Acer pledges to rebound amid slowing sales

Taiwan's Acer Inc has pledged to meet new challenges in the slowing PC market after it replaced its top executive as sales fall amid competition from Tablets and other devices.

Stan Shih, Acer's founder and a board member, acknowledged smartphones and Tablet computers such as Apple's iPad have brought "a far greater impact on the PC industry than we had anticipated."


"I hope once again we can face the challenges with a new strategy ... and push again for corporate reconstruction," Shih said in a statement.

Henry Wang, director of Acer's corporation relations, said the company will seek to enhance its brand by offering users "a different experience" and better services.

Acer announced Thursday that its chief executive Gianfranco Lanci has resigned over differences with board members about the company's future.

The company announced last week its first-quarter results would be worse than expected - a 10% quarter-on-quarter drop in revenue against an earlier forecast of a 3% increase. Acer also missed its revenue target in the previous quarter.

The company said that board members failed to agree with Lanci on various business priorities.
"The personal computer remains the core of our business," J.T. Wang, who's taking over as interim chief executive, said in the statement. "In addition, we are stepping into the new mobile device market, where we will invest cautiously and aim to become one of the leading players."

Wang told fund managers late Thursday that Acer had for years striven mainly to expand the volume of PC sales, and achieved that by gaining a market share of over 30% in many European and Asian countries.

In the face of the new challenges, Acer will become more market-oriented and strive more to improve profit margins, he said.

According to market research firm Gartner, Acer's desktop and laptop shipments totalled 45.5 million in 2010, second to Hewlett Packard.

Acer has recently unveiled four Tablet computers, but analysts have raised doubts that the company can achieve its sales target of 5 to 7 million Tablets this year, in the face of market domination by the attractively priced iPad.

But Wang maintained that consumers are not after low prices only but also want functions other than those the iPad offers.

"For instance, some Tablets can work more like a PC with larger storage capacity to enhance the user's productivity," he said.

Acer pledges to rebound amid slowing sales

Taiwan's Acer Inc has pledged to meet new challenges in the slowing PC market after it replaced its top executive as sales fall amid competition from Tablets and other devices.

Stan Shih, Acer's founder and a board member, acknowledged smartphones and Tablet computers such as Apple's iPad have brought "a far greater impact on the PC industry than we had anticipated."


"I hope once again we can face the challenges with a new strategy ... and push again for corporate reconstruction," Shih said in a statement.

Henry Wang, director of Acer's corporation relations, said the company will seek to enhance its brand by offering users "a different experience" and better services.

Acer announced Thursday that its chief executive Gianfranco Lanci has resigned over differences with board members about the company's future.

The company announced last week its first-quarter results would be worse than expected - a 10% quarter-on-quarter drop in revenue against an earlier forecast of a 3% increase. Acer also missed its revenue target in the previous quarter.

The company said that board members failed to agree with Lanci on various business priorities.
"The personal computer remains the core of our business," J.T. Wang, who's taking over as interim chief executive, said in the statement. "In addition, we are stepping into the new mobile device market, where we will invest cautiously and aim to become one of the leading players."

Wang told fund managers late Thursday that Acer had for years striven mainly to expand the volume of PC sales, and achieved that by gaining a market share of over 30% in many European and Asian countries.

In the face of the new challenges, Acer will become more market-oriented and strive more to improve profit margins, he said.

According to market research firm Gartner, Acer's desktop and laptop shipments totalled 45.5 million in 2010, second to Hewlett Packard.

Acer has recently unveiled four Tablet computers, but analysts have raised doubts that the company can achieve its sales target of 5 to 7 million Tablets this year, in the face of market domination by the attractively priced iPad.

But Wang maintained that consumers are not after low prices only but also want functions other than those the iPad offers.

"For instance, some Tablets can work more like a PC with larger storage capacity to enhance the user's productivity," he said.

Acer pledges to rebound amid slowing sales

Taiwan's Acer Inc has pledged to meet new challenges in the slowing PC market after it replaced its top executive as sales fall amid competition from Tablets and other devices.

Stan Shih, Acer's founder and a board member, acknowledged smartphones and Tablet computers such as Apple's iPad have brought "a far greater impact on the PC industry than we had anticipated."


"I hope once again we can face the challenges with a new strategy ... and push again for corporate reconstruction," Shih said in a statement.

Henry Wang, director of Acer's corporation relations, said the company will seek to enhance its brand by offering users "a different experience" and better services.

Acer announced Thursday that its chief executive Gianfranco Lanci has resigned over differences with board members about the company's future.

The company announced last week its first-quarter results would be worse than expected - a 10% quarter-on-quarter drop in revenue against an earlier forecast of a 3% increase. Acer also missed its revenue target in the previous quarter.

The company said that board members failed to agree with Lanci on various business priorities.
"The personal computer remains the core of our business," J.T. Wang, who's taking over as interim chief executive, said in the statement. "In addition, we are stepping into the new mobile device market, where we will invest cautiously and aim to become one of the leading players."

Wang told fund managers late Thursday that Acer had for years striven mainly to expand the volume of PC sales, and achieved that by gaining a market share of over 30% in many European and Asian countries.

In the face of the new challenges, Acer will become more market-oriented and strive more to improve profit margins, he said.

According to market research firm Gartner, Acer's desktop and laptop shipments totalled 45.5 million in 2010, second to Hewlett Packard.

Acer has recently unveiled four Tablet computers, but analysts have raised doubts that the company can achieve its sales target of 5 to 7 million Tablets this year, in the face of market domination by the attractively priced iPad.

But Wang maintained that consumers are not after low prices only but also want functions other than those the iPad offers.

"For instance, some Tablets can work more like a PC with larger storage capacity to enhance the user's productivity," he said.

Acer Iconia - Reviewed

Iconia 484G64

Acer has entered the Windows 7-based Tablets fray with the launch of the Iconia 484G64 and Iconia Tab W500.

Featuring not one, but two touchscreen displays, the Iconia 484G64 is the highlight of Acer's new Tablet lineup.

Both 14in LED-backlit touchscreens have a 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution and supports multi-touch input for up to 10-finger touches.

Acer said users will be able to create their own custom gestures to open applications or websites using the "Gesture Editor" feature.

To type text, users need only to place both palms on the bottom screen to bring up a full-size virtual Qwerty keyboard.

Though the screens are ultra-thin they are extremely durable with a scratch resistant surface, the company said.

The dual-screen Tablet is powered by an Intel Core i5-480M (2.6GHz) processor and comes with 4GB DDR3 RAM, a 640GB hard disk and integrated Intel HD graphics.

Other features include an Acer Crystal Eye webcam and Dolby-enhanced audio.

The Iconia 484G64 has a four-cell battery that Acer claimed offers up three hours of usage.

Meanwhile, the Iconia Tab W500 is a unique hybrid Tablet that can be used like a regular Tablet for portability and as a standard notebook via a dockable keyboard.

Iconia Tab W500

The extremely portable Tablet only weighs 970g and has a 10.1in LED-backlit touchscreen (1,280 x 800-pixels) that supports finger-touch and auto-screen orientation.

The Tablet is equipped with an AMD C-50 (1GHz) processor, 2GB DDR3 RAM and AMD Radeon HD6250 graphics.

It also has a 32GB SSD (solid state drive) for internal storage as well as enhanced Dolby audio support.

The Iconia Tab W500 has dual Acer Crystal Eye webcams - on the front and back of the Tablet - for taking pictures and video chatting.

Other features include HDMI support and a 2-in-1 SD and MMC card reader. Acer claims the Tablet's three-cell battery will last up to six hours.

In terms of connectivity, both Tablets support Bluetooth, WiFi, Ethernet and HDMI.

The Iconia 484G64 is available now at RM3,699 while the Iconia Tab W500 will be available next month for RM1,699.

A new Timeline

Acer also launched its latest 14in Aspire TimelineX 4830TG notebook. The notebook has an Intel Core i5-2410M processor (2.3GHz), 4GB DDR3 RAM and a 640GB hard disk.

Aspire TimelineX 4830TG

In terms of graphics, it packs in an nVidia GeForce GT540 card. It also has Optimized Dolby Home Theatre audio enhancement and HDMI connectivity.

Its six-cell battery is said to give up to eight hours of usage.

Additionally the notebook comes with an 8x DVD Super Multidrive as well as a multi-card reader.

The Aspire TimelineX 4830TG will hit local store shelves at the end of April

Acer Iconia - Reviewed

Iconia 484G64

Acer has entered the Windows 7-based Tablets fray with the launch of the Iconia 484G64 and Iconia Tab W500.

Featuring not one, but two touchscreen displays, the Iconia 484G64 is the highlight of Acer's new Tablet lineup.

Both 14in LED-backlit touchscreens have a 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution and supports multi-touch input for up to 10-finger touches.

Acer said users will be able to create their own custom gestures to open applications or websites using the "Gesture Editor" feature.

To type text, users need only to place both palms on the bottom screen to bring up a full-size virtual Qwerty keyboard.

Though the screens are ultra-thin they are extremely durable with a scratch resistant surface, the company said.

The dual-screen Tablet is powered by an Intel Core i5-480M (2.6GHz) processor and comes with 4GB DDR3 RAM, a 640GB hard disk and integrated Intel HD graphics.

Other features include an Acer Crystal Eye webcam and Dolby-enhanced audio.

The Iconia 484G64 has a four-cell battery that Acer claimed offers up three hours of usage.

Meanwhile, the Iconia Tab W500 is a unique hybrid Tablet that can be used like a regular Tablet for portability and as a standard notebook via a dockable keyboard.

Iconia Tab W500

The extremely portable Tablet only weighs 970g and has a 10.1in LED-backlit touchscreen (1,280 x 800-pixels) that supports finger-touch and auto-screen orientation.

The Tablet is equipped with an AMD C-50 (1GHz) processor, 2GB DDR3 RAM and AMD Radeon HD6250 graphics.

It also has a 32GB SSD (solid state drive) for internal storage as well as enhanced Dolby audio support.

The Iconia Tab W500 has dual Acer Crystal Eye webcams - on the front and back of the Tablet - for taking pictures and video chatting.

Other features include HDMI support and a 2-in-1 SD and MMC card reader. Acer claims the Tablet's three-cell battery will last up to six hours.

In terms of connectivity, both Tablets support Bluetooth, WiFi, Ethernet and HDMI.

The Iconia 484G64 is available now at RM3,699 while the Iconia Tab W500 will be available next month for RM1,699.

A new Timeline

Acer also launched its latest 14in Aspire TimelineX 4830TG notebook. The notebook has an Intel Core i5-2410M processor (2.3GHz), 4GB DDR3 RAM and a 640GB hard disk.

Aspire TimelineX 4830TG

In terms of graphics, it packs in an nVidia GeForce GT540 card. It also has Optimized Dolby Home Theatre audio enhancement and HDMI connectivity.

Its six-cell battery is said to give up to eight hours of usage.

Additionally the notebook comes with an 8x DVD Super Multidrive as well as a multi-card reader.

The Aspire TimelineX 4830TG will hit local store shelves at the end of April

Acer Iconia - Reviewed

Iconia 484G64

Acer has entered the Windows 7-based Tablets fray with the launch of the Iconia 484G64 and Iconia Tab W500.

Featuring not one, but two touchscreen displays, the Iconia 484G64 is the highlight of Acer's new Tablet lineup.

Both 14in LED-backlit touchscreens have a 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution and supports multi-touch input for up to 10-finger touches.

Acer said users will be able to create their own custom gestures to open applications or websites using the "Gesture Editor" feature.

To type text, users need only to place both palms on the bottom screen to bring up a full-size virtual Qwerty keyboard.

Though the screens are ultra-thin they are extremely durable with a scratch resistant surface, the company said.

The dual-screen Tablet is powered by an Intel Core i5-480M (2.6GHz) processor and comes with 4GB DDR3 RAM, a 640GB hard disk and integrated Intel HD graphics.

Other features include an Acer Crystal Eye webcam and Dolby-enhanced audio.

The Iconia 484G64 has a four-cell battery that Acer claimed offers up three hours of usage.

Meanwhile, the Iconia Tab W500 is a unique hybrid Tablet that can be used like a regular Tablet for portability and as a standard notebook via a dockable keyboard.

Iconia Tab W500

The extremely portable Tablet only weighs 970g and has a 10.1in LED-backlit touchscreen (1,280 x 800-pixels) that supports finger-touch and auto-screen orientation.

The Tablet is equipped with an AMD C-50 (1GHz) processor, 2GB DDR3 RAM and AMD Radeon HD6250 graphics.

It also has a 32GB SSD (solid state drive) for internal storage as well as enhanced Dolby audio support.

The Iconia Tab W500 has dual Acer Crystal Eye webcams - on the front and back of the Tablet - for taking pictures and video chatting.

Other features include HDMI support and a 2-in-1 SD and MMC card reader. Acer claims the Tablet's three-cell battery will last up to six hours.

In terms of connectivity, both Tablets support Bluetooth, WiFi, Ethernet and HDMI.

The Iconia 484G64 is available now at RM3,699 while the Iconia Tab W500 will be available next month for RM1,699.

A new Timeline

Acer also launched its latest 14in Aspire TimelineX 4830TG notebook. The notebook has an Intel Core i5-2410M processor (2.3GHz), 4GB DDR3 RAM and a 640GB hard disk.

Aspire TimelineX 4830TG

In terms of graphics, it packs in an nVidia GeForce GT540 card. It also has Optimized Dolby Home Theatre audio enhancement and HDMI connectivity.

Its six-cell battery is said to give up to eight hours of usage.

Additionally the notebook comes with an 8x DVD Super Multidrive as well as a multi-card reader.

The Aspire TimelineX 4830TG will hit local store shelves at the end of April

Quick review of Acer Iconia Tab W500

Acer recently gave a sneak preview of its latest Tablet computer called the Iconia Tab W500.

The company says the W500 features a hybrid design that offers the best of both worlds - a HD multi-touch Tablet computer and productivity of a standard notebook via a keyboard.

The 10.1in multi-touch screen Tablet computer comes with a keyboard dock, making it easier to enter text.

At the side of the keyboard, you will find an Ethernet port for faster Internet connection and USB ports for external devices.

This thin and lightweight Tablet computer measures 210 x 280mm and weighs about 1kg.

The W500, which runs Windows 7, comes with a dual-core AMD C-50 processor, AMD Radeon HD6250 graphics card and a screen resolution of 1,280 by 800-pixels.


Other notable features include a HDMI port with HDCP support, 2GB DDR3 memory, 32GB solid-state drive, 1.3-megapixel webcam (back and front) and 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity.

The W500 is pre-loaded with Acer clear.fi (multimedia sharing software), Acer Video Conference Manager (videoconferencing software) and the Acer Ring interface for launching touch applications and utilities.

It also comes with an integrated 3,260mAh lithium-polymer battery that can deliver up to four hours of HD video playback.

Quick review of Acer Iconia Tab W500

Acer recently gave a sneak preview of its latest Tablet computer called the Iconia Tab W500.

The company says the W500 features a hybrid design that offers the best of both worlds - a HD multi-touch Tablet computer and productivity of a standard notebook via a keyboard.

The 10.1in multi-touch screen Tablet computer comes with a keyboard dock, making it easier to enter text.

At the side of the keyboard, you will find an Ethernet port for faster Internet connection and USB ports for external devices.

This thin and lightweight Tablet computer measures 210 x 280mm and weighs about 1kg.

The W500, which runs Windows 7, comes with a dual-core AMD C-50 processor, AMD Radeon HD6250 graphics card and a screen resolution of 1,280 by 800-pixels.


Other notable features include a HDMI port with HDCP support, 2GB DDR3 memory, 32GB solid-state drive, 1.3-megapixel webcam (back and front) and 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity.

The W500 is pre-loaded with Acer clear.fi (multimedia sharing software), Acer Video Conference Manager (videoconferencing software) and the Acer Ring interface for launching touch applications and utilities.

It also comes with an integrated 3,260mAh lithium-polymer battery that can deliver up to four hours of HD video playback.

Quick review of Acer Iconia Tab W500

Acer recently gave a sneak preview of its latest Tablet computer called the Iconia Tab W500.

The company says the W500 features a hybrid design that offers the best of both worlds - a HD multi-touch Tablet computer and productivity of a standard notebook via a keyboard.

The 10.1in multi-touch screen Tablet computer comes with a keyboard dock, making it easier to enter text.

At the side of the keyboard, you will find an Ethernet port for faster Internet connection and USB ports for external devices.

This thin and lightweight Tablet computer measures 210 x 280mm and weighs about 1kg.

The W500, which runs Windows 7, comes with a dual-core AMD C-50 processor, AMD Radeon HD6250 graphics card and a screen resolution of 1,280 by 800-pixels.


Other notable features include a HDMI port with HDCP support, 2GB DDR3 memory, 32GB solid-state drive, 1.3-megapixel webcam (back and front) and 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity.

The W500 is pre-loaded with Acer clear.fi (multimedia sharing software), Acer Video Conference Manager (videoconferencing software) and the Acer Ring interface for launching touch applications and utilities.

It also comes with an integrated 3,260mAh lithium-polymer battery that can deliver up to four hours of HD video playback.

Dual OS of Aspire One Happy from Acer

IT IS a minor thing but it's great that Acer has done away with model numbers for its netbook. Instead, it's simply called Aspire One Happy.

It's probably called Happy because it's available in two colours - Candy Pink and Lavender Purple, both of which you'll probably be happier to see than just boring black. We got the Lavender Purple model for review.

The netbook is slim and compact and can easily slip into an oversized ladies' handbag or a backpack.

The experience

It's not just the look that's nice about the Happy netbook because it also comes with two operating systems - the standard Windows 7 Starter edition and Android 2.1.

We tested the boot up time and was not surprised to find out that Windows takes almost 50 seconds to start up but Android only takes 20.

This makes Android great for starting up the netbook really quick to just check e-mail messages or chat online with friends.

Or if you just want to kill time, there are games and applications that can be downloaded from the Android marketplace.

However, there is no way to tell if the application is optimised for the netbook because some will only work with phones or Tablet computers with touchscreen.

Also, currently you are only limited to downloading free applications from the Android Marketplace.

Windows, on the other hand, is great for getting work done. We typed this review on the trial version of Microsoft Word Starter edition that's bundled with the netbook.

And what's really handy about the Happy netbook is that you can seamlessly switch from Android to Windows with just a click of an icon.

The Happy has a decent keyboard and a wide touchpad. The keyboard was comfortable to use and it was responsive. The touchpad supports multitouch which is great when handling photos.

For storage, the Happy netbook has a whopping 320GB of hard disk drive. That's really big for a netbook although very common for notebooks.

COOL: The netbook has a whopping 320GB of hard disk space.

The netbook has a new dual-core Intel Atom processor, the N550 running at 1.5GHz. Thanks to the speedy processor and 2GB RAM, the notebook is no slow poke.

We ran multiple applications like Word, web browsers and Windows Media Player and the notebook was still responsive.

Switching between applications was also fast and crash-free.

Watching videos

It wouldn't be a nice experience if you can't watch movies on the Happy netbook.

The netbook has an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 graphics chip which should be able to handle videos.

We used Windows Media Player to play HD videos - both 720p and 1080p ones - and the netbook was able to play them without any hiccups.

However, the 10.1in screen and the non-HD resolution of 1,024 x 600-pixels isn't the best way to fully enjoy a HD movie.

Also, the Realtek HD audio chip and built-in speakers weren't up to par. The speakers were not loud enough even at the highest volume level.

We had to be really close to listen to the audio but a good pair of earphones should solve this problem.

Battery life is also great. We played several short videos, surfed the Net and worked on this review and it lasted almost seven hours before needing a recharge.

That's really great for working and playing casual games on the go.

Conclusion

We are happy with this netbook. The two operating systems - Android and Windows - are a great ­combination and it's so easy to switch from Android to Windows.

It has a decent processor and enough memory to handle multiple applications running simultaneously and a spacious hard disk to store all your files.

Also, the screen's resolution is not HD but it is still good enough for watching movies.

The one minor complain with the netbook is that the speakers are too soft.

At RM1,299, the Happy netbook is also affordably priced and has a lot of features.

Overall, the Acer Aspire One Happy will make a great Christmas gift for anyone who needs a netbook.

Pros: Runs on Windows and Android; spacioius hard disk; affordable.

Cons: Speakers are too soft.

ASPIRE ONE HAPPY 
(Acer)
Netbook
PROCESSOR: Intel Atom N550 (1.50GHz)
MEMORY: 2GB RAM
DISPLAY: 10.1in with LED backlight
GRAPHICS: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150
STORAGE: 320GB
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet port
OPTICAL DRIVE: None
PORTS/SLOTS: Three USB ports, VGA port, microphone/line-out jack
BATTERY: Six-cell Lithium-ion
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 Starter and Android 2.1
OTHER FEATURES: MMC/SD card reader, 1.3-megapixel webcam
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 258.5 x 185 x 24mm
WEIGHT: 1.25kg

Dual OS of Aspire One Happy from Acer

IT IS a minor thing but it's great that Acer has done away with model numbers for its netbook. Instead, it's simply called Aspire One Happy.

It's probably called Happy because it's available in two colours - Candy Pink and Lavender Purple, both of which you'll probably be happier to see than just boring black. We got the Lavender Purple model for review.

The netbook is slim and compact and can easily slip into an oversized ladies' handbag or a backpack.

The experience

It's not just the look that's nice about the Happy netbook because it also comes with two operating systems - the standard Windows 7 Starter edition and Android 2.1.

We tested the boot up time and was not surprised to find out that Windows takes almost 50 seconds to start up but Android only takes 20.

This makes Android great for starting up the netbook really quick to just check e-mail messages or chat online with friends.

Or if you just want to kill time, there are games and applications that can be downloaded from the Android marketplace.

However, there is no way to tell if the application is optimised for the netbook because some will only work with phones or Tablet computers with touchscreen.

Also, currently you are only limited to downloading free applications from the Android Marketplace.

Windows, on the other hand, is great for getting work done. We typed this review on the trial version of Microsoft Word Starter edition that's bundled with the netbook.

And what's really handy about the Happy netbook is that you can seamlessly switch from Android to Windows with just a click of an icon.

The Happy has a decent keyboard and a wide touchpad. The keyboard was comfortable to use and it was responsive. The touchpad supports multitouch which is great when handling photos.

For storage, the Happy netbook has a whopping 320GB of hard disk drive. That's really big for a netbook although very common for notebooks.

COOL: The netbook has a whopping 320GB of hard disk space.

The netbook has a new dual-core Intel Atom processor, the N550 running at 1.5GHz. Thanks to the speedy processor and 2GB RAM, the notebook is no slow poke.

We ran multiple applications like Word, web browsers and Windows Media Player and the notebook was still responsive.

Switching between applications was also fast and crash-free.

Watching videos

It wouldn't be a nice experience if you can't watch movies on the Happy netbook.

The netbook has an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 graphics chip which should be able to handle videos.

We used Windows Media Player to play HD videos - both 720p and 1080p ones - and the netbook was able to play them without any hiccups.

However, the 10.1in screen and the non-HD resolution of 1,024 x 600-pixels isn't the best way to fully enjoy a HD movie.

Also, the Realtek HD audio chip and built-in speakers weren't up to par. The speakers were not loud enough even at the highest volume level.

We had to be really close to listen to the audio but a good pair of earphones should solve this problem.

Battery life is also great. We played several short videos, surfed the Net and worked on this review and it lasted almost seven hours before needing a recharge.

That's really great for working and playing casual games on the go.

Conclusion

We are happy with this netbook. The two operating systems - Android and Windows - are a great ­combination and it's so easy to switch from Android to Windows.

It has a decent processor and enough memory to handle multiple applications running simultaneously and a spacious hard disk to store all your files.

Also, the screen's resolution is not HD but it is still good enough for watching movies.

The one minor complain with the netbook is that the speakers are too soft.

At RM1,299, the Happy netbook is also affordably priced and has a lot of features.

Overall, the Acer Aspire One Happy will make a great Christmas gift for anyone who needs a netbook.

Pros: Runs on Windows and Android; spacioius hard disk; affordable.

Cons: Speakers are too soft.

ASPIRE ONE HAPPY 
(Acer)
Netbook
PROCESSOR: Intel Atom N550 (1.50GHz)
MEMORY: 2GB RAM
DISPLAY: 10.1in with LED backlight
GRAPHICS: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150
STORAGE: 320GB
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet port
OPTICAL DRIVE: None
PORTS/SLOTS: Three USB ports, VGA port, microphone/line-out jack
BATTERY: Six-cell Lithium-ion
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 Starter and Android 2.1
OTHER FEATURES: MMC/SD card reader, 1.3-megapixel webcam
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 258.5 x 185 x 24mm
WEIGHT: 1.25kg

Dual OS of Aspire One Happy from Acer

IT IS a minor thing but it's great that Acer has done away with model numbers for its netbook. Instead, it's simply called Aspire One Happy.

It's probably called Happy because it's available in two colours - Candy Pink and Lavender Purple, both of which you'll probably be happier to see than just boring black. We got the Lavender Purple model for review.

The netbook is slim and compact and can easily slip into an oversized ladies' handbag or a backpack.

The experience

It's not just the look that's nice about the Happy netbook because it also comes with two operating systems - the standard Windows 7 Starter edition and Android 2.1.

We tested the boot up time and was not surprised to find out that Windows takes almost 50 seconds to start up but Android only takes 20.

This makes Android great for starting up the netbook really quick to just check e-mail messages or chat online with friends.

Or if you just want to kill time, there are games and applications that can be downloaded from the Android marketplace.

However, there is no way to tell if the application is optimised for the netbook because some will only work with phones or Tablet computers with touchscreen.

Also, currently you are only limited to downloading free applications from the Android Marketplace.

Windows, on the other hand, is great for getting work done. We typed this review on the trial version of Microsoft Word Starter edition that's bundled with the netbook.

And what's really handy about the Happy netbook is that you can seamlessly switch from Android to Windows with just a click of an icon.

The Happy has a decent keyboard and a wide touchpad. The keyboard was comfortable to use and it was responsive. The touchpad supports multitouch which is great when handling photos.

For storage, the Happy netbook has a whopping 320GB of hard disk drive. That's really big for a netbook although very common for notebooks.

COOL: The netbook has a whopping 320GB of hard disk space.

The netbook has a new dual-core Intel Atom processor, the N550 running at 1.5GHz. Thanks to the speedy processor and 2GB RAM, the notebook is no slow poke.

We ran multiple applications like Word, web browsers and Windows Media Player and the notebook was still responsive.

Switching between applications was also fast and crash-free.

Watching videos

It wouldn't be a nice experience if you can't watch movies on the Happy netbook.

The netbook has an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 graphics chip which should be able to handle videos.

We used Windows Media Player to play HD videos - both 720p and 1080p ones - and the netbook was able to play them without any hiccups.

However, the 10.1in screen and the non-HD resolution of 1,024 x 600-pixels isn't the best way to fully enjoy a HD movie.

Also, the Realtek HD audio chip and built-in speakers weren't up to par. The speakers were not loud enough even at the highest volume level.

We had to be really close to listen to the audio but a good pair of earphones should solve this problem.

Battery life is also great. We played several short videos, surfed the Net and worked on this review and it lasted almost seven hours before needing a recharge.

That's really great for working and playing casual games on the go.

Conclusion

We are happy with this netbook. The two operating systems - Android and Windows - are a great ­combination and it's so easy to switch from Android to Windows.

It has a decent processor and enough memory to handle multiple applications running simultaneously and a spacious hard disk to store all your files.

Also, the screen's resolution is not HD but it is still good enough for watching movies.

The one minor complain with the netbook is that the speakers are too soft.

At RM1,299, the Happy netbook is also affordably priced and has a lot of features.

Overall, the Acer Aspire One Happy will make a great Christmas gift for anyone who needs a netbook.

Pros: Runs on Windows and Android; spacioius hard disk; affordable.

Cons: Speakers are too soft.

ASPIRE ONE HAPPY 
(Acer)
Netbook
PROCESSOR: Intel Atom N550 (1.50GHz)
MEMORY: 2GB RAM
DISPLAY: 10.1in with LED backlight
GRAPHICS: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150
STORAGE: 320GB
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet port
OPTICAL DRIVE: None
PORTS/SLOTS: Three USB ports, VGA port, microphone/line-out jack
BATTERY: Six-cell Lithium-ion
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 Starter and Android 2.1
OTHER FEATURES: MMC/SD card reader, 1.3-megapixel webcam
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 258.5 x 185 x 24mm
WEIGHT: 1.25kg