Acer aspires to lead low-cost laptop race

After months as the subject of speculation in the media, Acer will introduce its own low-cost mini-notebook PC at the Computex trade show in Taipei on Tuesday.

The device will be called the Acer Aspire One, as expected. It will come with an Intel Atom processor, and run Linpus Linux Lite, with Acer's own user interface. Other specs include: an 8GB solid-state drive, 512MB of RAM, 802.11 b/g WiFi, an 8.9-inch screen, and a standard 3-hour battery.

Acer Aspire One will begin at $379.

(Credit: Acer)

The Aspire One will be available beginning July 2 for $379. Later that month, a version running Windows XP Home Edition with an 80GB hard drive, and 1GB of RAM will be available, though the pricing details on that have yet to be ironed out.

As this niche of computing begins to become more crowded, the specs are beginning to look more or less the same. Price and little details like keyboard and exterior design are going to be the most distinguishing factors.

At $379, the Aspire One is cheaper than the runaway hit Eee PC from Asus, whose 9-inch version begins at $549 for the Linux version, and the $499 Linux-based Hewlett-Packard Mini-Note. (CNET has not yet reviewed the Aspire One, but stay tuned.)

Besides pearl white, Acer also plans to offer a bright blue version, and eventually pink and brown. The keyboard isn't quite as large as the Mini-Note's 92 percent keyboard, coming in at 89 percent of the standard size keyboard for a 14-inch notebook.

But just like its direct competitors, Acer sees two distinct customers for the Aspire One: school kids and the highly mobile tech-savvy set.

Acer's plan it seems is to use its Aspire One as sort of a gateway-PC (No pun intended.) for the uninitiated PC user.

"It's a great device that is a stepping stool to a first-time notebook user," said Sumit Agnihotry, director of notebook product management for Acer America. That way kids can "bypass the desktop completely (and move) to a notebook in less than 18 months."

And if there's something Acer's gotten good at lately, it's moving notebooks. It sells more notebooks than every other computer maker except for HP.

Acer says it sees the mini-notebook as a third device for geeked-out consumers after a smartphone and a standard notebook PC, claiming that "it's much more a single application with an Internet-centric focus," Agnihotry said.

But is it more devices we're after? Or fewer? The genius of the smartphone is how much it can do. With the $379 price point not all that far removed from some of Acer's more inexpensive full-size notebooks, is selling someone on the lack of features of the Aspire One really the way to win customers?

It's clearly not for the mainstream PC users, who generally expect the best features and latest-generation processors when purchasing a new PC. But the company doesn't seem to see any overlap between those customers, saying it doesn't expect this will "cannibalize" its current notebook business at all.

[ajnauron]

Both HP and Acer are doing the "mouse buttons on opposite sides of the touchpad" thing, which is kinda annoying.

[pugster]

LED backlit display for $379? I also liked the keyboard. Yes mousepad is left something else to be desired. Definately on my want list besides the msi wind.

[Linuxclassicist]

The price differential between the Acer Aspire One and the Asus Eee PC 900 is explained in part by the higher specs on the Asus. These include a 20GB solid-state drive and 1GB RAM on the Asus versus an 8GB drive and 512MB RAM on the Acer. At these price points, the more powerful configuration affects the cost.

A more subjective question is Asus' reputation for quality. Or more to the point, Acer's reputation for cheap and nasty.

[oxtail01]

"Highly tech-savvy set" are also highly wealthy set and wouldn't touch these underpowered cheap toys even if they were free.

On the contrary .. I as a 30 year computing veteran with loads of spare cash can easily drop $400 on a "toy" if its the right size and function. I did so in December on a $400 digital camera, $400 iPod classic and $400 eeePC 701 and these were just xmas toys to myself 8-) This time next week I might get a 3G iPhone 2 if it gets discounted by the carriers!

I will be upgrading the eeePC, probably to an Acer Aspire One (blue one for me and maybe brown for the wife) due to the better screen size and will fit the 701 in to my car (with added touchscreen, usb gps, 3g modem and movies on SD media 8-)

Techy-savvy and rich enough to comment then? I know a good deal when I see it and know how to use my gadgets.

[PunkToad]

Plus I just want cheap Internet access in my kitchen not a powerful do everything machine that I'm going to spatter grease on.

[jrjr18]

i want, where and when, is on sell?

[TechSavvySet]

It is the mobility of these toys which attracts the grown ups. Travel with a laptop a few times and then ask if you'd prefer an underweight cheap one. How will you feel when airport security is grabbing at your macbook air? The asus eee has a vga plug and hooks up to a projector to run a slideshow. Given the weight, this can be enough to justify the price already.

[ericaatnews]

Acer isn't saying which retailers yet, but you can always order it at Acer.com for now. The Linux version will be available in early July, and the XP version by the end of July.

[benjaminstraight]

Looks like they are winning to me.

[rrf1]

I purchased an Acer Aspire 5920 laptop in Nov. 2007 and it has been sent back TWO times to Acer - each time 6 months apart - for hardware replacement!! I would never recommend this laptop to anyone. It is more trouble than what it's worth. Both times I have lost important documents which will never be able to be recovered, my ITunes, my Microsoft Home and Student, and Norton. Acer won't even extend my warranty; customer service says that we the consumers should expect this from electronic equipment, it goes with normal wear & tear. So, I guess they feel that laptops are disposable and won't last over a year. Do not buy Acer products at this time! They have more work to do.