Etisalat introduces subsidised Acer Aspire One package
March 15, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Etisalat, one of the largest telecommunication service providers in the United Arab Emirates, is following the lead of many wireless carriers in the USA, UK and Asia by introducing netbook packages to boost subscriber growth.
Etisalat will be offering the Acer Aspire One along with a free SIM Card, free one-month subscription on a 10GB data package and an additional discount per month for 24 months on the 10GB data package. The Acer Aspire One offered will come with a built-in Qualcomm 3G modem. Pricing is not known, but the two-year package will effectively lead to a free Acer Aspire One over the contract lifetime.
Mr. Essa Al Haddad, Chief Marketing Officer of Etisalat said, ”Netbooks are the latest trend worldwide, with many people already enjoying the portability, on-the-go connectivity and affordability of this emerging new technology. Etisalat is proud to introduce this concept in the UAE, through Acer Aspire One, a Netbook with integrated 3G functionality and full Wi-Fi capability. With the attractive sub-zero price point, the sleek and stylish Aspire One will not only provide tremendous value and on the go connectivity to our customers, but will also change the Internet surfing and consumption dynamics in the UAE.”
Third-party 9-cell 7800mAh battery for Acer Aspire One
March 15, 2009 at 11:37 am
A third-party 9-cell battery has been released for the Acer Aspire One A150 and early indications are that it is a big improvement over the 6-cell battery. The battery rated at 7800 mAh delivered 6 hours of viewing time when watching a DVD and nine hours when just using it for chat, MSOffice, listening to music and web browsing.
However, this does come at a cost as the 9-cell battery is significantly larger and bulkier than the 6-cell one (pictures after the jump). The original battery weighed 176 grams whilst the 9-cell weighs 400 grams. If you don’t mind the extra bulk and weight to the Aspire One than it may be worth trying to track one of these down. Read more
Slimline Acer Aspire One ZG8 (AO530) appears in FCC
March 10, 2009 at 4:55 pm
A slimline version of the Acer Aspire One dubbed the ZG8 (model name AO530) has passed through the FCC. The unit will be approximately just one-inch thick (25.5 x 18.5 x 2.4 cm). This revised Acer Aspire One has a new type of hinge which the Ethernet and VGA ports are repositioned onto it.
No other specifications have been revealed apart from the fact that it will support 3G. The model name ‘AO530’ may also suggest the use of an Intel Atom Z530 under the hood. Earlier reports suggested 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard-drive. There is no official word from Acer so far, although details are likely to be forthcoming.
Via Netbook3G.
Acer Aspire One mod – adding an eSATA port
March 10, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Normally when one is thinking of modding a netbook one thinks of upgrading the RAM or hard-disk drive. However, tnkgrl has gone one step further by modding her Acer Aspire One to add an eSATA port to the side. An eSATA port allows for a speedy external drive capable of 300 Mbps data transfer, nearly five times faster than using the integrated USB 2.0 ports of the AAO.
The guide is the last in a four-step series where she has already added Bluetooth, 3G, more RAM as well as swapping out her hard-drive. Budding enthusiasts beware though, this mod will void your warranty as it involves actually cutting into the casing! However, given the price of a cheap netbook over a laptop/notebook some people might want to take that risk.
Strong netbook PCB demand leads to increased sales in February
March 9, 2009 at 2:49 pm
The demand from manufacturers to produce netbooks is showing little signs of waning. Taiwan’s leading PCB (printed circuit board) makers, Gold Circuit Electronics and Hannstar Board, reported February month-on-month sales increases of 47% and 25% respectively. Indeed demand is so strong that it has already received PCB orders for April. GCE expects total notebook PCB shipments of 30 million units, of which netbook PCBs is expected to account for between 10-15%. Given the strong PCB demand, it is not surprising to hear that Acer reported February revenues of NT$30.8 billion, a month-on-month rise of 41%, according to company sources.
Via Digitimes.
Acer Aspire One refresh spotted
March 8, 2009 at 11:46 am
A refresh of the Acer Aspire One has been spotted, with most of the changes being under the hood. On the surface the model looks very similar to the 10.1-inch D150, albeit slimmer with a height of 26mm. A different motherboard layout means the ports on sides of the netbook have been rearranged. Despite the technical specifications remaining unchanged, Macles suggest that this model will be the D250 and sport a bigger hard-disk. Some users are already reporting to have seen this configuration hit retail channels. More information as we have it.
Via Portable Monkey.
Recent Comments