New Powerhouse Notebooks

Acer Aspire 1712SMi
Acer's Aspire 1712SMi has a full-size, standard aspect ratio 17-inch display mounted on an equally large base. Weighing almost 16 pounds, this notebook does not travel easily. As a desktop replacement, however, no other notebook ever examined by the Test Center is as grand.

The notebook measures 15 x 2.75 x 12.75 inches. Despite its size, the 1712SMi is only a two-spindle unit and lacks an internal floppy drive.

The notebook's 17-inch TFT display has an SXGA native resolution of 1,280 x 1,024. The display uses four light tubes instead of the standard two, making it twice as bright as other displays. It is driven by an Nvidia GeForce FX Go5700 graphics accelerator with as much as 128 Mbytes of DDR video memory.

The Aspire 1712SMi features a 3GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading Technology and as much as 2 Gbytes of memory. A 120-Gbyte hard drive provides plenty of storage space, and the sample unit featured a combination DVD+/-RW drive that reads and writes to most DVD media and all CD-R media. An included 6-in-1 card reader is compatible with MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, CompactFlash and MicroDrive media cards. One PC Card slot is also provided. Connectivity is provided via a 10/100 NIC, a V.92 fax modem, an 802.11g wireless NIC, four USB 2.0 ports, a standard and mini-FireWire port, and an S-video output. The unit also includes parallel and serial ports. The notebook comes standard with Windows XP and costs $1,999.

Acer's single-level channel program provides pre-sales support, integration assistance, competitive info and MDFs. Acer also offers joint sales and marketing opportunities and a dedicated partner newsletter and Web site. Training is available over the phone, via Web teleconference and on-site. Acer offers discounted pricing to resellers in lieu of reseller margins.

Fujitsu LifeBook C2310
Fujitsu based its LifeBook C2310 desktop replacement on a three-spindle design, and the notebook has a built-in hard drive, DVD drive and floppy drive. One of the most striking features is the unit's 15-inch Crystal View XGA TFT display, which presents sharp details and vivid colors. Based on a 1.6GHz Intel Pentium M processor, the LifeBook C2310 includes 512 Mbytes of DDR SDRAM memory, an 80-Gbyte hard drive, a 10/100 NIC, a V.90 modem and a built-in Intel 802.11b/g wireless NIC. The notebook also includes four USB 2.0 ports, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port, a combo Memory Stick/SD slot, two PC Card slots and an S-video output.

The display has a native resolution of 1,024 x 768, driven by an Intel 855GM graphics accelerator chip. The chip dynamically uses up to 64 Mbytes of system memory for graphics.

When playing DVD media, the LifeBook's SigmaTel audio chipset can simulate surround sound through stereo headphones. Otherwise, sound is transmitted in two-channel stereo. The notebook also features built-in powerful stereo speakers.

The LifeBook C2310 comes bundled with PowerQuest's Drive Image Special Edition software, which can restore a drive to the original factory image in the event of a system failure. Users can also create a customized image file with personal applications and data files.

Fujitsu's full-featured notebook weighs 7.7 pounds, which seems lightweight compared with the Acer Aspire. The LifeBook measures 12.95 x 11.24 x 1.92 inches and costs $1,849.

Fujitsu configures its notebooks on a build-to-order basis. Solution providers must meet sales and revenue requirements for entry into the single-level channel program. The vendor provides local and regional sales assistance, co-branded e-mail campaigns and sales and technical support. Training is provided in person and over the Web. Margins range from 14 percent to 18 percent.

CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
>ACER ASPIRE 1712SWI

COMPANY: Acer
San Jose, Calif.
(800) 733-2237
www.acer.com/us
DISTRIBUTORS: Advantech, Ingram Microm SED, Seneca Data, Synnex, Tech Data
TECH RATING:

CHANNEL RATING:

>FUJITSU LIFEBOOK C2310

COMPANY: Fujitsu
Sunnyvale, Calif.
(877) 372-3473
www.fujitsu.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Direct from vendor
TECH RATING:

CHANNEL RATING:

Note: Vendors can earn up to five stars for technical merit and five for their channel program. If the average of these two scores is four stars or greater, the product earns CRN Test Center Recommended status.