Acer Aspire One

[jdizzle]

Hi folks! I've been looking at this laptop since it came out and the one thing that attracted me to it is it's portability. I wouldn't use it as a workhorse but, more for storage, internet, music, and viewer for my pics. Imo, this is a better bargain than the Epson P-3000 I have. What do you guys think? Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-8-9-inch-Processor-Battery-Sapphire/dp/B001EYV9TM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1223400263&sr=1-1

Here's another option: The Asus Eee Pc
http://www.amazon.com/1000H-Display-Intel-Processor-Battery/dp/B001FWXCFM/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&m=A3LJ5WMKNRFKQS&s=electronics&qid=1223400768&sr=1-16

[BottomBracket]

Hey kabayan! I myself am thinking of getting one of these small laptops for traveling. By the way, there is a great deal on the Asus Eee at zipzoomfly, check it out here. (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10008842) It is listed at $420, but when you add it to your cart there is an instant $40 off making it $380. Shipping is free and no tax unless you live in California. I just might get one myself!

[jdizzle]

Hey kabayan! I myself am thinking of getting one of these small laptops for traveling. By the way, there is a great deal on the Asus Eee at zipzoomfly, check it out here. (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10008842) It is listed at $420, but when you add it to your cart there is an instant $40 off making it $380. Shipping is free and no tax unless you live in California. I just might get one myself!
Cool! Thanks for the link. Now I have to decide which one is best for me. I do like the Acer more since it's much smaller and I'm more partial to Windows XP and the 160 GB HD. Decisions,decisions....:)
My cousin has one and he loves it. He takes it everywhere he goes.

Here's a link from NewEgg.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115513

[Miyagi-san]

I just got my Asus eee pc in the mail the other day. I got the 1000H model and upgraded the RAM to 2GB.

I compared for a long time before choosing this thing and CAN'T RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH.

I also got a little external dvd burner that is powered only by usb. probably won't use it much but better to have it and not need it than the other way around. here's the link for it.... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136136 it's quick (for what it is), comes with good software and is fairly quiet. although using daemon tools i can mount virtual drives for all my software and don't need it most of the time. it's nice to have though :)

i would say the 10" screen is perfect, any smaller and personally i think it's too small...any bigger and you may as well get a full laptop.

the intel atom processor zips through everything i throw at it with the 2gb RAM including CS3. it's quicker than my desktop (not that my PC is anything worth mentioning). lightroom is unfortunately pretty much unusable with the small screen though. i've found google picasa about the only photo editing software that's usable on the screen so far...but that's not really what i got it for.

anyway, check out the asus 1000h eee pc...it's the cream of the crop. asus also has a 1 year no questions asked warranty if you read the fine print.

[BottomBracket]

Hey Andrew, thanks for the review! I want one now :) I will be waiting for Black Friday to roll by though, see if I can get a good deal. How's the baby?

[jdizzle]

I just got my Asus eee pc in the mail the other day. I got the 1000H model and upgraded the RAM to 2GB.

I compared for a long time before choosing this thing and CAN'T RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH.

I also got a little external dvd burner that is powered only by usb. probably won't use it much but better to have it and not need it than the other way around. here's the link for it.... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136136 it's quick (for what it is), comes with good software and is fairly quiet. although using daemon tools i can mount virtual drives for all my software and don't need it most of the time. it's nice to have though :)

i would say the 10" screen is perfect, any smaller and personally i think it's too small...any bigger and you may as well get a full laptop.

the intel atom processor zips through everything i throw at it with the 2gb RAM including CS3. it's quicker than my desktop (not that my PC is anything worth mentioning). lightroom is unfortunately pretty much unusable with the small screen though. i've found google picasa about the only photo editing software that's usable on the screen so far...but that's not really what i got it for.

anyway, check out the asus 1000h eee pc...it's the cream of the crop. asus also has a 1 year no questions asked warranty if you read the fine print.
Thanks for your input on the Asus Eee. For my own personal taste, I bought the Acer instead. I've always wanted a laptop but, I didn't want the added extra weight of the larger laptops. That's not a bad price for an external dvd burner. Thanks for the link! :)

[jdizzle]

Hey Andrew, thanks for the review! I want one now :) I will be waiting for Black Friday to roll by though, see if I can get a good deal. How's the baby?
Let me know when you get one Pio so we can do a comparison review. :)

[Miyagi-san]

Hey Andrew, thanks for the review! I want one now :) I will be waiting for Black Friday to roll by though, see if I can get a good deal. How's the baby?

Although I don't have experience with the 901 series, I would say the 1000H is a big improvement based on all my comparison shopping I did online...

That Acer was my runner up when I was trying to decide on a netbook. They are very similar....I'm sure you'll be very happy with it, Julian :)

Chase is doing well, growing FAST! 16 months old already I can't believe it. We just got back from a trip to Berlin, he loved it :)

I'm trying to talk myself into picking myself up a 5D mark i used for xmas and either a 24 or 35L to go with it. Prices should be nice and low by then for a minty used model :)

sorry to hijack the thread, make sure to post up a quick review of the Acer when you get it!

[jdizzle]

No problem about the hijack. :) I'll definitely do a small review on the laptop as soon as it comes in on Teusday. I ordered the blue and black( this one's for my wife:)) I was on Youtube last night and found this! :) Not really an impressive video but, I was surprised that this could be done on this laptop.:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVevwWOKCEU&feature=related

[deanby7]

Has anyone tried running the EOS Utility softwware with one of these netbooks? I'm interested in tethered shooting with my 40D.

[jdizzle]

I haven't tried it yet.

[Compact Diss]

Just read a review on the best laptops in a photo magazine, the was a top rated one

http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail.htm?sku=8407438

[deanby7]

jdizzle - I would be interested to know whether the low screen res of these netbooks is enough for the EOS Utility software to run. I'm also looking at the Advent 4211 (re-badged MSI Wind but cheaper!).
Any help here would be appreciated.

[deanby7]

Will the netbook run the EOS Utility software for tethered shooting? Tried it?

[jdizzle]

I tried it and it won't due to the low res screen. That's fine with me. I don't expect to do any editing on this laptop anyway. Mostly for surfing,e-mail, music, and storage for pics.

[deanby7]

Thanks for info. You just saved me a few hundred quid!! Did the install software state the minimum resolution that it required? Thanks again.

[jdizzle]

Thanks for info. You just saved me a few hundred quid!! Did the install software state the minimum resolution that it required? Thanks again.
Yes. It had to be higher than 1024 x 768. :)

[deanby7]

I'm looking to get a small notebook and it would be handy to know the minimum resolution that the software requires. I'm guessing at least 1024x768.

[jdizzle]

If it were me, I would just get a bigger notebook with a higher resolution. I was looking at the 16 inch ACER and it was in the range of 700 USD. Duo Core and 2 gig of memory. It was real nice for the price.

[hollis_f]

I'm looking to get a small notebook and it would be handy to know the minimum resolution that the software requires. I'm guessing at least 1024x768.Ding! And you win tonight's start prize. The correct answer to the question 'What is the minimum resolution required to run DPP? is, indeed, 1024x768.

[hollis_f]

Well, I've spent most of today checking out various photo programs on my new Aspire One (XP verson).

DPP - Refused to run on a screen smaller than 1024x768 - uninstalled.

Irfanview - couldn't get it to handle CR2 files - uninstalled.

ACDSee Pro 2.5 - Takes around 20 seconds to open a raw file. However, the 'High Quality Pass' image that it renders is easily good enough to determine if an image is worth keeping or not. However, it does take a long time for the program to open.

Faststone 3.6 - Again, around 20 seconds to open a raw image. However, it's very fast to open and the preview images look pretty good.

Lightroom 2.1 - What a surprise! Importing images didn't seem much slower that on my friend's (single-core) desktop. And image selection and processing was also about the same. You do have to hide the toolbars/sidebars to get the image displayed at a decent size. Luckily, that's quite easy to do.

So, while away on holiday I shall be using Faststone for image review and dud-deletion. When time allows I'll import images into Lightroom just in case I want to do some processing. But the bulk of the processing will be done back at home on the desktop.

[deanby7]

I read somewhere on an AVforum that these netbooks can be set to higher resolutions, but not all of desktop is shown on screen. I believe the hidden bits can be accessed by placing cursor at the edge of thwe screen and the desktop pans!
Apparently, when selecting the screen resolution, the "only show supported resolutions" tick box should be unchecked!
I hope someone here could try it and see if the Canon utility, photoshop software works when set to 1024x768.

[OdiN1701]

I read somewhere on an AVforum that these netbooks can be set to higher resolutions, but not all of desktop is shown on screen. I believe the hidden bits can be accessed by placing cursor at the edge of thwe screen and the desktop pans!
Apparently, when selecting the screen resolution, the "only show supported resolutions" tick box should be unchecked!
I hope someone here could try it and see if the Canon utility, photoshop software works when set to 1024x768.

Almost every laptop can be set to higher resolutions and you get the screen panning. It would annoy the crap out of me personally so I'd never use it.

[siggo]

For viewing only, I used Microsoft RAW image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows XP (downloaded easily 20 meg) on the Ecer Aspire one with my 10-D crw files. Good results. Haven't tried with CR2 yet.
Having just had the Acer bios reflashed under warranty (no display at all) I am reluctant to be the first to try loading Canon Utility using the 768 res set up! Sorry selfish I know.

[deanby7]

Yes, very selfish! (only joking). I've heard that the next generation of netbooks will sport 1024x768 touchscreens. I hope this is soon!!

[SuzyView]

Touchscreens are not so wonderful for me, and may be a little more pricey. I bought my Eee for the holidays and love it. I don't use it to edit, just to get on the net and to do work while traveling. My 17 inch Dell is for the editing and so, that comes with me when I go to jobs. But the Eee is wonderful, I would recommend it for $389, it's a bargain, cheaper than my Epson P-200.

[dave_bass5]

Hi Guys/girls.
Interesting thread.
Ive just got a Asus Eee PC901 and so far really loving it. I was going to go for the Acer Aspire One as it has a nicer keyboard but what swung it for me was the 8 hour battery life with the 901 compared to the 2.5 with the Acer.
Anyway, the reason im posting here is to ask about photo software, and specifically something that will read my Canon 40D RAW files and quickly convert them to jpg and upload or email them.
Im trying Picasa 3 at the moment and while it seems to do the job its having a hard time importing the RAW files. I just cant get them in to the library although i can double click them from the XP folder and they open and i can do what i need with them.
I normally use Irfanview but thats not quite as slick with the uploading part.
Im off to Florida in feb and would like to take the 901 with me so i can blog or upload a few pics each day. Not looking for any fancy editing as ill do all that in LR2 when i get back.
Any other apps you might think will do a better job? I see hollis_f mentions faststone, thats next on my list of apps to look at.

Can i connect my 40D to the 901 to download my files? I know i cant use the canon image apps but will the camera work just like a USB storage device so i can drag and drop to the desktop or will i need to install the canon drivers?
I will get around to trying, just thought i would ask first.

[hollis_f]

something that will read my Canon 40D RAW files and quickly convert them to jpg and upload or email them.
There's nothing that will quickly do the conversions. When I use FastStone I've got it set up to use the embedded jpeg (that lives inside each raw file) for display - because that's pretty fast. If I ask it to render the raw image it takes about 20 seconds for each one.

If I should want to convert one or more raw files then I've found LightRoom to be as fast as anything else so I'll use that. But it is painfully slow. If I were planning on processing just a few files I'd do this -

Transfer images to PC
Preview images in FastStone, viewing embedded jpegs
Make a list of filenames for processing
Import those files into LightRoom
Process and export as jpeg

For transferring files from card to PC I always use a card reader for many reasons (not least my fear of somebody snagging the camera-pc cable and sending one of them crashing to the floor).

[dave_bass5]

Cheers mate.
Ive been playing with Picasa and its pretty quick. You dont need to convert as such, you just select the file, do any editing and click email or send to and it doe the conversion at the same time.
Think im going to stick with this for the holiday.
I normally use a card reader but again, for the holiday i want to take as little as possible so ill try and plug the camera in first to see what happens.

[BrianN324]

It's apparently been a while since anyone has tried to use the Acer Aspire One with Canon Utility software. I was looking around the forum for info on just this and so I will add what I know so far.

I am very happy with the Acer Aspire One (Costco version 160GB HD 1GBRAM) and was actually pleasantly surprised at how well it actually works overall. The screen is small, but is actually quite sharp in use, and I have a few 1600x1200 screens to compare to.

My current issue is this: I want to use the Canon EOS utility software, mostly the remote shooting features. I loaded the disc I got with my 5D (ver 12.1) and everything with the exception of DPP ran. The only problem with the remote shooting program is that it will not allow me to choose a network drive. This can be very useful and actually is necessary for my work flow.

So, I updated to the newer files from the Canon site. I first tried it on another computer, an older Dell Inspiron 8000 with 1600x1200 screen res. Worked just fine, and in the new version, the network drives are not greyed out. I mapped a folder as a drive letter and it's really slick. Also, DPP runs to, as it didn't have a screen res issue.

I then updated the Canon Utility software with the latest versions to the Acer Aspire. None of the new versions would now install, as they are all apparently set to a minimum of 1024x768. So now I'm stuck at a point where I know the newest versions would work fine if I can get them to install and run as the old ones did on this Aspire.

The issue is not really screen resolution per se, it's that the Aspire aspect ratio is different. It is a 1024x600 screen running at the 'highest' Windows 32-bit color setting. There is no problem with image quality here.

Also, since I've seen that the earlier versions run quite well and look great, I know it can work. I believe this Acer Aspire and others possibly can be very useful netbooks as a companion to the Canon camera particularly on location. I have no intention of doing critical image work on this computer, but for remote shooting functions, it's quite useful.

So bottom line is that I'm trying to find a work around to get this newest version of Canon Utilities to run on the Acer Aspire One. (If I can find the programmers, I would ask them too)

I either need to be able to access network drives in the older version of the software, or to be able to load and run the newest versions that appareantly have no problem with network access.

It seems apparent that this software was intentionally limited to higher res screens, even though it does operate and has in the previous versions pretty well. The only reason I can see offhand for this particularly with the remote shooting functions is that with a very small netbook tethered to the Canon 5D, this solution at $299 competes quite well as compared with the Canon WiFi option at $1K.

I will be trying other things to see just how the software determines screen 'resolution' and/or load the previous version to see if there is a network drive access possibility also. I like the new interface of the latest version, but I will end up using whatever actually works.

[deanby7]

The issue is not really screen resolution per se, it's that the Aspire aspect ratio is different. It is a 1024x600 screen running at the 'highest' Windows 32-bit color setting. There is no problem with image quality here.

I've read elsewhere that a workaround is to set the netbook to a higher screen resolution, say 1024x768 (so that you have to scroll around the desktop to see all of it!), install the Canon software, then reduce the resolution back again.
Perhaps you could try it and let us know, as I'm still considering buying one for tethered shooting and as a backup device rather than buy an overpriced Epson P4000 etc!

[dekekincaid]

One product I suggest instead of the Canon software is DSLR Remote Pro:

http://www.breezesys.com/DSLRRemotePro/index.htm

Extremely powerful tethering software for most cameras. It even lets you shoot bracketed photos for HDRI way beyond the default 3 that comes with Canon cameras. I use it with my Asus 900Ha Eeepc.

[johndeerrm]

I've read elsewhere that a workaround is to set the netbook to a higher screen resolution, say 1024x768 (so that you have to scroll around the desktop to see all of it!), install the Canon software, then reduce the resolution back again.
Perhaps you could try it and let us know, as I'm still considering buying one for tethered shooting and as a backup device rather than buy an overpriced Epson P4000 etc!


That is correct, that is what I do on my aspire one.

Not that its worth doing, it takes 21 seconds to convert 1 raw image compared to the desktop that does it in 4 seconds.

Great machine to dump photos to though.

[deanby7]

One product I suggest instead of the Canon software is DSLR Remote Pro:

http://www.breezesys.com/DSLRRemotePro/index.htm

Extremely powerful tethering software for most cameras. It even lets you shoot bracketed photos for HDRI way beyond the default 3 that comes with Canon cameras. I use it with my Asus 900Ha Eeepc.

I don't think this software is compatible with the WFT-E3 wireless file transmitter, but the Canon Utility software is.

[BrianN324]

My purpose for this is primarily the remote camera control and image transfer functions, so the problem with screen res issue is even more frustrating since the app in question comes up as a very small window, not even a full screen anyway. Zoombrowser (older version) works just fine. I'd be using these if it were not for the network drive issue. For actual image work, I have a workstation with Photoshop and the usual. I've only tested the flle transfer speeds on a B WiFi system so far, and it was good enough to make me think that a G or N will be OK.

I'm in the workaround process now, it's going to either be a way to get the newest versions to install and run which is preferred as I know the network drive access works - or, to stay with the older versions (from the Canon 12.1 disc) that will run but then I will be back trying to figure out why the network drives are greyed.

Today I looked through the Intel interface for the video on the Acer Aspire One that I have, and although this computer can support two monitors, presumably with the second being 1024x768, the highest in the list I can find is 1024x600 True Color which is what is running now. All others are lower. I would be interested to know how it was done, for those that say that they were able to do so.

I've also sent the info to Intel support to see what they suggest. Their support website indicates issue with screen res not changing, some of which seems to be related to 2nd monitor issues. I'm still looking for the spec sheet to determine maximum resolution for this video board/chipset, and they will probably come up with it before I do.

Thanks much for all who answered, this seems to be a huge forum and it looks to be just what I will need for things I will be doing. If I make any progress I will be sure to mention it here.

[BrianN324]

The Intel video board/chipset in my Aspire One is capable of up to 1600x1200 True color at a refresh rate of 75Hz. I don't know if that's the actual spec, but that's what it was able to do when connected to my Viewsonic 21" screen. So, the hardware is there, unknown if the LCD in the Aspire would be a limiting factor, but I suspect not. As stated before, a larger screen res would just require scrolling. For Canon utility use, this would not be a factor given that it's a small window anyway. No word back yet from Intel, I will check with Acer too.

When someone mentioned the Epson viewer, it did remind me that I can also use that as I got one just for this purpose, and for a time without the network access, I could use it as a second drive. I actually got a P3000 free with a printer and am ashamed to say I've used it more than the printer so far, but this will be changing soon, now that color management has been established. (I can recommend the Epson seminar - Track II - that's around currently, it helped me)

[BrianN324]

After a few more tries, I've been able to load all of the current Canon Utilities programs, as downloaded from their support website, into this Acer Aspire One (XP 160GB 1GB RAM).

As it turned out, the simplest solution worked (eventually). I was able to use the START>CONTROL PANEL>DISPLAY>SETTINGS>ADVANCED and then choose Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Mobile which opens a window that allowed me to check 'show tray icon' which made it quicker to change things. GRAPHIC PROPERTIES opens the Intel dialog, in which color quality/screen res/refresh rate. and others.

It has Scheme Options in which I've been able to create pre-sets which (Ithink) will be available when using the tray Icon although it may not save 1024x768 as it's larger than normal for the screen even though it does work with scrolling. I will continue to work on that, however the main thing is that I was able to get the screen res changed and all of the software installed and it all will run if screen res is set beforehand.

With the use of these latest versions of Canon's software, in particular the Canon Utility and remote shooting, I was also now able to choose a network drive and it was accepted and I can shoot either from the camera or from the screen and images will be saved to the network drive (and the CF also if desired). This also worked over WiFi.

I still need to determine file transfer speeds particularly with RAW files, but so far, no problems in that regard as I generally have no need to machine gun shots.

The only outstanding issue, which may not actually be a problem, is that in either Zoombrowser or DPP, when choosing to 'Do Not Modify' under File Name, it actually does modify the image number created in camera every time regardless. It is adjustable, so that you could probably maintained the in camera numbers, but it doesn't actually just pass on the image numbers. I've used Zoombrowser for some time now, and this is not true when you download images from the camera. But, long term I believe I will adopt a new file naming/numbering structure anyyway and both programs have a lot of options, with DPP having several Customization options that can be chosen.

At any rate, I now know for what it's worth that all of the latest Canon software runs in the Acer Aspire One (at least the model sold at Costco) and even with the need to change resolution beforehand, it's going to be very useful for remote control shooting and automatic file transfers.

[amd is the best]

I just picked up one of these bad boys and couldn't be any happier!

[deanby7]

I see Dell are now selling their mini 10 with an optional HD screen (1366x768) which overcomes all the resolution issues canon utilities etc!

[amd is the best]

I wanted a netbook with a higher res screen but they all seemed to be significantly higher in price then the standard ones at 1024 X 600.

[deanby7]

The Dell mini 10 with HD screen (1366x768) is around £330.