Acer TravelMate C110: Centrino infused Tablet PC
by Andrew Ku on September 19, 2003 2:15 PM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
Tablet PCs — Where are we now?
The cost and technology speed bumps of tablet PCs, among other mobile systems, have really held them back from the mainstream market. They are meant to be marketed toward the masses as an everyday away from the desk solution. Tablet PCs are not supposed to replace a dedicated computer, whether it is to be a notebook or a desktop. Rather, it is to enhance productivity in addition to one. The most lightweight and ultraportable notebooks still are not designed to be used while walking around the office. They still require the user to sit down and type away commands, like any desktop.
The cost factor is certainly one to bring into mind, as perhaps the biggest barriers to their large proliferation. Considering that they are intended to compliment a dedicated computer, it brings the whole price tag to almost 2 computers; the tablet being one and the dedicated computer being the other. Most people don’t have the cash to shell out for a tablet PC after buying a notebook or a desktop. If a current tablet PC only costed $1000 or under, we most definitely would see more of them. Due to their purpose as almost an accessory, their purchase is a secondary thought for most. And for this reason, a future price drop will obviously increase the popularity of tablet PCs.
The second factor is the technology speed bumps that tablet PCs have been facing. Everything that a tablet PC is designed around is still focused on mobility and everything encompassing that term: heat dissipation, power consumption, power management, etc. This focus still must bear in mind the minimum acceptable performance that consumers will tolerate. If a system is not capable of running a Windows Media Player visualization or screensaver smoothly, most would consider that below minimum. After all, this is still the era where a user seeks a GHz processor, because it is associated with incredibly fast desktops and desknotes.
As we noted before, the low voltage Pentium III-M systems still weren’t completely satisfactory from a design and practical standpoint, and many system designers had to use Transmeta from a lack of available options. As Anand mentioned in our Centrino review, low voltage Pentium III-M processors still were basically desktop components clocked down for use in mobile systems. Transmeta wasn’t that much better because, while it consumed less power, it didn’t bring the necessary performance. Even though we are just starting to break the mobile barrier with Centrino technology, it brings the necessary performance and architectural design for true blue mobile systems to us now. Tablet PCs and ultraportable notebooks both need to function away from the wall for at least 3 hours, and be able to charge faster than the previous generation. Both of these traits still point back to the processor, which needs to consume less power and will, in turn, produce less heat. Because Centrino accomplishes that, we have already seen its quick success. While ultraportable notebooks have already embraced this technology, Centrino based tablet PCs are just starting to make their way into the market. We have word that in the coming months, there will be several product announcements that involve Centrino based tablet PCs, as even some previous Transmeta based tablet PC lines switch to Centrino.
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BlueFish - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - link
Oh, one more thing to add. I asked the guy why should I bring it in, given that they had replaced the card. His response: "Maybe they replaced the wireless card with a faulty wireless card" - this was the reason for bringing it in so they could test it further. This is incredible! Acer support staff can do that? I'm guessing that their quality assurance processes must be horrible and that they can't even guarantee the wireless card is not faulty BEFORE you put it into a notebook!!!BlueFish - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - link
I couldn't have made a bigger mistake. I was impressed by this unit. I totally bought the whole idea, tablet PC, small, light, tiny, hand recognition. What I got instead was wasted time, useless unit, horrible support and a real waste of money. Here goes a brief run down. If anybody from acer is reading this, you'd better get your act together, because stories like this only scare away consumers.1. Purchased the laptop in Jan (mid). Also purchased an external battery charger. Seemed like a good idea (given it came with 2).
2. Noticed that the laptop didn't shutdown well. Everytime I booted into the unit, it would hang, windows would go into grief and you needed to do it a few times before it decided to be useful.
3. Tried full system restore using Acer disks. Failed to be fixed.
4. Brought it into Acer's repair center. Wow, they guarentee 2 hour turn around. Only problem is, they're not quite in a convenient location. So it'll take you like 2 hours to get there and back anyway. Add it all up, that's 4 hours of wasted time. To top it all off, they are only open from 9 - 5. So what do they expect? customers to take time off work just to fix a stupid PC problem?
5. Got the unit back. Unit boots properly (yay).
6. Noticed the unit's Wireless IP stack keeps dumping. I'd drop a wireless connection many times and often just 5 mtrs away from a Netgear G wireless router. Rang Acer support - put on hold for 20 mins. Finally got through. Reported it and brought it back to the Acer repair center (again). Wasted another 4 hours.
7. Got a call to pick up the unit. Picked it up. The job form indicated they replaced the wireless card.
8. Got it that night and tried out the wireless. Same problem. Noticed that the problem occured depending on what software was running (seems very strange). This was MSN i was attempting to run and it caused the IP stack to dump! Discovered others are having this problem! Why didn't Acer support tell me of this?? instead of wasting my time. I'm a consultant and I hate to have to do these things because I'll have to make the hrs up later. Will Acer pay for my wasted time?
9. Called service support (again). Spoke to the support guy who wasn't very helpful, nor very sympathetic. Not even apologetic. He didn't even say sorry. What a bastard! I've had to waste almost 2 freekin working days and he didn't even have the courtesy to say sorry.
10. Worst still. I've discovered that the second battery they provided - which use to work - now doesn't even charge. I think it's the external charger. It's a bit flimsy in construction and could cause damage to the battery unit. I just tried the primary battery (the one that was working) and now it doesn't work. Probably because I used the external battery charger. Now I have two dud batteries. And to top it all off, you can't even use direct AC power (ie. run the laptop without a working battery). So if one day, the battery dies, forget using the power adaptor cos the unit's dead.
11. Service support said to bring it in again to the Acer support center to have a look again. I asked whether they were willing to replace the entire unit - no answer. The helpdesk guy IGNORED me. Asked if they were going to pickup and deliver they said no. So I have to waste another 4 hours to fix the unit, with no guarantees that after that it will be fixed. Asked for a total refund, they said no.
Am I wrong to expect so much from Acer? I don't think so. If I pay peanuts for something, I would expect peanuts. I'd say, "fair enough, it was cheep anyway. I can get another one... easy no fuss". But I paid AUD $3,700 for this product - an easy price for a plasma TV or LCD TV and now have incurred the following charges:
1. Transport charges to the service center (say 80 bucks)
2. Wasted time waiting and travelling (Say 1000 a day as a consultant) - 16 hours.
If you are looking for a good laptop - stay away from anybody who cannot deliver. Especially stay away unless they have the following:
1. Pickup and delivery of the laptop.
2. Willingness to stand behind their product
3. Renown product support.
Forget Acer's 2 hour guarantee. It's not much considering they don't pickup. You waste time doing all of that. And to sit there and wait 2 hours... forget it.
Acer - fix your products and do some real testing of them. Until then, everybody else, stay away from this pathetic, useless, counter productive vendor - you'll be a happier man/woman.
tomaal - Sunday, December 12, 2004 - link
so what are these rubber bits on the side of the monitor? I thought they might be some kind of speaker mounts, but I cant find any. Are they just bumpers to protect it?Andrew Ku - Thursday, October 23, 2003 - link
Nope it isn't bud. Check again. That isn't a true convertible notebook. It is just a slate with the ability to attach a keyboard.Anonymous User - Saturday, September 20, 2003 - link
Umm, you are forgetting the Compaq Tablet PC which is also a convertible.Poopship - Tuesday, December 18, 2012 - link
Gross