New Devices Means Windows Phones Might Not Be Dead After All

When it comes to the smartphone race not many people are using phones with Microsoft’s Windows 10 Mobile operating system these days. In fact, for most just finding a device that supports the fledgling OS can be a chore. Even then the pickings are very slim with only a few devices clinging to life. It looks like that may soon be changing however, and we are sure glad it is!

Windows 10 Mobile's market-share may just be a blip on the radar these days, hovering between 1-3%, but the operating system is gaining new signs of life thanks to key additions from some major industry players. HP, Acer and even Lenovo are releasing brand new high end device running Microsoft's latest mobile operating system.

HP Elite x3

Taking another stab at the smartphone market for the first time in years, HP will soon start shipping their new flagship phone the Elite x3. First announced at the Mobile World Congress trade show in February the Elite x3 will feature some rather impressive specs that will put it in the same class as powerhouse Android devices such as Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and LG’s G5. It has a 5.96-inch AMOLED screen that can display images at a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chip, which has a graphics processor capable of processing 4K video, 4GBs of ram and 64GBs of storage space.

HP Elite x3 Specifications:

• Dimensions: 83.5 x 7.8 x 161.8 mm 195g
• Screen: 5.96-inch AMOLED display with WQHD 2560 x 1440 px resolution, Gorilla Glass 4
• Processor: Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 @ 2.15 GHz
• RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
• Storage: 64GB expandable to up to 2TB with microSD
• 16MP rear camera
• 8MP front-facing camera
• Dual nano SIM or nano SIM + microSD via 3-in-2 card tray
• Iris scanner
• Fingerprint scanner
• IP67 rating for dust- and water-resistance
• MIL-STD-810 rating, assuring device protection for drops from up to 1 meter
• USB 3.0 port with Type-C connector
• 4150 mAh battery, non-removable

Lenovo SoftBank 503LV

Last year, when Microsoft first announced the release of Windows 10 for phones, it mentioned Lenovo as one of its hardware partners. However, we haven't hear anything about this from Lenovo - not until now. The company this week unveiled its very first Windows 10 smartphone the SoftBank 503LV. Unfortunately we have seen rumors this device might be available in Japan only, however one can hope that all this new interest and competition will mean it will make it to the US.

The SoftBank 503LV derives its name in part due to the fact that it is a collaboration with Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank, one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers in the world. Being Lenovo's first entry into the Windows 10 Mobile market the Lenovo SoftBank 503LV features some rather basic specs. which we see as rather unfortunate. It will have a 5-inch 720p display and is powered by a 1.5GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor (the same chipset that powers the Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus, and HTC One A9), coupled with 3GB of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 32GB that is expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card.

Liquid Jade Primo

Acer has been one of the few companies that has stood with Microsoft in partnership releasing multiple Windows Mobile phones dating back to early 2015 when they released their first Windows Mobile phone the Liquid M220. This year we have seen them step up their game, releasing not one but two new devices. Back in April we saw their first release with the Liquid M330, a $99 entry level device for the budget minded. This week they took things up another notch with the release of their newest 'flag ship device' the Liquid Jade Primo.

During the IFA conference at the beginning of September 2015, Acer first unveiled the Liquid Jade Primo, giving users a glimpse at what was at the time going to be the company's first Windows 10 Mobile handset. Featuring a Hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080px) AMOLED screen and 3GBs RAM the Liquid Jade Primo packs an impressive punch.

Acer Liquid Jade Primo Specifications:

• Hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
• 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080px) AMOLED screen
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB storage (plus microSD card support up to 128GB)
• 21MP rear camera with dual-LED flash and 4K (3840x2160px) video recording
• 8MP front-facing camera with Full HD (1920x1080px) video recording
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• USB Type-C connector
• 4G LTE connectivity
• Dual-SIM support
• 2800mAh battery
• 156.5 x 75.9 x 8.4mm; 150g

All three device will feature support for Windows Continuum, one of Microsoft's newest features which turns your phone into a pseudo-PC allowing you to run universal Windows apps directly from your phone on just about any large format screen. You can then connect a mouse and keyboard and use your phone just as though you would a laptop, tablet or desktop, all while keeping the full function of a phone.

Acer's Liquid Jade Primo and HP's Elite x3 will also features bundles that include a Desk Dock for not only Continuum support, but additional USB, power and networking connections as well. Pricing starts at $649 for the unlocked Acer Liquid Jade Primo with a dock, keyboard and mouse and $699 for HP's Elite x3 (though we don't believe that includes and extra peripherals).

I don''t know about my fellow geeks out there but I for one applaud Microsoft and their partners for continuing the fight for a 3rd smartphone platform. I'm a firm believer that competition brings innovation and right now we aren't seeing a ton of that coming from Apple or Google with iOS and Android. I think that should Microsoft succeed, in breaking into even a small portion of the market, we might see some great things. They definitely have a major mountain to climb and will need a lot of help from developers in getting apps made for the OS. I feel though once that is done they might have a chance.

What about you guys? Do these new devices get you excited for more Windows 10 Mobile, or do you think they'll just be another flash in the pan?

Acer Facebook Contest Win An S7 Ultrabook Each Day Until The End of 2012

Hoping to spread the word and boost sales of their new S7 Ultrabook, Acer is running a Facebook contest giving lucky Facebook fans a chance to win a new S7 each day until December 31st.

"We've conducted four unique Facebook sweepstakes in the last year that have culminated in more than one million engaged fans interacting with Acer on a daily basis, and we're doing it yet again with the Acer S7 Select program," said Hugues Gontier, senior director of marketing, Acer America. "The Acer Aspire S7 has been widely praised as one of the most innovative and gorgeous touch-enabled Ultrabooks in the industry and we're thrilled to give our Facebook fans the opportunity to enter for a chance to win an Aspire S7 Ultrabook every day through this holiday season."

To enter, you have to visit a special page on Acer's Facebook Timeline, install the app, and start selecting friends that share attributes with the Aspire S7, such as "stylish," "brilliant," and "smooth," to name a few of the adjectives.

The Acer S7 Ultrabook features a 13.3-inch Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) touchscreen display, Windows 8 is half an inch thin, and weighs just 2.87 pounds. Powering them is either a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U Processor or the more powerful Intel Core i7-3517U CPU. The official rules suggest a retail price of $1650 so while the exact model Acer is giving away isn't clear it would appear to be the Acer S7 model S7-391-9839 or the S7-391-9886

Acer Releases New $199 Google Chromebook

When Google unveiled a new version of their Chrome OS earlier this year they also announced a partnership with vendors Samsung and Acer to release Chome OS based Chromebooks. Netbook like laptops that feature Google's in-house designed operating system. Today we get a glimpse at the latest offering from that paring, the new Acer C7 Chromebook.

The new Acer C7 Chromebook features an 11.6-inch 1366x768 display and full-size keyboard all packed into a 1 inch thin – 3 lbs / 1.4 kg body. You get and an Intel Celeron 847 processor (2MB L3 cache, 1.10GHz, DDR3 1333 MHz), 2GB of DDR3 memory, 320GB hard drive and 100GB of free storage on Google Drive. Acer claims you get 3.5 hours of battery life, which isn't awesome but its manageable. Other features include Dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Ethernet, 1.3 MP HD Camera, 3x USB 2.0 ports and for display purposes 1x HDMI Port and 1x VGA port.

The C7 is available for $199 starting tomorrow in the Google Play store, at Best Buy stores and on BestBuy.com.

Source: Official Google Blog: The new Acer Chromebook

Acer Sets The Bar With The New Iconia W700 Windows 8 Tablet

As the release date for Microsoft's newest iteration of Windows draws near, more and more leaked information about possible Windows 8 based tablets and their pricing has cropped up. Much of it to the dismay of the general public.

Most companies have shown target price ranges of nearly $800 for the tablet alone, with the additional costs for docking stations or keyboards pushing the pricing for the device to well over $1000, and this is for the basic entry level models with lower end Intel Atom based CPUs.

Acer might just have raised the stakes a bit. Today the company formally announced its new Acer Iconia W700 Windows 8 tablet, which will ship with a cradle and keyboard included at a mere $800. This isn't just an entry level Atom based device either. The Iconia W700 will feature an Intel Core i3 CPU, 4GBs of RAM and an 64GB SSD. For those willing to spend a bit more and want a bit more horsepower there will also be an option for for an Intel Core i5 or the addition of extra storage with a 128GB SSD.

The W700 has a rather impressive 11.6-inch touchscreen IPS display boasting a Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) resolution. It will feature a front facing 1-megapixel camera capable of shooting 720p video and a rear 5-megapixel camera capable of 1080p video. The Iconia W700 it measures less than half an inch thick and weighs only 2.3 pounds. Acer says it provides up to eight hours of battery life.

The tablets include one USB 3.0 port, a Micro HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack while the included cradle adds and additional three USB 3.0 ports. You will also get a slim-lined Bluetooth keyboard along with an HDMI-to-VGA dongle for those wanting to use their tablets with a larger screen.

The Acer Iconia W700 will be available on Oct. 26 at leading retailers across the U.S. in several configurations. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices range from $799.99 to $999.99.

While pricing seems a bit on the high side in comparison to other equally equipped tablets or even similarly spec'd Ultrabooks the price for the Iconia W700 isn't nearly as bad as it sounds. An iPad or Android tablet with 64GBs of storage space and a keyboard would be fairly comparable.

Update: Here’s a quick breakdown of the three W700 models and what they offer:
Acer Iconia W700-6691

• Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz Processor w/Turbo Boost up to 2.6 GHz
• 11.6″ 1920 x 1080 resolution LED backlit TFT LCD display w/ 10-point multi-touch screen
• 4GB of DDR3 RAM
• Intel HD Graphics 4000 w/128MB RAM
• 64GB SSD
• 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0
• 5MP, 1080p rear-facing camera
• 1280×1024, 720p front-facing camera
• 1 USB 3.0, 1 Micro-HDMI, 1 3.5mm headphone/mic jack
• Up to 9 hours battery life
• 17″ (L) x 3.28″ (W) x 9.25″ (H), 2.09 lbs

Acer Iconia W700-6465

• Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz Processor w/Turbo Boost up to 2.6 GHz
• 11.6″ 1920 x 1080 resolution LED backlit TFT LCD display w/ 10-point multi-touch screen
• 4GB of DDR3 RAM
• Intel HD Graphics 4000 w/128MB RAM
• 128GB SSD
• 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0
• 5MP, 1080p rear-facing camera
• 1280×1024, 720p front-facing camera
• 1 USB 3.0, 1 Micro-HDMI, 1 3.5mm headphone/mic jack
• Up to 9 hours battery life
• 17″ (L) x 3.28″ (W) x 9.25″ (H), 2.09 lbs

Acer Iconia W700-6607

• Intel Core i3-3317U 1.8GHz Processor
• 11.6″ 1920 x 1080 resolution LED backlit TFT LCD display w/ 10-point multi-touch screen
• 4GB of DDR3 RAM
• Intel HD Graphics 4000 w/128MB RAM
• 64GB SSD
• 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0
• 5MP, 1080p rear-facing camera
• 1280×1024, 720p front-facing camera
• 1 USB 3.0, 1 Micro-HDMI, 1 3.5mm headphone/mic jack
• Up to 9 hours battery life
• 17″ (L) x 3.28″ (W) x 9.25″ (H), 2.09 lbs

Acer Recalls Notebook Computers

Acer Inc. is recalling more than 22,000 laptop computers from six different model lines due to reports of computers short circuiting, resulting in slight melting of the external casing.

The company warns that users using any of the affected models should stop using the recalled notebook computers immediately and contact Acer to determine if their notebook is affected and to receive a free repair.

The recalled notebook computer models are the Acer AS3410, AS3410T, AS3810T, AS3810TG, AS3810TZ and AS3810TZG. The computer's screen size is about 13.3 inches measured diagonally. Not all units are affected. The majority of units said ot be affected were sold at ABS Computer Technologies, D&H Distributing, Fry's Electronics, Ingram Micro, Radio Shack, SED/American Express, Synnex Corporation, SYX Distribution, Tech Data Corporation and other retailers nationwide and Amazon.com from June 2009 through October 2009 for between $650 and $1,150.

For additional information, contact Acer toll-free at (866) 695-2237 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.acer.com.

Source: NewsWire

Acer Plans To Be The First To Launch Chrome OS Netbook In 2010

Digitimes today reported that Acer plans to launch a Chrome OS based netbook in 2H10.According to the report Acer chairman JT Wang expressed confidence that Acer will be the first vendor to officially launch Chrome-based netbook to the end user market.

Acer has been well known to be an early adopter as they were first first-tier vendor to launch a Google Android-based netbook in the market.

Acer might have some competition in being the first company to launch a Chrome OS based unit as a group of Dell employees have already created a build that is compatible with the Dell Mini 10. Dell hasn't officially said they are working on build however it is reasonable to assume that given enough support they would be interested in taking up the project.

Google's Chromium OS source code was released to the public late late month with Google pormising that new devices would be ready by this time next year.

Best Buy Selling $249 Acer Notebook Starting Wed 11/11

Best Buy Unveils Its Lowest-Advertised-Priced Laptop Ever
$249.99 notebook launches robust holiday computing selection

Best Buy will appeal to value-conscious consumers with a dynamic holiday computing selection launching Nov. 11 and featuring the retailer’s lowest-advertised-price laptop ever. Selling in-store and online for $249.99, the Acer laptop delivers solid specifications including an Intel Celeron 900 processor, 2GB memory and a 160GB hard drive, and debuts the extensive seasonal computing offerings at Best Buy.

This holiday, computing selection at Best Buy spans nine popular brands, and includes over 30 laptops, six netbooks, 17 desktops and four all-in-ones. The assortment, coupled with new technologies and promotional offers like the $249.99 Acer laptop, are intended to help both customers who want to upgrade their own gear with the arrival of Windows 7, and who have computing on their wish lists for holiday.

“For many of us, computers are the center of our digital worlds, and Best Buy is committed to remaining a valued partner in this space,” said Jason Bonfig, vice president of computers at Best Buy. “We promise a broad assortment of quality products at a variety of price points, all the major brands, and smart Best Buy Blue Shirts and Geek Squad Agents to help customers feel confident about the choices they’re making.”

From now through the end of December, Best Buy will marshal a distinctive combination of dynamic assortment, exclusive offers and support services to benefit shoppers ready to give the gift of computing this holiday season – whether for loved ones or themselves. The retailer’s holiday line-up includes:

• Broadest-Ever Selection and Newest Technology.

Best Buy and BestBuy.com carry the nine top computing brands (Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, Gateway, HP, Sony, Toshiba, Lenovo), and more than 30 laptops, six netbooks, 17 desktops and four all-in-ones. Laptops range in price from $249.99 to $1999.99, and eight desktops are priced under $500. Apple laptops range from $999.99 to $2,499.99. Customers can select from newly popular functionality like embedded broadband/Gobi enabled-laptops and netbooks with the customer’s choice of Verizon, Sprint or AT&T as carrier.

Ultra-thin laptops (13-inch, 14-inch, and 15.6 inch) are also available. Large memory machines (6GB of memory) start at $879.99 and Blu-ray laptops at $699.99. Best Buy also offers a wide variety of accessories including products like the Logitech M305 Pattern Mice, Rocketfish Lapdesk, Golla fashion bags and Incase Netbook Sleeves.

• Unique Promotions.

Holiday shoppers will be attracted to offers that deliver value through pricing and performance. In addition to the Acer $249.99 laptop, Best Buy will feature computing products such as the Samsung Netbook (1GB/160/6 Cell/Win 7 – available now), the most competitive Windows 7 netbook offer ever, and Best Buy-Dell Limited Edition Exclusive Netbooks, which are individually numbered and designed by world renowned artists.

Throughout the holiday season, six months of anti-virus protection will be free with the purchase of any laptop/desktop/netbook, and one year of Napster will be included free with any Dell computer purchase. In addition, Best Buy continues its popular exclusive HP in-home networking bundle introduced with Windows 7 arrival. Dubbed the “PC Home Makeover,” for only $1,199.99 customers can purchase an HP desktop, monitor, laptop, netbook, wireless router and Geek Squad setup and networking. The exclusive PC Home Makeover offer is available through mid-January.

• In-Store Service & Post-Purchase Support.

Best Buy Blue Shirts are ready to help customers find the right computer and ensure they have everything they need to get up and running. Geek Squad is available to help set up that new gear, with Agents available in-store, in-home or online. For those customers who want to upgrade to Windows 7 without buying a new PC, Geek Squad has reduced its $129.99 operating system install service charge to just $39.99. The service allows customers to upgrade their Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system to Windows 7 without the hassle of doing it themselves through January.

To learn more about how Best Buy’s holiday computing selection will help make your season jolly, visit your local Best Buy store or www.bestbuy.com/computing.

Source: BusinessWire

*Update 11/10 12:10Am*

The link (click here), is now live and active. The deal is for an Acer Extensa Laptop model EX5230E-2177 with an Intel Celeron 900 Processor. It looks like this is going to be a one day only sale though so anyone wanting to get in on it better jump quickly.

Product Features

• Quantities limited. Minimum 5 per store. Not available in all BestBuy stores. No backorders.
  
  
• Intel® Celeron processor 900
  Features an 800MHz frontside bus, 1MB L2 cache and 2.2GHz processor speed.
• 2GB DDR2 memory
  For multitasking power, expandable to 4GB.
• Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support
  Records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media; also supports DVD-RAM.
• 15.4" LCD high-brightness widescreen display
  With 1280 x 800 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio showcases movies and games in stunning clarity.
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm)
  Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times.
• Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
  For lush graphics. 2 built-in stereo speakers with high-definition audio support.
• Built-in webcam with digital microphone
  Makes it easy to video chat with family and friends.
• 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports
  For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
• Built-in 802.11b/g/Draft-N wireless LAN
  Wirelessly connect to the Internet.
• Built-in 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
  With RJ-45 connector for quick and easy wired Web connection.
• Weighs 6.3 lbs. and measures just 1.7" thin
  For portable power.
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit operating system preinstalled
  Provides a stable platform for word processing, Web navigation, gaming, media storage and more.
• Software package included
  With Adobe Reader and more. 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Professional 2007 also included.
• ENERGY STAR qualified
  Designed to use less energy and meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.

Slew Of Android-Powered Netbooks Due Later This Year

Several of the top netbook manufactures including Acer and HP have confirmed plans to potentially offer Google's open source Android operating system on low cost netbooks coming later this year.

Acer confirmed today that it was making Android PCs and will likely be the first company to launch netbooks using Google's Android. Jim Wong, Acer's global president for IT products, confirmed the news at a news conference at Computex, the world's second-largest PC trade show held in Taipei.

Acer will not speculate on the number of netbooks it expects to ship with Android installed, nor are they speculating on possible ship dates or other details such as pricing but the average savings for using Android versus Windows XP is roughly $25. Meaning these new netbooks might be a viable alternative at a cheaper cost than the current Linux based PCs.

The Aspire One netbooks Acer displayed at its news conference on Tuesday at Computex were running a dual-boot system allowing users to switch between Android and Windows XP, but Wong said the device that goes on sale later this year will only have Android and another Linux OS.

OEM/PC vendor Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) also showed off their first netbook with Google's Android operating system at Computex. The ECS device called the T800 has an 8.9-inch screen, a small keypad and weighs less than a kilogram (2.2 pounds) and features a chip from Texas Instruments (TI) called OMAP3, which contain ARM processing cores. ECS will offer two devices, one with ARM processors that run at 800MHz and another at 1GHz.

At least one company, Asustek, will be placing their plans to offer Android on hold. Shortly after confirming plans to utilize the new operating system top executives from the company said the project will be put on the backburner for now.

Accroding to PCWorld Asustek officials feel the new OS is not mature enough for consumers with vice chairman of Asustek Jonathan Tsang stating the "Eee PC with Android is not ready yet because the technology is not mature. For the time being this project is not a priority because our engineering resources are limited."

Next Generation Acer Aspire One Netbook Now Available for U.S. Customers

New 10.1-inch Netbook Offers Mobile Freedom, Productivity and Reliability

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acer America, part of the world’s third largest PC company, today announced U.S. availability of the 10.1-inch Aspire One AOD150, expanding the company’s growing family of popular netbooks. The new Aspire One AOD150 comes on the heels of its highly successful 8.9-inch predecessor. The global market share leader in the netbook category, Acer is offering the 10.1-inch Aspire One AOD150 to U.S. customers today with prices beginning at $349.99.



The new 10.1-inch Aspire One provides continuous access to the Internet in an easy-to-use, stylish design with a similar ultra-compact footprint as the original 8.9-inch version. The netbook is designed to be an affordable and simple solution for Web browsing, checking email, instant messaging, VOIP calls, streaming video, viewing photos and listening to music.

“The success of the Aspire One netbook illustrates the enormous demand consumers have for mobile devices that keep them connected,” said Sumit Agnihotry, vice president of product management for Acer America. “The new 10.1-inch Aspire One has something for everyone, whether a business user continuously on-the-go, a young student needing an introductory PC, or tech aficionado seeking a lightweight, secondary device with enduring battery power. Netbooks are an ideal solution for those who want a balance of mobility and productivity for quick and easy access to the Internet and other computing needs.”

Combining ultra-portability and design
Engineered for mobility and weighing less than three pounds, the Aspire One utilizes the Intel Atom processor which combines performance and efficiency to stay connected while on-the-go. The Aspire One comes with a six-cell battery, providing up to six hours of computing power, twice the amount of the previous platform. Featuring Windows XP Home, 1GB of memory, integrated 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi network connectivity, and a generous 160GB internal hard drive to store plenty of digital albums, music and documents, the Aspire One is a simple and reliable mobile computing solution.

The Aspire One has a 10.1-inch CrystalBrite backlit display, offering a broader viewing area for Web page navigation and data input. For communication needs, the netbook is equipped with the Acer Crystal Eye webcam, delivering smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. A built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes.

The Aspire one is available in four high-gloss color options including seashell white, sapphire blue, ruby red and diamond black. Evoking speed and mobility, the netbook includes stylish details such as an aerodynamic-shaped metallic hinge with a colored accent and a brushed-metal palm rest, which offer a refined design element.

Acer Aspire One AOD150 Specifications

• Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
• Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3
• 10.1-inch WSVGA Acer CrystalBrite TFT LCD 1024 x 600
• Mobile Intel 945GSE Express Chipset
• 1024MB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM Single Channel Memory
• Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• 160GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Drive
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
• Acer Crystal Eye Web Camera
• Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
• Three USB 2.0 Ports
• 6-cell Li-ion Battery (4400 mAh)
• 2.95 lbs.
• 10.2” (W) x 8.0” (D) x 1.31” (H)

In addition to Windows XP Home, the Aspire one comes with additional preinstalled software includes Acer eRecovery Management, Acer Launch Manager, Adobe Reader, McAfee Internet Security Suite, Microsoft Office Trial 2007.

Pricing and Availability
The Aspire One AOD150 netbook is available now via Acer’s authorized resellers and at major retailers nationwide, with prices beginning at $349.99. The Aspire one comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Source: BusinessWire

$99 Acer Netbook Confirmed But What Does It Really Cost

Late Thursday RadioShack confirmed earlier rumors that it will be offering a subsidized Acer Aspire One netbook for $99. Radio Shack teamed with AT&T's Mobile Broadband Service to become the first major US retailer to offer such a deal.

"RadioShack is offering this innovative technology solution at a very attractive price through our collaboration with Acer and AT&T," Peter Whitsett, RadioShack's executive vice president of merchandising said in their press release. "Helping people stay connected during these challenging economic times illustrates our continued commitment to meeting their personal technology needs affordably."

The Acer Aspire one netbook is priced at $99.99 for customers who sign up for a qualifying two-year AT&T DataConnect mobile broadband service agreement with plans starting at $60 a month. Once activated, this netbook allows people to easily access the Internet anywhere within AT&T's wireless network. The offer is available in 4,400 RadioShack company-operated stores through Dec. 24. Prices may vary outside the continental U.S. See stores or visit www.RadioShack.com for complete offer details.

The Acer Aspire one being offered seems to be exclusive to Radio Shack for now and the 3G netbook comes equipped with the following features:

• Weighs 2.44 pounds
• Ultra-compact size measuring 9.8" x 6.7" x 1.1" (W x D x H)
• Stylish piano-black finish
• Built-in 3G capability
• 802.11b/g wireless (Wi-Fi)
• 8.9-inch LCD screen
• Built-in Web cam
• Intel® Atom™ processor
• Windows XP® Home
• 1GB memory
• 160GB hard drive
• Built-in memory card readers (dedicated SD and 5-in-1)

While the initial cost of $99 seems like a great deal the major drawback is that over the course of two years with service, this system will cost the user a total of $1,540. So in reality you are paying over $1,500 for a $350 netbook.

Now consider your options, assuming you have a home phone for $14.99/mo you can sign up for AT&T's basic DSL service. The basic service comes with complimentary Wi-Fi access at thousands of AT&T hot spots nationwide, including U.S. company-operated Starbucks locations. Or for $9.95/mo you can sign up for a service like Boingo, which supposedly allows users to use one account at more than 100,000+ hot spots around the world.

With the savings from either option you would have covered the original cost of the netbook plus the cost of an additional netbook for a loved one, friend or even your favorite blog writer (hint hint).

Rumor: $99 Acer Aspire One At Radio Shack

Last month we reported the possibility of $99 subsidized netbooks, after rumors had surfaced that cell phone carriers might begin subsidizing the cost of netbooks in exchange for signing up for a monthly data plan. Today it looks like those rumors might be true, well that is if the leaked RadioShack flyer that has popped up on Engadget is legit, and it certainly does look it.

The flyer pretty much speaks for itself, stating that beginning December 14 RadioShack customers can get an originally $499 priced Acer Aspire One equipped with Intel Atom processor, a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, and Windows XP for $99 after signing up for a 2-Year $60/month (or more) data plan through AT&T.



The product code list "AOA150-1987" doesn't match anything currently listed on RadioShack.com nor does it appear in any Google results, however the ad looks pretty convincing to me. I'd be the first to say the AT&T contract price of $60 a month for connectivity to only one device seems pretty steep.

If your netbook is going to be your primary mobile device then the fee might make a little more sense, but if you have another laptop you wouldn't be able to share the 3G connectivity with it. In that case it would probably make more sense to wait for a deal on the Aspire One and just grab a mobile broadband card.

Acer Releases Two Blu-Ray Laptops

Wednesday Aspire announced the release of the Gemstone Blue 8920g and 6920g, Acer's new multimedia notebooks. The laptops are part of the "Blue" series, which refers to the notebook's blue, black, and silver color scheme and interior/exterior lighting effects.

The 8920g will have an 18" foot print and features a Blu-ray drive, one or two hard drives with a possible combined capacity of 640GB, NVidia GeForce graphics, and up to 4GB of DDR2 667-MHz memory.

The notebook also includes an integrated TV tuner, six integrated speakers, and support for Dolby Home Theater sound technology. In addition, there's a touch-sensitive media console for navigating menus and adjusting volume without going through the standard Windows menu.

The smaller 6920 line will be a 16" footprint will pack many of the same features and is powered by the same Intel Centrino platform with only half the hard drive capacity.

No word on pricing at the moment but it is expected to range from about $900 to $1,700.