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Photos: Acer Aspire One is quite literally 'the one'

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Earlier we brought you details on the Aspire One -- Acer's rival to the Eee PC 900. While you've been reading that, we've been hanging with our chums at Acer, getting a proper hands-on, and taking pictures. Lots of pictures.

Feel free to click through to the images now, but you might want to stick around for some details. Specs-wise, Acer's supplying both Linux and Windows XP versions of the One. Both models will use an 8.9-inch 1,024x600-pixel screen, the same 1.6GHz N270 Intel Atom CPU that you'll find in the MSI Wind, and a 0.3-megapixel webcam.

The Linux model will get 512MB of RAM and an 8GB solid-state hard drive, while the Windows XP model will get 1GB of RAM and an 80GB mechanical hard drive. The Linux flavour will set you back a ridiculously inexpensive £199, while the Windows model is set to cost £299. Mechanical hard drives are an option in the Linux variant, but pricing on this is still unconfirmed.

The One will come with Wi-Fi as standard, but UK consumers will also benefit from optional integrated HSDPA -- which means you'll be able to get online anywhere you damn well please. Those lucky Americans will get a WiMax option.

As for build quality and design, Acer seems to have got most of it right. The keyboard is fantastic to use, as is its non-glossy screen. The only slight problems are that the mouse selector buttons are in the wrong place, you only get a year's warranty, and the standard battery is just 2200mAh instead of the 4400mAh unit you get as standard on UK Eee 900. Despite this, Acer reckons the One will deliver about 3 hours of battery life -- although we'll reserve judgement until we test it ourselves.

All in all, the Acer Aspire One is, quite literally, the One. On the surface of things it's better than an Eee 900, and might even have the upper hand on the the MSI Wind. Watch for a full preview and review shortly, but in the meantime click Next Photo for more pics and deets. -Rory Reid

Update: Read our full Acer Aspire One review.

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Comments

AnonymousTue 3 June, 2008 9:16pm

the catorisation/naming of the gui looks somewhat like that in the eee

AnonymousTue 3 June, 2008 10:50pm

Will this model include Splashtop ("instant-on" Linux distro embedded in a flash chip -- Asus is branding this as "Express Gate")?

AnonymousWed 4 June, 2008 9:34pm

if the £199 pricetag is true,and wont be hammered up an extra 25% by retailers due to shortage,i expect we should be buying shares in acer soon!!!.

DavidRGilsonThu 5 June, 2008 12:18am

I think it's a bit silly that you can't mix'n'match OS with hardware configuration. So if you want XP on an SSD, or Linux on a HDD, then Acer presumably don't want your money!

AnonymousFri 6 June, 2008 1:43pm

All of the players in this market have the same policy, so it's presumably due to pressure from Microsoft to prevent the true cost of Windows being apparent. It's probably a qualifying condition of pricing discounts.

I quite like the fact that in many cases the best hardware is only available with Linux. Acer has decided to take an unusual route by putting Linux on the lower spec system, but as Linux is more lightweight that XP and doesn't need protection from malware, the Linux-based system will probably still outperform the XP one.

AnonymousThu 12 June, 2008 5:47am

"I think it's a bit silly that you can't mix'n'match OS with hardware configuration. So if you want XP on an SSD, or Linux on a HDD, then Acer presumably don't want your money!"

I'd like to see XP fit on an 8 Gb SSD...

vrajaThu 12 June, 2008 4:41pm

I wonder if all the harware will work if you place your own version of Linux/Windows on it? Surely you would be able to stick ubuntu or xp on any version of the machine?

AnonymousSun 20 July, 2008 12:19pm

I don't like the categorization of the menus, I would defiantly have to replace Acer's OS with Ubuntu! But thats just my opinion.
However, the machine does look much better than Asus's EEE range but I am worried about the build quality due to my previous experience with Acer laptops,

AnonymousWed 30 July, 2008 9:49pm

would the "writer" be recognized on a windows pc???

AnonymousWed 30 July, 2008 9:52pm

if i write something using Linux's "writer" and then transfer it to a windows PC by a usb drive, will i be able to print it from the PC?

Do i have to pay and get the xp version for word docs to be able to print from my windows desktop pc?

AnonymousThu 7 August, 2008 1:32am

"I'd like to see XP fit on an 8 Gb SSD..."

I have an Xp lite version and Open Office on my Eee with 4GB and it only takes 2.1GB!

AnonymousThu 7 August, 2008 1:34am

Got the 8GB Blue in my store today at £249.99 but no sign of any XP models?

Also see on Acers site HD is 120GB?

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