Acer announces Ferrari netbook

Author: Gareth Halfacree
Published: 15th September 2009
Comments (20) Stumble
Acer announces Ferrari netbook

The new Ferrari netbook - a design cross between the Acer Aspire One and Acer Ferrari notebooks like this Ferrari 1100 - should turn heads.

Acer are launching a new netbook under the Ferrari brand, and its specifications are anything but pedestrian.

As seen over on TrustedReviews, the new netbook ditches the ubiquitous Intel Atom processor for rival AMD's dual-core 1.2GHz Athlon X2 L310. Gone also is the integrated Intel graphics in favour of an ATI Radeon HD3200-based system, which should provide considerable oomph when compared to its more traditional brethren.

A larger than traditional 11.6" display running at 1366x768 means that 720P HD playback should be a breeze, and if you find yourself looking for a bit more poke for the occasional gaming session the unit is to support AMD's ATI XGP technology for connection to an external graphics card.

The rest of the specifications are boosted over Acer's Aspire One, too: 2GB of RAM, a 250GB mechanical hard drive - no mention of the availability of an SSD-based version - Bluetooth, 802.11n WiFi, and an integral 3G modem for true wireless Internet access.

The unit will also feature a multi-touch trackpad, which ties in nicely with Acer's choice of operating system: Windows 7. Indeed, the Ferrari netbook is due to launch on October 22nd, to tie in with the official launch date of Microsoft's latest OS.

Sadly, all these bells and whistles come at a cost premium: Acer has stated that prices will start at an eye-watering €499 (£435) - for which you could buy an admittedly less-portable but far more powerful traditional notebook. That said, if you need the portability of a netbook but want something a little bit special, the Acer Ferrari could well be the way to go.

Is this the sort of direction you'd like the netbook market to take, or should companies be concentrating on low-cost devices with long battery life instead of these half-way house mini-notebooks? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Quote SpeedLegion 15th September 2009, 14:10
An extra £100 or so for a Ferrari sticker?
just go on eBay and get yourself a sticker selection for £5 or less and getting customising something better :D
Quote mjm25 15th September 2009, 14:12
my mate had an Acer Ferrari about 4 years ago... with an SSD! he never told us how much it cost him but it was a super sexy laptop. had a carbon fibre screen surround if i remember
Quote Bauul 15th September 2009, 14:14
They're going to need a monster battery to give it much of a portable life-span. I'm not doubting they have, but I imagine will all the proper bells and whistles to make it truly usable, it's going to cost an arm and a leg.
Quote xaser04 15th September 2009, 14:28
Eurgh I need to read slower....

I read the title as 'Acer announces Ferrari notebook'. Hence a look of confusion swept across my face when I read in the article:
Quote:
Originally Posted by article
Acer are launching a new netbook under the Ferrari brand, and its specifications are anything but pedestrian.

Followed by:
Quote:
Originally Posted by article
As seen over on TrustedReviews, the new netbook ditches the ubiquitous Intel Atom processor for rival AMD's dual-core 1.2GHz Athlon X2 L310. Gone also is the integrated Intel graphics in favour of an ATI Radeon HD3200-based system, which should provide considerable oomph when compared to its more traditional brethren.

Its going to be a long afternoon....
Quote BLC 15th September 2009, 15:21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bauul
They're going to need a monster battery to give it much of a portable life-span. I'm not doubting they have, but I imagine will all the proper bells and whistles to make it truly usable, it's going to cost an arm and a leg.

This.

I'm trying to see the need for this, and I'm at a little bit of a loss. One doesn't generally look for a netbook which has uber-specs; one generally looks for a machine that is capable of web-browsing, email and possibly video playback; the key aspects are portability, power efficiency, screen clarity (why use it anywhere if you can't see it?) and battery life - at least by my standards. Even the stock battery in my Mini 9 affords nearly 4 hours worth of use. There are traditional notebooks on the market which already pack a punch when it comes to specs, have a bigger screen and probably a fairly chunky battery. Never mind the fact that it would probably be far better value for money to go for a traditional notebook.
Quote AshT 15th September 2009, 15:51
I'm only waiting for a netbook with 1080p output, HDMI out, and the ability to play EVERY media extension known to man.

However, this netbook is very sexy.
Quote Krayzie_B.o.n.e. 15th September 2009, 15:52
AMD / ATI Netbook equals instant success! This is something I would actual buy. I hope it comes in a Nissan GT-R version!! (Ferrari suck)
Quote Grinch123456 15th September 2009, 16:19
As far as raping brand image goes, this is almost as bad as VW taking a Chrysler Town and Country and rebadging it for themselves or Porsche making the Cayenne (never the less a 3 point something liter V6 diesel). Way to go Ferrarri!

And Acer: shame on you too, although the reason should be obvious.
Quote Fod 15th September 2009, 16:35
Quote:
Originally Posted by AshT
I'm only waiting for a netbook with 1080p output, HDMI out, and the ability to play EVERY media extension known to man.

However, this netbook is very sexy.

this should do it.

Also, anybody else noticed that the ferrari badge is upside-down when the lid is open? That's silly!

on closer inspection, the bit-photo appears to be a mockup. the TR pics are much nicer.
Quote Gareth Halfacree 15th September 2009, 16:47
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fod
on closer inspection, the bit-photo appears to be a mockup. the TR pics are much nicer.
As the caption says, the article image is of the older Acer Ferrari 1100 notebook, not the new netbook.
Quote SpeedLegion 15th September 2009, 17:07
http://www.trustedreviews.com/images/article/inline/11854-ferrari024.jpg
Lol the guy who is caught in the reflection looks a little overly excited about the new netbook :P
Quote Ryun 15th September 2009, 17:27
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bauul
They're going to need a monster battery to give it much of a portable life-span. I'm not doubting they have, but I imagine will all the proper bells and whistles to make it truly usable, it's going to cost an arm and a leg.

It shouldn't be too bad. I have a Gateway LT3103u with similar specs (1.2GHz single core Athlon & ATI x1270 GPU instead) with a 6-cell battery that lasts about 5.5 hours. The extra core doesn't add much extra power drain (probably around 3W extra) and that will certainly be offset by the more power efficient 780G chipset and 3200 GPU so I'd wager it'd perform in the same ballpark.

Granted 5.5 hours isn't great but it's plenty for me (I'm a college student) and I'm sure plenty for others.
Quote HourBeforeDawn 15th September 2009, 18:54
huh is it me or is Acer trying to copy ASUS more and more.

Acer has Ferrari
ASUS has Lamborghini

huh I wonder who will get Porsche, Corvette and Aston Martin lol
Quote Javerh 15th September 2009, 19:04
If I'm not mistaken, that's not 1100 but 3400 in the picture.
Quote xprodancer 16th September 2009, 02:03
i must say its a very attractive netbook! i would not however pay that price!as someone stated an extra £100 for red paint and a sticker, hell no! but nether the less it probably does everything that people wants from a netbook so theres not realy an argument about this product! what i can say tho is i bet ferrari loves and owners will have one!
Quote Skiddywinks 16th September 2009, 03:41
Quote:
Originally Posted by HourBeforeDawn
huh is it me or is Acer trying to copy ASUS more and more.

Acer has Ferrari
ASUS has Lamborghini

huh I wonder who will get Porsche, Corvette and Aston Martin lol

First one to get an Aston Martin netbook has my money.
Quote HourBeforeDawn 16th September 2009, 03:49
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skiddywinks
First one to get an Aston Martin netbook has my money.

ya I second that, Aston Martin is my dream car, second to that is Ferrari.
Quote Jasio 16th September 2009, 06:22
As an owner for an Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi for ~4.5 years. I can attest that although the sticker price is higher on them than regular laptops; there does seem to be a difference in quality. Mine has outlasted all my University friends laptops and is still my regular, everyday notebook. Granted its old; but the construction feels just as solid as it was on day one. The rubberized body, the carbon fiber lid (mostly for show I guess), the large, curved keyboard. I can't complain. As for price? Well, that's a valid point, it is steep. I guess I'm an exception in that scholarships paid for a lot of my new Uni toys back then.
Quote Scootiep 16th September 2009, 14:27
I just can't wrap my head around the whole "performance net-book" issue. For me, they're simply too small to make any serious gaming or media playback truly enjoyable. Couple that with the fact that on an 11.6" screen, it's nigh impossible to tell the difference between 1080p, 720p and even 480p, why pay for the premium price when there are 15.6" laptops out there with much more oomph for the same price and it simply isn't an appetizing deal at all. Yes you can make the case that it's easier cart around the smaller net-book than to haul an over sized laptop, but not at that price. It just seems like a complete waste of money to me. If I want true HD playback, I want at a minimum my 42" LCD. If I'm on the road and simply HAVE to watch some HD content, I can't do it on anything less than my wife's 17" laptop. Not even my 15.6" will do. I like net-books for what they were originally intended for, which isn't gaming and HD capability because it's simply too small to be enjoyable for me. Most of the people I know feel the same way.
Quote HourBeforeDawn 16th September 2009, 17:59
Quote:
Originally Posted by
what I want is a clear casing for my eee pc, that would be neat :)
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