Acer Ferrari

Hi everyone. I'm totally new to the forum and to notebooks. I haven't yet purchased my first, but am researching heavily. I have read the 10 things for newbies, so hopefully, I won't be irritating anyone with my questions.

I'm really considering the Acer Ferrari 320. I'm just wondering if this is the best notebook for my money or if I could really do with a bit less computer. I have a good idea of what I want, just looking for the "ideal" package. Yeah, aren't we all?

My personal preferences are for speed (who wants slow anyway?), versatility as I never know what my interest of the moment may be, but most importantly, longevity. Longevity, both in terms of quality as well as keeping fairly up-to-date. Hard drive at least 60 GB and long battery life are also pretty big for me.

Mostly this will be used by me for school stuff, as well as to lug along to our "camp", so portability is necessary, but I don't feel a need for an "ultraportable". We do play some games (Sims, a few war games), but we're not heavy into it. Have two kids and am always taking pictures and loading them on the computer.

As a second computer and for the above mentioned needs, does this one sound like a bit much? Or is there such a thing? I'm just wondering if I could get all my necessities for a bit less money by sacrificing in other areas. Everything else I've looked at has a couple of the qualities I really like, but something else that I really feel I can't live with - like weighing 10 pounds or more!

The specs I've gotten are as follows:

CPU: Low-power mobile AMD Athlon 64 2800+
Display: 15.0" SXGA+
OS: Windows XP Pro
Memory 512 MG
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, 128 MB
HD: 80 GB
Optical Drive: DVD Super Multi
Average Battery Life: 3.0 hours
Weight: 6.6 pounds

I didn't list all the specs, just the ones most important to me. Wouldn't want below a 60 GB hard drive - 'cause I really take and store lots of pictures! - Battery life - the 3 hours would be a minimum for me. Also like the 4-in-1 card reader.

All I've ever owned are desktops and HP at that. We've had really good luck with those, but I'm clueless about brands in notebooks. Acer and Sager seem to pop up a bit here, so went looking in that direction. Am certainly open to other suggestions as this will probably be my only notebook purchase in the next few years.

Okay, be gentle with me if I'm being redundant or asking the obvious idiot questions. Feel free to offer opinions about other brands, etc.

Thanks all.

Acer Ferrari

Thanks, Sanna. I'm definitely open to the Pentium M. I'm just not interested in the Pent 4, 'cause from what I've heard they're tough on battery life and heavy to get the speed I'd like.

So far, I just haven't found any Pentium M with all the stuff I want at a price I can afford. Seems by the time I add the different components I want, it's well over $2,000. I'll like a lot of stuff on one, and then I'll see that it's not dedicated memory on the video or something like that. Maybe it'd be easier if I listed what I really want it to include and see if it rings a bell with someone? Worth a shot. So, I guess for those interested, here's the question of the day: Can I find a reliable computer for UP TO $2,000 with the following? Maybe I've set my sights too high. Here goes:

Either AMD or Pentium M processor. Decent speed. I don't have a definite minimum I'd say maybe 1.5 and up?

60 GB hard drive or up, although I'd prefer 80, I'd settle for 60 with decent RPM.

DVD -+ RW/CD-RW a MUST.

Decent graphics. Would like Radeon, but would give a bit on that. Would like 128 MB video memory.

I'm not even too into good sound. Have a decent desktop for that.

REALLY good battery life, 3 + hours. Preferably +.

Weight, I'm not terribly picky, but would prolly want to top out at 7 lbs.

Display - I actually like the matte screens, 'cause it'll be used outdoors a bit, as well as in the car. So glare is a consideration. No particular size preference.

Memory stick reader I'd REALLY like.

So for what I want, would I do much better to keep looking?

I've seen lots of Compaq, HP and Gateway that I like a lot about, but there's always something I dislike just enough that I can't see paying the price for it. I've not looked seriously at Dell. Just 'cause my mom had a bad experience and I've heard tech support is a nightmare from her. Sony just seems really pricey to me. Not as much "Bang for the Buck". Fujitsu I've only found a few and quite frankly I'm just not familiar enough with them to know. Averatec had a shockingly good price at first glance, with the AV3250HX80. And I could trade up if I hate it within 30 days. It was only $1,099. 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB RAM, RW DVD and CD drive, but the graphics looked pretty sad to my relatively untrained eye. And I don't believe it was dedicated, but shared memory.

Okay, I've rambled enough. Thanks to any and all who might help. Maybe I just want too much for too little *sigh*

Thank you so much for all the info. I've been checking them all out. It's so hard not to get that little "extra" when you're adding stuff to them! I really like the Sager 3790. That's one where it's really hard not to add the 1GB of ram instead of the 516, etc. It just doesn't seem like all that much price difference. Then you add, the warranty and other "just gotta haves" and what do you know? It's over $2,000! Okay, time to really use the self restraint now! LOL

Thanks again everyone. I'll keep searching until I have the animal I want. And hey, don't be shy about adding another .02 to the pot if you have it!

Aha! I knew I was forgetting something. Heat was a consideration of mine and wanted to know about any experience with it especially regarding the Acer Ferrari. I just keep coming back to that one.

Although, I have discovered iBuyPower.com and they have a Batallion, Series 101, E Turbo that really looks good. Adding the little extras I want only brings it to $1749. Their base on that model is $1649. I understand this is a relatively new company, but anyone who knows or has dealt with it, I'd welcome some input. Oh, and it has a 5 hour battery life.

How the heck do I put a link in here? I'd do that! You know, I started out on a Radio Shack TRS-80 - where I kicked tail - (yep, trash 80) years ago and kept up until about 8 years ago and now I'm a total puter moron! ARGH!

DDDa Thanks so much! I was a little worried I'd post and sound like such an idiot I'd get laughed out of here! I may sound like an idiot, but I appreciate y'all not laughing in my face.

I was wondering about that. I know it's not supposed to get as warm as the P4,s. I've just about talked myself out of the Ferrari. Mainly looking for better battery life. But, oh, it is so pretty!

LOL I thought about it with the Batallion! But I don't know if I could really justify it to myself. Darn it. The chembook is mainly blue it looks like. Maybe I can convince myself it's pretty too! heehee

AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH! Just when I thought I'd narrowed the field by cutting one out of the running. My head tells me go toward the Centrino type books, but my heart keeps coming to the Ferrari.

I know, I know. But I'm trying so hard to be sensible! LOL You did say this was a very quiet notebook? Not that it has to be almost silent or anything, just weighing all the options. And it seems I was reading somewhere that the AMD64 is less likely to be obscure quite as quickly? Or did I dream that?

Notice I'm trying to talk myself into it now?

Are all notebook owners so loyal to their brand/model? LOL You two are determined to talk me into it. Not like I'm not trying to talk myself into it, too.