More 10-inch Acer Aspire One rumors trickle out

We'd already gotten a solid word from Acer Taiwan president Scott Lin that there would indeed be a 10-inch Aspire One in early 2009, and now we've got some purported pictures and informations to chew on. According to the Aspire One fan-blog macles*, the upcoming revision will come in white, black and red flavors, with a 10.1-inch screen (at the same 1024 x 600 resolution of the existing model) and options for 3G and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. Perhaps most exciting -- to us non-mutants, anyways -- is the removal of those pesky trackpad-flanking mouse buttons, with a regular-looking button below the trackpad instead doing the honors. Less exciting, however, is the purported lack of Linux and SSD SKUs. The laptop also dropped its Storage Expansion slot in lieu of a good old-fashioned multi-card reader. All-in-all, it sounds like some very mainstream tweaks to an already ultra-popular netbook, and we can't fault Acer for that. Word is the new Aspire One will be landing in February, no mention of price just yet.

[Via jkkmobile]

[Jon Nelson @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:03PM]

The white one in front looks kind of disproportionate to the others.

[PyRo1509 @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:05PM]

its being made fun of by the others... look how sad it is

[BUNT @ Mar 5th 2009 7:59AM]

5.5" is more than enough for anyone.

[spyker @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:08PM]

I, currently shopping for a netbook, have this to say.

Yes please!

But really, I hope something great gets announced at CES.

[James M @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:21PM]

I'd recommend the Lenovo S10. It's prettier than this thing, has almost identical sounding features, and it already exists. I just bought one in blue and white; I love it lots.

Also, thanks to Acer's marketing and distribution success, almost everyone has an Acer Aspire One, and I bet almost everyone will have one of these in a year or so. S10s seem much less common.

[superhobo @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:40PM]

Samsung NC10

[loosely_coupled @ Jan 4th 2009 3:07PM]

Spyker, these guys are right. Both excellent models.

The Lenovo S10
- looks great and has a decent keyboard
- has an expresscard slot (slap an expresscard SSD in there or eSATA/Firewire/TV Tuner/3G card/etc)
- has a 5400RPM (1.8") Harddrive.
(Everyone should take note... 5400RPM 1.8" drives are available on the market. These are much faster than the more common 4200RPM drives.)
- one drawback is its (relative) heaviness.

Samsung NC10
- Really good looking
- only 2.8lbs WITH a 6-cell battery (!!)
- The best feeling/most spacious keyboard of the half-dozen models I looked at
- No expresscard/5400RPM harddrive

[Belgain Roffles @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:15PM]

I like the idea of bluetooth, but dropping the SD expansion slot is nothing but a mistake.

[Ian @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:25PM]

Theres still a slot for SD... its just a multi-card reader now instead of exclusively SD.

[Belgain Roffles @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:40PM]

No, there already was a multicard reader on the right side. They're simply cutting out the storage expansion slot on the left which let you leave SD cards in permanently.

[Skazer @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:08PM]

Why is it a mistake? The main purpose of it was to supplement the tiny storage space because of the use of SSD in the AA1. If they're switching to HDDs completely, there's little use for an extra SD slot. I think it's smart that they're cutting costs as much as possible in this economic environment.

[Belgain Roffles @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:05PM]

I have an 8gb card that resides permanently in my (xp) AAO. This lets me transfer huge files at a moment's notice, while not being forced to worry about losing a USB stick. It's always in so I never have to connect it, I simply drag, drop, and pull it out and hand it off. Losing it isn't the end of the world, but it is something I like a lot about my AAO.

[nikster @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:18PM]

Does anyone actually need a multi card reader? I don't have any devices where that would be desirable. Cameras have SD cards but they also connect via USB. When space is at a premium a multi card reader is the first thing I'd cut. Unless the card reader is one where you can leave the SD card in and use it as additional storage.

[Ogo @ Jan 4th 2009 3:39PM]

Does anyone actually need a multi card reader?

I use mine. I bought a 16gb SD card that I use to backup all my photos to store in a fire proof off-site safe. This could also be done with a USB flash stick but SD cards are cheaper and are typically smaller.

[Shugg @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:21PM]

price??price??

[CleverEndeavor @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:28PM]

Any more colors?

[TomTom2007 @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:53PM]

exactly my thought

[GadgetNut @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:14PM]

Pinks please :-)

[shugg @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:35PM]

do these have dvd drives.,?

[synyster @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:59PM]

No DVD drives allowed on netbooks. If they have one then their no longer classed as netbiok

[FILA @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:38PM]

DVD drives, no. another netbook, yes

[Jash Sayani @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:09PM]

Just got an Aspire one 2 days back. Its really amazing. But it just has a 2 hr battery !!

[Bruno @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:09PM]

We use 3 Aspire One in our family and everyone is very happy including me:
me: 150 with Linpus converted to Ubuntu 8.10
son: 150 with WinXP
girl: 150 with WinXP

Beforehand I had a HP2133 mini, who's screen resolution was too high (everything tiny) and it ran very hot, YouTube choppy.

In addition my wife has a MSI Wind which is highly recommendable too. And that one already features an 10.2 inch screen.

[BrianM @ Jan 3rd 2009 9:10PM]

I have a 2133 and an Acer and I have to say I really appreciate the additional resolution. In fact it is really getting annoying with all of the other netbooks haveing the same exact resolution. Do not get me wrong if you do not have good eyesight the 2133 is a bit small, but for me it works, on a 10" screen though that extra resolution on the 2133 would work for just about everyone I think.

[Ed T @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:12PM]

Maybe Acer will fix the $#@! Atheros wifi chip or firmware that drops its connection every 15 minutes and requires a reboot to go back on line. The el-cheapo noisy fan runs constantly on mine and they might spend an extra 25 cents to fix that too.

[cmj2405 @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:28PM]

I've swapped the wifi card in mine out for a broadcom based one, works great and only cost a few £.
The fans are a software issue - they can be sorted in Linux with a little script (Ubuntu guide: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AspireOne) but hopefully Acer will include the changes in a BIOS update to enable it for all. The fans do run quite fast all the time, but with them slower battery life is longer but temperatures aren't noticeably higher

[Reid @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:12PM]

Got my baseline Acer Aspire One last year for $279. Streamlined an XP install through USB and haven't looked back since. The little machines are great... my primary computer is a desktop, but you really can't beat this thing as a little backup laptop. Some folks say that the battery life is too short, but to be honest it matches the battery life of modern full-size laptops, so no real complaints there. Just be prepared to do some tweaking.

[yodaxl7 @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:38PM]

Need more info like 2 gig of ram or operating sys. Plus, it would be nice that it has a multi-touch screen like the iphone. I think I would wait for the apple version of netbook which is a bigger cousin of the ipod touch. I hope it comes with a optical drive.

[Patriks7 @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:55PM]

Are you kidding? Apple netbook with optical drive?! They don't have one in their 13" Air, so how do you expect them to put one in something smaller?!

[cletus @ Jan 4th 2009 12:48AM]

What would a touchscreen be useful for? The multitouch of the EEE 1000 works beautifully, and doesn't require too much extra gesturing, its compact and right near the keys where my hands are going to be anyway. Why would I want to reach my arm out, dirty my screen with fingerprints, and move my fingers and wrists around continuously?

[Dubthezombie @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:44PM]

In the market for a netbook myself. Is Lenovo worth the price premium over Acer? (Retail prices in Canada certainly show a premium)

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:52PM]

The Lenovo is a better netbook in every respect including the screen that beside being superior is also bigger (for browsing and multimedia apps 10" in my opinion is the sweet spot in screen sizes) of course it depends of how big is the premium you've got to pay: where I live the difference is less than 20$ , and since the lenovo ten incher came out understandably nobody has bought an Acer anymore (maybe that's a reason for their new 10incher).
However at a better price than the Lenovo you can still get an MSI wind which has also a 10" screen (maybe the best of the class) and after a few basic upgrades is still the winner among atom netbooks.
Even better if you can get your mitts on a MSI wind rebrand (such a Medion's) they are even cheaper, better looking (or at least more colorful) and they all add some upgrade: either 2 gigs of DDR2, or BT/WIFI or dtv-B or all of the above, which you would otherways have to buy, set up and pay by yourself.

Recently I got a beautiful new Vaio TT, but still I can't get myself to put my pimped up white wind on eBay.
It's just too good and it's got too many possible uses to get rid of it.
I have no doubt that if you would opt for one of them you will end up loving it too.

[unzarjones @ Jan 4th 2009 1:46AM]

KilgoreTrout, "since the lenovo ten incher came out understandably nobody has bought an Acer anymore" Oh really? In who's small circle of friends? What a dumb statement.

[digitallysick @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:20PM]

The first netbook to give me better than 6 cell with higher than 1024 x 600 i'm buying it

[Mark @ Jan 3rd 2009 9:14PM]

Hope you're ready to break out of the netbook confines with that greater than 1024x600 resolution and pay more.

[Dan @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:36PM]

Yeah, but will it run OSX? :)

[Jane @ Jan 4th 2009 1:14AM]

Well perhaps if Acer weren't trying to rip you off with their '$100' cashback offer, making you register, telling you to send original documentation, then denying you ever sent it in, I would buy one of their products again.

They advertise this offer, then 3 times during the process for cashback they try to force you into an extended year of warranty. You follow it to the letter, then they deny your claim because they apparently never received the paperwork? WTF?

Acer, that was a very bad marketing scam. If you want people to buy, don't try to tell them it's cashback when really, you don't ever intend on giving it to the customers.

[Trevor @ Jan 4th 2009 4:50AM]

Not that I don't believe you, but can I see some sources on this scam?

[Maaat @ Jan 4th 2009 7:29AM]

I had a similar experience with the cashback on my Aspire One - having to chase them after they denied receiving my documentation. The notebook is fine but I don't think I'll buy from Acer again after this experience.

[linderman @ Jan 4th 2009 12:20PM]

Then buy your next Acer at Costco. The Aspire One at Costco is the same $349 but Costco extends the warranty two years...for free!

[Horse @ Jan 4th 2009 1:28PM]

"Mail in" rebates.... I have never, not even once ever seen a dime from any I've sent in. I, therefore, will never make a purchase due to a mail in rebate.

They should call them:
"Your cheque is in the mail" rebates...

[Maaat @ Jan 4th 2009 5:04PM]

@linderman: Costco is only in the USA and Canada, right?

[Dave @ Jan 4th 2009 11:59AM]

I'm writing this from a Samsung NC10. I'm pretty happy with it. Battery life is superb (5+ hours) and the form factor is great. Keyboard is pretty easy to type on and it doesn't have any extremely weird key shapes/locations. I picked this over the Acer because I liked the form factor with the 6 cell battery (Acer 6 cell sticks out the back) and the fact that the ram slot is easily accessible (like any normal laptop, just a screw and cover on the bottom). Plus the fact that it has bluetooth so I can connect to my WinMo phone when I don't have access and surf with 3G speeds. All I did with my old laptop was surf the internet anyway, so I'm very happy with this one.

[Horse @ Jan 4th 2009 1:33PM]

it looks like someone is paying attention to the market. Too bad that was the market prior to the collapse... With current and foreseeable sales of electronics down by more than 25%, companies will have to build exactly what the customer wants at the right price, otherwise they will hold off until the right product comes along, or the price is reduced.

This looks like a move in the right direction, but how many people still need Netbooks?

[irieblue @ Jan 4th 2009 3:40PM]

What is the big draw of Netbooks? What apps are people ofent using on them? It seems like an iPod touch like device with a screen size similar to average sized netbook (say 8 - 9 ") with a virtual keyboard, (or even bluetooth keyboard support) would be a killer device. Do people relish running every single windows app on a netbook?

[JRockDetroit @ Jan 8th 2009 5:51AM]

No CES debut yet?

[Chris @ Jan 19th 2009 7:55AM]

Anyone think the prices will drop of the current 8.9-inch Acer models as soon as the 10-inch ones are released? I'm thinking of getting one, and therefore wondering whether it is worth waiting a few weeks to see if the prices drop.

[phineas @ Feb 7th 2009 8:17AM]

I just got one. I have spent 9 hours trying to get it set up and connected. It won't connect to the internet either with WiFi or ethernet. I'll keep trying to work out the bugs, but this seems pretty buggy to me.

Also, although it has XP (a requirement for me) it must be a downgrade, because it has IE7. I HATE IE7 and would rather go Apple than use that.

IF I can get this to work with the internet, and IF I can get IE7 off it, I will buy several.

But, so far it's a 6 thumbs down.