Hasta La Gadget!

We haven’t heard much about the Gateway EC18T since we saw all those leaked pics back in October, but it looks like things are starting to move: the convertible tablet just hit the FCC database, complete with some more external pictures. From all appearances, it looks like this one’s going to be a family affair, as the machine itself will be sold by Gateway parent company Acer as the Aspire Timeline 1420P, and the FCC docs indicate sister company Packard Bell will have a version as well. Badging aside, inside we’re looking at a 1.2GHz SU2300 Core 2 Duo with GMA 4500MHD graphics, up to 8GB of RAM, a 500GB max drive, an 11.6-inch screen, and an eight-hour battery life — so depending on price, this one could be pretty attractive. We’ll wait to see how long it takes before one version or another escapes the government and hits store shelves.

Gateway EC18T / Acer Aspire 1420P convertible tablet hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer on Tuesday introduced its new TravelMate Timeline series of ultra-thin notebooks intended for business customers.

The three versions of the device – the 8571, 8471, and 8371 – include 6-cell batteries that promise up to eight hours of power when the Acer PowerSmart Manager enabled.

The main difference between the three notebooks is screen size – users can select a 13.3- inch, 14.1-inch, or 15.6-inch screen. There is also the option to select 3GB or 4GB of RAM, a 1.3GHz or 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and a 320GB or 250GB hard drive.

All the machines come with 32-bit Windows 7 Professional pre-installed, though Acer will also include a Windows XP Professional CD as well.

Lenovo really went to town with its Olympics-branded gear, but while Acer is a major Winter Olympics partner (and keeping the spot for 2012 as well), it’s taking a bit more of a tame approach at the outset. This Acer Aspire Timeline 1810TZ, for instance, merely slaps some silver rings on the lid and calls it a day. Pretty classy, and the price isn’t bad: $580 for a 11.6-inch CULV laptop with 3GB of RAM and Windows 7. Perfect for the multitasking ski jumper in your life.

Acer gets in the Olympic spirit with special edition Aspire Timeline 1810TZ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google’s already said you’ll need to buy a Chrome OS machine if you want it officially, but if TechCrunch’s sources are right, they could be launching Google-branded hardware for the platform, much like they’re doing with the Nexus One.

Sure, you may’ve already downloaded an early Chrome OS build on your current machine, but unless you want it to be your sole platform, and running just the way Google intended, then you’ll need to buy the official hardware. Acer’s stated its intent to be first with a product release, presumably at the tail-end of next year, but ASUS, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba are also involved in the Chrome OS project too.

A “request for proposal” has already been issued to potential suppliers, such as those mentioned above, supposedly listing the specifications Google would like to see in that first netbook. Google is believed to be working with just the one manufacturer, to build the ideal netbook. TechCrunch’s sources are claiming they’ll be 3G-embedded, and quite possibly subsidized by a carrier.

Michael Arrington, editorializing at this point, goes on to say that:

“I’d be willing to bet one of our writers’ right hands that it’s ARM [as opposed to an Intel Atom processor]. And I’d even go out on a limb and suggest that they may very well be targeting Nvidia’s Tegra line.”

Adobe, Freescale, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments are the other parties already working with on the Google Chrome OS project, so presumably the netbook will contain some components from them as well.

So, which company do we think Google will choose in this all-important talent show? Acer, ASUS, HP, Lenovo or Toshiba, or even someone else? ASUS obviously has strong heritage with netbooks, thanks to inventing the market for it back in 2007, but Acer launched the first Android-powered netbook. HP, Lenovo and Toshiba have all produced some solid netbooks in their time, but haven’t quite measured up to Acer and ASUS’ success just yet. [TechCrunch]

It’s no secret that we’re facing down a tidal wave of new netbooks at CES in January, with all signs pointing to Intel unleashing its brand new graphics-friendly Atom N450 chip based on its new-generation Pine Trail platform. So, before we get all netbook’d out, let’s allow ourselves a small amount of excitement at this Acer Aspire One 532 spotted within the bowels of the internet (Acer’s driver pages). A bit of Google work uncovered specs that include an Atom N450 processor with Intel GMA 3150 and a 10.1-inch 1280 x 720 screen. It’s been listed for 299 Euros in one of these random, bean-spilling online stores, so that gives a decent reason to hope that a new generation of Atom won’t mean a major leap in pricing. Is that a whiff of holiday optimism we smell in the air?

Acer Aspire One 532 spotted in database with Atom N450 ‘Pine Trail’ processor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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