Isaiah's Tech

Android groupies, recjoice! That Acer netbook that will dual-boot Android and Windows XP is now available for pre-ordering on Amazon. Other than that, everything else is typical: a 10.1-inch display with a 1,024 x 600 resolution, integrated GMA 950 graphics, 1GB of RAM, WiFi 802.11 b/g, and a 6-cell (5800 mAh) battery that will supposedly last 9 hours. It's now available for pre-orders for $349.99, so check it out here.

Update: As you can see, this netbook is the Aspire D250 and they'll also have another model available with Windows 7 pre-installed.

[Netbooked]

Just because Asus and Acer won't be launching as many netbooks as they should this year, doesn't mean they can't update their old models. Today, Acer has just updated its Aspire One D250 netbook. They have just upgraded the display to a 1,280 x 720 resolution. However, the specs stay the same - Atom N270 / N280 CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, WiFi b/g, Bluetooth, and a 6-cell battery. In Norway, you can now pre-order this new model (here), it will be launched in two days (July 30).

[Netbooked]

At Computex this year, Acer announced their first Android-based netbook hitting consumers in Q3 of this year. Well, could this be it? Well, the sad thing is that the answer is "No." That's because Acer decided to show off Android running on the Aspire One D250, just for a test run. The OS is pretty stable and starts up in just 18 seconds and shuts down - almost instantaneously - in one second. The demo showed off the OS and also showed off Firefox running in Android which is, apparently, new. Check out the PC Watch link below to check out the video.

[Engadget, PC Watch]

Finally! The Acer Aspire One D250 - that has already been available in Germany and the Philippines - and the Aspire One 751h - that has already been available in Europe - is finally available here in North America. The Aspire One D250 is now available for just $298 USD and the Aspire One 751h is now available for $380 USD. The two Aspire One's are available in a couple of colours, like Diamond Black, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, and Seashell White. These netbooks are actually launching less expensive than what I originally thought they would, especially the D250. At under $300, it seems like a really good deal. Take a look at what Acer had to say below, courtesy of Engadget. The full spec sheet is also mentioned, so be sure not to skip it.


                      Acer Debuts Industry's First 11.6-inch Aspire One Netbook;

Part of Thinner, Lighter Second-Generation Line

New 11.6-inch Model Delivers Mobile Productivity with Largest Netbook Display, Full-Sized Keyboard; This and New 10.1-inch Model Provide Continuous Internet Access, Enhanced Battery Life

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 18, 2009 – Acer America, part of the world's third largest PC company, today extends its industry-leading line of netbooks with two new models optimized for mobile customers – the industry's first 11.6-inch Acer Aspire One AO751h and the 10.1-inch Acer Aspire One AOD250.

The new Aspire One AO751h lets customers attain a new level of productivity and efficiency with its large 11.6-inch high-definition screen and full-sized keyboard. Thinner than previous generation netbooks, the AO751h still comes with all the same easy-to-use features, sophisticated design and incredibly portable form factor that have made Acer netbooks so wildly popular. The netbook's large 11.6-inch high-definition LED-backlit widescreen (16:9 ratio) display is large enough to easily view multiple windows and reduces the need to scroll to view Internet sites, providing a better end user experience. Plus, the full size keyboard is easier and more comfortable to use, even for touch-typists.

"As the worldwide leader in the netbook market, we designed our new 11.6-inch AO751h after careful consideration about how customers use and most enjoy their netbooks," said Sumit Agnihotry, vice president of product management for Acer America. "We predict that the larger display and keyboard will be a game-changer for mobile consumers looking to take it to the next level with the ultimate mobile device."

Acer is the global market share leader in the netbook category with 30.5 percent marketshare with 1.8 million units shipped in Q1 2009 according to DisplaySearch2. The company will deliver these new offerings in the U.S. through its extensive network of retailers and distributors.

In addition, the Acer Aspire One AOD250 will satisfy the demands of mobile consumers who want a compact, light-weight netbook for Internet access and communications. With a 10.1-inch display and a thinner and lighter design than its predecessor, this new netbook is ideal for anyone on the go.

Agnihotry added, "These two new Acer Aspire One offerings will satisfy the needs of today's extremely diverse mobile users – from professionals who need a streamlined, highly mobile form factor to students who want a productivity-enhancing large keyboard and display. In all cases, Aspire One customers get a reliable, easy-to-use, stylish device that will let them remain connected."

The new Acer Aspire Ones models offer the ultimate in mobile Internet connectivity. They can provide continuous access to the Internet via WiFi 802.11b/g to browse websites, check email, make VOIP calls, and enjoy online music. In addition, Acer Aspire One netbooks are the ideal device for the millions of people who are using the latest social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to give them a quick and easy way to post updates, send tweets, view and respond to video links, and stay connected. Select Acer Aspire One models come with the option for 3G broadband wireless connectivity.

Consumers can enjoy being productive and staying in touch even longer with the new Acer Aspire One netbooks; they deliver exceptional everyday battery life. The extended 6-cell battery for the AO751h can provide uptime of up to eight hours, while the 3-cell battery can provide four hours of uptime.2 The AO250's standard 3-cell battery can provide up to three hours and 15 minutes of battery life, while the 6-cell battery can provide up to six hours.2 The new devices use the latest Intel® Atom™ processors (N270 on the AOD250 and N270 or Z520 on the AO751h) that further extend battery life and power efficiency to deliver excellent mobile performance and Internet connections on the go.

Sleek, Eye-Catching Design is Highly Portable, Useful

The new Acer Aspire One models have been designed to be even more streamlined than their sales-leading predecessors; they now measure only one inch thin. The sleek aerodynamic design includes elegant touches such as the color-rich chassis choices (Diamond Black, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue and Seashell White) along with the metallic hinge with a colored accent. Both models weigh less than three pounds (2.75 pounds for the AO751h and 2.44 pounds for the AO250), so they won't weigh down a compact backpack or purse.

The Acer Aspire One AO751h uses a clever Multi-Gesture Touchpad that allows users to pinch, flick and swirl their fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites such as Google Earth. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows users to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. Both new models feature a soft-touch palm rest to increase typing comfort.

Packed with Additional Performance Features

The Aspire One AO751h has a high definition WXGA 11.6-inch CrystalBrite™ LED backlit display, offers the largest viewing area on a netbook. The Aspire One AO250's large 10.1-inch WSVGA LED backlit display also includes a large viewing area for Web page navigation and reviewing documents. Well-equipped with a full 1GB of memory and 160GB of hard drive space, the new Acer Aspire Ones are ready for customers who want to take their digital media and files with them. Select new models will feature up to 2GB of DDR2 memory and up to a 250GB internal hard drive, providing even more capabilities and storage space for mobile enthusiasts.

The Acer Crystal Eye™ webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. The built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes. Consumers will enjoy music and video sound with the Dolby Headphones and two built-in stereo speakers.

Connecting to the latest peripherals such as printers, a display and consumer electronics such as digital cameras is easy with the Acer Aspire Ones' useful ports (three USB 2.0, Ethernet, VGA) as well as Bluetooth capabilities that can be activated with the Easy Launch Bluetooth key. Both new models also feature a multi-in-one digital card reader, while the AO751h also features a dedicated SD card slot.

Available Configurations Pricing and Availability

The new Acer Aspire One AO751h and AOD250 are available in several configurations. Sample configurations follow:

Acer Aspire One AO751h-1192 Specifications

• Intel® Atom™ Processor Z520 (1.22GHz, 490MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
• Genuine Microsoft Windows XP® Home (Service Pack 3)
• 11.6-inch WXGA 16:9 ratio Acer CrystalBrite™ High Definition LED back-lit TFT LCD (1364 x 768 resolution)
• Mobile Intel® US15W 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 and Dedicated SD Card
• 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 (5200mAh)
• 11.18" (W) x 7.79" (D) x 1" (H)
• Sapphire Blue
• One-Year Standard Warranty
• Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: $379.99

Acer Aspire One AOD250-1042 Specifications

• Intel® Atom™ Processor N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
• Genuine Microsoft Windows XP® Home (Service Pack 3)
• 10.1-inch WSVGA 16:9 ratio Acer CrystalBrite™ LED back-lit TFT LCD (1024x600 resolution)
• 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
• 3-cell Li-ion Battery (2600 mAh)
• 10.17" (W) x 7.24" (D) x 1" (H)
• Ruby Red
• One-Year Standard Warranty
• Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: $298.00

The Acer Aspire One AO751h 11.6-inch netbook line has a starting manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) of $349.99. Several models are avaialble with an extended 6-cell battery at an MSRP starting at $379.99. The Acer Aspire One D250 10.1-inch netbook line has a starting MSRP of $298. Models in these lines are available now.

The Acer Aspire One comes with additional preinstalled software includes Microsoft Works with Office Home and Student 2007 Trial, Microsoft Office Personal 2007, Acer eRecovery Management, Acer Launch Manager, Adobe® Reader®, McAfee® Internet Security Suite, Microsoft® Office Trial 2007.

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

About Acer America

Since its founding in 1976, Acer has constantly pursued the goal of breaking the barriers between people and technology. Focused on marketing its brand-name IT products around the globe, Acer ranks as the world's No. 3 vendor for total PCs and No. 2 for notebooks, with the fastest growth among the top-five players. A profitable and sustainable Channel Business Model is instrumental to Acer's continued growth, while the successful mergers of Gateway and Packard Bell complete the company's global footprint by strengthening its presence in the U.S. and enhancing its strong position in Europe. The Acer Group employs more than 6,000 people worldwide. 2008 revenues reached US$16.65 billion. See www.acer.com for more information.
[Engadget]

After popping up in Germany early last month, the Acer Aspire One D250 is now also available in Asia, more specifically, the Philippines for 23,995 Pesos ($507 USD). It has the same specs as the D150, except for the CPU, which is the slightly faster Atom 1.66GHz N280. Other specs include: the 10.1-inch display, 160GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, and your choice of either 3 or a 6 cell battery. The 6-cell battery is expected to last 7.5-hours, but I doubt that from ever happening. The D250 has been around for over a month, but there has still been no word on a US release date.

[Slash Gear]

Not exactly, but close enough. The new 10.1-inch Dot S from Packard Bell takes most of its hardware from the Acer Aspire One D250 and the Dot M takes most of its hardware from the 11.6-inch Aspire One. I actually think that the Dot M looks decent with its silver lining on the touchpad, but it has an odd-looking wrist-rest design. Anyways, the Dot S will be available this week in Europe for just €299 ($393 USD) and the Dot M will be available by the end of this month for €399 ($525 USD).

[Engadget]

If you live in Germany, you can now obtain your own Acer Aspire One D250 or 531 if you like. Technically speaking, this means that we could see a North American release soon, but we'll just have to play the waiting game. The D250 has a 10.1-inch WSVGA display, Intel's Atom 1.6GHz N270 processor (upgradeable to N280), a 160GB HDD, up to 2GB of RAM, a multicard reader, Ethernet, an integrated 0.3MP webcam, WiFi, and has optional WWAN. The Aspire One 531, on the other hand, has most of the same specs that the D250 has, but it is only 1-inch thin. The D520 is available now for €379 ($502 USD) and the 531 is available for €399 ($529 USD).

[Engadget]