NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Acer Forums › Acer Notebook Reviews › ACER TravelMate 8104 "Sonoma" Review
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

ACER TravelMate 8104 "Sonoma" Review - Page 8

post #141 of 293
2/26/05 at 12:15am
Awesome, thanks!!!

My judgement is: The brightness and sharpness are quite good, but the colors are not really "juicy", plus angles are not incredibly good also. Most importantly, the backlit seems to be really uneven, even the up-forward shot shows significanlty lighter bottom and darker top. Is this blue background one-color solid, or a gradient? Strangely, on a side-angled shot no visble gradient is present, colors at top and bottom seem equally faded... Therefore, people were probably right, and this is a TN+Film panel, and not the best one (not a crappy Dell though, just regular).
Reply
Reply
post #142 of 293
2/26/05 at 12:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexey
Awesome, thanks!!!

My judgement is: The brightness and sharpness are quite good, but the colors are not really "juicy", plus angles are not incredibly good also. Most importantly, the backlit seems to be really uneven, even the up-forward shot shows significanlty lighter bottom and darker top. Is this blue background one-color solid, or a gradient? Strangely, on a side-angled shot no visble gradient is present, colors at top and bottom seem equally faded... Therefore, people were probably right, and this is a TN+Film panel, and not the best one (not a crappy Dell though, just regular).
Agreed on the good but not juicy. The background is not a gradient but I think it's if you're not dead center it "changes", it's brightest when leaned back and dead center to vision. On mixed screens, like a browser or game, you don't notice it. I'm satisfied with it but it's not quite as crisp as my old UXGA. Definitely nowhere near as dull as some CRTs (Mags) I've had.
Reply
Reply
post #143 of 293
2/26/05 at 12:36am
Well, it is definitely not as crappy as something that I am staring at right now :-). However, I am thinking about the new Tecra S2, and it seems to be a "8104 killer": almost the same config (except GF Go 6600 and DDR333), seemingly lower battery life, and the screen 1600*1200 UXGA 15''. Same money till Monday. However: 1). Noone has seen this Tecra before, not a single review, no pictures anywhere. 2). Not much positive feedback about Tecra S1 or any other Tecra (yeah, everybody says it is a cool laptop for business, but nobody has it :-)) 3). 15 % restocking fee (matters for me), and 4). Horrbile quality and support for all lines of Toshiba laptops for the last year, reported everywhere on the web.
Sorry, I gave birth to an offtopic :-)
Anyway, have you seen (alive or pics) Toshiba UXGA non-TrueBrite screen, and how it compares?
Reply
Reply
post #144 of 293
2/27/05 at 10:41am

8104 warranty

Hi,

I know acer supplies international traveller's warranty.

Is this international warranty exactly the same as the standard local warranty? ie..so i would be able to get the same repair/service in Australia, if purchased the 8104 in US?
Reply
Reply
post #145 of 293
2/27/05 at 11:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pwanda
Hi,

I know acer supplies international traveller's warranty.

Is this international warranty exactly the same as the standard local warranty? ie..so i would be able to get the same repair/service in Australia, if purchased the 8104 in US?
Yes of course, that is what international warranty is all about.
Reply
Reply
post #146 of 293
3/5/05 at 11:28pm
dont know if anybody has mentioned it in any of the 8100 threads, but what about this modular bay battery that was supposed to be availible?
Reply
Reply
post #147 of 293
3/5/05 at 11:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by yeggster
dont know if anybody has mentioned it in any of the 8100 threads, but what about this modular bay battery that was supposed to be availible?
None of the accessories seem to be available yet. Surf neutronexpress.com and search for "acer notebook". It's in the list along with the EZport replicator. The replacement battery should be in there somewhere too. Personally I just want a second replacement so I can still use the CD, like on long trips. I definitely want a port replicator too. In "desktop" mode I currently use all USB ports, firewire port, LAN, and DVI.
Reply
Reply
post #148 of 293
3/6/05 at 4:54pm
can you upgrade the graphic card/chip urself?
Reply
Reply
post #149 of 293
3/9/05 at 1:33am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverdragun
can you upgrade the graphic card/chip urself?
So far there is no indication it will be upgradeable. It isn't even VISIBLE without taking the case apart (I assume, because it can't see it in anything I've taken off already.) If it was meant to be easily upgradeable they might have advertised that.
Reply
Reply
post #150 of 293
3/14/05 at 4:55pm
Has anyone else tried to run Party Poker or Pacific Poker on their 8104? On the base system install I get messed up poker room windows, as well as bank/account balance text off formatted. I even formatted everything and reinstalled the system restore. Exacty same issues. Today I'm going to borrow a friends XP Pro and forget all of the acer stuff. I'm wondering if the Acer font could have some kind of issues on all this...
Reply
Reply
post #151 of 293
3/14/05 at 5:16pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bauermj
Has anyone else tried to run Party Poker or Pacific Poker on their 8104? On the base system install I get messed up poker room windows, as well as bank/account balance text off formatted. I even formatted everything and reinstalled the system restore. Exacty same issues. Today I'm going to borrow a friends XP Pro and forget all of the acer stuff. I'm wondering if the Acer font could have some kind of issues on all this...
I don't use those, but what screen res are you using? Turned off Clear Type? I don't know that Acer uses their own fonts. Post some pix\screenshots in the big 8100 thread if you can (or PM me and I'll give you an email where you can send me a couple of reasonable size JPGs, and I'll host/post em for u. I don't have unlimited resources!).
Reply
Reply
post #152 of 293
3/15/05 at 12:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMsyvc
I don't use those, but what screen res are you using? Turned off Clear Type? I don't know that Acer uses their own fonts. Post some pix\screenshots in the big 8100 thread if you can (or PM me and I'll give you an email where you can send me a couple of reasonable size JPGs, and I'll host/post em for u. I don't have unlimited resources!).
Figured it out. How silly, but you kind of led me to start looking at video settings. I went to some advanced settings and just happened to see that by default (on the system load AND restore discs) Acer sets DPI to LARGE 120 DPI. Changing this back to normal 90 DPI fixed everything. I will still try to get a screenshot to show you how this DPI setting totally freaked out the software.

Anyway, problem solved and thanks for getting me on the right track.
Reply
Reply
post #153 of 293
3/15/05 at 12:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bauermj
Figured it out. How silly, but you kind of led me to start looking at video settings. I went to some advanced settings and just happened to see that by default (on the system load AND restore discs) Acer sets DPI to LARGE 120 DPI. Changing this back to normal 90 DPI fixed everything. I will still try to get a screenshot to show you how this DPI setting totally freaked out the software.

Anyway, problem solved and thanks for getting me on the right track.
Oh yeah, that has been noted before. Sorry I forgot it.
Reply
Reply
post #154 of 293
3/15/05 at 9:45pm
Just thought id mention that clear type is well worth putting on. Of couse - reduce your DPI to 90 first :P
Reply
Reply
post #155 of 293
3/16/05 at 6:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMsyvc
2nd test: 2 hr 25 min: BatteryMon is predicting 2 1/2. MobilityMeter after an hour says I'm running at 800Mhz, steady 48C CPU temp and near-flatline 39C HDD temp. Made it to 2 hr 25 min before it went into hibernate...
I'm interested in this tool called "MobilityMeter". Where can I find it?
Reply
Reply
post #156 of 293
3/16/05 at 6:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EnF70
I'm interested in this tool called "MobilityMeter". Where can I find it?
MobileMeter actually, sorry. http://dssc3031.ece.cmu.edu/~tamaru/...erreadme-e.htm
This link leads you to an English page, with a link to a Japanese page that has the download link. It's very nice for just watching CPU and HDD temp. I leave it running when I start a game then check the history afterwards. Stretch the MM window in all directions for more detail.
Reply
Reply
post #157 of 293
3/18/05 at 2:39am
I'm not sure this is the right thread to post this but its just for a small question.
____________________________________________________________
Hi MrMsyvc, I read your reviews a lot and I want to thank you for those. After a couple of weeks of shopping and reading notebook reviews, I've decided to buy a Acer TM8104. I bought it from www.NCIX.com.

My question is: When I get the product, is it ok if I make a review inspired by yours on another site? (I could link this one to it too at the end, if you want) I already wanted to quote your nick (cause its the only name I know about you) on the review to let know I was inspired by your review.

sorry for my bad english :/

Thanks!

Simon
____________________________________________________________
Reply
Reply
post #158 of 293
3/18/05 at 3:04am
hey panic how much did u pay? 2799?
u should check out www.mymicro.com that is where i got my last one from and it's good..

and a bit bit cheaper@@and they do price match!!
Reply
Reply
post #159 of 293
3/18/05 at 4:12am
Thanks for that but they only take mastercard ans Visa, not paypal or other electronic method , so its impossible for me to order it from there. Do you know any other good place?

Thx
Reply
Reply
post #160 of 293
3/18/05 at 12:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PANIC!!!
I'm not sure this is the right thread to post this but its just for a small question.
____________________________________________________________
Hi MrMsyvc, I read your reviews a lot and I want to thank you for those. After a couple of weeks of shopping and reading notebook reviews, I've decided to buy a Acer TM8104. I bought it from www.NCIX.com.

My question is: When I get the product, is it ok if I make a review inspired by yours on another site? (I could link this one to it too at the end, if you want) I already wanted to quote your nick (cause its the only name I know about you) on the review to let know I was inspired by your review.

sorry for my bad english :/

Thanks!

Simon
____________________________________________________________
Fine by me. Quote it or link it as you like. Please don't use the pictures anywhere else as I'm paying to have them hosted online and I've already had to pay more because they got so many hits. They can come here to look at them but nowhere else please. Thanks.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Acer Notebook Reviews
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Acer Forums › Acer Notebook Reviews › ACER TravelMate 8104 "Sonoma" Review