Hands on with the Acer Aspire One

By Rory Reid on 06 June 2008

We've already talked about the Acer Aspire One, but now we've managed to get our hands briefly on one for a good sit-down session.

Specs-wise, Acer's supplying both Linux and Windows XP versions of the One. Both models will use an 8.9-inch 1,024x600-pixel screen, the same 1.6GHz N270 Intel Atom CPU that you'll find in the MSI Wind, and a 0.3-megapixel webcam.

The Linux model will get 512MB of RAM and an 8GB solid-state hard drive, while the Windows XP model will get 1GB of RAM and an 80GB mechanical hard drive. The Linux flavour will set you back a ridiculously inexpensive £199 (No AU prices yet), while the Windows model is set to cost £299. Mechanical hard drives are an option in the Linux variant, but pricing on this is still unconfirmed.

The One will come with Wi-Fi as standard, but UK consumers will also benefit from optional integrated HSDPA — whereas the Americans will get a WiMax option. Given the state of WiMax in Australia, we're placing odds on getting the HSDPA version.

As for build quality and design, Acer seems to have got most of it right. The keyboard is fantastic to use, as is its non-glossy screen. The only slight problems are that the mouse selector buttons are in the wrong place, you only get a year's warranty, and the standard battery is just 2200mAh instead of the 4400mAh unit you get as standard on the Eee 900. Despite this, Acer reckons the One will deliver about 3 hours of battery life — although we'll reserve judgement until we test it ourselves.

All in all, the Acer Aspire One is, quite literally, the One. On the surface of things it's better than an Eee 900, and might even have the upper hand on the the MSI Wind. Watch for a full preview and review shortly, but in the meantime click Next Photo for more pics and deets.

Topics: acer, aspire, one, eeepc, wind, ace, linux, eee, machine, left

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Comments (6)

  • Carl James commented on 22/02/2009 16:30 Report abuse

    had major problems with mine (most notably HD failure) all within 1.5 months!! Am I just unlucky??

  • Flash commented on 03/09/2008 18:35 Report abuse

    120 GB is actually 105 less 6+ for OS so it's only 98. What a con!

  • Garratt commented on 01/09/2008 15:27 Report abuse

    The notebook itself looks fantastic, the only problem i have is with the linux operating system, It's owned by an asian company, it's made extremely cheaply, and they expect you to pay for upgrades and the like, additionaly there no forums, so if you get into strife your out of luck, I would have liked to see this shipped with one of the more better Linux OS's such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandrake, gOS, Suse... etc

    Apart from that the microsoft version looks and works great!
    And you can always uninstall the Linux OS and install Ubuntu or any of the others, as it's only a matter of time before all the drivers will be available.

  • Mark commented on 24/08/2008 20:21 Report abuse

    I bought the windows one, it shipped in Australia with a 120meg HD. What can I say? I LOVE IT! So portable, so inexpensive,yet so functional. Acer are on a winner

  • Stuart commented on 10/08/2008 21:23 Report abuse

    I bought one so i recieved a
    baptism into Linux. I like the all in one card reader, and the MMC memory expansion. Plenty of usb ports Only downer so far being net available drivers.

  • Lazymonkey44 commented on 07/06/2008 19:00 Report abuse

    Looks Great, i would want the windows version thou.

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