Acer launching thin, Calpella-based notebooks this summer?

The progression of ever-faster notebooks seems to have dwindled, but the quest for thinner and lighter goes on. Acer is said to be finding the balance between those two goals with its next suite of thin performers, starting with a range of mid- and high-end portables based on Intel's Calpella series of processors, the Nehalem spin-off that we haven't heard much about lately. Sizes are said to be 13-, 14-, and 15-inches, all will be manufactured by Wistron, and all said to be one inch thin at their thinnest point -- hopefully not much thicker elsewhere if they want to turn heads. These higher-performing machines will eventually phase out Acer's CULV offerings, which apparently have had unimpressive sales thanks to a perceived lack of performance by consumers. We can't imagine where they got that idea...

[Leindurstit Posted Feb 26th 2010 8:59AM]

One inch isn't really "thin" anymore. Especially as you pointed out if the rest of the machine is even bigger than that.

[emopoops Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:07AM]

@Leindurstit this is true. one inch is huge in the tiny gadget world for width anyways or whatever its called height

[Weiman Posted Feb 26th 2010 11:36AM]

@Leindurstit I do hope that's a typo and that it should be one inch at the thickest point! Especially for a 13-inch anything more can't be considered "thin".

[sheenalyners Posted Mar 1st 2010 6:51PM]

@Leindurstit The Calpella chip range will include Core i5 and i7 ULV processors, though it’s unclear which of these Acer may have in mind for its new ultraportable. More: http://bit.ly/acer-calpella-leaks

[Prevacator Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:06AM]

I had no idea Intel was doing a mobile spinoff of its Nehalem architecture.

Ooooohhh

[FuturePastNow Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:10AM]

Do not try to tell me the average consumer goes to review sites and looks at benchmarks. I know that's not true; if Timelines aren't selling, there is another reason.

[icase81 Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:46AM]

@FuturePastNow
Exactly. Netbooks ARE selling, but the much better performing, only SLIGHTLY more expensive Timelines aren't?

[willowtwf Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:27AM]

the only reason they're not selling is that people associate "small" with "netbook" - and they associate "netbook" with "should cost less than $400"

the timeline series is great if you're willing to go to the upper end of the spectrum and drop around $800.

[bob e Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:51AM]

The trouble with these Acer's is they have very nice aluminum tops and cheaap flimsy plastic bottoms. I know I have one.

Or wait am I confusing these with Asus...

[Raul7 Posted Feb 27th 2010 8:00PM]

@bob e
How can you confuse it if you have one...?

[dark star Posted Feb 26th 2010 10:02AM]

wanna make it really thin??
remove the vga port already!

[ENOTTY Posted Feb 26th 2010 10:21AM]

Calpella is a platform that can include Arrandale CULV chips.

[BK Phil Posted Feb 26th 2010 12:04PM]

I bought a 1810T Timeline with a Core 2 Duo to have as a throwaway alterna-netbook, and it works so well that I'm considering making it my main rig. Granted I don't do gaming, but for day to day use its plenty competent.

The 1810T is perennially sold out, and is selling for more now than when it came out. That smells under-supply and over-demand to me, so I really wonder about the notion that they've been unpopular.

But don't let the facts get in the way of a good storyline...

[Reikon Posted Feb 26th 2010 2:12PM]

So Engadet is admitting part of the reason why people perceive them as low performing.

But the problem is, they're not meant to be main computers. They're more like netbooks, but with performance that absolutely spanks the Atom. My Acer 1410 weighs about the same and is about the same size as many netbooks but absolutely annihilates them in performance.

[MrLinux Posted Feb 26th 2010 4:22PM]

Only thing to beware of is if you get a super thin laptop make sure it has a metal case. I have a MSI XSlim netbook and it is plastic, after 6 months of use the flexing is really noticable.

[stylinexpat Posted Feb 27th 2010 2:40AM]

Poor sound quality from speakers,poor CPU performance and a price that is more than netbooks so who would buy this laptop??

[radarskiy Posted Feb 27th 2010 7:35PM]

Calpella is not a processor.

[fourthletter Posted Apr 3rd 2010 6:41AM]

This has to do with Intel's own product line and making sure they sell what they have, launching new ULV chips would simple mean they would have to discount heavily, why compete with yourself in your own market ?