Acer has this morning announced an updated version of its hugely popular Aspire One netbook which comes complete with a 10-inch screen, Windows XP and integrated Bluetooth.

Weighing in at 1.18kg, the new Aspire One should extend Acer's penetration into the netbook market, as it has rapidly moved on from smaller, sub 10-inch form factors adopted by earlier netbooks like the original Aspire One.

It combines a typical 10-inch LED-backlit LCD panel with a 1,024 x 600 native resolution and most of the remaining specifications will be familiar to anyone who has followed the netbook market over the past twelve months.

There's an Intel Atom processor (presumably clocked at 1.6GHz), an Intel 945GSE chipset and up to 2GB of memory. Networking is handled by the integrated 802.11b/g wireless module and there's also 10/100 Ethernet for those that love plugging themselves into the Internet. Bluetooth is also integrated and Acer says that there is the option to specify integrated WiMAX or 3G connectivity as well, should they float your boat.

Other specifications include a 160GB mechanical hard drive, a multi-card reader and an integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam which the company says is optimised for "poorly lit environments."

The new Aspire One is equipped with a six cell battery, which Acer claims will last for up to seven hours - we'll be checking that out when we get one in for review. Interestingly, Acer has decided to drop the original Aspire One's custom Linpus Linux Lite operating system in favour of Windows XP on the updated model - a sign of the times, we reckon, as Windows XP seems to be the most popular option for netbooks these days.

Finally, Acer has said the new Aspire One will be available in mid-February for around £299 (inc. VAT) in its base configuration. This will include a one year warranty and none of the optional connectivity options. We'll leave you with some pictures of the device.


Did you buy an original Aspire One and if so, what do you think of it? Let us know in the forums.