen resolution or offer it as an upgrade on build-to-order machines. The 1024×600 thing isn’t doing it for anyone and the 8.9-inch HP Mini Note 2133 that came out a trillion years ago had a 1280×800 resolution, so we all know it can be done.
I’m not buying my netbook until it comes out with Touchscreen built in. Any idea on the price point?
No idea on the price yet but knowing Acer, it’ll probably be priced pretty aggressively — like well under $500, maybe more in the $399 to $449 range if I had to guess.
tdburn, have you ever heard of a Tablet PC?
A Tablet Notebook is bigger then a netbook. tdburn said that he/she wanted a netbook with a touch screen.
If you don’t know a netbook is a mini laptop.
News…the military is offering a 10inch screen laptop in it’s NEX, & PX’s all over the world.$500.00…it’s the cutest tinne you’ve ever seen, and fits right into my bag without overload. Ask if you’re interested.
HI,
Could you send me details of this machine
It really doesn’t make any sense to increase the resolution without substantially increasing the actual screen size. The higher the resolution the smaller the text, making it more difficult to read and use, and of course all the on screen gadgets/controls become smaller as well. I find the 1024×600 perfect, and when I need more room I have found a utility to change the res to 1024/768 that makes the screen scroll downward to see the whole screen. This unit has much higher resolution when using an external monitor, as a matter of fact I use it with my JVC video projector and it throws a very nice 8 foot image at a number of resolutions. I love my Acer. I only wish Intel had released a better chipset for the Atom, its silly to waste so much power and then put in a low power CPU, a really engineering paradox.
Just curious what the utility application is that changes the resolution to 1024/768?
Why netbooks are widescreen ratio is puzzling to me, except to accommodate a wider keyboard. 1024X768 would be better for overall surfing. As a web developer, that’s been considered a reasonable baseline resolution for publishing.
I would start with the Asus 900a form factor and just increase the depth by an inch.
And yes, a touchscreen would be nice too, giving it some Nintendo DS-like capability.