Acer is first to market with a laptop based on PCI Express graphics architecture. The Aspire 1800 (402x278x45mm, 4.5kg) is a good looking and powerful desktop replacement laptop based on a 3.06GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 1MB L2 cache, Intel 915P chipset with 800MHz FSB, 512MB of DDR333 SDRAM (upgradeable to 2048MB), 80GB hard disk, and a 17in. widescreen display (1280x800 pixels). PCI Express graphics comes in the form of ATI's Mobility Radeon X600 with 64MB of DDR SDRAM. The Aspire 1800 also includes a 5-in-1 memory card reader, 802.11g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, as well as 2.1-channel speakers with built-in subwoofer. The system ships with Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system and should appeal to gamers and high-end multimedia users.

Pros: First laptop based on next-generation graphics platform
Cons: Relatively low-resolution screen; no digital video output


Release: Acer has selected the ATI Mobility Radeon X600 to power the industry's first PCI Express-based laptop PC - the Acer Aspire 1800. By selecting Mobility Radeon X600 the Aspire 1800 comes equipped with lightning-fast DirectX 9 graphics and ATI's new LCD Enhancement Engine - delivering the industry's best mobile video experience. By incorporating PCI Express platform technology, Aspire 1800 users can enjoy high definition multimedia with the headroom necessary to support the next generation of visual content and 3D applications.

'By selecting ATI and Mobility Radeon X600, the Acer Aspire 1800 is the first to bring mobile PCI Express technology to market, and delivers the visual horsepower and versatility needed to provide leading-edge performance for digital media, content creation and 3D gaming,' said Campbell Kan, Head of Mobile Computing Business Unit, IT Products Business Group, Acer Inc.

Designed for the multimedia connoisseur, the Aspire 1800 features a 3.0GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor 530 with HT Technology and an 800MHz FSB. The Aspire 1800 also comes equipped with a wide aspect 17in. display and a range of value-added multimedia features including, Aspire Arcade multimedia suite for application management and Aspire cinema vision for lifelike, full-screen DVD quality. The visual enjoyment is greatly enhanced through ATI's unique LCD Enhancement Engine for high-quality video resolution scaling.

BIOS, Sep 10, 04 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Laptop