Acer Aspire One D150

[Jeffrey]

Acer Aspire One D150 10-inch Netbook is one of the most eagerly awaited test of the market. Able to match the success of sales of the models from 9 'A110 and A150?

The Netbook that today we have the privilege of review is one of the first specimens of Acer Aspire One D150 by 10 inches. Given the popularity of its predecessor with a diagonal of 8.9 "and the growing interest shown by the public towards this consumer product category, the expectations created in the last Acer Aspire One family is huge.

Moreover, the eve of its debut on the international stage was marked by the statements of Scott Lin, president of Acer Taiwan, which has shown in sensational figure of 12 million forecast sales of Aspire One Netbook in 2009. For a comparison, the Asus estimates for 2009 amount to approximately 7 million EeePC.

If Acer is able to effectively rip Asus leadership of the market for Netbook depend dell'Acero by affirming its Aspire One D150 10 inches. In fact, the whole field of mini-notebooks has made an economic transition to a diagonal of 10 inches and certainly this format will have a crucial strategic importance in 2009.
Leaving for the moment by these reflections, we come to the protagonist of our test, an Aspire One D150 white and black interior with green apple details. This is a sample test, then the hardware and the layout of the keyboard do not correspond exactly to those of configurations from a few days in Italy.

On the list of February of Acer India, are two models, Acer Aspire One D150B and Acer Aspire One D150X, differentiated by the presence or absence of high-capacity battery 6-cell and Bluetooth. Both are available in three colors, white, black or red and are equipped with the new Intel Atom processor N280, however, matched the usual Intel Mobile Chipset 945GSE and not to wait for new chipsets Netbook, Intel Mobile GN40.

Other features common to all versions are Windows XP Home (for now there is no configuration with Linpus Linux OS), the magnetic hard disk from 160GB and the allocation of memory (1GB DDR2).

At the time of writing, the price recommended by the manufacturer amounted to 315 and 355 euros excluding VAT, for the models D150B and D150X. Please note that the Netbook Acer Aspire One A110 and A150 by 8.9 inches, respectively, have an entrance fee of 335 and 350 euros excluding VAT, with OS Windows XP.

[Jeffrey]

Unboxing

Acer Aspire One D150 is sold in a cardboard suitcase in black and silver. Inside we find the Netbook, wrapped as always in a plastic bag, along with a protective skin and a few essential accessories such as power supply and its electrical cable.

The case is well finished and is slightly wider than the laptop, even managing to hold small accessories, like a possible USB dongle.
The documentation includes a brief user manual, a quick guide to the use of the Netbook, a bid to test Microsoft Office for 2 months and a book of international guarantee of 1 year.

Specifications
As anticipated, the copy of Acer Aspire One D150 in a test hardware which coincides perfectly with that of models D150X distributed in Italy, except for the Intel Atom N270 instead of the more recent Atom N280.

Processor: Intel Atom N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 cache). On all models on sale in Italy Intel Atom N280 (1.68 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 512 KB L2 cache)
Chipset: Mobile Intel 945GSE Express + Intel 82801GBM southbridge (ICH7M)
Memory: 1GB DDR2-667 (max 2GB)
Display: 10.1 "WSVGA (1024 x 600) Acer CrystalBrite TFT LCD with LED backlight
Video card: Integrated Intel GMA 950
Hard disk: magnetic 2.5 ", 160GB at 5400RPM
Interface: 3 x USB 2.0, VGA output, headphone jack and microphone, Ethernet RJ-45
Expansion: card reader multiformat memory (MMC, SD, xD, Sony MemoryStick and MemoryStick Pro)
Audio: Intel High Definition Audio, stereo speakers and microphone intgrati
Networking: InviLink Acer 802.11b / g Wi-Fi with Acer SignalUp technology, network card Atheros Ethernet 10/100, Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition Genuine
Battery: Lithium Ion 6-cell from 57.7 W 5200 mAh, in other configurations, a 3-cell batteries from 24.4 W 2200 mAh or 6-cell batteries from 48.8 W 4400 mAh
Others: Acer Crystal Eye webcam 0.3 MP, colors Seashell White, Black Diamond, Ruby Red
Dimensions: 260 (W) x 185 (D) x 33.4 (H) mm
Weight: 1.33 kg with 6-cell battery; 1:18 kg with 3 cell battery

[Jeffrey]

Live, we can finally do some 'clarity about some details of the case on which, by interpreting the first official pictures, was made a little' of confusion: The thickness of the zipper to drop, transparent resin edged with silver, bearing the logo imprinted Aspire, is not aesthetic and serves as a button; The palm rest, whose striations had imagined it could be made of aluminum, is made of polycarbonate, like the rest of the frame; The colored wedge in the upper right corner of the keyboard houses the ignition button and not unlikely a fingerprint scanner.

The sample under test is white (Seashell White) with black interior (opaque and glossy on the frame of the display) and green fluo details, but the customers may choose alternate colors Black Diamond (gray base) and Ruby Red (with black). For now there will be the color blue.

In addition to the two buttons on the sides of the hinges, the D150 model has other distinctive features of the family Netbook AAO, peculiar as the two poles of the display lid and smitch mechanic that lets you turn on WiFi and 3G (in the models that have ).

The largest size allowed by the display with a diagonal of 10 inches were possible to get more space between the keyboard and the screen to accommodate a small panel that contains a series of LED indication and the button on the Bluetooth. In Model 9 inches, these LEDs are positioned directly on the tunnel that separates the base from the display, and are always visible, even in the notebook closed. The new location will not allow, for which Acer has separated the LED battery status, which is now isolated on the left edge of the base.

[Jeffrey]

Audio

The integrated audio system consists of a pair of stereo speakers and a micforono, managed by the southbridge via codec Realtek ALC272 HD Audio. The position of the speakers is slightly more rearward than the bottom Acer Aspire One 9-inch, and could be a problem if you use the notebook on surfaces not perfectly flat.

Apart from this detail, the built-in speakers have a volume adequate and not require to connect headphones or external speakers, as often happens on the Netbook.


Video

The screen of our sample is manufactured by Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO), N101L6 model, with WSVGA resolution (1024x600 pixels) and a diagonal of 10.1 inches. The brightness of 180nits is exactly the same panel from 8.9 "of the Aspire One A150.

The display presents glossy finish (Acer Crystalbright) but produces a very low reflection effect, which does not affect the readability even in heavily lit environments.

The presence of the chipset platform Embedded Low Power Intel Entry (codename Navy Pier) implies that the graphics subsystem is entrusted to the IGP GMA 950, with all the advantages and limitations we have highlighted in previous reviews of Intel-based Netbook.

Input Devices

The keyboard to 84 items dell'Acero One D150 has the same size as the 9-inch version, even if slightly changing the layout. The buttons have a stroke of 1.6 mm and return a good feedback to the pressure, ensuring a high comfort typing.

Battery

The 6-cell battery from 5200mAh is somewhat 'cumbersome but pays a high functional autonomy, which almost an entire working day. With a stated period of 7 hours, you can always count on your Netbook, you are on campus or in the train or in any other situation where you do not have an outlet.

Conclusions

With D150 Aspire One, Acer expands the boundaries of its range of Netbook and is aimed at a wider audience: not only students and young travelers, but also a target consisting of professional employees and businesses.

For the first continues to offer a laptop within reach of every budget, from the new design. The latter offers a product characterized by a very interesting price / performance, and that ensures a high autonomy through the 6-cell battery.

Our evidence confirms that the Taiwanese manufacturer has managed to create a worthy successor of his Acer Aspire One, while maintaining the strengths and weaknesses by enhancing small that the 9-inch model showed. Now it is the market.

[dwayne3427]

Its good that Acer has launched its new and vibrant range of netbooks with very advanced features.I was only searching for such a highly featured PC. I m surely gonna buy one.