Behold II Smartphone with Android
Entered CNET Catalog: 07/30/2008
SKU: 884483097029
Manufacturer: Acer America Corp.
Manufacturer description
Acer redefines mobile connectivity with the Aspire one, a notebook packed with fun and powerful computing features in a diminutive 8.9" form factor weighing as little as 2.2 lb. Aimed at business professionals, students and world travelers, it offers a choice of operating systems, wireless connectivity, Internet access, built-in webcam and the storage space needed for digital photos. It's time to simplify your life with the Aspire one.Product summary
The good: Attractive, slim design; big keyboard for such a small system; affordable.
The bad: Only 512MB of RAM limits performance; wimpy battery life; no Bluetooth.
The bottom line: The Acer Aspire One is easily the best of the current under-$400 Netbooks, but its meager allotment of memory and tiny battery limit its appeal.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 User Rating: 
1/10
Great in looks but BAD BATTERY.
Pros: Looks. Size. Boot up speed.
Cons: Battery life was almost nil. It went dead before the year was over
User Rating: 
2/10
waste of money unless acer gets better recovery bios
Pros: is none i like now as is on my desk not working
Cons: fast while it works but after had corrupted bios .acer should look on better recovery on bios as the one is out there not function on 100% of cases,lots of people looking for new bios recovery
User Rating: 
10/10
AOD150 Amazing little machine!
Pros: Battery: the 6 cells last 7 to 9 hours (with WIFI on)
Keyboard: soft and not too small
Noise: very very quiet
Screen size: just perfect for web and email (use "mini" plugins for Firefox and Thunderbird)
Weight / Size: just the good compromise
Cons: Buttons: under the trackpad: hard to press, but not a real issue as you can just lightly tap on the trackpad to press the left button
It also runs cool.
You really can't go wrong with this netbook.
User Rating: 10/10
Excellent netbook
Pros: Runs very well,pretty quick despite the fact it's running XP Nice solid design, when I bought it I thought it might look like the Asus models at Target, luckily I was mistaken...very nice feel on the keyboard.
Cons: Keyboard could be a little bigger and I wish it came with a system disk, because for some goofy reason I thought the OS would be stored in ROM like the like Linux on the ASUS N10Jc ....what dya know, as usual I was wrong.
User Rating: 
6/10
Read my pros and cons.
Pros: Low price(the price drops fast)
3 USB ports
5 in 1 memory card reader
VGA port(HP mini has no)
intel atom(performance is as good as others)
Cons: max RAM allowed only 1.5GB
lousy battery
no driver for windows OS at the time I bought it
ultra slow SSD(be very careful of this, they are useless if you wish to convert to Windows OS)
problems with ultra slow Internet
no backdoor for RAM insertion
I bought the linpus version, originally integrated with 1GB RAM, 8GB SSD, 8.9' screen. I thought it would perform well like eeepc if I convert it to Windows XP. It was a crap when with windows OS since windows demand much Paging File. It was so crappy because acer uses very very cheap SSD which fits with Linux OS only. I tried to install Linux and it ran well and smooth, but rendered ABSOLUTE useless with windows. I tried it with Windows 7(quite ok because windows 7 performs well in all PCs).
Then, I increased the RAM from 1GB to 1.5GB. The process is hard and complex since it has no backdoor for RAM insertion. Instead, I learned from videos to pry open all the casings and motherboard, just to lift the board up so that I can insert a TINY RAM. I say it again, the process is hefty, you may easily damage the casing if you treat it aggressively. I accidentally hit one capacitor off the motherboard during the prying open of the casing. Then, the machine started to fail.
My experience with Aspire One 8.9' 8GB SSD 1GB RAM ended up in a woeful nostalgia. I have to say again, it is badly designed.
User Rating: 
7/10
Good value for money, once I got it configured!
Pros: Cheap, small, light.
Cons: It would not connect to MSN before updating the software, but Live Update was v...e...r...y slow and kept failing. Installing Skype and an icon to launch it involved editing a scary hidden Linux file. Linux is still not for the faint-hearted!
User Rating: 
8/10
Great For the Price, Even Goes Hang Gliding!
Pros: Low price
Great screen, very bright and shape
The keyboard is also very good, even considering the small size (but that is to be expected on a netbook)
Cons: I am used to using one hand (index finger on the pad, thumb on the button.) This is pretty much impossible on this netbook. But at this price point I am willing to over look that little problem.
User Rating: 6/10
A mixed bag
Pros: Relatively large keyboard , Fits easily in a hotel room safe, Linux version has most features already installed for light wieght office and road warrior use. Most seem fully compatable with MS Office files and acrobat. Video is surprisngly good.
Cons: 512 of RAM & NO Hatch on the back to add more! The whole unit must come apart to add RAM! Linux not for the tech challenged as installing new programs can be very complex requiring registry edits/file swaps etc to accomplish. Poor product Support
Updated on Jan 2, 2009A quick correction re the password issue. Root password was NOT disclosed to and apparently this problem affectt many others.
User Rating: 10/10
bargain basement netbook that ticks all the boxes
Pros: quick boot up time and amazing internet performance, reasonable battery life at over two hours. nice screen and quality keyboard. cheap entry into computing for any age.
Cons: no optical drive, small storage on budget version. not a laptop replacement
summary.
if your looking for a laptop or desk top replacement dont bother. no optical drive or lack of horsepower counts it straight out.
if you want a small, portable netbook that can be used for commuting or you work away and want to keep in touch with friends and family this is great. cheap price, good looks and a quick and eager computer with all the basics. what a winner.
remember the price and dont confuse this with a windows laptop
User Rating: 8/10
Affordable and quite good components, very good
Pros: Small keyboard and tiny touchpad better than expected
Windows XP runs smoothly
Ample connection ports
Includes synthetic leather case
Best screen I've ever seen on a netbook/notebook
Software up-to-date
Cons: Not exactly quiet (Fan on even on idle)
Webcam image a little yellowish in ambient light
BIOS password flaw (automatically turns password in CAPS)
Background noise in audio out
The N270 Atom CPU is not bad. On SuperPi benchmarking, it came on par with a Celeron D 335 @ 2.8 GHz. Plus, the Hyper-threading seems to be more efficient than on Pentium 4s.
One important thought to keep in mind: if you set a password in BIOS, the system will automatically record it in ALL CAPS! A major flaw that I can't explain. So when it asks you again to enter your password, you need to put CAPS LOCK on, or else you're locked out of your system.
User Rating: 7/10
Pretty good for the price.
Pros: Just going to list what I like. Light weight, quick boot up w/ Linpus, 120GB (or new 160) great for dual or triple boot, RAM upgradeable to 1.5GB, bright screen, decent battery life, cheap (Can $315 for mine), choice of colours
Cons: KB just feels just ok, touchpad buttons takes some getting use to, Acer support needs work, needs to be taken apart to upgrade RAM, no Bluetooth.
User Rating: 10/10
The best netbook. Underrating since did not pay CNET.
Pros: Cheap.
It has everything.
Sized-well keyboard and camera.
Cons: 600 pixel is too short.
User Rating: 
4/10
Excuse Me?
Pros: OK, it looks good .......
Cons: ..... but really, you can't be serious rating this as the best Netbook buy. You say that is performance is wimpy, it has a striped down Operating System and a tiny SSD Drive.
User Rating: 7/10
A Good first time netbook for owner and manufacturer
Pros: Size is excellent. Performance is not bad. I personally did not find the odd touchpad layout a nuisance, just different. Aesthetics are very pleasing to the eye.
Cons: If you plan to use it often, I suggest investing in an extra stick of ram. It is not bad, but it lacks the crispness of higher RAM. Upgrading hardware is a little tricky. Battery life is dismal.
Unlike the Asus EEE PC 2g, the case feels of high quality. It is durable and rigid. The EEE PC felt cheap, like a $250 dollar machine that it is. It is much speedier than that as well.
Looking to upgrade the AAO? Be mindful that the unit is designed for _space_. According to some owners who have, the RAM slot is not a quick shot to get to.
Battery life is bad? II was pleasantly surprised with the battery life. Others may disagree. But because it is a NETbook, I would expect more out of stock. Get the _upgraded model_, not purchasing a 6 cell after buying this unit if you are looking for excellent battery life (4+ hours?). It is cheaper this way.
Get this if you are looking for ultra-portability in a package no larger than a textbook. With capabilities such as monitor-out and 3 USB slots, it could very well rise to the status of full-time PC in your home.
Updated on Nov 10, 2008If you plan to update the BIOS, expect a smaller choice of screen brightness settings. My noisy fan issue improved somewhat with this update.
User Rating: 6/10
Interface somewhat incomplete
Pros: Small, lightweight, solid keyboard, handles YouTube very well, built in apps are easy to navigate.
Cons: OS is built against tweakers, shoddy microphone software, mouse keys take some getting used to, but aren't too bad, overall.
User Rating: 10/10
Great if you know what you want
Pros: Nice setup with keys bigger than those on my HP, and solid lightweight construction. The touchpad is not a problem if you are careful and to get a 160GB hard drive with XP on something this size is great.
Cons: First thing I did was to get a 6 battery pack. Bluetooth would be nice but not necessary and 512KB is a little small. It does what I want and can almost put it in my backpocket, so how can I complain.
User Rating: 2/10
keyboard keys didnt work
Pros: none, couldnt type much of anything to try it
Cons: cost me $330 for this brand new defective computer plus $20.33 to ship it back and now have to wait about 3 weeks to get it back
User Rating: 8/10
travelling Europe backpack, find portability excellent
Pros: Nice neat clear screen pc, lightweight and quite compatible with available WiFis found thru several countries. Keyboard is just the smallest I can use w ease.
Cons: The side clicks on the touchboard are unnatural!
Lack of bluetooth drivers on the market and in the pc ... linux is not a well supported software if you want to buy a wireless mouse.
Battery life could be better but not that bad.
I am going thru 5 countries in 3 months and can only carry a backpack on my bike while sometimes staying in "unsafe" places. Thus the small size, good screen, good keyboard, good software preinstallation and sturdy case make for a good companion.
User Rating: 8/10
Nice but 600-pixel high screen is VERY limiting
Pros: Good keyboard feel (though small). Processor seems quick, no noticeable lag. 3 usb ports (on both sides) is good.
Cons: 600 pixel screen is too short. 1024x768 please! Mouse buttons on side are goofy. No wifi on/off switich (airplane mode?) No optical drive is more of a pain than anticipated. Hard drive (or fan?) noise very noticeable. Battery life too short.
At this price, it was an impulse buy. I expected to be satisfied, but will probably return it. The screen was the biggest drawback for me, too short and glossy, along with the noise from the hard drive or fan. I expected the low power machine to be silent. They should make the 6-cell battery standard, and include the full 2gb of ram for $400.
Updated on Sep 16, 2008A coworker showed me the wifi on/off switch on the front side. The objectionable noise is the fan, not the hard drive, so it would be present on the SSD versions too.
User Rating: 8/10
Best of the bunch so far.
Pros: $340 price, portability/size, Linux safety
Cons: battery life
Can you people at CNET join the 21st century?
Is it too much to ask to get software to benchmark it or just shut up about it instead of shifting the blame 'it wasnt able to run' excuse. Does the Mac run the Windows software or do you have a specific version for it?
The EEE came out last halloween and there will be 20 manufacturers carrying Linux by the end of the year, so can CNET join the game or still find excuses?
As for the One, I had it for the weekend and it was exactly as advertised. If you want to work on something for 30-60mins, this is the machine. Surfing, chat/IM/video calls, email and web based apps, its the same as the others.
It feels more solid than the original inch EEE but not as solid as the 799$ Mininote and the blue shell is nice and sleek. Keyboards are smallish like most but nice feedback. Screen seems vibrant. Webcam is low res but still fine to talk to friends. Speakers sound a bit tinny.
It has a high 'fun' factor and draws people around it instantly.
High marks to the Linpus Lite Linux which ran very nicely on 512mb ram (I have a 10 year old T21 Thinkpad that runs Linux so this 'beast' shouldnt have trouble running). My friend bought it for his wife and wanted me to put the Ubuntu netbook Remix that my wife uses and after playing around with it my wife asks him why?
The Linpus is basic and super easy to use and even my kids loved the games. The fact that it is Linux means peace of mind with virus, spyware, malware, trojans and the rest of the Windows world goodies. The irrational fear tech pundits have of Linux is funny when you see people at Staples playing with it all day. The kid there tells me that most people dont realize its not Windows.
I'm waiting for DELL to announce their 299$ machine but if they drag their feet, then the $349 Acer One will be our choice.
Of course, every shipment since July 12 has sold out so we could be waiting a while..
User Rating: 8/10
Acer Aspire One netbook
Pros: small, lightweight, simple operating system that does not need antivirus software since it is Linux.
Cons: 3 cell battery life
I recently purchased as Acer Aspire One Netbook from Circuit City and I am in Love with it. I mainly use it for web surfing and chatting to family and friends on Yahoo and AIM which with the chat program installed on the Aspire One you can sign into both accounts at the same time. I get 2 hours and 50 minutes out of the included 3 cell battery which I feel is enough for me.
The screen is bright and easy to read web pages on. It has 10 steps of brightness and I usually have it set to about 50% brightness.
It worked great out of the box and even though I have had it only about a week, I have encountered no problems with it at all.
The Linpus Linux Lite operating system is light weight and easy to navagate and my system boots up in 17 seconds...much faster than the same machine with XP. Plus with Linux I do not have to run an Anti Virus program...saving me even more money. With the Linux Lite operating system, programs open up quickly.
The Intel Atom CPU runs very cool so there is no heat problems with it sitting on my lap.
This is one GREAT Netbook...one I feel is worth investing in.
I recently purchased the Acer Aspire One and I am very happy with it. The Linpus Linux Lite operating system on mine is fast. Programs open up quickly and it has given me no problems. I like the fact that I do not need to run an Anti Virus program on it which would slow down the system and those programs slow down almost ALL systems.
When I want to use it I turn it on and the system boots up in 17 seconds.
I mainly use mine for web surfing and chat on the included messenger program that lets me access multiple chat accounts with a single sign in.
The battery life on mine with the 3 cell battery is about 2 hours and 50 minutes which I feel is not too bad.
The screen is nice and bright and I usually run it at 50% brightness....it has 10 different levels of brightness.
Over all it is a great system. Run out and buy one. You won't be sorry.
User Rating: 7/10
like this pc great for travel
Pros: quick boot up. easy program access. size is great. Fit and finish is good. programs run well.
Cons: wireless stop working after 3 days. no icon for wireless. Acer support not ready to support this computer. Recovery disk comes with unit which has no ODD. Why? should have come with SD card recovery. No note book case or bag
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