Laptop reviews: the Gateway ID49C08u and the Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118 - Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118

The Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118 is a 11.6-inch laptop that features excellent performance and a slim design. It does have some design flaws, however, and its $899.99 price tag may be too high for some. The TimelineX comes paired with a one-year warranty.

The TimelineX packs plenty of performance punch thanks to its 1.46 GHz Intel Core i7-680UM processor with 4 MB of cache. The i7 processor is the higher end of the newer Intel chips. The i7-680UM is an ultra-low-voltage processor that uses less power than conventional ones, giving the TimelineX improved battery life. Daily tasks such as Internet browsing, document editing, viewing multimedia, casual gaming, and more can all be handled without problems. To help with multitasking, there is 4 GB of DDR3 SDRAM.

Only casual gaming is recommended on the TimelineX, as it only has an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD card. Data storage is handled by a 500 GB hard drive. As mentioned, the laptop has excellent battery life thanks to the ULV processor, and it's said to give around eight hours of usage when fully charged.  Such battery life makes the TimelineX a good device for traveling.

Additional features include Bluetooth support as well as integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi.  There is no DVD drive, unfortunately, as the smallish design of the TimelineX does not allow for it. You will have to purchase an external DVD drive if you hope to view discs. A media card reader is included for quick data transfers with other devices. Last, but not least, is an integrated webcam and microphone that come in handy for video chatting.

The design of the Aspire TimelineX is similar to that of a netbook due to its smallish size. It measures 11.2 inches wide by 8 inches deep by 1.1 inch thick and weighs only 3.1 pounds. The appearance is a tad cheap, with most of the laptop being covered in a dull black finish, with the exception of below the keyboard, which is brushed metal. The 11.6-inch LED-backlit display has a resolution of 1,366 x 768 and offers decent graphics. The integrated speakers are quite good and offer plenty of volume on their own.

The keyboard has wide keys, but they are so flat that they seem to blend  together. This can lead to some irritating typing, as it takes some practice to get used to. The touch pad is quite small, and blends in with the wrist rests. It supports multi-touch gestures, but its size may frustrate many.

Connectivity is rather average, but it does include a HDMI port. Other connections found on the TimelineX include three USB ports, a VGA port, an Ethernet port, and microphone and headphone jacks.

The Acer Aspire TimelineX is a mixed bag. It's nice and small, yet packs plenty of performance in its small frame. The keyboard, touch pad, and overall appearance are not quite as good, however. If you can get past those negatives, the TimelineX is a solid pick for those seeking a lot of performance in a small package.