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Instead of the aging dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs, the new Timelines have been given the significantly faster Core i5 and Core i3 processors, which are also dual-core, but effectively four thanks to Intel’s re-introduced Hyperthreading technology.  The difference between the Core i3 and i5 is that the latter also supports the Turbo Boost feature, which increases the clocks dynamically when the laptop is under heavy load in applications that only utilize one thread (virtual or physical processor core).

What sets the TimelineX (as well as Timeline) series apart from the rest of Acer’s notebook lineup is that all of them are very thin and light compared to conventional laptops. They are available in sizes ranging from the 11.6-inch AS1830T and AS1810T, via the 13-inch AS3820T/AS3810T, 14-inch AS4820T, up to the larger (but also relatively thin and light) 15-inch AS5820T (view the full lineup here). All come with LED-backlit panels with 1366×768 resolution with the 16:9 aspect ratio. Acer also stresses that these laptops are environmentally friendly–manufactured with mercury-free components.

Thin ‘Gaming Laptops’ with Long Battery Life

Another surprise – considering these laptops’ svelte figure – is that some of them are equipped with a relatively powerful graphics card: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 with 1GB of dedicated GDDR3 memory. This graphics card handily runs games like World of Warcraft, but if WoW feels too old it also runs all of the latest titles – the 5650 GPU is actually faster than the Nvidia GT330M in the MacBook Pro lineup.

A further boost to the media cabability of the TimelineX series is the addition of HDMI output, which are very practical for hooking up your computer to an HDTV or other screen. There is also support for Dolby Home Theater–something that you’ll notice only when the computer is attached to a similarly capable home theater setup.

The screen on all of the Acer TimelineX laptops have the same HD resolution, 1366 x 768 pixels. They are LED backlit and incredibly sharp, rich color display and high contrast. However, the fact that the same screen resolution is used across the entire series means that the smallest, 11.6-inch model has a much higher effective resolution than its 15-inch counterpart. On the largest model, this is barely ebough while it is more than sufficient for the smaller notebooks. Speaking of the screen, the lid is very nice and thin, and all of the models are equipped with a webcam on the inside as usual.

Summary

Acer is one of the major manufacturers today, and often we see quality drop as manufacturers grow too large. This is fortunately not the case here. Acer has created an excellent product in its TimelineX lineup. It has all the benefits–they have updated the design and made it somewhat darker and more elegant, which will no doubt appeal to the business segment as much as to consumers. The laptops are thin (the 14-inch model is less than an inch thich at the palm rest area) and the weight is attractive, so there is no doubt that Acer has focused on mobility here.

At the same time, the notebooks come packed with the latest hardware–Acer has thrown in Intel Core i5 processors, and for those who are familiar with CPU model names, this means that there is a lot more power under the hood now than in the previous Core 2 Duo variants. These machines are capable of a lot more than word processing and web surfing, and the icing on the cake is that battery life is still excellent. We will hopefully have time to go into the details soon, on each of the specific models in the Acer TimelineX series.

Acer TimelineX
	$599.99
Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-3927 11.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
	$689.88
Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3820T-5246 13.3-Inch HD Laptop (Black Brushed Aluminum)
	$699.99
Acer Aspire TimelineX AS4820T-5570 14-Inch HD Display Laptop (Black Brushed Aluminum)
	$709.99
Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5820T-5951 15.6-Inch HD Laptop (Black Brushed Aluminum)

Ferrari One 200 - Best Prices
		$579.99
		$599.99
		$612.99

The processor is an Athlon X2 L310, to be more precise. accompanied by the Radeon HD 3200 to help with some extra HD video performance and even a bit of 3D performance. In games, the Ferrari One 200 is better than the competition, but to be fair, the competition is by and large non-existent in the netbook segment, as most come with integrated Intel graphics. As a side note, it has an XGP port, which allows for an external graphics card to provide desktop-level gaming performance, but that’s an optional add-on.

In spite of offering up a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, the Ferrari One 200 is not that much faster than its Intel counterparts.  What makes it a lot better than the Intel competition in image editing and hardcore web browsing, on the other hand, are the 4GB of RAM – four times as much as the average Atom-based netbook. On the downside, the heat dissipation is high, just like in most AMD-based laptops. The computer requires relatively aggressive cooling settings most of the time, which also has a negative impact on noise. Battery life is still OK and thanks to a fairly large battery  it manages between 4-5 hours before going into hibernation.

One the whole though, the Ferrari One 200 is a clever machine. It comes with a high-quality keyboard and an excellent track pad. Its ports and buttons are well-placed, and the 11.6-inch display offers good color reproduction and ample brightness. On top of that, it also offers support for top-speed wireless, which is sadly lacking in many other netbooks.

PCMark Vantage: Total 2025, Gaming 1662, Productivity 1956

Well, if there is one mini laptop that has created curiosity recently in the press, then the Acer Aspire One 751 has to be it! The netbook has been one of the most awaited gadgets in the recent past, not so much because it boasts of some “out of the blue” features, but primarily because of the delayed launch and a tight lipped management.

After coming into the news officially in March this year, it was not until May that the company started releasing the pictures and specifications of this mini-creature. Not even the most shrewd tech reporters were able to get that one sneak peak of the notebook, before the official press release came out of the company in May.

Positioned primarily against Dell’s Mini 12, this mini laptop is not something that would make a tech geek’s heart skip a beat, but then again, this is a beautiful gadget, after all. The relocated VGA port gives the notebook and all new definition and the aesthetically spaced keyboard is all set to cater to the demands of desktop enthusiasts, cribbing over the fact that these mini laptop computers are a pain when you need to type a lot.

So, with not so unusual technical specifications and a slick, perfectly packed design, the aspire is one of the most beautiful gadgets to have been rolled out of the stables of Acer. It is stupid, when it comes to the technicalities, as Acer could have done much better on that front, but competitive pricing and the sheer good looking stature of the mini notebook make it a winner in my eyes.

The flat keyboard is ergonomically designed and it bends and literally flexes itself as you type, which is not the quintessence of high quality. The keyboard, however, is still fairly sturdy and accurate at the same time. With an 11.6 Inch LED backlit display at 1366×768, you would not be grappling for reading space.

With the Atom Z520 as its heart, this machine is crying for a better processor. To add icing on the tasteless cake, this otherwise slow processor is coupled with only 1 GB of RAM, which makes HD viewing and higher-end gaming virtually impossible on this machine – Acer 751 WoW (World of Warcraft) performance is a stuttering experience at best.  With a slightly faster CPU and more RAM, this baby would be all set to take the market by storm.

The Aspire One 751 is also available in red

Besides, another feature (or anti-feature, so to say), that spoils the experience is that the factory-fitted battery can only help this machine run for about 3 hours unless you go for the optional 6-cell battery. This is, when you do not tax the machine by running Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Now, the notebook looks chic, but in order to make it stand up to its good looks, you might have to spend a small fortune on upgrades. All in all, though, for the connoisseurs of art, this piece of equipment is definitely interesting.