Acer Aspire 5551AWXCi
I've got myself a brand new notebook recently, not exactly recently as it was almost a month ago. Was too busy and has no inspiration to blog about it earlier. No wait, I was busy playing around with the new system, haha... It's an Acer Aspire 5551AWXCi, with additional memory upgrade. It took me almost two weeks to perform systems migration, configuration and optimization. It's high time I made the switch as there were dozen of new computer technology being introduced already - Intel Centrino Duo Mobile technology, DDR2 memory architecture, Serial ATA drive architecture, PCI Express graphics architecture, Intel High Definition Audio architecture and CrystalBrite TFT LCD technology, to name a few. Note that Intel Centrino Duo Mobile technology itself is a collection of three separate technologies - Intel Core Duo processor, Mobile Intel 945 Express chipset and Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network chipset.
It's very tempting to have and be able to utilize what new technology has to offer. Wanted to wait for the official release of Microsoft Windows Vista before making the jump but the roadmap seems a bit unpredictable at times with delays/re-schedules. By the way, Windows Vista is in pre-Release Candidate milestone now and should be available for consumers in first quarter of 2007, I hope. For now, am sticking with Windows XP SP2 Home Edition, with the occasional Linux boots (Ubuntu 6.06 and Knoppix 5.0.1).
OK, enough on the techs and specs. Onto the experience... With the 16:10 widescreen and high definition audio (coupled with an external Altec Lansing audio systems), watching widescreen DVD movies at the comfort of my bedroom is extremely delicious and pampering. Having widescreen means I have more viewing estate and can do much more with less effort. The superfast-and-appears-to-be-two Core Duo processor and new 3D graphics processor proves to be a time-saver in rendering 3D graphics in POV-Ray and OpenGL. Overall, running any application is so much fun these days with the increased productivity. Wireless (Wi-Fi G) network connection is fast and sturdy at 54Mbps. Was at 11Mbps using Wi-Fi B last time. Also, the built-in 5-in-1 (SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro, xD) card reader made my external 9-in-1 card reader useless. Before I forgot, its physical is sleek, slim and the metallic silver and black finish is aesthetically pleasing.
My ex 2.5 year-old Acer TravelMate 291XCi got no love from me anymore as it has been demoted (from personal notebook) to family notebook since early August and be seated at the living room now, along with the family desktop PC. It has served me well but being an electronic device, it's subjected to constant threats from the new models that pop up every other day. Nonetheless, I'll still be taking care of it. As of today, I'm administering three notebooks, a desktop PCs and two Pocket PCs at home, and all are networked via the Linksys WAG354G Wireless-G Home Gateway that I got not long ago. I won't be surprised to see more devices being introduced into our home. Bring it on!
