Acer Aspire AS1410 Review Roundup

Instead of calling it a netbook, we consider the Acer Aspire AS1410 a new category of mini laptop that stays between netbooks and full sized laptops. While it comes with higher-end specs compared to a typical netbook, it’s competitively priced at just around $437, which is still within the netbook price range.

Specification

• 1.4GHz Intel Core2 Solo ULV SU3500 Processor
• 2048MB DDR2 667MHz Memory
• 250GB SATA Hard Drive
• Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
• Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N
• HDMI port
• Windows Vista Home Premium (SP 1)
• 6-cell Li-ion Battery (4400 mAh)
• 11.6" HD WXGA Acer CrystalBrite LED-backlit Display
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
  

Customer Reviews
Customers' reviews rating is excellent. It gets 4.5 out of 5 stars. Read all the reviews here.

Pros and Cons
Pros:

• Measuring 11.2" x 8" x 1.2" and weighing 3.1 pounds, it's barely any bigger than a typical 10-inch netbook, and it’s actually lighter than some.
• Full size keyboard - the keys are nice and large with a little space between them which is comfortable to type on.
• The SU3500 CPU is significantly faster for most tasks compared to Intel Atom powered netbook. Can be used for gaming and playing 720p or 1080p videos.

Cons:

• The lid with glossy finish will easily show fingerprints, while the glossy display made it difficult to be used outdoor. These are common issues found in most mini laptops in the market.
• Performance issue when watching high quality video from sites like YouTube and Hulu in full screen mode.
• 6 hours battery life is shorter than some of the netbooks out there which is capable to last for more 8 hours.
  

Videos

Overview of Acer Aspire AS1410:


Unboxing of Acer Aspire AS1410 (by Liliputing):


Gaming performance on Acer Aspire AS1410:


Availability:
The Acer Aspire AS1410 is available in 3 colors: Sapphire Blue, Ruby Red, and Black. All are available for $437 on Amazon. Check out price comparison here.

Conclusion:
The Acer Aspire AS1410 is blurring the line between netbooks and standard laptops. It's an excellent alternative for those who want the portability of a netbook, but require higher specs to handle tasks that netbook is not able to handle.

Source: Amazon, Liliputing, DevHardware.com

Windows 7 On Mini Laptops

Microsoft Windows 7 was released on 22nd October, and we can already find a bunch of netbooks running Windows 7 on the market. We predict that it will very soon replace Windows XP as the major Operating System in the mini laptop market.

Sascha Pallenberg from Netbooknews.com attended Microsoft’s Windows 7 launch event in Taipei, Taiwan and has taken a video of various mini laptops running Windows 7. The mini laptops in the video includes: ACER Ferrari One, Aimtek LA10, HP NB-DM1 -1001TU, EeePC 1008HA, Aitek FICCW101, Gugabyte M1022, HP min 110, Gigabyte T1028 & an EeeBox. Check it out!

Dell Mini Laptops

Dell's mini laptops come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 9-inch to 12-inch. In this post, we will discuss each and every models of Dell's mini laptops.

1. Dell Inspiron Mini 9


Overview:
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 is the first mini laptop from Dell. It comes with 8.9-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom Processor, 16GB SSD, and 1GB of RAM. Dell has discontinued this model of mini laptop, but you could still get it from online retailer such as Amazon.com for $339.

Good:

• Compact, sturdy design
• Configurable online
  

Bad:

• Awkward keyboard
• Limited storage space with 16GB SSD
• Short battery life (3 hours 12 minutes from 4-cell battery)
  

Specification:

• 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor N270
• 1 GB RAM
• 16GB Solid State Drive
• Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/g
• Ports: Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; VGA; USB x 3
• 4-1 card reader
• Dimension: 9.1 x 6.8 x 1.3 inches
  
• Weight: 2.3 pounds
  

Availability:
The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 is currently available at Amazon.com for $339.

Review:



2. Dell Inspiron Mini 10


Overview:
There are 2 versions available for this mini laptop: Dell Inspiron Mini 10 and Dell Inspiron Mini 10v. The difference between these 2 models are:

• The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 uses Intel's more energy efficient Atom Zxx series processors, while the 10v comes with an Intel Atom N270 or N280 CPU.
• Dell Inspiron Mini 10v is cheaper
• Dell Inspiron Mini 10v does not have an "edge to edge" display like the one found on the Mini 10
• The Inspiron Mini 10v's screen resolution maxes out at 1024 x 600 pixels, while the Mini 10 is available in a high resolution 1366 x 768 pixel display.
• You can customize your Mini 10 order to include a built-in TV tuner, but not in the Mini 10v.
  

Other than the differences stated above, both models of Insipron Mini 10 come with a 10.1-inch screen, 1GB RAM, and 160GB hard drive -- a typical 10-inch netbook spec. The Inspiron Mini 10v is said to be the replacement for the Mini 9 as it has a spec that stacks up against the Mini 10 and the Mini 9.

Good:

• Compact design
• Various colors and designs are available
• Roomy keyboard
• Bright, glossy display
• Good TV reception (Mini 10v)
  

Bad:

• Finicky touchpad and touch buttons
• Lacks VGA port (Mini 10)
• Reviewer experience trouble in playing back a 720p WMV video both on the screen and via HDMI to a 32-inch HDTV
• Bulky, awkward TV antenna (Mini 10v)
  

Specification:

• 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor N270 (Mini 10) / up to 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor Z530 (Mini 10v)
• 1 GB RAM
• 160GB Hard Drive
• 10.1-inch Widescreen Display with 1024x600 resolution (optional HD display 1366x768 available for Mini 10)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 (Mini 10v) / Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500 (Mini 10)
• Wi-Fi 802.11g
• Ports: Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; VGA (Mini 10V only); HDMI connector (Mini 10 only); USB x 3
• 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS)
• Dimension: 10.3 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches, 2.6 pounds
  

Availability:
Dell Inspiron Mini 10 and 10v is currently available on Dell's official site. Price differs base on configuration. You may also get a pre-configured unit from Amazon.com with a price as low as $368.57.

Review:



3. Dell Inspiron Mini 12


Overview:
Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is a mini laptop with 12.1-inch screen. When this mini laptop first came out, Dell has made Windows Vista the default OS for this machine. The result is a sluggish performance. So if you decided to get this mini laptop, be sure to install Windows XP instead of Vista on it. Ir run much smoother on XP.

The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is a great choice for those who like to have a bigger screen and keyboard than the typical 10-inch netbook. It's unfortunate that Dell has discontinued the Mini 12 model, just like the Mini 9. But there are still remaining stocks at Amazon.com. You can pick a unit of Mini 12 with Windows XP at the price of $439.99.

Good:

• Glossy 12.1-inch screen
• Slim design
• Excellent battery life with six-cell battery
• Nearly full-size keyboard
  

Bad:

• Sluggish performance under Vista
• Slow hard drive
• Quiet speakers
  

Specification:

• Up To 1.6-GHz Intel Atom Z530
• 1 GB RAM
• 80GB Hard Drive
• 12.1-Inch Glossy LED Display (1280x800 resolution)
• Intel GMA 500 Graphics
  
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/g
• Ports: Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; VGA; USB x 3
• 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS)
• Dimension: 11.8 x 9.0 x 1.1 inches,
  
• Weight: 3.2 pounds (with six-cell battery), 2.8 pounds (with three-cell battery)

Availability:
Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is currently available on Amazon.com for $439.99.

Review:


And that covers all mini laptops from Dell. The most attractive part of Dell's Mini laptops is that they offer various colors and designs that customers can choose to match their own personalities. At the same time, the system offers decent performance that's enough for you to perform your daily tasks. Dell's mini laptops are recommended for those who are not very demanding on system performance, and like to have something that looks special. We will keep the list updated as new models of Dell mini laptop is released.

Samsung Mini Laptops

Samsung is well-known for building great quality mini laptops. Their first mini laptop, the Samsung NC10 trumps the field with its spacious keyboard and more than 6 hours of battery life. It has become one of the best mini laptop in the market which top the best selling chart untill today. The company continues to release several new mini laptop models after NC10. Each of them comes with equally great or even better quality. Below are the list of all Samsung mini laptops.


1. Samsung NC10


Overview
Samsung NC10 is the first mini laptop from the company. It comes with a 10.2-inch display, an Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM, and 120GB hard drive.

On the good side, the Samsung NC10 has a long battery life (over 6 hours), a big and ergonomically-designed keyboard (93 percentt full size), a speedy hard drive, and a great quality webcam and speakers.

On the bad side, the Samsung NC10 has a rather small touchpad which some people might feel difficult to use. Also in tems of physical design, it might not look as attractive as some competitors.

Specification

• 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor
• 1GB RAM, Upgradable to 2GB
• 120 GB, 5400 rpm hard drive
• 10.2-inch with 1024x600 resolution display
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• Ports: Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; VGA; USB x 3
• 3-1 card reader; SD memory reader
• Microsoft Windows XP Home
• 10.3 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches, 2.8 pounds

Availability:
The Samsung NC10 (with 6-cell battery) is currently available at Amazon.com for $371.24.

Review:



2. Samsung NC20


Overview
The Samsung NC20 comes with a 12.1-inch screen, a VIA Nano processor, 1GB RAM, and 160GB hard drive.

On the good side, this affordable 12-inch mini laptop provides comparable performance to its predecessor, NC10, while boasting a larger screen and a full-size keyboard for a more comfortable mobile computing experience.

On the bad side, the Samsung NC20 is thicker and has a shorter battery life (4 hours plus).

Specification

• 1.3-GHz VIA Nano U2250
• 1GB RAM, Upgradable to 2GB
• 160GB, 5400 rpm SATA Hard Drive
• 12.1-inch, 1280x800 resolution display
• VIA Chrome9 HC3 Graphic Card
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• Ports: Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; VGA; USB x 3
• 3-1 card reader
• Microsoft Windows XP Home
• 11.5 x 8.5 x 1.2 inches, 3.4 pounds

Availability:
The Samsung NC20 (with 6-cell battery) is currently available at Amazon.com for $493.96.

Review:



3. Samsung N110


Overview
The Samsung N110 is an improved version of Samsung N110. It comes with a 10.1-inch screen, a 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 160GB hard drive.

On the good side, the Samsung N110 has a few improvements over the NC10 which include the extended touchpad and increased in battery capacity that gives it a lengthy 7 hours of runtime.

On the bad side, the Samsung N110 is a little more expensive than similarly configured netbooks

Specification

• 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor
• 1GB RAM, Upgradable to 2GB
• 160GB, 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
• 10.2-inch screen with 1024x600 resolution
• Intel GMA 945 Graphic Card
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Ports: Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; VGA; USB x 3
• 3-1 card reader
• Microsoft Windows XP Home
• 10.3 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches, 2.8 pounds

Availability:
The Samsung N110 (with 6-cell battery) is currently available at Amazon.com for $373.99.

Review:



4. Samsung N120


Overview
Samsung N120 is pretty similar to N110. It has all the same specs as the N110. The main difference between N110 and N120 is that N120 comes with a full-size keyboard.

On the good side, the Samsung N120 comes with a full-size keyboard, and long battery life (more than 7 hours) which is even better than N110.

On the bad side, the display of this mini laptop has a poor viewing angle.

Specification

• 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor
• 1GB RAM, Upgradable to 2GB
• 160GB, 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
• 10.1-inch screen with 1024x600 resolution
• Intel 945GSE Graphic Card
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Ports: Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; VGA; USB x 3
• 3-1 card reader
• Microsoft Windows XP Home
• 10.27 x 7.3 x 1.19 inches, 2.8 pounds

Availability:
The Samsung N120 is currently available at Amazon.com for $396.76.

Review:



5. Samsung N310


Overview
The Samsung N310 is also known as Samsung Go in the U.S. Designed by Japanese artist Naoto Fukasawa, it has rounded and smooth edges which are modeled after a pebble.

On the good side, the Samsung N310 has an eye-catching design, long battery life (more than 8 hour with 6-cell battery), roomy keyboard, and fast system boot time.

On the bad side, it has a huge, ostentatious Samsung logo on the lid which some people might not like it. Also, the price is relatively higher than other 10-inch mini laptops with the same configuration.

Specification

• frameless 10-inch screen
• pebble design keyboard
• Intel Atom processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB hard drive
• 1.3-megapixel camera
• three-in-one memory card reader

Availability:
The Samsung NC310 (with 6-cell battery) is currently available at Amazon.com for $449.95.

Review:


Samsung NC10 VS N310 Comparison:



And that covers all mini laptop models that Samsung has released so far. Samsung is definitely one of the leading netbook manufacturer in today's market that build great quality mini laptops. We highly recommend Samsung mini laptops to anyone who's looking for a mini laptop. We will keep the list updated as new Samsung models are released.

Acer Mini Laptops

Acer is one of the earliest company to enter the world of mini laptops. Thanks to persistence and quality, they have managed to carve out a niche for themselves in the market, and are now amongst the top ten mini laptop brands.


Below is the list of all Acer mini laptops (below 13-inch):

	Display	Processor	HDD	RAM	Graphics	Battery	OS	Price	Reviews & Rating
Acer Aspire One AOD150	10.1" (1024 x 600)	1.6GHz Intel Atom N270	160GB	1GB	Intel GMA 950	6-cell (up to 6.5 hours)	Windows XP Home	$329.99	4.5 >> read customer reviews	Compare Price
Acer Aspire One AOD250	10.1" (1024 x 600)	1.66GHz Intel Atom N280	250GB	1GB	Intel GMA 950	6-cell (up to 9 hours)	Windows 7 Starter	$367.17	5.0 >> read customer reviews	Compare Price
Acer Aspire One AO751h	11.6" (1366 x 768)	1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520	160GB	1GB	Intel GMA 500	6-cell (up to 8 hours)	Windows XP Home	$329.99	3.0 >> read customer reviews	Compare Price
Acer Aspire One 531h	10.1" (1024 x 600)	1.6GHz Intel Atom N270	160GB	2GB	Intel GMA 500	6-cell (up to 6 hours)	Windows XP Pro	$419.00	4.0 >> read customer reviews	Compare Price
Acer Aspire AS1410	11.6" (1366 x 768)	1.2GHz Intel Celeron SU2300	160GB	2GB	Intel GMA 4500MHD	6-cell (up to 6 hours)	Windows 7 Home Premium	$399.99	4.5 >> read customer reviews	Compare Price
Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810T	11.6" (1366 x 768)	1.3GHz Intel Core2 Duo SU7300	320GB	4GB	Intel GMA 4500MHD	6-cell (up to 8 hours)	Windows 7 Home Premium	$599.99	N/A	N/A
Acer Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810TZ	11.6" (1366 x 768)	1.3GHz Intel Pentium SU4100	320GB	3GB	Intel GMA 4500MHD	6-cell (up to 8 hours)	Windows 7 Home Premium	$549.99	5.0 >> read customer reviews	N/A

The list above includes most, if not all, of the Acer mini laptops that are currently available in the market, and will be constantly updated to include any newly released mini laptops from Acer.

Acer Aspire One 751 Now Available For Pre-Order

Acer's first 11.6-inch netbook, the Aspire One AO751h, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com. It comes with the following specs:

• 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display
• Intel Atom Z520 CPU
• 2GB RAM
• 250GB Hard Drive
• GMA500 graphics
• WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
• Windows Vista
  

You could either order the Aspire One 751 with a 3-cell battery (which supports up to 3 hours of usage) for $399.99, or with a 6-cell battery (which supports up to 8 hours usage) for $449.99. If the normal 10-inch netbook is too small for you, the 11.6-inch Aspire One 751 might be the right choice for you. Also check out our previous review roundup for this netbook.