Acer Aspire AS1410-2285 - Best Value in a Shipping Netbook?

If you are looking for the best value in a shipping netbook, today is your day. For around $400 plus shipping, you can get the Acer Aspire AS1410-2285 shipped from Amazon, and if you’re willing to spend extra, you could have it on Friday.

What does $399.99 plus shipping get you? Quite a bit actually, it will get a dual-core CPU with Intel’s 4500MHD graphics, an HDMI port, Windows 7 Premium, and an 11.6-inch display.

Full specifications: Acer Aspire AS1410-2285 (Black casing)
- OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
- CPU: 1.2GHz Intel Celeron SU2300 Dual-Core CULV CPU
- RAM: 2GB DDR2 667MHz
- HDD: 160GB SATA Hard Drive
- Networking: Intel WiFi Link 1000 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N
- Graphics: Intel 4500MHD Graphics (GMA)
- Display: 11.6″ WXGA LED-Backlit Display
- Battery: 6-cell Li-ion Battery (4400 mAh), up to 6 hours according to Acer
-Weight: 3 pounds/1.4 kg

In addition to the above, it’s coming with three USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port, and a Multi-gesture touchpad.

Looking at Acer’s other Windows 7 listings at Amazon, it looks like HDMI out will finally be standard. Most of the Acers should be expandable to 4GB of RAM.

While this is a Celeron, expect non-Celeron-based netbooks with dual-core CPUs to be out in the next few weeks. Amazon is showing the Acer Aspire AS1810T-8679 with a Core 2 Duo SU7300, up to 8 hours of battery life, and 4GB of RAM shipping in November.

MSI X-Slim X340 Compared to Lenovo X301

If you were curious about the size of the upcoming 13-inch MSI X-Slim X340, compared to a mainstream “slim” ultraportable such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X301, look no further than NewGadgets.de, a German website that has posted a photo comparison of the two (along with an iPhone 3G).

The X340 is one of the first ultraportable laptops based on Intel’s Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV) platform. It is considerably thin, especially when sitting next to, or back-to-back with the X301. In defense of the X301, it could and should be argued that it is oriented towards a different market and maybe a little more durable (because of the chassis), and you do pay a price for that. It’s also got a dual-core CPU while the X340 is sporting an Intel Core Solo.

On the other hand, the X340 is going to cost around half as much as the X301.

Read/view: NewGadgets.de (Translated into English)
via SlashGear

HP, Acer, and CULV Notebooks/Laptops

Last week it was reported that Intel would be aggressive with it’s CULV platform (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage), and it looks like HP and Acer could play a large part of that plan.

DigiTimes is reporting that Hewlett-Packard plans on introducing multiple 13.3-inch CULV-based devices sometime this quarter. They list Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics as being the providers.

DigiTimes also mentions that Acer is looking at 13.3-inch CULV laptops as well, and that Quanta has received orders for 11.6-inch CULV-based laptops that might be introduced this month. Given that we have 12″ netbooks (Samsung NC20, Dell Inspiron Mini 12), it’ll be interesting to see the pricing and features, since a CULV device should out-perform Intel Atom-based netbooks.

Taiwan Economic News is also reporting that Acer will be launching CULV devices, and mentions April as a possibility for introducing them. They go on to say that it won’t be just 11.6-inch devices, but will include 13″, 14″, and 15″ devices. They list Quanta Computer as the provider for the 11.6″ device, Inventec Corporation for the 13″, and Winston Corporation for the 14″ and 15″ models.

They also mention the 13″ models will have a magnesium/aluminum alloy chassis/case. Some of the analysts they mention claim that CULV devices will be responsible for up to 20% of total sales in the notebook market.

Read:
- DigiTimes
- Taiwan Economic News (cens.com) (via Fudzilla)