Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 (NB200 series) 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Review

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(More customer reviews)UPDATE:
Just in case you decide to order a case for this netbook, keep in mind that the dimensions in the Amazon description or Toshiba's website (10.4 x 7.6 x 1.27 inches) are the dimensions of this netbook WITHOUT the 6-cell battery. If you look at the side-view photo in the Amazon description area (the one with the 7.6" measurement right below it), you'll see it's pictured without the battery. I just measured mine and with the 6-cell battery protruding from the back, it's actually 10.4 x 8.4 x 1.27 so many of the cases you find on Amazon made for 10" netbooks may not fit the NB205 with the 6-cell battery. Okay that's it for my update... read on for my original review...
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I just received my Toshiba NB205 yesterday and after spending many hours "playing" with it, I can easily say that, hands down, it is the BEST Netbook on the market today!
At the end of next week, I'll be traveling overseas and I wanted a small and lightweight laptop that I would be able to use to watch movies on the plane, transfer vacation photos and videos to, and use the internet for researching stuff from my hotel room. I currently own a 15" Macbook Pro but decided I didn't want to take it with me since it's a bit bigger & heavier and I can't afford to lose it. That's when I began researching these Atom-based Netbooks.
When I started researching, the Toshiba NB205 had not yet been released but there were still many netbook models out there by other manufacturers. I had originally considered the Samsung NC10, Acer Aspire One AOD250, Asus 1000HE, and Lenovo S10 as they all were pretty much equipped with similar configurations (Atom N270/N280 1.6 or 1.66Ghz cpu, 10" screen, 1GB ram, 160GB HD, 6-cell Li-Ion battery, Windows XP Home) and priced in the $350-400 price range. I won't go into too much detail about what I liked or didn't like about the other products but I had pretty much narrowed it down to either the Samsung NC10 or the Acer AOD250. Then I came across a pre-release review from Laptop Magazine on the Toshiba and decided to wait on my netbook. It was definitely worth the wait considering this is the first netbook I've come across that actually had noticeable differentiating features. When you compare all the others, it's kind of hard to choose from one over the other because they're all so similar!
The 4 biggest selling points on this Toshiba NB205 that had me wait for it was the 9-hour battery life, the look & feel of the keyboard, the size of the trackpad & buttons, and the overall aesthetics of it.
The whole point of buying a laptop this small and compact is for its portability factor. When you have to lug a brick-based AC adapter with you in fear the battery in your laptop won't last as long as you need it, it sure interferes with how portable carrying a laptop really is. A 9-hour lithium-ion battery will definitely solve that problem. Most of you are probably wondering how realistic that 9-hour rating really is... Let me just reassure you all, the battery life is GOOD! I brought it to a full charge, then unplugged it from the adapter and watched two movies on it (more on the movie playback capabilities later) and did 4 hours worth of web surfing afterwards -- all off the power from the battery on a single charge! You students out there can now bring it to all your classes and not have to look for a wall outlet! Oh, btw, I had the screen brightness set to 1/2 (level 4 brightness setting) and turned off the Bluetooth.
Netbooks are known for smaller keyboards and even worse, SMALL trackpads and trackpad button(s). In addition to the smaller size, many of the netbooks I saw in person at my local Fry's Electronics had very "cheapy"-feeling keyboards -- they just felt real fragile compared to the keyboard on my Macbook Pro. Enter the Toshiba NB205. Finally, a netbook that has a keyboard with keys that had the look and feel of a Mac keyboard and a robustly solid build to it. In addition to the look and feel, the keys were also pretty darn close in width to my Mac keyboard (both my Macbook Pro's keyboard, and my desktop Mac's keyboard). I'll try to post some comparison photos on Amazon this weekend for all those interested. The trackpad and buttons on the NB205 is also the biggest I've seen in the netbook category. Toshiba did a tremendous job in getting this right. Most of the other netbooks had really small trackpads and little miniature trackpad button(s) that felt real flimsy. Another feature that I like with the trackpad that's not stated anywhere is that the very right edge of the trackpad can be used for scrolling web pages or other documents (similar to the one on the Samsung NC10). This feature is not obvious as there are no arrow indicators like there is on the NC10 but it does support it!
I won't go into the aesthetics of this unit since you can pretty much see how amazing this netbook looks from the Amazon photos (I'll also add my own photos this weekend so you can get a better feel for the size, etc.) but let me now shift focus on using it.
Although I upgraded the memory on the unit to 2GB (I installed the Crucial 2GB 200-pin SODIMM DDR2 PC2-6400 800MHz Memory Module and it works great with the NB205!), all the testing I performed and am about to describe was done with the stock 1GB memory.
The very first thing I wanted to make sure this unit can do is play back, at the very least, DVD-quality movies (i.e. 480P movies (720x480 resolution)). One thing I'd HIGHLY recommend everyone who's interested in watching movies on their netbook do is download the FREE media player called VLC (Google "download vlc"). VLC is very lightweight and will play back movies a lot smoother than Quicktime or Windows Media Player; and given the inherently slower speeds of these Intel Atom processors compared to the Intel Core 2 Duo processors, using the VLC media player is your best bet. Using a free program called "Handbrake", one can convert their Bluray or DVD movies to AVC/h.264-encoded movies, which is what I used to convert some of my Bluray collection into a format that can be played-back on my NB205. Since it's out of the scope of this review and would require a tutorial guide of its own, I won't be able to explain how you would go about converting your Bluray or DVD movies. Anyhow, I first converted my Bluray edition of Valkyrie to a 720x480 resolution with a conservative 864kbs bitrate. The NB205 had NO PROBLEMS playing it back... It played back with very smooth video and the audio was synced up perfectly throughout the entire movie. So I decided to convert the movie again.... this time, using more aggressive settings... I converted it to a resolution of 1024x600 (since this is the native resolution of the NB205's screen) and a 2048kbps bitrate. Again, the NB205 was able to play the movie without a hitch. I didn't bother trying to convert the movie to 720P since the native resolution of the screen is only 1024x600 (it would be equivilent to 600P but 600P is not a standard). If you're planning to watch movies on the NB205 with someone else, you'll be happy to know that watching it from a 45 degree angle is very acceptible. Beyond the 45 degree angle, you won't be able to really see much so don't expect to have more than 3 people watching from it (why would you have more than 2 or 3 people watching off a 10" screen anyways!?).
Given it's capability to playback movies very smoothly, anything else I was going to throw at it would be child's play. Anyhow, I was reading that this laptop does get hot but after playing back two movies on it, it was not unbearable when resting it on my lap. So it doesn't seem like overheating problems will be too much of a concern for this laptop (but only long-term usage can really confirm this).
Another cool feature the NB205 sports that I'm not sure is available on all the other competitor models is a built-in accelerometer. It works the same way as the iPhone accelerometer but it's in the NB205 purely to detect if the laptop is about to take a fall. When it detects motion, it quickly moves the hard drive heads away from the hard drive to prevent any mishaps in case the hard drive is currently reading from or writing to the hard disks. Using a Toshiba software utility that's installed from the factory, you can change the sensitiviy threshold of the accelerometer or turn it off altogether.
There are obviously a lot more features that the NB205 comes with but I'm not going to explain each one simply because they're self-explanatory (such as bluetooth, wifi, etc.) but you can find out more about those features in Amazon's description of this product.
One final note before I conclude my review... Toshiba released two main models of the NB205 on the same day... the NB205-N310/311/312/313 (which is the model I have -- the NB205-N310/BN to be exact) and the NB205-N210. I think if you want to save $50, the NB205-210 would be a good choice as well -- provided you don't need Bluetooth or the Mac-style "chiclet" keyboard. For the extra $50, though, you also get the much sleeker, unique Toshiba-styling of the NB205-N31X series.
So if you're in the market for a very portable laptop, and you're considering a 10"-based netbook, the Toshiba NB205 is packed with features, enclosed around a very aesthetically pleasing body, and is very competitively priced!!!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 (NB200 series) 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

Small enough to throw in a purse or bag, the affordable, super-compact 10.1-inch Toshiba mini NB205 netbook--which weighs just under 3 pounds--is designed with smart features like a full-sized keyboard and touchpad, long battery life, USB Sleep-and-Charge ports and a hard drive impact sensor that protects your data. You'll also get excellent battery life with the included six-cell battery that provides up to 9 hours of battery power--enabling you to go through an entire day of school, work or errands without worrying about a recharge.
Created especially for mobile devices, Intels 1.6 GHz Atom N280 processor uses an innovative design structure and hafnium-infused circuitry that helps reduce electrical current leakage in transistors--which means longer battery life when you're on the go. It also includes the Intel 945GSE graphics chipset, which provides browsing the internet, emailing, running basic PC applications and enjoying online digital media.

This model of the Toshiba mini NB205 (NB205-N210) has a brilliant high-gloss Fusion Finish in Black Onyx, and it features a 160 GB hard disk drive, 1 GB of RAM (upgradeable to 2 GB), 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g), Fast Ethernet, and a Secure Digital memory card slot. It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, which offers more experienced users an enhanced and innovative experience that incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on your desktop.



Key Features
10.1-inch LED backlit widescreen display (1024 x 600-pixel resolution) provides richer colors and clearer definition--perfect for browsing the internet
1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280 processor combines performance and efficiency to explore the Internet and stay connected while mobile (Learn more)
160 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) with an impact sensor that helps safeguard your data by "parking" the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement. (Learn more)
1 GB of RAM (800 MHz; 1 memory slot; upgradeable to 2 GB)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator GMA950 with up to 251 MB of dynamically allocated shared graphics memory
Webcam (0.3 megapixels) integrated into the bezel for easy video chats and teleconferencing
Three USB Sleep-and-Charge ports allow you to charge your mobile phone and other devices even when the notebook is asleep or off.
Full-sized keyboard (85 keys)
Integrated Wi-Fi networking (802.11b.g) so you can communicate, browse and share while on the move
Fast Ethernet wired networking (10/100)
Built-in mono speaker
Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system
Up to 9 hours of battery life from included 6-cell battery
Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.6 x 1.27 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.93 pounds
Environmentally focused with RoHS compatibility (reducing its environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances), Energy Star 5.0 compliant, and EPEAT Gold compliant
Warranty: 1 year warranty with international limited warranty coverage

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This Toshiba mini NB205 notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN (Atheros) that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks, and it offers the following ports:

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
Analog video output: 1 VGA
Memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), and MultiMediaCard (MMC)
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
10/100 Fast Ethernet

What's in the box This package contains the Toshiba mini NB205-N210 netbook, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.

It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2009, Microsoft Works 9, Windows Media Player, Google Toolbar, Toshiba PC Health Monitor

Learn More
Power-Sipping Processor The Intel Atom processor uses a design structure that packs in 47 million transistors into a single chip sized at just 22mm (0.87 inches), and it uses just 2.5 watts of power--less than 1/10 of the 35 watts used by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor--for excellent battery management. This 1.66 GHz Atom N280 processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache (which temporarily stores data).


Hard Drive Protection While the highly portable nature of mini-notebooks exposes them to the knocks and bumps that are an inevitable feature of life on the move, the Toshiba mini NB205 features a 3D-accelerometer monitoring system that detects freefalls, shocks and vibrations and protects the integrated HDD to secure against the loss of any personal data.

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Compaq iPAQ 3765 Color Pocket PC Review

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(More customer reviews)Besides all the obvious ways in which the Compaq iPaq 3765 is a more robust electronic organizer than any version of the Palm, there are two features or characteristics of the iPaq 3765 that deserve special mention. The first is the fact that the iPaq 3765 is a full-featured eBook, running Microsoft Reader with ClearType display technology. Now, perhaps that doesn't make you trip over your keyboard as you scramble to order one, but consider: You now have a full dictionary in your PDA. You also have an English to Spanish dictionary in your PDA. Or French to English. Or whatever you need. You also have Jack Welch's new best seller to peruse on your next flight, or while you're waiting at the doctor's office. You have the full operations manual for your iPaq right there on the iPaq itself! How many times have you actually had the manual for a device readily available at the moment you actually needed the damn thing? The fact that the iPaq 3765 is an easy-to-read eBook (with adjustable font sizes, book marking and other features) is a remarkable increase in usefulness over the conventional Palm OS PDA.
But the real advantage of the Compaq iPaq 3765 is the fact that its screen is a marvel of both clarity (hence an actually readable eBook) and touch-sensitivity. One of the most annoying characteristics of Palm PDAs is the insensitivity of the touch screen. You often have to tap the screen multiple times before it responds. And using it for graffiti writing is an enormous pain in the neck for even the relatively adept graffiti user. Your strokes are continuously misinterpreted. All the back spacing to re-stroke letters has caused many a Palm owner to give up on using graffiti as their most common mode of data entry. But with the iPaq 3765 each stroke is recogized instantly, with almost no re-stroking required. No kidding. As long as you're even close to matching the model graffiti stroke, the iPaq accurately recognizes the stroke! You can actually write with the damn thing! And when you tap the screen to select an entry in your contacts list, or choose one tab or the other, or highlight a bit of text, voila... the screen responds instantly and accurately. There are virtually no re-taps, no re-strokes, no mistakes. It's a touch screen made to be touched.
After years of using a Palm, including a color screen Palm IIIC, I feel like I have died and gone to heaven. The Copmpaq iPaq 3765 is head and shoulders better than the Palm OS offerings because it is a far more robust PDA, with marvelous eBook capabilities and an order of magnitude better screen in terms of clarity and the all important touch sensitivity.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Compaq iPAQ 3765 Color Pocket PC

Eye-catching as well as highly functional, Compaq's iPAQ 3765 Pocket PC features a powerful new operating system, CompactFlash expandability, and a fast Intel processor. Its 64 MB SDRAM and 32 MB ROM provide enough memory to hold a robust package of applications while leaving you a lot of room for your own applications.
The enhancements and improvements in Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system make the iPAQ 3765 even more powerful and easier to use. You'll get improved handwriting recognition, more reliable synchronization, increased security, and the ability to chat via MSN Messenger. It also features new Pocket versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer.
Work hard, but play hard, too. The iPAQ 3765 can play digital audio files (both MP3 and WMA) using the Windows Media Player software. It's also compatible with audible.com files, for listening to audiobooks, radio broadcasts, and more. You also get the Microsoft Reader e-book software.
The color TFT screen produces 4,086 colors, and you can view the screen from many angles and in a variety of lighting. Using the optional expansion jacket, you can add memory and modules--such as modems and cameras--using CompactFlash cards.
Other highlights of the Compaq iPAQ include a microphone and a speaker, as well as an audio-in jack. It features an infrared port for wireless data transfer. The Compaq iPAQ uses five buttons plus a five-way joystick. The iPAQ connects to either USB or serial ports. The iPAQ allows you to input data in your own handwriting, by soft keyboard, or by voice recorder. Both audible and visual alarms alert you to a scheduled event.
At 5.11-by-3.3-by-0.62 inches and weighing 6.3 ounces, the iPAQ 3765 is sporty and small, fitting in your hand or sliding into your pocket with ease. Compaq has also built in utilities so that frequent actions--such as switching between tasks, adjusting volume, and changing backlighting--are only a click away.
The iPAQ 3765 has a built-in lithium rechargeable battery that gives up to 12 hours of battery life. It also comes with a docking cradle, AC adapter for battery charging, and a USB connection cable. Compaq offers a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
What's in the box
iPaQ 3765
AC adapter
950 mAh lithium-polymer battery
USB cradle
USB connection cable
Two styli
Vinyl slipcase
User manual

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Acer Aspire One AOD250-1151 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 3+ Hour Battery Life Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Got it from Wal Mart for 298 $. This is a great netbook
pros
- After uninstalling Google Toolbar and McAfee and other useless software came with the netbook, it is really fast. 1 GB is enough, if you do that cleanup.
- Thinner than D150 model, very light weight.
- keyboard is small still usable
cons
- touchpad isn't that good, gesture for scroll doesn't work always.
- screen is glossy, but usable. I prefer glossy screen, some people won't like it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire One AOD250-1151 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 3+ Hour Battery Life

Building on its line of popular Aspire One netbooks, Acer makes it even easier to stay productive while on the go with the larger 10.1-inch screen of the Aspire One AOD250. Improving on the previous AOD150 model, the chassis of the Aspire One AOD250 has been honed down to be more sleek and lightweight than its predecessor while still retaining its excellent near full-size keyboard and stylish signature black bezel surrounding the bright, glossy 10.1-inch screen.
A great choice for students as well as business travelers who like to travel light, this Aspire One AOD250 model (AOD250-1151) in black has a 3-cell battery that provides up to 3 hours of battery life on the go and weighs 2.4 pounds. Designed especially for mobile devices, the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor uses an innovative design structure and hafnium-infused circuitry, which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors to conserve energy.
You'll be able to easily video chat wherever you roam thanks to the Crystal Eye webcam integrated into the LCD's bezel, delivering smooth video streaming and high quality images even in low-light situations. And the built-in digital microphone delivers superior voice quality keeping background noise level low and minimizing echoes.
Packed with roomy 160 GB hard drive--great for storing a mobile digital audio and video library--this Aspire One also features 1 GB of installed RAM (1.5 GB maximum), 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g), multi-format memory card reader, multiple USB ports, and built-in email, web browsing, and digital media applications. In addition to this Diamond Black model, the AOD250 also comes in Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, and Seashell White.
It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, which offers more experienced users an enhanced and innovative experience that incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on your desktop.

Key Features
10.1-inch LED-backlit CrystalBrite screen (1024 x 600 resolution) (Learn more)
1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor combines performance and efficiency to explore the Internet and stay connected while mobile (Learn more)
160 GB hard drive (5400 RPM
1 GB DDR2 RAM (533 MHz; maximum capacity)
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 video processor
Crystal Eye webcam supports Acer PrimaLite technology, which consists of a premium sensor, firmware and lenses to provide superior video performance under low-light conditions. A built-in digital microphone helps keep background noise levels low and minimizes echoes.
84-key keyboard, 89 percent of standard-size with 12 function keys, WLAN switch
54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
Fast Ethernet (10/100)
VGA video output
Stereo speakers and optimized Dolby Headphone technology for 5.1-channel audio
Microsoft Window XP Home operating system
Up to 3 hours of battery life with included 3-cell battery
Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.2 x 1 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.4 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This Acer Aspire One notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN (Acer InviLink) that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks and offers Acer's SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency. It also provides Fast (10/100) Ethernet networking.
3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
Analog video output: 1 VGA
Multi-in-1 memory card reader compatible with MultiMediaCard, Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO or xD-Picture Card
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack

What's in the box This package contains the Acer Aspire One AOD250-1151 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions
It also comes with the following software: McAfee Internet Security Suite (trial version); Google Desktop; Carbonite Online Backup; Customized Windows Internet Explorer 7.0; Acer GridVista
Learn More
10.1-Inch CrystalBrite Screen The 10.1-inch screen has a WSVGA resolution (1024 x 600) and support for up a 262K color depth. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses shared video memory with the main memory. Acer's CrystalBrite display technology guarantees the best possible visual experience by preventing the diffusion of surrounding light and internal ray. Compared to normal TFT LCDs, Acer CrystalBrite technology is able to read color coordinates more accurately, thus minimizing distortion and creating high-fidelity colors in all environments.

Power-Sipping Processor The Intel Atom processor uses a brand new design structure that packs in 47 million transistors into a single chip sized at just 22mm (0.87 inches), and it uses just 2.5 watts of power--less than 1/10 of the 35 watts used by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor--for excellent battery management. This 1.6 GHz Atom N270 processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache (which temporarily stores data).

Click here for more information about Acer Aspire One AOD250-1151 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 3+ Hour Battery Life

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Acer AO532h-2588 10.1-Inch Onyx Blue Netbook - Up to 8 Hours of Battery Life Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)October 2010 update:
The review is now woefully out of date.
Please look instead at the just-released Aspire Atom Dual Core Acer Aspire One AOD255-1549 10.1-Inch Netbook - Diamond Black which has a dual core instead of single core Atom processor. Same great battery life, but much better performance. It's slightly more expensive (at least during the introduction, expect prices to drop in 3 months) but should handle Hulu much better (less stuttering/higher resolution/bigger window size). Or if you don't mind a smaller Hulu window/lower resolution, the N450 single core version is an updated bargain - Acer Aspire One AOD255-2509 10.1-Inch Netbook - Diamond Black. For only $10 more, the "269" model has a much more useful 250 gb hard drive - Acer Aspire One AOD255-2691 10.1-Inch Netbook - Diamond Black. I recommend spending that extra $10 for the bigger hard drive. I store my music and video collection on my netbook, use it for travel, and quickly fill up the hard drive - 160 gb isn't enough for me anymore.
Also if video is your top priority, more than battery life, the recent Acers with the AMD Athlon II Neo chip and Radeon graphics are reportedly much, much better in terms of performande, but batter life drops to 3-4 hours (Acer may be winding this model down already precisely for this reason) - Acer Aspire AO521-3782 10.1-Inch Netbook (Antique Brass). I recommend searching for "netbook AMD Neo" to see what's available with this new generation AMD chip before you buy.
Please read any review of computers (especially in the rapidly evolving netbook market) more than 3 months old with a grain of salt. Also you owe it to yourself to investigate the Apple iPad, many potential netbook purchasers are buying them instead. A comparison of the two is beyond the scope of this product review, but you need to be aware of this alternative.
_________________________original review below, if you buy one used at a great price:
I deleted my first review which knocked this new netbook from Acer with a 3 Star review, for failing to accept a 2gb memory upgrade - I was told by Acer's overseas on-line warranty service this netbook couldn't even accept more than one 1gb.
When I posted my experience as the earlier, deleted review here, the Acer product manager from San Jose jumped into the discussion to affirm that this netbook IS designed to take customer installed 2gb upgrades, and that the warranty support line adviser was simply wrong. Since my particular unit wouldn't take memory modules that had already been proven to work in my other netbooks (including another N450-based netbook) it was concluded that my particular unit was defective. The Acer product manager reported that all of his production samples in San Jose accepted standard 2gb upgrades. One other reader later reported that his unit wouldn't take an upgrade either, also using known good memory pulled from another netbook. So basically it appears that there is a glitch in some, but not all, units that Acer is shipping. Based on my past experience with Acer (I've owned 5 or 6) and faith in Amazon's return policy, I would have no problem ordering this ao532h, with the caveat that if you intend to upgrade the memory, try doing it right away while your unit is still within the Amazon returns period. Please note that my sample ran fine with the included 1gb module from Acer, and that upgrading the BIOS per the warranty line instructions did not allow my sample to accept either of the two 2 gb replacement modules I had on hand.
So this review is to confirm that this netbook IS designed to accept a 2gb memory module upgrade, and to caution you to check your unit for compatibility. The 2gb memory module spec'd at Crucial dot com specifically for the ao532h is as follows:
Part #: CT1165194 * DDR2 PC2-5300 * CL=5 * Unbuffered * NON-ECC * DDR2-667 * 1.8V * 256Meg x 64 *
The crucial dot com price is about $6 higher than a similar spec'd module from Crucial which is shown by Amazon on this product page as a recommended accessory. Any generic DDR2, PC5300, SoDimm with 667 speed should work, but if you want to be cautious, make sure you get the exact same part number shown above (CT1165194) until Acer provides additional advice on this issue.
***************
So on to some more useful "user" comments about this netbook, based on my week and a half experience with it (using only the 1gb of memory it came with).
FIRST, this netbook is THIN and of course light. It may well be the thinnest one out there (although the Acer ao751h, now discontinued but still owned by me, was also quite thin). It certainly would earn that kudo if it came with a 3 cell battery like the ao751h, but then it wouldn't be getting 8 hours of battery life. Personally, I'd rather have the battery life even if the rear of the chassis is raised by maybe .25 inch.
Please note that similarly priced models from other manufacturers only come with 3 cell batteries.
Also note that some 6 cell batteries have longer battery life - at a slight increase in weight.
Since Acer netbook models only use two form factors for batteries (ao751h style or ao250 style) you should be able to pick up a 3 cell, 6 cell normal, or 6 cell high power accessory battery from Amazon later, should you desire a second battery.
SECOND, the power brick and cord for this netbook are SMALL and LIGHT. While the power brick itself is comparable in size to other makers, Acer has done something neat with the power cord runs - instead of having a super thick, 3 prong "toaster oven" size electrical cord to the actual power brick, followed by a thin, light second run to the netbook, they attached the plug directly to the power brick and just give you a longer run of the thinner, lighter cord coming off the brick to the netbook. YAY.
This means the whole brick assembly packs down smaller and lighter. Also, since the plug can now be safely set up as a two prong (instead of 3 prong) with no polarization, it will easily fit into plug outlets in Asia without an adaptor.
THIRD, the touchpad was the easiest yet for me to use. It wasn't hypersensitive (clicking accidentally when I meant to just move the cursor), and has raised dots to indicate the vertical scroll bar area on the touchpad, which worked really well. Some other touchpads let me scroll, but either require two fingers to scroll, or have an ambiguously defined right side area where I am supposed to scroll. The raised dots on the Acer let me find the scroll line and use it effectively.
Since I was forced to use only 1 gb on my defective unit, I got to see how well it performs, and was surprised by how well it works with even 10 browser tabs open at the same time. I still think 2gb is better, at least if you are going to try to run VLC with h.264 transcoded videos - on other netbooks I get stuttering with only 1gb. I didn't have a chance to try VLC on this model.
The only negative on this model is slight keyboard flex, which comes, I suspect, as a result of the thinness. It doesn't flex so much it feels like it is going to break, just feels a little rubbery. I have an HP Mini 210 that is more resistant, but not completely resistant, to flex, but it is also a lot fatter, so you will have to decide which you prefer. Oh I should also mention that the ao532h comes with the usual stunning, but glossy, Acer screen - if your preference is for a mat screen you will need to turn to some HP and Asus models. But iff you prefer glossy, you should love this screen.
JUDGMENT: If you carry the power brick around a lot, the redesign of the power cord alone is a big advantage of this model. If your budget is $300 and you can't live with the shorter battery life of 3 cell competitors, this is your best option. For about $40 more from other makers, you can get a more robust 6 cell battery and possibly a larger 250 gb hard drive. But this ao532h is definitely the one to beat if you are budget shopping.
A WORD ON PRICING AND ARCANE MICROSOFT & INTEL OEM REQUIREMENTS: Microsoft is loathe to charge small license fees on netbooks - the license fees are currently apparently much lower than on other laptops, a reflection of the small margins in netbooks - and Intel is loathe to sell millions of cheap Atom processors instead of more costly, and profitable chips. So the two have "conspired," to to speak, to limit the specs on netbooks if the manufacturers expect to get the lower licensing fees, and so far as I can tell that is why the new generation of netbooks are all appearing with only 1gb of factory installed memory and generally only 160 gb hard drives even though Acer's own eMachines 250, blown out at Walmart for only $228, came with a 250gb hard drive. 250 gb harddrives (but not 2gb factory memory upgrades) are available, but at a disparate increase in price considering the low OEM margin between 160 gb and 250 gb drives at this point - probably because (I suspect) in order to include a 250 gb harddrive, the license fee for Win7 also goes up.
The "benign" side of this "conspiracy" is that MS has apparently slashed Win7 Starter prices to the point where it is as cheap as, or cheaper than WinXP - which is why a lot of WinXP netbooks were announced for the N450 chip released in December 2009, but none seem to have actually made it to market.
A WORD ON WIN7 VS. WINXP: I like Win7, even Starter Edition, a lot...Read more›

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Aspire One AO532h: Go Anywhere Mobility Browse the Web, check email, share photos, keep up with social networks, listen to music and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment with the Aspire One AO532h, which features a small compact design that you can take anywhere. Combining the power of the latest Intel Atom N450 processor and NM10 Express chipset with a 6-cell battery, this Aspire One AO532h model (AO532h-2588) in onyx blue provides up to 8 hours of battery life on the go--enough for a full workday.
A great choice for students as well as business travelers who like to travel light, Acer makes it easy to stay productive while on the go with the 10.1-inch CrystalBrite LED-backlit screen as well as its excellent near full-size keyboard. You'll be able to easily video chat wherever you roam thanks to the Crystal Eye webcam integrated into the LCD's bezel, delivering smooth video streaming and high quality images even in low-light situations. Pinch, flick and swirl your fingers on the multi-gesture touchpad for an intuitive navigation to view web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more.

It comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Starter operating system, which combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows. It includes new Windows 7 features like Jump Lists to help you to better find and manage files, and connecting to printers and peripherals is easier than ever.



Key Features The Aspire One AO532h is only 1-inch thin and weighs just over 2.5 pounds, yet the keyboard is 93 percent standard size with large keys for better typing.

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Logitech Classic Keyboard 200 USB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)True to its name, the Logitech Classic Keyboard is a throwback to their heritage; a straightforward model requiring no special software, without any extra keys or controls. The keys have a slightly-firm springy responsiveness with audible feedback (a slight, but non-intrusive clatter).
Compared to the basic USB keyboard that Dell ships with all its desktop PCs, the Classic's keys are springier, the spacing is a little less dense (which fits my fingers better), and the boundary around the actual keys is more asthetically pleasing in contrast to the sparseness of the Dell keyboard.
This model is shaped slightly differently than the otherwise identical Logitech Classic Keyboard PS/2 model; the trim on the side towards the user is a little narrower, allowing proper use of a wrist-rest, which was a minor drawback on the PS/2 model.
This is a basic keyboard with nice feedback and a low price. It's hard to go wrong here.

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Instantly access Windows 98, 2000, Me, XP, or Windows Vista with the Start button

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Logitech Wireless Keyboard K320 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this keyboard (and the Logitech Performance MX Mouse) as part of my home office remodeling / update, as I wanted a wireless keyboard and mouse that used Logitech's Unifying receiver.
Installation was a breeze, I launched the Unifying setup program from within SetPoint, and added my keyboard with minimal fuss. Both the mouse and keyboard work flawlessly through the single receiver (about time, Logitech!)
This keyboard is basically a Unifying wireless version of the Logitech Internet 350 and Logitech Deluxe 250 budget keyboards (which I also use and love). The keyboard layout and dimensions are very similar.
Pros:
- Simple setup
- Excellent key-feel. Uses the standard Logitech Budget keys and switches. Very familiar.
- Fantastic Unifying Wireless receiver (works with other Unifying devices). This receiver is TINY!
- Standard keyboard layout (a MUST. Who uses L shaped Enter keys, small backspace, or non-traditional insert delete rows?)
- A couple of nice multimedia keys. I like the volume keys (+, -, mute). I don't really use the rest.
- Includes number pad. Casual users may not use this, but as a professional programmer, I occasionally need one. Perfect for my needs.
Cons:
- OK battery life. It turns itself off when not in use, but the 3 year claim has got to be wishful thinking from Logitech.
- Packaging. Amazon sent this keyboard in a truly gigantic box. I appreciate the concern, but surely 1 inch of packing material on all sides is enough. This thing was cradled in 1 foot of Amazon's brown packing paper on all sides.
Final Notes:
- The included SetPoint software was woefully out of date. Get the one from Logitech's website instead.
- The whole point of the Unifying receiver is for multiple devices to work on the same nano-receiver. I suggest getting a mouse to match your fancy new keyboard.
- The K340 and K350 are also Unifying Wireless Keyboards, but the K350 uses the wave shape ("ergonomic") and the K340 uses a non-standard key-layout. I'm a keyboard purist, so the K320 was the only option for me

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You can rely on the wireless freedom and comfort you get with the Logitech Wireless Keyboard K320. Logitech Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless means you get a powerful connection with virtually no delays or dropouts.

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