PC maker Acer to sell netbooks with Google Android preinstalled

World's third-largest computer maker offers system instead of Microsoft Windows
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/06/03/acer-google-android.html?ref=rss

My laptop is an Acer

That's for "netbooks" which are just neutered "notebooks" ....

But still neat to see Google wiggling into the market a little..., none the less.

More like "Google extending its tentacles further"...

JT Estoban wrote:That's for "netbooks" which are just neutered "notebooks" ....

But still neat to see Google wiggling into the market a little..., none the less.

I don't see them a a neutered notebook at all. They are their own class of machine alltogether. I would never dream of expecting my little Acer Aspire One to perform the same as my new Dell Studio XPS16., or my 17" HP.
We use the little Acer on the sofa for quick web surfing etc., or for taking with us when portability and battery life is key (ie. dont feel like carrying the power brick). For light duties it runs just as smooth as my desktop running an older Core 2 Duo (E6300). I don't intend to use it for photo/video editing or gaming (that's what the desktop is for). For $400 with a 6 cell battery I can't complain one bit when compared to 12" ultraportable notebooks in the $1200+ range. It's so easy to pick up and carry that I couldn't see not having one around now.
They are just fine when used as intended, if you expect it to be a replacement for a 15" notebook then of course you'd be sadly dissapointed. They're different machines, intended for different uses.

I agree that they are fine little machines, and are great for what they are intended to be used for. My issue is how much they try and charge for one compared to a notebook.

I just think it's silly to charge so much for what basically amounts to a portable thin client. Especially when I could buy a wonderfully fast notebook for $50 to $100 or maybe a little more...if it's not on sale for less.

Netbooks range in price from $299 for a factory refurb to $599....when a perfectly adequate, if not more than adequate notebook will run you $599 and up (in this case, the one I'm looking at is slightly more...but still within reasonable range, especailyl for the features it has)
Exceedingly long Futureshop link

But you won't find a $599 notebook that is nearly as portable or has anywhere near the battery life of a netbook. Yes you'll get a lot more performance, and screen real estate.....but you'll also get an extra 4-5 lbs to lug around and an increase in external dimensions of 300%. Sometime size is everything.

I will agree with you that if I only had $500 to spend and I could only buy one machine a netbook would not likely be my first choice. They are however a fine 2nd or 3rd machine to have laying around for those times you want to look something up real quick while you sit on the sofa, or you need a machine to take with you and don't feel like carrying a full size laptop with you.

2lbs and not much bigger than a DVD case...what's not to like? And if you really need to do some mild gaming you can get something like the Asus N10J that even has dedicated Nvidia graphics for $550 and still keeps the form factor of a netbook.

My Acer Apire 5002WLMi, ws a gift to me several years ago, and is just great for me! I wasn't much involved with anythng before but now I have something to do with some of my spare time.
This battery lasts only 2 hours, and I see some of the new ones can last 10 or more hours on its battery. I rarely use the battery because I think the more I use the battery the sooner it will need replacement!

Airt Mattrèssor wrote:More like "Google extending its tentacles further"...

hmmmm... never thought of Google as a Japanese animated porn creature before....

FlyingRat wrote:

Airt Mattrèssor wrote:More like "Google extending its tentacles further"...

hmmmm... never thought of Google as a Japanese animated porn creature before....

While it was still in the planning stage, the project was originally codenamed "Urotsukidoji".

True story.

hmmm Asus was gonna make a netbook with Android, but seems they have changed their minds..

http://i.gizmodo.com/5275599/asus-hey-guys-forget-you-ever-saw-that-android-netbook-ok