Acer's Ferrari One?laptop is expected to be hitting the US in January Pocket-lint has learnt, however it is unlikely to ship with the external graphics card designed by AMD that would give it the power of a desktop PC.

Already available in the UK, the new laptop features a PCI Express card slot that will allow users to connect an External Graphics Port to boost graphics performance over and above the power of the mini notebook.

According to AMD, the ATI XGP can run up to four displays when activated on the notebook PC and comes with HDMI with integrated audio, DVI and USB connections providing the ability to connect to a variety of devices.

However, while the technology is available (it features a ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 graphics card), AMD has yet to find a manufacturer willing to launch the new product as a standalone accessory, even though Acer and Fujitsu-Siemens have added the port on some of their netbooks already.

According to an AMD spokesperson, the box of tricks will bring the power of a desktop computer to the netbook allowing gamers to play the latest games at home, while still having a portable, small and lightweight device on the road.

We will keep you posted.

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Tags: Hardware Netbooks Laptops Acer AMD Acer Ferrari One

Acer Ferrari One gets US date, AMD XGP box no where to be seen... originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:16:47 +0000

With laptop innovation moving faster than just about any other area of consumer technology, it seems rather unfair to do a best laptop of the year category. Anything released back in January is comparatively obsolete next to anything from the last few months. The arrival of both Windows 7 and CULV technology in the latter half of the year has distorted matters even more. That said, 2009 started with some memorable moments at CES and a definite clutch of landmark releases that have managed to stay in contention for the Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Award for Best Laptop. Here's a little reminder of some of the highlights for you, and don't forget to tell us just which would get your vote.

Multimedia & Games

The laptop industry has moved into three clear areas of machines over the last 2 years although more recently it's threatened to fragment even further. One of the sectors beginning to divide in 2009 is the multimedia notebooks which, since the rise of the netbook and the slimline PC, now consists of just about anything over 2kg in weight with a 15-inch or more screen size. The point is that whereas once they might have been considered portable, the only moving anyone would do with them now would be short distances within the home. And, as for them being lap-tops, well there's now a select few of them that would crush your thigh bones even if you thought about it.

As a consequence of being housebound, these have predominately become entertainment units fit with powerful graphics cards, Blu-ray players, quad core processors, HDMI ports and, of course, HD quality widescreens. Some of the better examples of the year include the Samsung R720, the Asus F70, the Acer Aspire 7540 & 5542, MSI GX723, HP Pavillion DV8, Packard Bell EasyNote DT85 and the Sony Vaio NW series. That's been pretty much the middle bench of this category.

However, beyond these entertainment machines are the slightly lower spec and more portable professional type traditional laptops in the same vein as the MacBook Pro range which was itself refreshed right from the beginning of the 2009. The addition of a 17-inch model and later the 15-inch and 13-inch upgrades helped to remind us that although their specs may be lower, these are still machines to be reckoned with. Toshiba very much has its own take on the market with the Satellite series as re-released throughout the year, Dell has its Studios with an impressive update to the Studio 15 seen in 2009 and the one that got most tongues wagging was the HP Envy laptops with their Core i7 processors and enormous wedges of RAM available up to a slightly insane 16GB.

At the very other extreme of this category is a growing number of monster machines for gamers. It's a tricky area given that most self-respecting VG-heads will build their own PCs, but there is an ever-growing PC gaming market once more and plenty of consumers who want to buy something tailor made. What 2009 has continued to show here is that even this end of computing is moving away from desktops, which were normally classed as the only machines to offer the necessary power and screen size.

The minimum you'd expect to pay for these mostly 17-inch beasts would be a cool ?1000 like we saw in the Packard Bell iPower GX at the beginning of the awards year and the budget but effective Advent 6555 which has arrived since. However, Dell's Alienware, the Demios X-10 and the Asus G60 were also there in case you really wanted to start splashing the cash on dual GPUs and more lights, bells, whistles and sub-woofered sound hot-rods. Hard to tell how big this niche will get in the future but it's certainly been a feature this year.

Finally, and just to be typically awkward Apple finally brought us a new version of their ?799 entry level machine - the 13-inch unibody white MacBook. 2006 was the last time the company refreshed that model and we were beginning to think they would leave it at that.

Ultra Slim

By far the biggest growth area in laptops has been the thin, slim, ultra-portable, ultra-stylish machines. Consumers have been crying out for something with the portability of a netbook but with the battery and processing capabilities nearer the multimedia muthas as well as larger screen sizes to match - typically between 13 and 15 inches. We'd already seen the beginnings of this with the MacBook Air and the Toshiba Porteges but it was at CES 2009 when the fashion really hit home as MSI released their X-Series of laptops with the X320, which has now matured through the X400 and X600 too. Dell managed to eke out the tease on the style-conscious Adamo for nearly 6 months before more recently blowing us all away with even thinner and more unique Adamo XPS and it's the launch of the Intel CULV platform that's really produced the gold rush we're seeing right now.

Asus were quick to move from the already good looking brushed aluminium UX series to the new low voltage, longer lasting system take on the same design with the near enough Asus UL series. There must have been a secret meeting in a darkened smoky room between the marketing chiefs a few months back because it seems X-series has become synonymous with this laptop form. Samsung's X-series arrived with typical gusto in October after the announcement at IFA and once Sony had decided that the trend was here to stay, they produced an Vaio X-series of the company's very own too. And, just to prove they're not all about stacking them high and selling them cheap, Dell produced a slightly less premium take on the trend with both the Inspiron and Lattitude Z-series. Presumably, there were no Xs left. Finally both Toshiba and Acer, with the Timeline range, went about more portable solutions although in a slightly more sedate and less thin-crazed way.

Interestingly, because of the focus on efficiency and form, what we haven't seen, and perhaps for the first time, is any significant increase in RAM and processor cores - typical signs of raw power. Instead 2009 has given the consumer laptops with a definite purpose. We have more battery power, a lighter load, more power-friendly LED screens, often with SSD internal storage solutions as well. Throw Windows 7 into the mix and there's never been a better time to buy a laptop.

Netbooks

If 2008 was the arrival of the netbook, then 2009 has most certainly represented its peak. According to Samsung, Q4 of 2009, now, is when we should expect to see the largest sale in netbooks worldwide. Simply everyone makes them including Orange, LG, Nokia, BlackBerry and even Hello Kitty. There is some suspicion that the wave will roll back once more with the ultra-slims taking a lot of that market share away, with a solution that most people were probably after in the first place, but it seems there will always be a place for devices like these that simply need to be carried in a smaller space.

That said, there have been one or two standout innovations in the netbook field starting at the very beginning of the year in Las Vegas with the arrival of three very important machines. The first was from the inventor of the netbook, as Asus held aloft the touch and swivel screen Eee PC tablet, the T91. The second was the HP Mini 2140 and its near full size keyboard and, perhaps most famously, was Sony's half admission that netbooks were here to stay with the release of the Vaio P not-netbook. The company has since gone the whole hog with the Vaio W.

It's almost seemed that the manufactures themselves have sensed that the traditional netbook might have been a fad. Most have ditched the early 8.9-inch models with 10-inch machines being the baseline these days, the best of the current crop are the Dell Mini 10v, the Toshiba NB200, the Medion E1312, HP Mini 5101, Asus Eee PC 1008HA, Samsung N510 and the Acer Aspire One D250, many of which now come with 2GB of RAM, near full QWERTYs and better graphics than ever before. There's been a recognition that it's hard to get much done on such small machines so we've seen the addition of the Nvidia ION platform to allow gaming and HD video playback to help bolster the trade too. The other way to go has been the blurring of the very definition of the category by creating a series of 11-inch not-netbooks, which straddle the gap in machine class, and often come with non-Atom processors like the HP Pavillion DM1 and the Packard Bell dot m/u.

Aside these small boosts and the touchscreen capabilities, perhaps the only real innovation has come from Acer who has brought out a version of the D250 that comes with both Android and Windows operating systems installed as well as, of course, the offering of a 3D laptop too. It'll be interesting to see how Google's desktop OS takes off and who'll choose to run netbooks on Windows 7. But, most of all, it'll be interesting to see what's come of the netbook in 2 year's time.

What do you think?

But these are just some of the fantastic choices our readers have had in 2009. What would you like to see held aloft as the winner of Pocket-lint Best Laptop 2009? Who have we missed out? Which are your unsung heroes and of those we've already mentioned, which would get your vote? Let us know in the comments below and you can help our panel decide which make the shortlist of nominees to be announced here on Pocket-lint on 16 November. We'll have all out coverage of the Vodafone Pocket-lint awards 2009 right here. Don't miss a minute of it.

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Related links:

• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - digital cameras
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - car gadgets
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - music gadgets

Tags: Hardware Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards Features Asus Acer Samsung Laptops Netbooks Dell Dell Adamo XPS

Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - laptops originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:10:45 +0000

The Acer Aspire Revo is a nettop boasting advanced graphic capabilities for "full enjoyment of multimedia contents in high definition".

Acer announced the Aspire Revo back in April, of note perhaps because it was the first small form factor PC to offer the Nvidia ION platform, apparently offering 10x faster graphic performance than comparable PCs.

Ebuyer now has the Aspire Revo on sale for ?239.99 which is ?40 off from its previous price of ?280. ?

Acer claims the diminutive desktop has "graphic capability worthy of a true multimedia PC", and is angled as an entertainment centre for the family. Due to its Nvidia GeForce 9400 chipset can also be used as as a gaming console.

Specs include 802.11b/g/draft-n Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, six USB ports, DirectX 10, 2GB RAM expandable up to 4GB, Mini PCI Express slot and Windows Vista.

On the Ebuyer website, link below, you'll also find a link of how to go about upgrading to Windows 7.

Related links:

• Shop - Ebuyer.com

Tags: Hardware Nettops Acer Acer Aspire Revo Nvidia Intel Ebuyer Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: Acer Aspire Revo under £240 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0100

It was a day of firsts for Acer today: their first Android handset, the first handset with 1.6 Donut installed (for how long?) and the first Android device powered by the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset (again, for how long?). We got our hands on the pretty sparkly red number and grabbed a few snaps.

Like the other Snapdragon handsets out there – Toshiba's TG01 and HTC's HD2 – the Liquid A1 has a massive screen with a high resolution, in this case 800 x 480 WVGA. It makes it a natural choice for those wanting to watch movies on the move.

The build is solid enough, but it lacks the wow factor of HTC's Hero, instead looking as though it has mostly come out of the mould of the Acer S200 (aka F1). Like the design, the Android offering is rather raw too: you don't get the sort of friendly user interface you'll find on the HTC Hero or the Motorola DEXT.

The Android interface is laid out with a basic three-page home screen set, so you can swipe to one side and find photos on a carousel, and swipe the other and find browser bookmarks, both sitting neatly across to one side, leaving space for future customisation.

The application menu shoots up from the bottom of the screen with real purpose. So far so good, but it is difficult to tell from a brief hands-on of a device without a SIM or content exactly how the Snapdragon experience will be.

We did try to get something out of the Acer Sync application, but in a disconnected device it isn't possible to see exactly how the 360 syncing service is actually going to work.

We also don't yet have a full run down of the specs, but playing around with it you get HSDPA, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a 5-megapixel camera with various advanced functions, like ISO options, offering some scope with the absence of a flash.

We don't yet have prices or dates, although the rumours are that we'll be seeing it again around the end of November.

Until then, feast your eyes.

News -?Acer Liquid A1 Android handset announced

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Acer Android Acer Liquid A1 Photos

PHOTOS: Acer Liquid A1 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:03:15 +0100

Acer unleashed its Android netbook on the world today, something it had already admitted it was going to do.

The addition of Android isn't the only bonus for the D250 – it also now comes with Windows 7 rather than the Windows XP of the original version.

It is bizarrely familiar to those who have Android handsets, but without the touch support does seem a little weird. Plus, there are no designated keys to support Android, so you end up using the trackpad to get around and the ESC key to go back.

We were on hand at the launch to grab some shots of the new, or rather old, hardware with the new OS shoehorned into place.

We've got a date now too - the D250 will be hitting shelves from 22 October and will come in two versions. The XP Home with Android version will be ?279 and the Windows 7 with Android will be ?299.

News -?Acer officially announces Aspire One D250 with Android

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Tags: Hardware Laptops Netbooks Android Acer Acer Aspire One D250 Photos

PHOTOS: Acer Aspire One D250 with Android originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:06:44 +0100

Today, Acer has launched their new 3D experience on laptops, which we first heard of back in June 2009.

Acer haven't taken a hardware tack – like the Nvidia 3D Vision GPU – and instead relies on using a software solution called Acer 3D CineReal and a special 3D coating on the screen, with polarizing glasses.

You'll also get the TriDef suite of software containing the TriDef Media Player which will play your movies back in 3D, whilst TriDef Ignition enables 2D to 3D conversion in games and applications supporting DirectX 9 and above.

You'll be able to throw yourself into the Acer 3D experience on the Aspire 5738DG, which will feature an Intel Centrino2 processor.

No word on UK pricing yet or detailed specs, but at NZ$1999, it looks like it will be around ?950.

Tags: Hardware Laptops Acer Acer Aspire 5738DG 3DTV

Acer Aspire 5738DG 3D notebook launched originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:55:21 +0100

Acer has officially launched their dual OS netbook, combining the Android operating system and Windows 7, which we first brought you news of back in June 2009.

This will mean instant-on booting (18 seconds "to be able to chat") and fast shutdown (3 seconds). You'll be able to access emails and the Internet through Android and switch over to Windows 7 when you want to be more productive.

The new Acer Aspire One D250 with Android comes with a 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 LED-backlit LCD display, and is powered by an Intel Atom processor backed by up to 2GB of RAM, and a 160GB hard drive.?

Acer is also claiming that any internet connections made on the Android OS can remain active, even if you "reboot the netbook or suspend the session". We'll pin them down on exactly how this works and will update when we have more details.

We've got a date now too - the D250 will be hitting shelves from 22 October and will come in two versions. The XP Home with Android version will be ?279 and the Windows 7 Start will Android will be ?299.

Read

Related links:

• Feature - Five reasons to buy an Android laptop...

Tags: Hardware Laptops Acer Acer Aspire One D250 Netbooks Android

Acer officially announces Aspire One D250 with Android originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:23:10 +0100

Acer has officially announced the Acer Liquid A1, the company's first Android handset and also the first Android device to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset.

It will come with version 1.6 (Donut) of Google's operating system and features an 800 x 480 WVGA capacitive touchscreen. It packs in all the normal connectivity with a full fat HSDPA internet experience boosted by the 1GHz processor.

It has an autofocus 5-megapixel camera around the back, which Acer claims is optimised for geotagging, with ISO and self-timer options. It comes in a choice of colours too - white, red and black.

Acer will also be offering their new Acer Sync service in the new phone, which they describe as keeping "one handed" (phones) and "two handed" (notebooks) devices in sync. ?

Other details are currently thin on the ground, but we'll update with more info when we have it.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Android Acer Acer Liquid A1

Acer Liquid A1 Android handset announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:55:46 +0100

Acer showed off some of their special editions notebooks today, celebrating the company's status as a Worldwide TOP Partner of the Olympic Games.

On display were the Aspire 4810T and Aspire 1410T models, which receive Olympic branding on the deck and lid, with the Acer logo and Olympic rings. Also available will be a special edition LCD display.

Whilst these notebooks are designed for consumers to join in the celebration, Acer has informed us that the actual hardware supplied for use during the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver 2010 will include the Acer Veriton 1000 and Acer TravelMate 6592.

No word on pricing or availability yet, but we'll update when we have it.

Tags: Hardware Laptops Acer Acer Aspire 4810T Acer Aspire 1410T Olympics

Acer launches Olympic Aspire special editions originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:33:25 +0100

In light of the Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy saying that the worst of the recession is over for the UK economy - reporting a 1% rise in pre-tax profit for the company in the first half of the financial year - our tech deal today points you in the direction of some discounts on selected laptops from the retail behemoth.

Although the majority of the laptops seem to be coming from Acer, the pick being the Acer T4200 with 4GB RAM, 420GB hard drive for ?429, there's also a decent discount on the HP Compaq CQ61 for ?359 coming with 2GB RAM, 320GB hard drive and a 15.6-inch screen.

With a choice of just ten laptops it's not the greatest selection but still worth a quick rummage if you're in the market as all of them come with free delivery.

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Related links:

• Shop - Tesco.com

Tags: Hardware Laptops Tesco Acer HP Packard Bell Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: Discounts on laptops at Tesco.com originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Acer's new Windows Phone (Windows Mobile 6.5) handset has hit the UK courtesy of the chaps at Expansys.

Those looking to get the new Acer smartphone that sports a 3.8-inch resistive touchscreen display and HSDPA connectivity can do so for ?349.99 without contract to one of the big operators.

The new neoTouch handset, first announced at Mobile World Congress in February is available now. As yet no official operator details have been announced, however users will be able to put in any operator SIM card as the phone is being sold unlocked.

As an extra incentive, the online retailer is also offering ?20 worth of discount vouchers if you buy one before the end of October.

Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Acer Windows Phone Windows Mobile Acer neoTouch F1

Acer neoTouch (F1) smartphone hits UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:23:47 +0100

Acer will be shifting its focus to Google's Android operating system for its smartphones, according to industry sources quoted by DigiTimes. The company will be putting the open-source platform on at least half of all the new models it launches in 2010.

The remainder will be staying with Windows Mobile, with the company sticking with its current production partners, outsourcing both Windows Mobile- and Android-based smartphones to Compal Communications and contracting Windows Mobile handsets to Inventec Appliances.

Acer joined the Open Handset Alliance earlier this year, and its first Android-powered smartphone is due out in November. It's called the A1, and as soon as we're able to get our hands on it, we'll be bringing you a full review.

Read

Related links:

• News - Acer shows working L1, C1 and F1
• News - Acer announces Android phone due in Q4

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Acer Android Open Handset Alliance Google Biz

Half of Acer's 2010 handsets will run Android originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:42:59 +0100