Price Range: $230 – $399

For a light 2.2 pound package, the Acer Aspire One delivers a Linux or Windows XP operating system platform showed on an 8.9-inch WSVGA LED backlit cover. Additional features include a webcam, an instant-on feature that powers up the pad in less than 15 seconds, and a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor for dispensation. The package also provides 1 GB of installed RAM (which you can increase to 1.5 GB), a 54g Wi-Fi modem (802.11b/g), a multi-format reminiscence card reader slot, and 3 USB ports.

The entire Acer AOA150 package is marketed to affair professionals, students and travelling buyers looking to go and total on a lightweight basis. The pricing is also competitive with additional notebooks and seems to drop on a seasonal basis with many retailers.

Both of the Aspire Ones (Windows XP and Linux) come with a three-cell battery pack that fits flush with the back of the case. Acer has ticketed the $399 price point on the Windows XP version (AOA150-1447) with the aforementioned 160GB hard drive and larger, 6-cell battery. The 3-cell puts out a small over 2 hours of user time, and the 6-cell about 5 hours. The larger cell option gets up to approximately 8 hours, although with changes to show and additional power features 10 to 12 hours could be squeezed out.

The main feature of the Acer’s attraction is the size and lightweight design, which of course means all is smaller compared to a regular laptop. On the keyboard, the A through apostrophe keys is a distance of 7.25 inches. The dedicated PgUp and PgDn keys are missing. Instead they are found with a Function-key built into the Home and End keys. But, the feel is firm and designed for quick response. It’s about as excellent as the netbooks are going to get with market offerings so far. But, the cursor-control touchpad is a pain, to be blunt. You get a main square with tap controls on both sides. Mistakes are common if your hands are larger then a five-year ancient’s. This is mainly due to the controls being on the pad edges rather than at the bottom like a traditional laptop. You can circumvent this buy kicking out $27 for a wireless/USB Logitech mouse. Then you can operate nearly the same as a desk laptop and save the cursor pad for the itty-bitty airplane lunch desk when travelling.

Acer’s software bundle is vital; no surprise. You get a glitch-free version of Windows XP. Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student is installed in trial version and so is McAfee’s Security Center (a much better option for this netbook and Windows XP than Norton 360). But, if you have your own software you won’t need the trial versions, so save your money (more tips in a moment on this point). Full-use software includes Microsoft Works, Yahoo Toolbar, and InterVideo WinDVD for use if you ever get around to buying a USB external DVD drive ($25 to $180 depending on provider).

And on that last point, you don’t automatically need a USB DVD drive. It works if you want to watch movies on your Acer, but if you just want to load or read software use a USB drive. If you have the appropriate licenses the USB flash drive will load your software (MS Office for example) onto your Acer problem-free.

In a nutshell, the Acer is a nice package for compact mobility. But, you will need to spend a few more dollars on a better battery for full-day use. In addition, make sure to have a excellent USB flash drive for transfer and software loading. So your additional cost outlay aside from a netbook appropriate bag will be doubtless another $120 ($100 for the total battery and $20 for a decent flash drive).