Aspire Timeline 1820PT convertible twists its way onto Acer's US site
By Ross Miller 
posted December 6th 2009 11:12AM
posted December 6th 2009 11:12AM
[Thanks, SaintAndrew]
posted December 6th 2009 11:12AM
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Hmmm.... interesting. Im still trying to decide what Tablet I want, tx2z, this, Dell's studio with touchscreen or what. I currently have a Gateway M275 tablet, but I want to use my FINGERS for multitouch, not have a single touch pen.
@Apeman
I got a tx2 for college, and it's really fantastic. I got $300 in free upgrades using an hp coupon code, and it has so many features it's just silly.
My gripes:
1. The screen quality is sub-par. Images and resolution aren't unclear, but there is a noise grain over the surface (for multitouch, presumably). In addition, it has poor(er) viewing angles because they put a foot of glass over the actual screen, making it literally the toughest part of the laptop. The viewing angle isn't much of a problem though, because its light and the screen is on a swivel. It handles fingerprints like a master though, far better than other laptops.
2. Bloatware. I uninstalled most of it, but am still going to do a fresh install with 7.
Other than that, it's fantastic for class if you have One Note, you can search through your handwritten notes, or convert them to text. The digitizer is Ntrig, and doesn't support pressure sensitivity in photoshop, but is still excellent for drawing and writing. The processor is fast (and hot! Recommend undervolting if you can), and the Radeon 3200 is fast enough for most games at low settings. Overall, it's a greatc value, and as long as you don't mind the screen
@Apeman I also had a tx2 from HP and i sold it back after a month. The screen is very grainy, too much to watch a movie without been distract. Also the digitizer pen is not that great, it was the reason i choose the tx2 over a cheaper model and i was disapoint, it's nowhere near a real wacom tablet. I curently have a 11,6 aspire netbook and i will certainly replace it with the 1820pt if the screen is as good.
Anyone know if this will be a capacitive or resistive device?
@freakyjerk probably a resisitive unit to allow the pen to work with a capacitive layer for fingers
@JRKScope Is that a similar setup to the Fujitsu LifeBook T4310 Tablet.
@JRKScope Tablet PCs almost always use a Wacom digitizer for the pen function. Previous tablets had resistive screens for fingers (or anything else) and Wacom for pen(stylus). Now that Capacitive has advanced and is generally superior for finge rinput, they now are nixing the resistive screen for capacitive, but are still using a Wacom for the Pen. So you get nice responsive multi-touch from capacitive, and awesome precision from the Wacom. The downfall is that you can no longer use your fingernails or gloves to navigate.
Dear Acer, please make with a better graphic card...then I am sold!
love, tablet shopper...
@epic Won't happen, this has Intel X4500 graphics and YOU WILL LIKE IT!
@(Unverified) I know, but one can always hope! That is basically the only thing holding me back from buying a semi-budget tablet.
Damn you Intel and your mediocre graphics processor!
@(Unverified) CULV and X4500 would do 1080p fine. 9400M (Ion) and 4330 would be a noticeable improvement, would be able to do even medium details with reasonable frame-rates on modern games. That said, if you want a mobile gaming platform, might as well go with a non-tablet ION or 4330 CULV option.
@epic It's also that nvidia hasn't made ION for CULV.
@YpoCaramel
A good graphics card is not always needed for gaming, I to am depressed that the industry doesn't make a decent tablet for people into making art and animation.
@JJ You mean a DS-type of approach to gaming, focusing on art value and fun than 3D graphics? Could always work.
@epic I have the 1810TZ and the G45 chipset very easily runs 1080p. Pretty much anything 2D will run flawlessly but of course 3D games are not recommended. The other good thing about this unit (esp. compared with the hp tx line) is that it runs relatively cool, it's light, and the battery lasts a hella long time. Just doing light surfing/email/etc. will indeed give you close to 8 hours, and playing videos you can easily get 4+ hours if you turn off your wireless.
@YpoCaramel
I worded that wrong "A good graphics card is not always needed JUST for gaming. " I have been sitting on the fence for so long waiting for a tablet also with a touch screen that has the ooomph to play some games but more for working with zbrush ect... Wacoms Cintiq to me is a waste of money and a good Tablet pc is what is needed to fill this area of things. Of course I do realize the 1820pt is a thin and light machine with low voltage parts, but it is frustrating that no company is producing a powerful tablet to encompass multiple uses.
"a good old fashioned convertible tablet PC" eh? It might have have taken over the PC world, but the convertible tablet is hardly old fashioned. Especially since Apple's tablet is still ways off from release.
@YpoCaramel Convertible tablets have been along for a looong time. Since Windows XP, atleast. They just haven't been very popular at all, yet.
@kopmis Sorry, that's what I meant. I forgot the "not". Sorry
I am enjoying mine that I got at PDC. Thanks Steve Balmer!
@Upside You got the 1420p but I'm not jealous. Ok maybe a little!
ah. pt convertible. i see what you did there. bravo. or it was unintentional. whichever...
youre most welcome, engadget :p
"multitouch infotainment"
Killer app!
This doesn't appear to be a Timeline model folks, even Acer doesn't declare so in their product listings: (Aspire column, 12th row)
http://us.acer.com/acer/product.do?link=oln85e.redirect&changedAlts=&kcond48e.c2att101=-1&CRC=2759084358
"
Aspire Timeline 3810T
Aspire Timeline 4810T
Aspire Timeline 4810T Special Edition
Aspire Timeline 5810T
Aspire 1410
Aspire 1410 Special Edition
Aspire 1420P
Aspire 1820PT
"
It's still very much in that genre, but Acer is categorizing this as an Aspire, not an Aspire Timeline.
Sorry, this is not exactly news... it's been on the US site for over three weeks now.