Acer Aspire Timeline review roundup

Acer's range of CULV-based Timeline machines should be trickling out to US stores any moment now, and if you're wondering if any of these are right for you, we've rounded up a trio of reviews that are guaranteed to be relevant to your interests. If you're looking to get the long and short of it, here it is: those seeking great battery life in a relatively affordable package need look no further, but performance junkies should definitely hunt elsewhere. All told, Acer managed to concoct a few machines that'll go eight hours or so under the right conditions, but none of 'em will set any records in the benchmarking department. It's called compromise people -- are you willing to make it? Check the links below to help answer that.

Read - PCPro ("Nondescript looks and plodding performance are elevated by absolutely stunning battery life")
Read - Laptop ("Lightweight design. Eight hours of battery life. Good-enough performance")
Read - ComputerShopper ("Delivers great battery life in a lightweight chassis; however, comes up short in terms of features and performance")

[iPhone_vs_Pre @ Jun 5th 2009 4:23PM]

1
First
Crysis?
Doom?
Thats what she said!
Apple________ FTW/FTL

Ahh.. Covered for the entire week-end!

[bublik @ Jun 5th 2009 4:29PM]

you forgot will it run os x?)))))

[superhobo @ Jun 5th 2009 4:31PM]

Android?

[Ghatid @ Jun 5th 2009 4:57PM]

Crysis is so last year...now you have to ask if it runs Crysis 2!

[Ghatid @ Jun 5th 2009 4:32PM]

PC Pro says there is a DVD player?

[Velorium @ Jun 5th 2009 4:34PM]

On the 14 and 15.4" versions.

[Greg Miller @ Jun 5th 2009 4:37PM]

I've been looking into this laptop and it looks really solid. The configuration for the 13.3 and 14.1 inch set ups are great but I hope they are customizable in some way. They actually last 8 hours and their less than an inch thick with a really good looking design. I'm definitely looking into one of these for college so I won't have to worry if the battery will last through the day. I don't understand people who look at these computers and hate them since they can't play computer games. That's not what they're meant for!

[Raimo @ Jun 5th 2009 5:21PM]

The 14.1-incher looks like the best option as it's got an optical drive and it's still relatively light. It's also slightly cheaper than the 13.3-incher.

[Velorium @ Jun 5th 2009 6:09PM]

Weaker processor though.

[Al @ Jun 5th 2009 7:20PM]

You can also get the weaker cpu on the 13in model. This would have been perfect in a 12in model to compete with the similarly spec'd MSI U200.

[hari @ Jun 5th 2009 7:47PM]

same processor option on both .

[dlenmn @ Jun 5th 2009 7:15PM]

That's nice, but where are the models with Radeon 4330? They seem to be available for preoder in Germany... For that matter, what about more models with C2Ds? Why only on the 13"? Argh.

[SparDan @ Jun 5th 2009 9:37PM]

Radeon 4330? Are there actually going to be any of these things available without Intel graphics? Because that would be awesome...

[dlenmn @ Jun 6th 2009 12:34AM]

SparDan,

Google the model name with "g" appended (e.g. "3810tg") and you'll find them mentioned on many European sites. For example, amazon.de

http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002BA4UJY/chiponline-compare-21/ref=asc_df_B002BA4UJY368168

None of them seem to be available yet.

They mentioned discrete graphics in slide show when the first revealed the Timeline series. I just hope they start selling them in the US soon, or I'll probably end up buying something else...

[hari @ Jun 5th 2009 7:57PM]

Great notebook.
i see the 14' model at local stores but no su9400 option yet. id buy right away if they were avaible.

[SparDan @ Jun 5th 2009 9:35PM]

Radeon 4330? Are there actually going to be any of these things available without Intel graphics? Because that would be awesome...

[eipxen @ Jun 6th 2009 1:35AM]

are any of these going to be offered with backlit keyboards? for some reason I remember seeing them mentioned before but they seem to not exist for these

which is kind of a shame, because otherwise these will probably beat the pants off any of the equivalent asus ux models (the timelines seem like they'll still be better computers, imo)

I realize backlit keyboards are kind of a niche feature, but I want to be able to type at night without waking my roommate

grr asus, your compelling design will not be able to make up for four hours of battery life, and I will still be left without my perfect ultraportable

[molecule-eye @ Jun 6th 2009 4:06AM]

These things are sweet, and a CULV Core 2 Duo is all the performance I'd ever want out of a notebook. Keeps it nice, cool and quiet. Does this thing give blow jobs?

[Mark Reardon @ Jun 14th 2009 1:25AM]

someone LET US KNOW when you find this for sale!!!!!!!!

there are two of the 15" models on ebay right now, but i'm looking for the 14" myself.........



if anyone sees these for sale anywhere inside the US, or has any info on release dates, share the wealth!!

thanks in advance................

[AQ @ Jun 17th 2009 3:36AM]

Mark, I saw a few Acer Timelines on sale at JR.com (no affiliation on my part) yesterday. They listed three or four models on their site, some of which are available for immediate delivery, whereas others were still listed under Pre-Order status.

[EMan @ Jun 22nd 2009 6:17PM]

In SoCal, Fry's has the 15.6 and the 14 both for $599.

The 15.6 is awesome... I don't get why it's taken so long for an affordable light/thin notebook with amazing battery life to come out. Apple has been doing light/thin for quite a while now... why do PCs think they need to cost more than $1k?

[Blarney @ Jul 7th 2009 2:48AM]

I just bought this computer today. the 14" one. looked at the 13" one too, and came to the conclusion that it's the sexiest machine ever-but no dvd drive on that one. mine is so thin and light, just beautiful. havn't even turned it on yet, but i can speculate that when windows 7 becomes available (and it came with the upgrade for free), it will be a rock solid business computer. windows vista eats too much ram and is a garbage platform for anything to be tested on it. you need more power to run the os with vista which is stupid, as it ultimately runs your programs anyway thus xp is the ruler to this day. this computer cannot run xp as the drivers don't exist for it though.

[Stef @ Jul 9th 2009 1:10PM]

I know drivers are available on the Acer website ( go to support ). I think it's a pretty good laptop for what it is intended since you won't buy it for playing games or as a desktop replacement. You're buying it because you travel a lot and need a light laptop for everyday use like browsing, office and business work and maybe watch a movie or two, but you're not gonna install doom 3 or anything like that.

I ordered the 13" ( su3500, 500gb, 4 ddr3 of ram, 4500mhd ) and I'm gonna install win 7 RC for now and after move to the full win 7. I hope it's a good choice for me since I'm no gamer and I'm only looking for laptop that's light enough to carry with me anywhere and anytime.

[leejamesk @ Jul 13th 2009 11:27PM]

does this laptop heat up excessively when you use it on your lap? Any comments from owners would be appreciated? thanks

[EMan @ Aug 10th 2009 2:36PM]

It's actually pretty cool.

Supposedly it has this Lanimar Jet Technology that keeps the bottom surface cool and ports the hot air out of the side. It's noticeably cooler than other laptops I've uses.