While the rest of the PC-making world – Acer, Lenovo, HP – were up at least 7 percent this year, poor old dell dropped 5.9 percent and to third place. And, as we all know, being third place means you’re the second loser.

Tech analysts iSuppli estimate that Dell sold 10.34 million PCs and laptops. This means that Acer, once an also-ran in the industry, has hit number two. This is a huge deal.

While there’s no accounting for taste, it’s clear that Acer and HP are selling what people want. Lenovo has always been popular with business and Toshiba is, well, Toshiba. Dell basically needs to step up its game or get left in the dust.

Acer, no stranger to netbooks with Google-backed operating systems, is hoping to have the first Chrome OS netbook on the market by the second half of next year, according to DigiTimes.

The company has apparently been developing the machine since the middle of this year. Acer’s JT Wang “expressed his confidence that the company will be the first vendor to launch [a] Chrome-based netbook in the market during a recent interview with Digitimes.”

The second half of 2010 is light years away as far as technology development is concerned but, hey, now you have something to talk about at your next dinner party. I’d bring it up right away, like before you even take your coat off.

Acer to launch Chrome OS netbook in 2H10 [DigiTimes]

Acer’s new 18.4-inch AS8940G-6865 is a desktop replacement. And by “desktop replacement” I mean that you could attach four legs to it and use it as your desk. It’s big, is what I’m trying to say. Don’t actually attach legs to it, but I guess take with you the impression that this is a large laptop. Also, it’s powerful, so keep that in mind as well.

The machine boasts a newfangled quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU 720QM at 1.6GHz, an 18.4-inch LCD at 1920×1080 resolution, 4GB of DDR3 memory, an NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M GPU with 1GB of dedicated DDR3 video RAM, 500GB SATA hard drive, Blu-ray/DVD burner combo drive, 8-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

There’s also five USB ports, an HDMI port, eSATA port, card reader, webcam, VGA output, Dolby audio, draft-N wireless, “touch-capacitive media control interface,” and a travel weight of more than 10 pounds.

Pricing starts at $1350 – Newegg seems to be first out of the gate to sell the machine.

Full press release:

New Acer Aspire Notebook PC Maximizes Performance with New Intel Core i7 Quad-Core Processor and Windows 7 Technology

New Aspire AS8940G-6865 Notebook with 18.4-inch Display Delivers Intensive Gaming, Entertainment and Multimedia Performance

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Acer America today introduced the Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865 notebook PC, featuring the new Intel® Core™ i7 Quad-Core 720QM processor and Windows® 7 Home Premium. This mobile processor delivers extremely fast performance for the most demanding applications such as playing games and editing digital photos and videos.

Designed for entertainment and multimedia enthusiasts, the Aspire AS8940G-6865 offers superior performance, innovative features and advanced technology for mobile users. This new notebook boasts a large 18.4-inch widescreen HD display for extraordinary visual quality, advanced NVIDIA graphics, Blu-ray technology, a high-quality audio system, a large hard drive and ample memory, making it a mobile powerhouse. The addition of Windows 7 to this new notebook provides users with a new level of performance, simplicity and ease of use.

The Aspire AS8940G with the Intel Core i7 processor delivers a breakthrough in PC performance, allowing users to multitask between applications quicker and enjoy faster performance overall. The new processor features Intel Turbo Boost Technology⁽³⁾, which accelerates processor clock speed up to 75 percent to match a user’s workload⁽⁴⁾ demands, giving more power when it is needed the most. Intel Hyper-Threading Technology⁽⁵⁾ allows applications to work better in parallel, making multitasking quick and easy.

“This new Aspire notebook offers multimedia enthusiasts the ultimate in mobile entertainment – cinematic quality sound and visuals, an industry-leading feature set, and the performance to handle demanding digital media,” said Preeta Anil, Product Manager, Notebooks for Acer America. “The addition of Intel’s new Core i7 processor further boosts the power and performance of the Aspire AS8940G for games, movies, videos and more.”

Superior Technology for Mobile Cinema and Gaming

For the ultimate cinematic experience, the Aspire AS8940G-6865 features cutting-edge visual and sound technology. This new notebook includes an 18.4-inch full HD widescreen CineCrystal™ LED backlit display with a 1920×1080 resolution that exhibits true HDTV with a 16:9 aspect ratio in a new edge-to-edge design that’s perfect for widescreen movies. The certified Dolby Home Theater® Audio Enhancement technology combined with the Acer CineSurround sound system with five built-in speakers and the Acer Tuba CineBass booster bring clear tones and deep bass beats for incredible entertainment.

Users can enjoy the clarity and precision of Blu-ray Disc™ high definition technology for watching Blu-ray movies in extraordinary detail as well as burn CDs and DVDs of music, photos and files. The NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 250M graphics maximize the gaming experience by providing intense computing power. Additionally, the 1GB of dedicated video memory allows buffering capacity for seamless graphics and visuals.

Further enhancing the multimedia experience, Acer’s Touch-Capacitive Media Control Interface allows consumers to quickly and easily control their entertainment choices, including media playback and volume levels. The Aspire AS8940G also comes equipped with a FineTip keyboard with backlight, making it more user friendly when watching movies or listening to music in a dark environment.

Mobile Performance and Connectivity

Additional popular technologies allow customers to stay connected and be productive while on the go. The integrated media card reader, DVD burner and 500GB of hard drive storage enable customers to quickly and easily view, download, store and share their digital media content. Additionally, the Aspire AS8940G offers users further flexibility and expandability with an extra eSATA hard drive port.

The Acer Crystal Eye™ webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. The built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes.

Consumers can connect via 802.11a/b/g Draft-N with expanded wireless features, and all models include Gigabit Ethernet for a fast wired connection.

Pricing/Configurations/Availability

The Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865 notebook will be available for U.S. customers at leading retailers this holiday season. A sample configuration follows.

Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865

• Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 720QM (1.60GHz, 6MB L3 Cache, 1333MHz FSB)
• 18.4″ Full HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit Display
  (1920×1080 Resolution, 16:9 Aspect Ratio)
• 4GB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
• NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 250M with 1GB dedicated DDR3 VRAM
• 500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive ⁽¹⁾
• 4X Blu-ray Disc^™/DVD SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 802.11a//bg/Draft-N Wi-Fi CERTIFIED®
• Acer Crystal Eye™ Integrated Webcam
• Touch-Capacitive Media Control Interface
• 5 USB 2.0 Ports, 1 HDMI Port, 1 eSATA Port
• 8-cell Li-Ion Battery (4800mAh)
• Dolby Home Theater® Audio Enhancement
• Acer CineSurround Sound System (5 built-in speakers)
• Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• MSRP $1,349.99

How keen are you on touchscreens? Keen enough to navigate Windows 7 while using such a monitor? Acer has a new one, the T230H, which will allow you to do exactly that. A big selling point is that it’ll increase your productivity, but I’m not so sure.

I mean, is it easier to use a touchscreen to navigate Excel, or flip about Firefox? You’ll still have a keyboard, I should think, so it’s not like the iPhone where you’re forced to get used to this radical, new interface; you have no other choice. Here, you’re split between touching the screen and typing away on a traditional keyboard.

But I’m still not the biggest fan of touchscreens yet, so my bias is palpable.

Anyhow, the specs:

• 16:9, 23-inch, 1920×1080 LCD.

• HDMI interface

• 2ms response time, which should placate the twitch gaming crowd

• 80,000:1 contrast ratio

And so on. Again, there’s got to be a market for these things, but I’m not so sure I’m a part of it.

I know everybody is excited to start their weekend but the bell doesn’t dismiss you, I dismiss you. So before you go, I’m gonna tell you about this new 3.5-pound Acer Timeline ultraportable that just came out yesterday.

First, the keyboard is gorgeous. It’s like looking at a pretty girl but not the kind of girl that’s too good for you, but more the girl who shows up at your party, does a keg stand, and then asks “Who wants to play Madden?” Pretty but accessible, is what I’m saying. It looks nice, but perhaps more importantly it’s easy to type on.

Second, it’s a good deal (I bought it on Amazon for $600). You get a 3.5-pound frame, a 1.3GHz Intel SU4100 CPU, 3GB of DDR3 RAM, 320GB SATA hard drive, Windows 7 Home Premium, and a six-cell battery which Acer claims is good for up to 8 hours.

Thirdly, thusly, and finally, please check out the above video for a quick hands on. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to review this computer because it’s a gift for my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday. I’d like to make it clear that I didn’t spend all $600 of my own money on the computer. I don’t want to get any aspiring bloggers’ hopes up about making enough money to throw down $600 on a birthday present for your mother-in-law. You’ll need to split $600 presents multiple ways for your entire life. But you do get to play with toys a lot.

Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810TZ-4925 [Amazon]

Oh, right, 3D laptops. I almost forgot. If you like 3D so much that you want to have it with you wherever you go, then 3D laptops may or may not soon be all the rage. No need to wait, though, as Acer’s 15.6-inch Aspire 5738DG will be available this week.

As previously reported, you’ll need to use special glasses but – BUT! – even standard 2D stuff can be converted to 3D. How is this possible? Glad you asked:

“The notebook features a 15.6-inch Acer CineCrystal HD display coated with a special 3D film which clings to the panel pixel by pixel, enabling the LCD technology to deliver a 3D image. Users slip on a pair of included 3D polarizer eyeglasses, which filter 2D images to 3D, and enjoy eye-popping, true cinematic high def playback of movies, video and games. Customers can use the TriDef Media Player for playback of videos and photos in 3D, while the TriDef Ignition tool to enables 2D to 3D conversion for games and applications supporting DirectX 9 and above.”

Other features include the following:

• Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 CPU at 2.2GHz
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 15.6-inch LED-backlit 3D screen at 1366×768 resolution
• ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 with 512MB of RAM (expandable to 2304MB via system memory sharing)
• 4GB DDR2 RAM
• 320GB hard drive (5400RPM)
• Card reader, b/g/n Wi-Fi, DVD burner, webcam, four USB ports
• Six-cell battery, system weighs 6.16 pounds

Starting MSRP of $780, it’ll (likely) be available starting tomorrow.

[Full press release]

Can you believe it? Acer has yet another 11.6-inch ultraportable notebook on the way. Notice I didn’t say netbook, since this one technically has a low-voltage Intel Celeron SU2300 processor running at 1.2GHz.

Features include the aforementioned processor, an 11.6-inch screen at 1366×768, Windows 7 Home Premium, Intel GMA 4500MHD, 2GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, card reader, a/b/g/n wireless, webcam, multi-touch trackpad, three USB ports, HDMI out, 3.08 body weight, and a six-cell battery good for up to six hours before needing to be recharged.

Various configurations will be available “at leading retailers this holiday season” with a starting MSRP of $400 – no word on a firm launch date yet, however.

Here’s the full press release:

New Acer AS1410 Series Brings Style and Affordability to Ultraportable Computing

11.6-inch Notebook Lightens the Load for Mobile Users Who Want to Enjoy Social Networking, Video and Productivity Applications on the Go; Available for Just $399

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bringing affordability to the ultraportable notebook platform, Acer America today announced the new Acer Aspire AS1410 Series. These new notebooks integrate enough power for enjoying digital entertainment in a very sleek, stylish design for just $399.

“With the rising popularity of social networking, consumers are more connected than ever to the online world,” said Ray Sawall, senior manager of product marketing for Acer America. “When it comes to selecting a notebook, they’re increasingly concerned with size, weight and style. The AS1410 Series is small enough to be carried in a backpack or even a large purse but with enough power for spreadsheets and presentations. Aggressively priced, the AS1410 is an affordable mobile solution for checking Twitter updates, viewing YouTube videos and handling productivity applications on a plane, at school or a coffee house. Those in the market for a netbook should consider this notebook as an option, due to the step up in processing power.”

Just one-inch-thin and 3.08 pounds, these systems are sleek and light, but with a full-size keyboard. The full-sized keyboard is comfortable and easy to type on, particularly for taking advantage of productivity applications. The compact size combined with a traditional keyboard comprises a convenient platform for frequent travelers and students. With the needs of mobile users in mind, the AS1410 Series is designed to suit an individual’s own personal flair with three elegant color options – Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue and Ruby Red.

Powerful Performance; Petite Package

Although it’s the size of a netbook, the Aspire AS1410 Series is truly a mainstream notebook with the performance to suit a variety of users. Featuring an Intel^® Celeron^® processor and 2GB DDR2 memory (upgradeable to 4GB), the notebooks have plenty of power for document creation, media playback and daily task management.

The systems are also outfitted with the new Windows 7 Home Premium operating system and up to a 250GB hard drive,⁽¹⁾ which is large enough to store a vast library of music, images and spreadsheets. Offering plenty of productive time when away from a power outlet, a 6-cell Lithium Ion battery provides up to a whopping six hours of battery life,⁽²⁾enough power to keep the PC charged on a coast to coast flight.

The systems are also primed for visual clarity. The 11.6-inch widescreen HD LED-backlit display is large enough to comfortably view videos, photos, documents and web pages. Featuring LED backlit technology, a 16:9 aspect ratio and Intel^® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, the AS1410 Series delivers realistic HD pictures with crisp detail and smooth video playback.

Integrated speakers and Dolby^® Sound Room^® audio enhancement deliver lifelike sound for enjoying videos, movie downloads and music. A webcam and digital microphone make it fun and easy to get virtual face time with friends and family via live video streaming and video chat.

Intuitive PC Navigation, Convenient Connectivity

Affording easy, intuitive PC navigation, the new Aspire notebooks have a multi-gesture touchpad. Users can scroll, zoom in and out and quickly flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more by pinching, flicking and swirling their fingers across the touchpad.

Despite the compact form factor, the new notebooks offer a wide array of ports including an integrated multi-in-one media reader to conveniently transfer files from digital devices. An HDMI port allows the systems to support any PC or TV video format via a single cable, while three USB 2.0 ports enable connection to the latest peripherals and digital devices. Advanced Intel 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N Wireless and Gigabit Ethernet LAN enable fast access to email, the web and social networks.

Pricing/Configurations/Availability

The Acer^® Aspire AS1410 Series notebooks will be available for U.S. customers at leading retailers this holiday season. A sample configuration as well as specifications and pricing follow.

Acer^® Aspire AS1410 Notebook PC – Prices begin at $399.99

• Intel^® Celeron^® Processor SU2300 (1.2GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• 11.6-Inch HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-Backlit Display (16.9 Aspect Ratio; 1366×768 Resolution)
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Intel^® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 2GB DDR2 Dual-Channel 667MHz Memory (Upgradeable to 4GB)
• 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive⁽²⁾
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• Intel^® WiFi Link 1000 802.11 a/b/g/Draft-N
• Integrated Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
• Two Built-In Stereo Speakers and Dolby^® Sound Room^® Audio Enhancement
• Full-Size Acer FineTip Keyboard
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad Supporting Circular Motion, Scrolling, Pinch-Action Zoom and Page Flip
• Three USB 2.0 Ports
• HDMI Port
• 6-Cell Li-Ion Battery (4400 mAh), up to Six Hours Battery Life
• 3.08 Pounds
• Two-Year International Travelers Limited Warranty

Various configurations of the recently-announced Acer Timeline ultraportables are now available for preorder. Since they’re Windows 7-based systems, they’ll ship this Thursday, October 22nd when Microsoft’s new operating system is released.

Amazon has them starting at $550 for the 11.6-inch model, Newegg.com has them starting at $600, and there are undoubtedly several other stores that are either currently taking preorders or will begin taking preorders soon.

The Timeline series, as you’ll recall, features low-voltage Pentium CPUs and promises up to 8 hours of battery life while keeping system weight between 3 and 5.5 pounds depending upon screen size.

You may or may not recall that a couple weeks ago, Acer’s ION-powered AspireRevo nettop showed up on Newegg.com for the low, low price of $199. While the machine featured some relatively-impressive specs (Atom N230 CPU, NVIDIA ION, XP Home, etc.), there’s now a new entrant to the AspireRevo line that bumps the CPU up to dual-core status, doubles the RAM, and adds Windows 7 Home Premium as well as a wireless connection.

Of course, the price has gone up too.

The Acer AspireRevo R3610-U9012 nettop features the following:

• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Intel Atom N330 dual-core CPU at 1.6GHz
• NVIDIA ION graphics
• 2GB of RAM
• 160GB hard drive
• Six USB ports
• HDMI/VGA outputs
• eSATA
• Card reader, B/G/N wireless, Gigabit Ethernet
• Wireless keyboard and mouse
• MSRP of $329.99

The press release states that the machine “is available in the U.S. via leading online technology retailers,” although seeing as how Windows 7 isn’t officially released until next Thursday, the term “available” is being used a bit loosely.

Still not a bad system for the price, though.

Oh, netbooks. Doug loves ‘em, but I’m still not convinced of their vitalness. Is it neat to see a tiny little computer zip around the Internet? Sure, yeah. Can I go about my business without ever having owned one? So far, so good! I bring this up because yesterday I was able to goof around—in truth, that’s probably the most accurate phrase to describe it, no matter how silly it sounds—with Acer’s newest netbook, the Aspire One AOD250 ($350, available now, rumored for the past 700 years). It’s a netbook; it doesn’t look too different from netbooks you’ve already seen, but for one difference: see that little switch right there? That’s where you tell the netbook to boot into Android or Windows XP.

That’s right: this netbook is able to dual-boot, and pretty easily, too. (Though I’m sure it’s just a matter of putting a couple of ISOs on a flash drive to configure any netbook to dual-boot, but I somehow doubt Joe Sixpack has any interest in doing such a thing.) It’s not hard to figure out why Acer would do this: netbooks, for better or worse, are where consumers’ money is going these days, and despite the fact that margins there are still pretty tight—really, how much profit can you expect when you’re selling these things for $300?—Acer has to follow the crowd. Can’t let other companies hog all the fun, right?

So throw XP and Android on it. That way, you’ve got an operating system that was designed from the ground-up to be gentle on devices with very little horsepower, and another operating system where people can “surf the Internet,” that is, fire up Internet Explorer and buy movie tickets from that one Web site. You know, because no other browser, let alone operating system, can work in the Internet. (Is is just me, or do you still know people who, despite the fact that computers have been pretty accessible since the mid-1990s, are still like, “What’s a URL? Oh, you mean the words I type to read my Hotmail?”)

In having both XP and Android on the netbook, Acer can say, “Hey there, person who’s money we’d like! Did you know that with our notebook you can use an OS that excels on netbooks, and have your Windows, too? And all you have to do is press this button, et voilà!”

Presumably Acer has a marketing team that’s a little more clever than that.

How does the AOD250 feel? Frankly, like every other netbook out there. That may be fine if you have small hands, or are comfortable with working in small spaces, but if you’re a Big Guy, it’s not exactly ideal to smash your wrists together trying to poke out an e-mail or tweet. Another weird point: we’re pretty used to seeing Android on touchscreen devices, and interacting with it as such. This Acer netbook, though, doesn’t have a touchscreen. Now, I’m cool with that—the Zune HD is my very first touchscreen device, and I’m still getting used to it, several weeks after having given the nice man at Wal-Mart my money—but I can almost hear some of you yelling “Lame!!!” Calm down, sirs, it really isn’t a big deal.

Specs? Again, I feel like I’m beating a dead horse here, but you read about one netbook… It’s got a 10.1-inch screen, 160GB hard drive (not a flash drive, just to clear that up), 1GB of memory, built-in 802.11b/g and Bluetooth, three USB ports, and a multi-touch touchpad. An Intel Atom N80 powers the whole thing. That should be enough to run Windows XP, right? I mean, XP is an 8-year-old OS at this point!

So, netbookers, I ask you this: yea or nay? I feel as thought I’ve completely skipped out on the netbook fun, and don’t really have as personal reaction to this as I normally like.

Acer’s going the touchscreen route with the 15.6-inch Aspire AS5738PG notebook. It’ll launch alongside Windows 7 on October 22nd with a starting price of $800. The machine will run Windows 7 Home Premium and pack a multi-touch screen for some good old fashioned pinching and zooming.

Other features include a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 512MB ATI Radeon HD4570 graphics chip, 4GB of RAM, 320GB SATA hard drive, DVD burner, six-cell battery, and a weight of just over six pounds.

Full press release:

Launching with Windows 7, the new Aspire AS5738PG multi-touch screen notebook delivers incredible new functionality, high-performance features, and mobile entertainment

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 14, 2009 – Acer America, part of the world’s third largest PC company⁽¹⁾ today debuts its new Acer Aspire 5738PG notebook PC – the company’s first notebook with multi-touch screen capabilities that offer a natural and enhanced way to interact with the PC, applications and digital data.

The Acer Aspire 5738PG multi-touch screen notebook launches with Windows 7 Home Premium and will be available starting October 22 at select retailers.

The Acer Aspire 5738PG’s high-quality multi-touch screen display and Windows 7 multi-touch support makes entertainment and multimedia experiences more intuitive and interactive. As a result, customers can touch anywhere on the screen using one or two fingertips to play movies, zoom in and out on websites, edit photos and video, handwrite notes, resize windows, launch entertainment applications and more.

Also, customers can use the multi-touch screen for a variety of gestures directly on the screen for intuitive and accurate access and control. For example, customers can pinch inward or outward to zoom in and out of photos, flick the screen to turn the page and browse through media and documents, as well as swirl their finger for quick and simple navigation of lists.

“Customers will experience an incredible level of flexibility and control in the multi-touch screen interface, as it frees them to interact with their digital world in a way that is familiar yet also new and exciting,” said Ray Sawall, senior manager of product marketing for Acer America. “The Acer Aspire 5738PG’s multi-touch experience takes advantage of the many new capabilities in Windows 7 and provides incredibly powerful first-rate technology such as ATI Radeon graphics and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor.”

Sawall continued, “Until now, touch notebooks have been limited in capabilities and available only at a substantial price premium. The new Acer Aspire 5738PG changes all this with multi-touch screen capabilities and a price that is affordable for a wide range of customers.”

Impressive Mobile Theater Entertainment

More than the sum of its touch points, the Acer Aspire 5738PG notebook combines first-rate technologies that deliver excellent performance for mobile theater entertainment and mainstream games.

The display was designed to provide an extraordinary cinematic experience that is immersive and incredibly realistic. The vibrant HD display is a 16:9 widescreen size that’s ideal for enjoying movies and online entertainment. Plus, it’s LED-backlit, which reduces energy usage compared to traditional laptop displays. Along with the 1366×768-resolution, the LED-backlit display contributes to the display’s crisp clear visuals and is ideal for enjoying HD movies.  Plus, the touch-control is remarkably precise.

Complementing the HD display, the system’s Intel Core 2 Duo processor provides the horsepower to drive demanding applications with ease.  In addition the high-definition ATI Radeon HD 4570 Graphics with 512MB Dedicated DDR3 VRAM enhances imagery with vivid color and crisp detail. Dolby Home Theater Audio Enhancement with built-in speakers and 5.1-channel surround sound output bring these incredible visuals to life with vibrant crisp audio.

Technology and Extras for On-the-Go Productivity and Fun

Customers will have plenty of ways to access, store, share and enjoy their digital media files. The spacious 320GB hard drive can store a vast library of music, video, photos, spreadsheets and email. An integrated multi-in-one media reader enables connection to peripherals and electronic devices, while an HDMI port allows the system to support any PC, TV or other device with an HDMI port via a single cable.  The four USB 2.0 ports provide ample connections to peripherals and consumer electronics.

Staying in touch is fun and convenient with the notebook’s integrated 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N wireless technology and Gigabit Ethernet. The Acer Crystal Eye webcam enables high-quality video chats and VoIP with friends, family and work associates. It can also capture still pictures and videos for sharing with others.

Hardware and Design Enhance the Touch Experience

The overall multi-touch screen experience is further enhanced by giving customers more ways to interact with their notebook through the multi-gesture touchpad. Affording easy PC navigation, the new Aspire 5738PG’s multi-gesture touchpad lets users access their applications and media with the same sort of natural, intuitive gestures they can use on the touch screen, including pinch, flick and swirl. The convenient touchpad lock can be set to prevent unintended cursor movement.

The new Acer Aspire 5738PG multi-touch screen notebook also comes with helpful and easy-to-use one-touch buttons:  the Acer Backup Manager for backing-up important files and information, and the PowerSmart button for maximizing battery life. In addition, the notebook is Energy Star qualified.

Availability, Configurations and Pricing

The Acer Aspire AS5738PG-6306 notebook is the first model available in the line. It will be available for U.S. customers with Windows 7 Home Premium beginning Oct. 22 at leading retailers.  Specifications and pricing follow.

The Acer Aspire AS5738PG-6306 is available in Acer’s popular Gemstone Blue color.

Acer^® Aspire AS5738PG-6306 Multi-Touch Screen Notebook PC

· 15.6-Inch HD CineCrystal™ LED-Backlit Multi-Touch Screen Display (Widescreen 16.9 Aspect Ratio, 1366×768 Resolution)

· Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

· Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6600 (2.2GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)

· ATI Radeon™ HD 4570 Graphics with 512MB Dedicated DDR3 VRAM

· 4GB DDR2 667MHz Dual Channel Memory

· 320GB SATA Hard Drive⁽²⁾

· 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive

· Dedicated Numeric Keypad

· Intel^® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi CERTIFIED^™ Network Connection, Featuring MIMO Technology, Supporting Acer SignalUp^™ With Nplify^{™3, 4} Wireless Technology

· Two Built-In Stereo Speakers With Dolby^®10-Optimized Surround Sound System

· Acer Crystal Eye Webcam With 640 x 480 Supporting Acer PrimaLite^™ Technology

· HDMI Port and Four USB 2.0 Ports

· Energy Star

· 6.16 lbs with 6-Cell Battery

· MSRP: $799.99

Keeping with the idea of netbook portability and battery life yet with standard notebook power, Acer’s bumped its Timeline series to dual-core CPUs, added Windows 7, and slid an 11.6-inch model weighing just over three pounds into the mix at just $600.

There will be four Windows 7 base Timeline models available on October 22nd:

• The 11.6-inch AS180T (pictured above) weighs 3.08 pounds, MSRP of $600
• The 13.3-inch AS3810T weighs 3.5 pounds, MSRP of $800
• The 14-inch AS4810TZ weighs 4.4 pounds, MSRP of $650
• The 15.6-inch AS5810TZ weighs 5.3 pounds, MSRP of $650

All models feature dual-core low voltage Pentium CPUs, six-cell batteries good for up to eight hours of use, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, 4GB of RAM, and 320GB SATA hard drives. The 14- and 15.6-inch models also come with optical drives.

Full press release:

Acer Adds New 11.6-Inch Model to Aspire Timeline Notebook Series;
Expands Entire Line with Dual-Core Processors for Enhanced Power, Performance

Latest Aspire Timeline series offers style and performance with eight hours of battery life, Windows 7, and a sleek, thin and light design

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 14, 2009 – Acer America, part of the world’s third largest manufacturer of notebook PCs ⁽¹⁾, today expands its Aspire Timeline series of all day computing ⁽³⁾ notebooks with a new 11.6-inch model that is ideal for road warriors and ultraportable enthusiasts.

In addition, the company announced today that it has expanded its entire line of Acer Aspire Timeline series notebooks with models that feature Windows 7 and new Intel CULV dual-core processors for enhanced performance and functionality. The lines starts at just $549.99 (MSRP) and the line comes in several color choices including a new chic, yet subtle “espresso” color for the 15.6-inch model.

The new Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810TZ 11.6-inch notebook brings the promise of all day computing to a new ultraportable size. This new notebook offers users elegant styling, great performance and advanced functionality in a thin and light design. Boasting an 11.6-inch HD LED-backlit display, a full-size keyboard, HD audio/visual enjoyment, advanced wireless connectivity and 8 plus hours⁽³⁾ of computing time, the notebooks are ideal for road warriors and anyone who needs to be connected and productive while on-the-go.

All day computing is made easy with the Aspire Timeline series. On just a single charge, consumers can remain productive and entertained from morning to night, making it easier to get more done while travelling and working remotely.

“Acer is providing consumers with the best of all worlds with the new 11.6-inch Timeline – an affordable ultraportable that delivers long battery life and great performance in a compact and stylish design,” said Ray Sawall, senior manager of product marketing for Acer America. “By adding dual-core processors to the entire line, we’ve taken affordable mobile computing solutions to a new level.”

Dual-Core Processors Add Power and Energy Efficiency to All Day Computing

The new Aspire Timeline series is more powerful, energy-efficient and light. All of the new notebooks feature Intel dual-core ultra-low voltage processors, allowing users to take advantage of great performance while saving energy, enabling longer battery life and generating less heat. Several of the notebooks feature Intel’s Laminar Wall Jet technology that allows air to be jet cooled and redirected along the bottom of the system, making the notebooks cooler to the touch.

A single charge to the standard high-capacity 6-cell Li-ion battery gives users eight hours of battery life ⁽³⁾, allowing all day, on-the-go computing. Convenience features such as the PowerSmart button also help save valuable battery consumption. A simple push of the button enters the notebook into power saving mode. Another push and the notebooks are quickly ready for maximum performance. Additionally, the Acer PowerSmart Adapter senses when the notebook is fully charged and stops consuming energy.

Mobile Computing that is Both Stylish and Practical

With prices starting at $549.99, the new Timeline series models offers something for everyone – road warriors, families or students. The notebooks offer users a range of choices in size and color.

The new Timeline AS1810 is the thinnest and lightest of the new notebooks, weighing only 3.08 pounds with an 11.6-inch display. For those in need of a slightly larger mobile system, the AS3810 weighs 3.5 pounds and offers a 13.3-inch display while the AS4810 adds an optical drive and 14-inch display and weighs 4.4 pounds. For those in need of an even larger screen with optical drive and dedicated numeric keypad, the AS5810 weighs 5.3 pounds and features a 15.6-inch screen.

At its slimmest point, all models are less than one-inch thin, and just over one-inch at their thickest. This thin and lightweight design enhances the notebooks’ mobility, making them easy to carry in a backpack, briefcase, laptop carrying case, or even a purse. 

The elegant, high-tech design also provides solid protection to the display and internal components. The system is also lead- and mercury-free, making it easier to recycle.  The new Timeline notebooks come in a variety of colors (depending on the model), including Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue, Brushed Aluminum and the new Espresso.

Enhanced Performance to Maximize Mobile Capabilities

The new Timeline notebooks pack powerful performance and features in a small package. In addition to the Intel CULV dual-core processors, the notebooks feature ample memory for multitasking and large hard drives for quickly storing and retrieving files.

Usability is significant in the design of these notebooks. The Timeline features high-definition CineCrystal LED-backlit widescreen displays (16:9 ratio) that bring superb color and motion to any digital media while being energy efficient. Additionally, full size keyboards make computing easier and more comfortable.

Keep in touch easily by accessing email, browsing the web or connecting to a social network with 802.11b/g Draft-N wireless or Gigabit Ethernet LAN. An integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam and digital microphone delivers smooth video and voice quality for real-time video streaming, online chatting, and video conferences. Consumers can also enjoy surround sound music and video sound with the Dolby Sound Room from headphones or stereo speakers.

A Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows users to pinch, flick and swirl their fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows users to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more.  The TouchPad can also be disabled with a one-touch button, eliminating accidental cursor movement with palms and wrists when using an external mouse.

The Timeline family of notebooks also includes a backup button that lets consumers easily select and protect their irreplaceable digital files through regular scheduled backups or on an as-needed basis.  Data can be backed up to an external hard drive, flash card, thumb drive or to a secure hidden partition on their PC.

Additionally, the addition of the new Windows 7 Home Premium makes mobile computing more reliable and responsive, enhancing the user experience.

Configurations, Pricing and Availability

Available October 22, the Acer Aspire Timeline series includes numerous models within the 11.6-inch AS1810, 13.3-inch AS3810, 14-inch AS4810 and 15.6-inch AS5810 lines.  A sample configuration from each is listed below.

Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810T-8679

• Intel^® Core 2 Duo Processor SU7300 (1.3GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 11.6-inch HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
• Mobile Intel^®GS45 Express Chipset
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 4096MB DDR2 Dual-Channel 667MHz memory
• 320GB⁽²⁾ 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• Integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam
• Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
• Dolby Sound Room^® Audio Enhancement
• Intel^® WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED®
• Bluetooth^® 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
• 3 – USB 2.0 ports
• HDMI port
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
• Full –size Acer FineTip keyboard
• Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
• 3.08 lbs.
• 11.2” (W) x 0.87” to 1.18” (H) x 8.03” (D)
• Energy Star^® 5.0 compliant
• MSRP $599.99

Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737

• Intel^® Core 2 Duo Processor SU7300 (1.3GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 13.3-inch HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
• Mobile Intel^®GS45 Express Chipset
• Intel^® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
• 500GB⁽²⁾ 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• Integrated HD webcam
• Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
• 2^nd Generation Dolby Sound Room^® Audio Enhancement
• Intel® WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED®
• 3 – USB 2.0 ports
• HDMI port
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip

• Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)

• Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
• 3.5 lbs.
• 12.7” (W) x 0.9” to 1.1” (H) x 9.0” (D)
• Energy Star^® 5.0 compliant
• MSRP $799.99

Acer Aspire Timeline AS4810TZ-4508

• Intel Pentium^® Dual-Core Processor SU4100 (1.30GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 14-inch HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
• Mobile Intel^®GS45 Express Chipset
• Intel^® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
• 320GB⁽²⁾ 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• 8x DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
• Integrated HD webcam
• Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
• 2^nd Generation Dolby Sound Room^® Audio Enhancement
• Intel® WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED®
• 3 – USB 2.0 ports
• HDMI port
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip

• Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)

• Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
• 4.4 lbs.
• 13.3” (W) x 0.9” to 1.1” (H) x 9.44” (D)
• Energy Star^® 5.0 compliant
• MSRP $649.99

Acer Aspire Timeline AS5810TZ-4784

• Intel Pentium^® Dual-Core Processor SU4100 (1.30GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)

• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 15.6-inch HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
• Mobile Intel^®GS45 Express Chipset
• Intel^® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
• 320GB⁽²⁾ 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• 8x DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
• Integrated HD webcam
• Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
• 2^nd Generation Dolby Sound Room^® Audio Enhancement
• Intel® WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi certified
• 4 – USB 2.0 ports
• HDMI port
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip

• Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)

• Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
• 5.3 lbs.
• 14.9” (W) x 0.97” to 1.16” (H) x 10.2” (D)
• Energy Star^® 5.0 compliant
• MSRP $649.99

All models come with a standard one-year parts and labor warranty, which can be extended to three years with the Acer Advantage service.  Additionally, some models have longer warranties offered through specific channel partners.  All Acer notebook PCs are backed by toll-free service and support.

Under the hood, we’ve got the following:

• 1.66GHz Intel N280 Atom CPU
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB hard drive
• 10.1-inch screen at 1024×600
• Six-cell battery (up to 9 hours of battery life)
• Weighs 2.8 pounds, one inch thin
• Dual-boot Android/Windows XP Home

So all in all, it looks like a pretty straightforward Acer Aspire One 250-series model with a little added oomph from the N280 CPU and some Android thrown in for good measure. It’ll be interesting to see what Acer’s able to do with the Android interface and whether it adds enough to the experience to make this netbook worth a closer look.

Acer AOD250-1613 10.1-Inch Black Netbook [Amazon via Gizmodo]

According to DigiTimes:

"Acer, while still developing Windows Mobile-based smartphones, has shifted its development policy to focus more on the Android platform, with at least half of new models launched in 2010 to be Android-based, according to industry sources."

The Android-based Acer A1 should be making its official appearance in the coming months, with the WinMo-based F1, L1, C1, and E1 becoming available by the end of the year.

The machine features a 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive (5400RPM), and NVIDIA’s ION graphics chip.

The inclusion of ION makes this little guy a good option as an inexpensive HTPC as it’ll be able to play back high definition video through the HDMI or VGA outputs.

Other specs include Windows XP Home, gigabit Ethernet, card reader, two front-mounted and four rear-mounted USB ports, one open RAM slot, and an open Mini PCI Express slot.

Built-in wireless would have been nice but other than that, this isn’t too bad for $200.

Acer AspireRevo [Newegg via SlashGear]

Acer’s birthed a $499 all-in-one nettop aimed at cubicle dwellers featuring an 18.5-inch screen and an Intel Atom CPU. The Veriton Z280G is, according to Acer, “perfect for reception areas, hotel lobbies, executive suites, cube environments and any office that requires an integrated, space-saving design.”

The screen has a 1366×768 resolution and there’s a 160GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM on board. The machine comes preloaded with Windows XP, although there’s a Windows Vista Business recovery CD included just in case you want to slow things down a bit.

Aside from that you get pretty standard netbook features with the exception of an included DVD burner and five USB ports. The whole setup is fanless, so you’ll easily be able to hear the girl seven cubicles over arguing with her boyfriend on the phone all day.

Available now(ish) from various business resellers.

Full press release:

Acer Delivers Veriton All-in-One Desktop PC to the U.S. Professional Market – High on Style, Low on Price

The Veriton Z280G, a Practical Blend of Style and Functionality for Just $499

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Acer, the world’s third largest vendor in the PC market,(1) today announced the new Acer Veriton Z280G-EA271CP all-in-one PC for the U.S. commercial market. It delivers energy-efficient performance in a picture-perfect design. It’s available via Acer’s authorized resellers with prices beginning at just $499.

Boasting a brilliant 18.5-inch widescreen LCD monitor and measuring just 19-inches (W) by 15-inches (H) by 2.14-inches (D), this sleek all-in-one is perfect for reception areas, hotel lobbies, executive suites, cube environments and any office that requires an integrated, space-saving design.

Featuring an Intel® Atom™ ultra-low-voltage processor and fan-less operation, the Veriton Z280G is cool, quiet and Energy Star® qualified. This practical platform easily manages basic office productivity and Internet-based applications.

“Generous with style, yet conservative with space and price, the Veriton Z280G is an asset to any home office or corporate setting,” said Leila Axelle Robert, Acer Commercial Systems Business Manager. “Users are sure to enjoy the brilliant display that showcases presentations, spreadsheets and Internet content in vivid clarity, while business owners and IT specialists will appreciate the system’s excellent value and energy savings.”

Easy Set-Up, Brilliant Viewing

The system is as easy on the eyes as it is to set up and use. The high-definition LCD display provides a superb viewing experience with its 16:9 aspect ratio, 1000:1 contrast ratio and 1366×768 resolution, making it ideal for viewing graphs, charts, videos and more in crisp detail and vibrant color.

The Veriton Z280G helps organize, create and share digital data. Using the Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader, users can quickly transfer presentations and other documents from one PC to another. A 160GB hard drive is large enough to store a vast library of digital data. Conveniently located on the right side of the display, the Super Multi Double-Layer drive can quickly and easily load software, back-up critical data as well as read, playback and copy optical disks. Built-in 802.11b/g wireless allows for quick, cable-less connection to the Internet. The system also comes with Windows XP, integrated speakers and a matching keyboard and mouse.

Practical Management and Security Software

The sleek system boasts an excellent software package for protecting and managing important data. In addition to Adobe Reader and Cyberlink DVD, it offers Acer eRecovery Management for creating system back-ups, copying configurations and burning factory default images. This management software also restores user created HDD images or optical disks, original system configurations as well as reinstalls Acer applications and drivers. Acer Client Manager enables IT managers to deploy software and control user’s systems remotely, while Acer Security Suite keeps digital data safe.

Pricing, Availability and Specifications

The Acer Veriton Z280G-EA271CP all-in-one desktop PC is available in North America via Acer’s authorized resellers with prices beginning at just $499.

Acer Veriton Z280G-EA271CP All-in-One Desktop

• Windows® XP Professional, Recovery CD with Windows Vista® Business
• Intel® Atom™ N270 (1.60GHz, 512KB Cache, L2, 533MHz FSB)
• Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• 2GB Memory
• 160GB Hard Drive(2)
• SuperMulti Drive
• Five USB 2.0 Ports
• Multi-in-One Card Reader
• 18.5-inch Widescreen LCD Display
• Gigabit LAN and WiFi 802.11 b/g WLAN
• One Year Limited Warranty

Display Specifications

• 1366 x 768 Native Resolution
• 16:9 Aspect Ratio
• 1000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• 250 cd/m2 Brightness
• 5ms Response Time

In the search for affordable 11.6-inch netbooks, you have a couple of enticing choices in the Acer Aspire One 751h (see review here) and the Gateway LT3103. Both pretty much come from the same company, as Acer owns Gateway, and while the outward look and feel of each system is pretty similar, there are some notable internal differences.

Scott Wasson over at the Tech Report did an excellent job comparing the two systems, so make sure to hit up his 10-page opus for the full details. Here are some of the highlights:

• The Acer 751h is whisper quiet, while the LT3103’s fan is constantly running
• The Gateway LT3103 has better trackpad
• The Gateway LT3103 has better web browsing performance
• The Gateway’s screen is a little better with color reproduction
• Both keyboards are pretty much exactly the same
• Neither system does well with video past 480p QuickTime, SD DivX, and low-res Hulu in a window
• Wasson removed McAfee from the Acer, and Norton from Gateway and replaced Vista on both machines with Windows 7 RC1. The Acer had more bloatware out of the box.
• Battery life with a six-cell battery: Gateway got 3 hours while watching movies, 4 hours when web surfing; Acer got 5 hours while watching movies, 6.5 hours when web surfing

Overall, Wasson finds the LT3103 to offer the fewest compromises — the main one being battery life, but that’s about it. Without having tried the LT1303 myself personally, I can still see his point. The two systems are very similar as far as price and build are concerned — the Acer offers marathon battery life but not much power, while the Gateway offers much more power at the expense of battery life and noise:

“The Gateway LT3103 is the most successfully executed of the two systems, because its Athlon 64 processor and Radeon graphics give it the performance to match its larger screen and keyboard. The grown-up looks and finish of the Gateway set it apart from the Aspire One 751, as well. If you like to fret over the semantics of ‘netbook’ versus ‘notebook,’ the LT3103 will positively put you into a tizzy of hair splitting and confusion—endless hours of fun. I could see this system replacing a full-sized laptop for an awful lot of users. It’s a heck of a bargain, too, compared to the Aspire One 751, since it comes with a larger battery at the same price.

The only real compromise the LT3103 requires, other than the lamentable lack of Bluetooth and 802.11n support, is its run time of roughly four hours…

…Although I don’t like the performance compromises required by the Aspire One 751, there’s no denying that it has a place in the market for folks who value sleek, quiet systems with high-res displays and long battery life—so long as you’re talking about a version with the six-cell battery. This is perhaps more of a color Kindle-killer for the web—a mobile device, if you will—than a full-fledged computer. You’ll just want to have your eyes wide open going into the purchase and be prepared to have your patience tested from time to time.”

Just as an aside: I tried out Windows 7 RC1 on the test Aspire One 751h that I have here and found it to be a bit too sluggish for everyday use. Once I reverted back to XP, everything was noticeably snappier. If you’re considering the 751h, I might suggest you look into one of the XP systems. Windows 7 ran okay once I ratcheted everything down as far as the display and graphical effects are concerned but XP ran pretty smoothly straight away once I’d removed McAfee and added an extra gigabyte of RAM.

Aspire One 751 vs. Gateway LT3103 [The Tech Report]

Here’s a nice little deal on the 11.6-inch Acer Aspire One 751h (see our review here) over at B&H. You can get the fully-loaded (loaded as far as netbooks go) version with 2GB of RAM, 250GB hard drive, and six-cell battery for just $350 after a $54.10 instant rebate and with free shipping to boot.

Full specs:

• 1.2GHz Intel Atom Processor Z520
• 2GB RAM
• 250GB Hard Drive
• Intel GMA 500 Graphics
• 11.6″ LED Backlit Widescreen Display (1366×768)
• Integrated Webcam and Microphone
• 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• 6-Cell Battery
• 2.75 lb

Acer Aspire One AO751h-1893 Netbook Computer (Black) [B&H Photo via dealnews]