Sandy Bridge with Long Battery Life

The new Acer Aspire TimelineX notebooks all have options for an Intel Core i3 or i5 Sandy Bridge processor. This is Intel’s latest generation of mobile processor that offers a balance between speed/power and longer battery life. That is why Acer is promising the incredible 9 hours of battery life with those models featuring integrated graphics and 8 hours for the computers with dedicated graphics. Even if you get just three-fourths of that, which is the typical real-word expectation when dealing with manufacturer’s battery life claims, 6 to 7 hours will still get you through most of the business or school day before having to get more juice. If you run these machines full-on while playing games you can still expect a nice 3-4 hours of fragging, racing or strategizing.

Multimedia with Dolby Sound

In addition to using these for basic day-to-day tasks, the new Acer Aspire TimelineX series computers will serve as multimedia hubs for those on the go thanks to Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio and the two 3DSonic Stereo speakers. The HDMI output means you can plug into an external display and watch 1080p HD movies or you could just use the laptop itself and get good sound and 720p video with the built-in 1366×768 resolution.

The displays will be 16:9 widescreen HD display and powered by either Intel HD3000 integrated graphics on the lower end models and NVIDIA GeForce 540M or 520M discrete graphics with Optimus technology on the higher end machines. The latter models will make for a powerful system that could handle some gaming and more advanced multimedia content creation tasks. Some models with the higher end graphics cards will have a shorter battery life as a result.

Three Sizes Available

The Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830T is the smallest and most mobile of the three new models with a 13″ display and weighing 4.2 pounds. At the thinner front edge it is only .87″ thick and 1.15 at the back edge. This model does not have an integrated DVD drive. For those who like the form-factor of the Apple MacBook Air, this would be an option for a cheaper Windows PC even if it is not nearly as thin and light.

A 14″ display is available in the 4.88 pound 4830T model. With the larger 5830T you get a 15.6″ display. The larger computer is 5.6 pounds. These two larger models also have a built-in DVD drive and a dedicated numeric keypads. All three will have Acer’s multi-gesture trackpad.

Other Specs

The one USB 3.0 port on all three systems is great for faster transfer speeds, but can also charge things like your cell phone or MP3 player while the computer is off so long as it is plugged in.

A 1280×1024 webcam comes built-in and a mic with digital sound for noise canceling sound while you are recording video or using it for video chat.

To get online or on the company, home or school network there is 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet LAN. Some models will also have Bluetooth 3.0 available.

Pricing and Availability

These models will be available today with a starting price of $599.99. The initial release includes the following models:

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3830TG-6431 (MSRP: $779.99)

• Intel Core i5-2410M Processor 2.30GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.90GHz
• 13.3″ HD Widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit display (1366×768 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio)
• Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset
• 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
• 500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
• Bluetooth 3.0+HS
• Dolby Advanced Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement
• Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic Stereo Speakers
• High Definition Audio Support
• 2 x USB 2.0 Ports & 1 x USB 3.0 Port
• 1 x HDMI Port with HDCP Support
• VGA Port
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad
• Media Control Function Keys
• 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh)
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Microsoft Office Starter 2010
• Weight: 4.12 lbs. (system only)

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS4830T-6642 (MSRP: $699.99)

• Intel Core i5-2410M Processor 2.30GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.90GHz
• 14″ HD Widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit display (1366×768 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio)
• Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset
• 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
• Intel HD Graphics 3000
• 640GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• 8X DVD-super multi double-layer drive
• 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
• Bluetooth 3.0+HS
• Dolby Advanced Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement
• Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic Stereo Speakers
• High Definition Audio Support
• 2 x USB 2.0 Ports & 1 x USB 3.0 Port
• 1 x HDMI Port with HDCP Support
• VGA Port
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad
• Dedicated Numeric Keypad
• Media Control Function Keys
• 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh)
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Microsoft Office Starter 2010
• Weight: 4.88 lbs. (system only)

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5830T-6862 (MSRP: $599.99)

• Intel Core i3-2310M Processor 2.1GHz
• 15.6″ HD Widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit display (1366×768 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio)
• Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset
• 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
• Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 128 dedicated system memory
• 640GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• 8X DVD-super multi double-layer drive
• 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• Dolby Advanced Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement
• Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic Stereo Speakers
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
• Bluetooth 3.0+HS
• High Definition Audio Support
• 3 x USB 2.0 Ports & 1 x USB 3.0 Port
• 1 x HDMI Port with HDCP Support
• VGA Port
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad
• Dedicated Numeric Keypad
• Media Control Function Keys
• 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh)
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Microsoft Office Starter 2010
• Weight: 5.6 lbs. (system only)

Acer Aspire TimelineX Refresh Announced with Longer Battery Life, Multimedia Prowess is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Quick Specs:

The system comes with some pretty decent specs like an AMD Phenom II X4 N950 2.1GHz processor, and an AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics processor which powers the 17.3″ display with a better than average resolution of 1600×900. It also has 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a spacious 640GB hard drive as well as an empty second hard drive bay that you can use to add another drive, like an SSD to make this system really scream during hard drive intensive work. There is also a DVD combo drive for viewing movies and making videos to share.

Who is the Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 For?

As we said this computer is not for the road warrior, but rather for someone who will use it on a desk or table top most of the time only taking with them occasionally. It is powerful enough to do some gaming. We see this as a computer that will be used in a home environment where mom or dad might want to get some work done while at home and then let the kids use it to play games, watch movies and get online. The large screen will be useful for editing video or pictures. If you need two windows open at once, the large wide display will be a benefit.

This would also make a good computer for a small apartment or dorm where the user wants to have more mobility than a desktop, but large enough to replace an entertainment center in cramped quarters.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Hands On Video:

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Build and Design:

The AS7552G is a solid, beefy system. It is heavy and sturdy with stiff hinges. It is not as heavy as most 17″ desktop replacements at just over 7 pounds. The chassis is solid. It feels like this computer will hold up under average use and even survive getting banged about a little bit while in a computer bag. Don’t drop it, but you also don’t feel like you are using a dainty little notebook.

Notice that it picks up fingerprints pretty easily but they don't stand out nearly as bad as some glossy lids thanks to the pattern

We like the dark conservative black color, but those with more flamboyant interests won’t. The lid has a textured feel that you would think resists fingerprints. Unfortunately, that is not the case. They can show up quickly but won’t stand out nearly as bad as fingerprints do on a smooth glossy cover. The brushed aluminum look of the area around the keyboard is finger print resistant, which is where you are most likely to find fingerprints.

The bezel around the display is glossy and does collect fingerprints, but most people don’t massage that part of the computer. You will touch it to adjust the lid and display. But it is not unsightly.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Features:

The most notable features are the size, the quad core processor and the dedicated graphics. It is not the fastest notebooks we’ve ever seen but it has enough pep making it an above average 17-inch system. Having all that screen real-estate with a decent resolution allows for keeping more than one app open on screen at a time. I often have my word processor and other apps open as I do research. Most notebooks do not provide enough room, but this one does.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Display:

Aside from the size and resolution discussed above, the screen itself is like all other glossy screens. It is horrible in direct sunlight and too reflective unless the room you are in is a little dark. Compared to other glossy screens this one is actually more reflective, making it harder to view even in direct artificial light. If you angle the display just right, it looks good. It takes a little finessing.

The viewing angle is good because of the size. Two or three people could easily share the screen for a movie or to show off pictures in a slide show.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Keyboard and Touchpad:

The keyboard is a full-sized keyboard with a dedicated number pad. The keys are spaced well enough apart for comfortable typing, but the feel while typing is a little mushy. It is better than the last couple of Acer keyboards we tested, but left us disappointed.

The keyboard is slightly mushy but better than other Acer keyboards we've tested in the past

I had a friend try it out for a little while and he disagreed. He has an older Acer and is used to the feel of Acer keyboards. I am not. The point is typists who are used to a top of the line keyboard will not be happy with this one. Others won’t have a problem.

The touchpad is just too small making it the computer’s greatest weakness. I am spoiled by the large trackpads of my MacBook Air and Pro. Why can’t PC manufacturers make large sensitive trackpads? The Acer’s is small and below average in its touch and sensitivity. It does offer some gesture control, like a two finger scrolling function, but it is not smooth at all. Like most touchpads it left me searching for my external mouse.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Processor and Performance:

A computer of this size is meant to be a desktop replacement used for multimedia and gaming. And that is where you’d hope it shines. While it is not the fastest machine we’ve tested, it is better than average with the quad-core processor. The hard drive is an average 5400 rpm drive.

The large cover hides the RAM slots and both hard drive bays

If we were using this thing on a regular basis we would add a small capacity SSD to the second drive bay and run the OS on it and then upgrade the internal 640GB drive to a faster 7200 rpm drive. With that configuration this thing would be much faster. As it is most people will be pretty happy with the way it handles games and crunching movies, photos, and large databases. However, hard core gamers should move on to another computer. Serious video/photo pros also should look elsewhere. This is for consumers who do a lot of different things, but none of them very seriously.

We asked a friend who runs an app with a large database to install it and run it. He said it handled it well. The same app was slow on his older Acer with an AMD dual-core processor.

One review we read said that performance in their tests was terrible. The computer did not do well in their benchmarks. But that is one reason that we don’t put a lot of stock in benchmarks. In actual productivity this thing felt like it did fine compared to other systems we’ve seen like it.

To summarize the performance, this computer is slightly above average and nothing more.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Multimedia and Gaming:

If you are looking to replace a small TV in your office or dorm, the 7552G will be a good option so long as you make sure it doesn’t sit in bright light. We enjoyed watching some streaming video on it. The only weakness here was the sound, but with headphones or a decent desktop speaker system it would be pretty good.

We installed Steam and played a few of our collection of games. For casual gaming or last generation games, this computer does well so long as you add an external mouse. For the fastest and most demanding games, it might slow down and become a disappointment.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Audio and Speakers

The speakers on the 7552G-6436 are nothing special. Using this machine for movies and playing games is fine when you talk about the speed and the display. But the audio in these situations is just okay. Plug in a nice set of headphones if you want really good sound. Add a good pair of desktop speakers for when you have it at home sitting on your desk.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Heat and Noise

For a powerful system like this I didn’t notice too much noise. It doesn’t run that hot either, except when working hard. At the size it is not really a computer you hold on your lap a lot so heat is a non-issue most of the time. Since it is a little lighter than most 17″ systems you may use it as a laptop and feel the heat. Those rare times when you will use it on the couch or while in a vehicle on your lap, you shouldn’t get too uncomfortable.

The optical drive was a little louder than most notebooks. They all seem loud but at times I wondered if this thing was going to take off when it was used to install software via DVD.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Battery Life

Battery life is another huge disappointment with this machine. We tested the battery by using it at 50% brightness. For the first half of the test we did some basic computing tasks, checking email, surfing the web, and typing documents. For the last half of the test we streamed video from the Internet, which requires quite a bit more juice both to play the flash content and to constantly access both the hard drive and the Wi-Fi. Our total time running was just 1 hour and 37 minutes.

Granted this is a desktop replacement with an AMD quad-core processor and a 17″ screen. You are not going to see 3-5 hour battery life. But we hoped we could get enough time to watch one DVD. It would have to be a short one. With Wi-Fi off it might get you closer to finishing a typical length movie, but then again the spinning disc might eat any gain from no Wi-Fi.

In addition to the disappointing battery test, the other complaint in this category is the power brick itself. It is huge! We haven’t seen one this big in a long time.

The power brick is large even for a 17" system

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Connectivity:

The 7552G has all the basic ports for a machine of this caliber. A multi-function flash card reader which handles Memory Stick PRO, xD, SD, and MMC cards. There is also an HDMI port, which will be great for hooking this thing up to an HD TV for viewing movies. It only has USB 2.0 ports, but at least there are four of them. There is also a VGA out and a Kensington Lock.

The left side: Power, Ethernet, Vent, HDMI, 2xUSB 2.0, Audio Jacks

To get online you have a Gigabit Ethernet port and 802.11n for Wi-Fi. They performed as expected.

Right Side: 3xUSB 2.0, DVD Tray, Kensington Lock

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Webcam:

Webcam is nothing special

The webcam is decent. It can take shots with a resolution of up to 1280×1024 and video up to VGA (640×480). It does okay for a webcam. Here is a sample picture.

This image is slightly blurry - webcam is more for video than pictures

The image is a little soft, but you won’t be taking very many portraits with this thing. Increasingly, I use my webcam as a quick scanner. So I took a shot of a magazine cover that published an article of mine recently.

I've started using a webcam as a mobile scanner - it would be okay but not for OCR

If I planned to actually use this image I would have imported it into some photo editing software and cropped it and fixed the color and exposure. Notice that it does a good job for what it is. I won’t likely use it for OCR though. Here is a sample video taken in relatively good light.

Again, the image is pretty soft. What is worse is the sound. The built-in mic is picking up a lot of strange noise. The streaming version of this video is much worse than the offline version we made due to the compression needed to make it streamable. But the original sound was still pretty bad. You will want to use a headset with a mic for Skype or recording video podcasts, if that is your plan.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Software:

The software bundle is nothing special. It has Windows Home Premium 64-bit edition. Other than that is as the typical bundle of software like NTI suite for the DVD burner, PowerDVD for watching movies, and Acer’s basic junk. It also comes with security software. Do yourself a favor and get the PC Decrapifier (step 1 in that link) and install better software.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Value:

Right now this model is on sale at Amazon for a good price of $669.99. We think that is a good value. A large screen computer with acceptable multimedia and gaming chops is likely going to set you back $600-$700 for one of this quality. It is not a top of the line system, but it has a lot to offer as a desktop replacement and that is light enough to make it an occasionally mobile system.

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Conclusion:

We liked this system, despite the weaknesses. After showing it off to a friend who helped us a little with this review, he plans to get one. People who demand top-of-the-line computers won’t be happy with the Acer Aspire 7552G-6436. If your expectations are modest and you wallet is not fat, this 17.3″ system will be a good choice.

Remember that the keyboard is a little mushy and the trackpad is way too small. Just get an external mouse and you will be happy. Keep it out of direct light and don’t expect too much from the speakers. It should run most of what you throw at it without setting records but getting the job done.

What is really disappointing is that Acer is really close to having an excellent desktop replacement. If they could figure out how to make a nice keyboard and trackpad and add a matte screen, then the Acer Aspire 7552G would be an incredible value even if it cost $100 more.

Pros:

• Decent performance
• Extra hard drive bay for expansion offering great potential if an SSD is added
• Easy to upgrade
• Looks nice
• Strong case and hinges
• Full-size keyboard
• Decent price
• Display has faithful color
• Good resolution useful for dual window panes at once

Cons:

• Fingerprint build-up on lid and around bezel somewhat a problem
• Glossy display is far too reflective
• Keyboard is mushy
• Trackpad too small and not very smooth
• DVD drive a little loud
• Disappointing battery life
• Huge power brick

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Gallery:

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Detailed Specs:

• AMD Phenom II N950 Quad-core 64 bit processor with 2MB Cache running at 2.1GHz (RS880M chipset)
• 17.3″ WSXGA Active Matrix TFT Color LCD 16:9 display with 1600×900 resolution
• ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6650 with 1GB of graphics memory
• 4GB of DDR3-1066/PC3-8500 SDRAM (up to 8GB in 2 slots)
• 640GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
• DVD-DL R/RW (+/-R/RW)
• Memory card reader – Memory Stick PRO, xD, SD, MMC
• Acer InviLink Nplify IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi
• Gigabit LAN Ethernet port
• HDMI, 4 x USB 2.0, VGA, Kensington Lock
• Full size keyboard with dedicated number pad
• Touchpad
• Webcam
• 6-cell Lithium Ion battery (4400 mAh, 48.80 Wh, 2.2 hour (1.5 real world)
• Height = 1.35″, Width = 16.3″, Depth = 10.8″ Weight = 7.26lbs
• 1-year limited warranty
• Energy Star compliant

Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Review [Video] is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

They say the netbook is not as popular thanks to tablets. Yesterday we learned that both IDC and Gartner predicted that netbook and budget notebook king Acer was struggling mightily with a big decline in total PCs shipped in Q1 2011. DisplaySearch predicts that netbooks are driving the whole industry slightly lower with only 27% growth rate predicted this year, compared with 30% last year.

The other segment that is slowing the growth is the “emerging markets” where countries that are just catching up with the industrialized world are buying fewer computers.

One segment that is picking up steam is tablets. The iPad and the Android tablets are taking the place of the netbook. People who have simple needs like reading email, surfing the web, reading books and watching some streaming video don’t need a computer. The tablet is better for those tasks. You can also occasionally produce simple content like a short email message or make a few edits to a Word document. Tablets are the perfect companion while on the go because they are smaller, lighter, and often have longer battery life. The only problem is connectivity. That is a problem for netbooks as well. Most tablets have that option built in if you need it.

DisplaySearch says the netbooks is not dead. Those emerging markets need computers but can’t afford more traditional notebooks. They also say that educators will provide their constituency with netbooks too. Their tiny hands means they don’t notice that the keyboards are too small.

But are schools relying on netbooks for education? One school district in Main is providing iPads to all of their kindergarten kids because they saw a jump in learning thanks to education apps. That is an isolated case, but not many schools are buying their kindergarteners netbooks either.

PC Growth Not as Fast in 2011 Says DisplaySearch is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Acer Netbooks are falling on hard times

US PC Shipments

According to IDC, Acer saw a 42.1% drop in US units shipped compared to the same quarter in 2010. Gartner’s numbers are not as earth shattering, but still quite bad. They predict a drop of 24.9% in the US market during the same period.

IDC US PC Shipments

Both studies detail the numbers based on preliminary figures. These are not exact figures which will only be available after the various companies release their numbers. Nobody expects it to be much better for Acer in the hard figures.

These numbers explain the recent resignation of Acer’s CEO. Acer is likely struggling due to the lagging interest in netbooks as tablets become more popular in the lower cost computer segment. Tablets don’t factor in these numbers, but now that Apple has released two iPads and many other companies are releasing Android tablets, like the new Asus Eee Pad Transformer announced this week, it will be harder for a budget maker like Acer to compete. Reorganization is expected in the company.

Gartner US PC shipments

HP dropped in the US market by either 2.4 or 3.5% and Dell fell between 11.8 and 12.1% according to the IDC and Gartner numbers respectively. At the same time Apple increased by either 9.6% or 18.9% based on IDC and Gartner numbers respectively. Toshiba jumped by either 10.4% or 10.9%.

Overall, PC shipments dropped a little bit. Gartner shows a 6.1% drop of total PC shipments while IDC puts the figure at 10.1%. In a down economy in the US that is not surprising. Apple and Toshiba growing by such impressive rates is actually more of a surprise in the current economic environment. Neither company is known as a budget computer maker. Could it be that people on the lower end of the economic scale are not buying or are buying tablets instead, while the upper end are still willing to spend?

Worldwide PC Shipments

When you factor in worldwide growth, another company pops up into the top five figures. Lenovo saw a 16.3% increase in worldwide PC shipments.

Acer fell the most in worldwide units shipped too with a 15.8% downturn. HP and Dell saw modest drops and Toshiba a modest gain, according to the IDC numbers.

Gartner’s worldwide numbers are similar. They estimate a 12.2% decline for Acer. Their other numbers are within a percentage point or two of IDC’s. Total PC shipments saw only a 3.2% drop in IDC’s figures and just 1.1% in Gartner’s.

Garnter Worldwide shipments

As popular as Apple is in the US, they do not even show up on the top five lists in worldwide shipments.

Acer PC Shipments Plummet while Toshiba, Lenovo, Apple Grow is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Acer Aspire TimelineX 5830t

The Asian tech blog got their hands on some of these new models. One is a 13.3-inch Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830TGs. They also looked at a 14-inch 4830TG and a 15.6-inch 5830TG (pictured). They all come with an Intel Core i5-2410M processor and an NVIDIA GT540M graphics chip with 2GB of DDR3 video memory. There is a 640GB hard drive as well.

Engadget said that these notebooks only have 2GB of DDR3 RAM, but we can’t believe that is true. We are guessing that these machines will actually come with 4GB. The displays are 1366×768 resolution backlit LCDs. They have Dolby Home Theater speakers by Kenwood, which should provide nice sound for movies and games, not to mention playing music. The processor on the 13.3-inch is not as powerful. It is a Intel Core i3-2310M processor instead of the Core i5 in the two larger machines.

The new version of the TimelineX has a chiclet style keyboard. We hope this will improve on the previous inferior keyboards we tested on current generation TimelineX models from Acer. The trim around the trackpad is gone and they’ve added a second mouse button for easier right clicking. The chassis is not tapered anymore.

The price is dollars US is from $1,133 and $1,374 depending on the model. We hope these will show up outside of Taiwan, as the Acer Aspire TimelineX is a nice line of notebooks from the consumer friendly manufacturer.

Acer Timeline X with Sandy Bridge Spotted in Taiwan is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Acer Iconica 6120 has two 14″ touch screen displays made of incredibly strong Gorilla Glass. The Iconica 6120 is powered by a 2.66gHz Intel Core i5 processor with TurboBoost up to 2.93GHz when you need it. The notebook has 4GB DDR3 RAm, a 640GB hard drive, Intel Integrated graphics, Dolby ENhanced Audio and a 1.3MP webcam. There are two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port. The notebook weighs in at a hefty 6.18 pounds.

The dual screens are touch controlled and rely on the “Acer Ring Control Interface” to launch apps and work around the system. To pull up the Ring interface, place five fingers on the screen and make a grabbing gesture.

Acer Iconica 6120 Video Overview:

When you want to type or use a mouse, you just need to place your palms on the bottom of the screen and a full size keyboard, complete with a number pad, will appear for you to start typing. This will likely take some learning, but the inclusion of predictive text and the ability to have your handwriting converted to text will likely help.

The second display isn’t just for controlling your notebook. The Acer Iconica 6120 allows you to use each screen to view windows and applications so that you can gain the benefits of dual screen on the go. One way that Acer has made this easy is with Social Jogger, an application that uses both displays to connect you to Flickr, FaceBook and YouTube all at the same time.

The Acer Iconica 6120 is available for preorder from Amazon and other retailers for $1,199.

Acer Iconica Gallery:

Acer Iconica 6120 Specs:

• Dual Multi-Touch Screens: 14″ HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit LCDs
• Tempered Gorilla® Glass: with fingerprint-resistant coating
• Intel® Core™ i5-480M Processor 2.66GHzwith Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.93GHz
• 4GB DDR3 Dual-Channel Memory
• 640GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• Intel® HD Graphics
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
• Dolby® Advanced Audio® v3 Audio Enhancement
• High Definition Audio Support
• 2 – USB 2.0 Ports & 1 – USB 3.0 Port
• Multi-Touch Virtual Keyboard
• Virtual Numeric Keypad
• Virtual Touchpad
• 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam (1280 x 1024 resolution)
• 4-Cell Lithium-Ion (3000 mAh)
• 6.18 lbs. | 2.8 kg. (system unit only)
• Windows® 7 Home Premium
• Microsoft® Office Starter 2010: Complete your PC. Purchase a product key to activate a full Microsoft® Office 2010 suite.

Acer Iconica 6120 Press Release:

Acer Iconia Touchbook Dual-Screen Tablet

Provides Engaging, Natural Way to Interact with Digital Data

World’s First and Only Tablet Featuring Two 14-inch Touch Screen Displays

Now Available for Pre-Sale in the U.S. and Canada

SAN JOSE, CA – March 29, 2011 – Acer today announced that its much anticipated dual screen tablet, the Iconia-6120 Dual-Screen Touchbook is now available for pre-sale in North America. Providing a powerful, immersive touch experience like no other, it is the world’s first and only tablet to offer two touch-enabled 14-inch high-definition widescreen LED backlit LCDs.

Intuitive to use and customizable to individual needs, it combines the power of Intel Core i5 processing with the familiarity of Windows 7, and is destined to change how people use technology to engage with the world. A winner of this year’s prestigious “Last Gadget Standing” award at CES, the Iconia was noted for incorporating the best features of any notebook or tablet device.

With the flexibility to use a finger, type on a virtual keyboard, or use a combination of both, the Iconia Touchbook provides many ways to make the computing experience a truly personal one. Consumers can customize what is shown on each screen, allowing them to watch a video on the top screen and browse their multimedia library on the bottom one, or view a single web page across the two displays. Using the bottom screen to manage and control the action on the top screen keeps presentations, movies or web pages free of icons and other navigational tools.

Extremely durable and scratch resistant, the Iconia’s 14-inch LCDs are made of ultra-thin Gorilla® Glass from Corning, a renowned manufacturer of extremely durable glass. With a wipe and clean coating, it’s easy to keep the displays shiny and smudge-free.

“The Acer Iconia Touchbook delivers a computing and visual experience like no other,” said Eric Ackerson, senior product marketing manager, Acer America. “Whether the Touchbook is used by a small business owner or a student, its unique dual screen design enhances the interaction they will have with their digital data. Our compelling design and applications will let them discover new and much more personal ways to communicate and enjoy the computing experience, regardless of whether it’s work related or for personal enjoyment.”

The Heart of Iconia – the Acer Ring Control Interface

The unique Acer Ring Control Interface makes navigating by touch simple and intuitive. By placing five fingers in a circular pattern on the bottom display, the Acer Ring appears, providing instant access to favorite applications and features. From this point, consumers can use their fingertip or launch the virtual keyboard to change the tablet’s settings, surf the web, capture screen images, post photos and status updates to a social network, watch a movie and more, all in the manner most comfortable and natural to them.

AppCards Provide Quick and Easy Access to Productivity and Entertainment-Based Applications

Appearing on the either side of the Acer Ring is a unique set of Iconia touch-based applications, called AppCards. Using a finger, users can scroll to the one they want, and simply tap it to have instant access to a range of compelling programs ideal for either business or home use.

• TouchBrowser is specifically designed to offer a more comfortable web surfing experience when using touch input. Upon launching, web content will flow across both screens. A toolbar at the bottom of either screen provides easy control over the open pages. To enter a website address, consumers can use the virtual keyboard or enter it using handwriting gestures. A pinching action will zoom in on the content on the page. Pages can be added to Favorites by simply tapping the Add Favorites icon.

• MyJournal is a handy place to keep clippings of websites and other information. Images can be captured from any web page and organized onto a single, easy-to-view page. It includes pre-set tabs for News, Sports, Entertainment, Politics and Business. The selected website content on the tabbed pages is automatically updated each time it’s opened. A toolbar at the top of the page makes it easy to edit, resize, rename and move clips to other pages. In a business environment, a professional will find this feature useful in tracking news on competitors or to keep an eye on the stock market. A consumer can follow a local news story, their favorite sports team or keep an eye on their favorite celebrity’s latest antics.

• Social Jogger simultaneously connects to three of the most popular social networking sites — Flickr, Facebook, and YouTube, presenting them a simple interface on one screen. Users can check posts and updates on one screen at a glance, and use the other screen to view one of the sites in more detail, surf the web, view photos or work on a spreadsheet.

• Scrapbook is a convenient place to store website and photo images and other content. It includes a pen tool for drawing or entering handwritten text, such as adding comments or reminders. From there, images can be exported to the clipboard for insertion into other applications, or saved as an image file.

• TouchPhoto, TouchMusic and TouchVideo provide direct access to multimedia files stored on the tablet.

Easy-to-use Tools Make Navigating Intuitive and Fun

Appearing directly on the Acer Ring are a number of useful functions and tools, including Virtual Keyboard, Gesture Editor, Capture, Webclip, Windows Manager and Device Control. Tapping the desired tool’s icon brings it up for immediate use.

• The Virtual Keyboard gives users the ability to enter data and navigate in a familiar fashion. Combined with its touch capabilities, the Iconia Touchbook is a flexible and powerful tablet designed for maximum efficiency and productivity. When both palms are placed on the bottom screen, the virtual full-sized keyboard instantly appears. Adaptive typing and predictive text allows for quick data entry and minimizes mistakes. A numeric touchpad with handwriting recognition converts handwriting to text. The palm rest area can also be customized with any image on the computer – a company logo or a scenic background — so users can personalize the tablet even more.

• Gesture Editor is a simple and quick way to instantly launch specific applications, access favorite websites, or even to lock the computer with a simple finger motion. A set of pre-defined gestures is included, but customized gestures can be created in just five easy steps. For example, simply drawing a $ (dollar sign) on the screen can launch a financial or accounting application, or a v (checkmark) can open a to-do list.

• The Capture tool allows users to clip parts of an image (a photo, illustration or a webpage) and save it to the Scrapbook application for further editing. It’s a great way to collect images for use in a PowerPoint presentation. And it couldn’t be easier to do. With the picture on the top screen and the Scrapbook page opened on the bottom display, users just tap the Capture tool, run their finger around the desired image and then tap the area to open a menu that will allow them to drag and drop it onto the Scrapbook page. The captured image will automatically be added as a thumbnail image above the scrapbook page for quick and easy viewing. They can then drag and drop the desired thumbnail onto the page, where it can be rotated or resized with pinching actions.

• The Web Clip tool is specifically for clipping parts of web pages to save to MyJournal. Tap the screen, select the area to crop, tap and drag on any of the corners of the selected area to size it, and then tap the area again to open a menu to paste the content into MyJournal, Scrapbook or copy it to the clipboard. It can also be saved as a bitmap file.

• Window Manager provides a touch-friendly interface for controlling the various open windows on the displays. Users can customize which screen the application appears on as well as its size.

• Device Control is an easy way to access and adjust power, display and volume settings, wireless connections and various devices connected to the HDMI, VGA and USB ports.

Clear.fi makes data sharing convenient in small office environment or the home

Making it easy to share multimedia content, the Acer Iconia Touchbook features clear.fi, Acer’s digital media sharing solution. Clear.fi automatically connects all Acer devices on a network (smartphones, notebooks, desktops, HD media players and storage devices) and then gathers and organizes media files by type (video, music, photo, pre-recorded TV). Users can browse the categories and then drag and drop the media to any of the connected PCs or devices for playback.

No-Compromises Tablet Features Leading Technology for Maximum Productivity and Fun

A super charged tablet filled with enough leading technology to rival many desktop and notebook PCs in performance, the Iconia-6120 Dual-Screen Touchbook is powerful enough to handle demanding applications and graphic intensive multimedia files. Featuring an Intel® Core™ i5 Processor with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology(2), 4GB of memory and Intel® HD graphics, the Touchbook is equipped for heavy lifting. In addition, Dolby® Advanced Audio™ v3 brings vibrant sound to business presentations, movies, music, and games.

Windows 7 Premium 64-bit provides a familiar computing environment, and is compatible with today’s most popular applications and media formats, and supports full web browsing with Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1. For professional environments, Windows 7 delivers what is expected in a business-class PC: manageability, security and the ability to run the applications used within most organizations today, including Microsoft Office.

To maximize productivity, the Touchbook includes the new USB 3.0 standard with a top speed that’s 10 times faster than standard USB 2.0; a 25GB high definition video file can be transferred from an external USB 3.0 storage device in just 70 seconds and stored on the roomy 640GB SATA hard drive(3). Two 2.0 USB ports and an HDMI port are also included.

A 1.3 megapixel HD webcam is ideal for face-to-face videoconferencing or for staying in touch with business associates, friends and family. Connect reliably with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ or Gigabit Ethernet LAN from work, home or while on-the-go. Weighing in at just 6.18 pounds, it’s as convenient to carry as any notebook computer, and fits comfortably in a briefcase or backpack.

U.S. Configurations, Pricing and Availability

With an MSRP of $1,199.99, the Acer Iconia-6120 Touchbook is available for pre-sale now and will be available in April at leading retailers nationwide.

Canada Configurations, Pricing and Availability

With an MSRP of $1,199.00(CAD), the Acer Iconia-6120 Touchbook will be available in April through authorized Canadian resellers.

Acer Iconica 6120 Dual Screen Notebook Available for Pre-Order at $1,199 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

• reviews
• design
• tech support
• software
• innovation
• customer satisfaction

This is the second year straight that Apple has ranked first and Lenovo second in the listing. HP jumped up two slots to earn third.

The rankings are based on an average of the above list. When you look at the individual categories occasionally the rankings are shuffled. For example, Apple didn’t fare so well in the Value and Selection category, tied for dead last with Sony. Lenovo is said to have the best Keyboards/Touchpads. In every other category Apple was either first or tied for first. And in Laptop Magazine reviews the company was way out ahead of the competition by eight points over HP, which took second in that category.

Laptop Magazine Manufacturer Ranking Chart

The methodology used to rank the companies included the above list of categories being given point values and totalled with some of them weighted more than others. Reviews by the magazine staff were worth 25 points of the overall score. Design, Keyboard/Touchpad, and Technical Support each were worth 15 points. Ten possible points were assigned to Value/Selection and Software. Innovation and Customer Satisfaction/Reliability were only worth 5 points each.

While we would agree with most of the weighting, the last one should be much higher. If people are, either not satisfied with the product, or it keeps breaking, then a manufacturer doesn’t deserve as high a ranking. HP was the third highest ranking manufacturer but was tied with MSI for last in this one category.

You can look into how each scored at the magazine’s site. They go into further detail about each manufacturer and why they scored like they did. For example, Apple ranked so high in the Reviews category because, of the five computers they reviewed, three were Editor’s Choices. All of them would be recommended. At the same time they said of MSI:

The past year hasn’t been great for MSI, as lackluster scores across the board prove. With underdeveloped tech support, mediocre reviews, and lackluster keyboards, the brand’s last-place ranking isn’t a huge surprise.

Need more notebook reviews? Check out our Notebook Reviews section.

Laptop Mag Notebook Manufacturer Grades Show Apple on Top is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

There are no prices on these new models yet because Acer is not officially launching them until a later date. However the sources in the report claim the price tag should come somewhere in the range of $851-$1,021.

We’ve seen a slew of new Sandy Bridge notebooks recently. Just this week Sony and Dell have announced them and previously we’ve seen HP offer new notebooks with Intel’s second-generation processor in the Core i-series. These are smaller and lighter notebooks with longer battery life and more power — all the things most mobile computer buyers are looking for in an upgrade.

Expect to see other manufacturers get on board with Sandy Bridge. According to DigiTimes, both Toshiba and Lenovo are using Compal as their OEM. The manufacturer will produce over 4 million units in March alone.

The Sandy Bridge platform had a difficult start with a glitch that caused a number of manufacturers to recall early versions of notebooks with the platform. This has been corrected, however, and moving forward should not be a problem.

Acer Timeline Joins the Sandy Bridge Party in April is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Acer model will come in the Timeline series, similar to one we previously reviewed, and made for Acer by Wistron. The model we reviewed was not an ultra-thin, but the Timeline X series is Acer’s business line. The Asus notebook will be in their U-series line with 13-14 inch sizes and manufactured for them by a company called Pegatron Technology. That same company will manufacture Lenovo’s ultra-thin IdeaPad starting in the third quarter.

Apple’s pace setting computers sparked a design revolution with the original MacBook Air, which was billed as a luxury computer. Dell responded with their Adamo, neither of which sold that well. When Apple re-released the MacBook Air starting at $999 for one with a 64GB SSD and 2GB of memory paired with an Intel Core 2 Duo, they started to fly out of the Apple Stores. Samsung answered with the 9 Series announced earlier this year. Acer, Asus and Lenovo are following suit both in form factor and price point.

Below is hands-on video at CES 2011 of the Samsung 9 Series by our Chuong Nguyen:

Ultra-thin Notebooks Coming from Acer, Asus and Lenovo is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The dominating news was that RIM had finally launched BlackBerry Tablet. Last week we thought this device might be called the BlackPad, but it turns out that sharper minds prevailed and on September 27th at DEVCON RIM announced the BlackBerry PlayBook.

While no one has yet been able to get an actual hands on with the BlackBerry PlayBook we have collected the best first impressions of the PlayBook from around the web, which include many almost hand’s on or “Eye’s on” reports with the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Acer Winter 2010 Notebook Lineup Unveiled: Acer showed off six new notebooks this week including the small, but Core i7 packing Aspire 1830T.

• Acer TimelineX 1830T 11.6″ Notebook with Core i7 Announced
• Acer Refreshes their TimelineX Series Models with 5820T, 4820T and 3820T
• Acer Updates Aspire 5745 and Aspire 7745 Notebooks with Blu-Ray
• Acer Aspire 5742G with Optimus Announced
• Acer Aspire 5745DG with NVIDIA 3D Vision Announced
• Acer Aspire AS8943G Announced with 2GB ATI Radeon 5850 Graphics

Other New Notebooks for Winter 2010:

• Sony Updates VAIO EA, EB, EC and VAIO F Notebooks for Winter 2010
• Panasonic Announces 12.1″ Business Rugged Toughbook S9 w/ DVD
• LG announces the LG A510 3D Notebook, the Company’s First
• Toshiba Satellite A665 3D Laptop Announced: Upconverts 2D to 3D
• Toshiba Satellite C660 Notebook and Pro C660 Serve Up the Basics for the Common and Business User
• Gateway NV Series Comes with Optional WiMAX and More
• Sony 13-inch VAIO Z Refresh Coming With Core i5 and i7
• Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 11 Announced, Reviewed — Sadly Not Available in U.S.

Highlights from Notebooks.com:

• How Android Fragmentation Hurts Regular Users — And Android as a Whole
• Best Buy Launching Free Phone Fridays in October
• Scosche motorMOUTH II: a Bluetooth Hands Free Solution that Uses Your Car Stereo
• Monster and Beats Add new Headphones and a Speaker Dock

Reviews and Guides from Notebooks.com:

• Acer Aspire AS5745PG-3882 Review: Touch Me, Touch Me, Touch Me
• Samsung Fascinate Review Roundup
• iHome iB969 Charging Station Neatly Charges Your Mobile Toys and Tools
• Scosche Universal Dash Mount Holds Your Mobile Phone or GPS In Place

Highlights from GottaBeMobile.com:

• Hello GBM! I am Chris. – Welcoming Chris Leckness to the GBM team!
• HP Exec claims webOS-powered PalmPad coming early 2011
• Are you kidding me? No Windows tablets ’til next year?
• Dell’s 7-inch tablet to launch in next few weeks”

Highlights from our Friends in Tech:

• Asus Eee PC 1015PED review – Liliputing
• Advertisers: We Know Where You Are, Thanks to Android – JKOnTheRun
• Sunny Days: Staying Connected with the Monaco Solar Cell Charger – LaptopThoughts

Notebooks.com Week in Review PlayBook and Winter Notebooks October 1 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.