"Can you come in here please, Miss Timpkins? Thank you. Take a letter, Miss Timpkins. Dear Finance Department, it has come to my attention that Acer has announced a professional model netbook, the Acer Aspire One Pro 531. I am interested in purchasing one to aid my running of this department.
"I feel that the solid black cover and dark silver-grey trim will be in keeping with my professional appearance. I also believe that the Pro 531 represents a strong return on investment, as it is claimed by Acer to be capable of up to 7.5 hours of battery life, in part thanks to a 10.1-inch LED-backlit LCD screen.
"Other features include multi-gesture touchpad and an 89 per cent-size keyboard. Integrated 3G is optional. I would be able to use the Pro 531's webcam and digital microphone for video calls and conference calling.
"There are two versions available. The first includes a three-cell battery and 1GB RAM. The second includes a six-cell battery and 2GB of RAM. Both feature a 250GB hard drive and come loaded with Windows XP Pro.
"What's that, Miss Timpkins? The specifications aren't much more businesslike than the average netbook? Perhaps, but it's telling that this is the first netbook we've heard of that explicitly targets itself at the business market. After all, laptop makers want the enterprise sector to keep buying the higher-specced, higher-priced models. To enter a netbook into that market is just another validation of the netbook concept.
"D'you know something, Miss Timpkins? The three-cell version is around £350, and the six-cell version £400. To blazes with Finance! I'm going to order myself one, and hang the paperwork! Are you all right, Miss Timpkins? You seem flushed. You're taking off your glasses... Why, Miss Timpkins -- you're ravishing!"
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