I'm thinking about getting an Acer Ferrarri or Travelmate. http://www.mobilemagazine.com/archiv...errari_40.html
http://www.mobilemagazine.com/archiv...velmate_1.html

One feature I really like about Acer laptops is the slot loading DVD/CD players. It seems that Apple is the only other PC manufacturer to have this design.

The only thing I don't like about them is the battery life.

Anyone have any exp. with Acer (for anything)? I read in Mobile Magazine a couple of months ago that the customer service a Acer sucked, but I think you can purchase an extended warranty.

Can any of you IT gurus explain to me why PC manufacturers refuse to put slot-loading drives in their laptops??

I bought my brother an Acer Travelmate about 18 months ago, and there hasn't been any major problems with it. The Bluetooth seems to be a bit flakey, but OK.

It's not a bad machine, but it feels filmsy in hand. The 'smiley' keyboard needs a little bit of getting used to.

With its lower price and relatively high spec than some of the bigger name manufacturers, it's not a bad deal, IMHO.

Not a bad deal for sure but I'm 0-1. A collegue is 0-2. Monitor crash shortly followed by a hard drive crash was the case with 2 of the 3 units. This was late 99 and early 00 through late 01. We're done with them forever but they might have turned the corner in the last few years.

Good luck with whatever you choose. I'm a very happy Dell customer now...

Pre buying and using Sony and Thinkpads I had a couple of Acer machines. Sorta flimsy and the tech support was almost non-existant (written and spoken). The initial price was rather nice. Alas I would not buy Acer stuff now.

MisterNice

We got one allmost a yar ago for the office, it's been fine no issues at all so far.

It's hard to beat their prices sometimes.

Winner of the 1st "Laptop magazine 1st Annual Decatholon"

http://laptopmag.com/Features/Decathlon.htm?Page=12

Just wanted to add that I found out that Acers can be purchased online at Walmart.com (yes, Walmart!), and "test driven" for 15 days with no restocking fee. Then, they can be returned to your local Walmart if you don't like them. (this according to Walmart.com website, not sure how well it works in practice, I'd print the return policy before trying to return). I think it costs just $7-8 to ship (snail mail).

Not a bad way to try out these laptops, with minimal risk. Esp. important because of the curved keyboard, which apparently takes getting used to (but is supposed to be ergonomically superior). Just have to be careful to keep the coating from getting scratched!

http://www.walmart.com/search/browse...%3A3951%3A4070

We have about 10 Acer laptops in the office (not sure on which model), but they are all essentially garbage. They are all newer models, with the Intel Centrino tech. Anyway, FWIW, I recommend another brand.

I worked for a division of Acer a number of years ago leading a team of engineers designing a new system... the standard PC manufacturing had a reputation with our Silicon Valley engineering teams of doing "just enough". Structurally, the machines were "just enough" to stand up to "normal" use and not much more. The components were "just enough" to do the expected job (i.e. the power supplies in a desktop machine were powerful enough to handle the base PC and a couple of additional cards.... you plug something in that the manufacturing team didn't think you'd use, or fill all the slots, and the supply would fall over). My opinion is that they haven't changed a lot since I was there.

All that being said.... I'd get IBM or DELL.... and I prefer IBM by a far margin even now that they're under the Lenovo name (who has building IBM PCs for years anyway.... just no one knew it).

These opinions are mine..... YMMV

D.