Acer Aspire One D250

While most netbooks in the market measures over an inch thick, Acer makes the D250 thinner and lighter and eliminates a considerable amount of the plastic (and cost) of its predecessor, the Aspire One (10-inch), making it slightly lighter and only 0.8 inch thick. The smaller form factor however still carries a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor. The Acer Aspire One D250 also features a 10.1 inch (diagonal) screen powered by Intel GMA 950 (integrated) graphics card and is supported by 1 GB DDR2 RAM 533 MHz of memory via SO-DIMM slots. Other features remain the same. Like its predecessor, the D250 has three USB ports that allows for connection to the latest peripherals such as printers, a display and consumer electronics such as digital camera; VGA-out, an Ethernet port, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, 802.11g Wi-Fi, and a 4-in-1 card reader. The 160GB hard drive with 5400 rpm spin speed provides space for most file types. WiFi 802.11 connectivity allows users to browse websites, check email, make VOIP calls, and enjoy online music. In addition, the Acer Aspire One D250 lets users connect to social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to post updates, send tweets, view and respond to video links, and stay connected. The netbook’s 1.3 megapixel webcam supports The Acer Crystal Eye™ technology that provides users with optimal video streaming and images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. The built-in digital microphone provides optimal voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes. Music and video sound can be enjoyed with the Dolby Headphones and two built-in stereo speakers. Mounted on a Mobile Intel 945GM Express chipset, the netbook runs Windows XP Home SP3 operating system. The D250 measures 10.17 x 1 x 7.24 inches and weighs 2.36/3 pounds (the later with an AC adapter). The $298 Aspire One AOD250 is powered by a three-cell battery and is designed in a compact design that makes very portable. The keyboard has a pair of full Shift keys (while still far from full size). The 10.1-inch wide-screen LED-backlit LCD supports 1,024 x 600-pixel native resolution and also features stereo speakers, which are embedded within the netbook.

Specifications
Form Factor
The D250 features stereo speakers and wireless LAN antenna in its 10.2 in by 7.2 in by 1 in form factor that weighs 2.4 lbs. It comes in choices of color such as Diamond Black, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue and Seashell White, and is localized for the United States. The D250 supports a widescreen and has IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g wireless capabilities.

Processor and memory
The Aspire One D250 is powered by an Intel Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz processor with 533 MHz data bus speed on a Mobile Intel 945GSE Express chipset. It is supportd by a type L2 cache (512 KB) 1 GB / 2 GB (max) DDR2 SDRAM – 533 MHz memory via SO DIMM 200-pin slots.

Storage
The D250 also features a portable 160 GB capacity hard disk drive with 5400 rpm spin speed that lets users store music, photos and files. It also supports a card reader that is compatible with RS-MMC, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, xD-Picture Card and Memory Stick Pro cards.

Display
The D250 features a 10.1 inch, widescreen TFT active matrix, LED backlit display with 1024 x 600 (WSVGA) resolution that is supported by CrystalBrite technology.

Video and audio
The display is supported by Intel GMA 950 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 3.0, and audio supported comes with a sound card that is compliant to DirectSound and Dolby Headphone standards. The netbook also features a microphone input interface.

Input and output
The D250 supports the following interface: 3 x Hi-Speed USB – 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Display / video – VGA – 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Audio – Line-out/headphones – Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Microphone – Input – Mini-phone 3.5 mm, and 1 x Network – Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX – RJ-45.

Other features
Other features on the D250 include an integrated camera, input device such as keyboard and touchpad. Networking / Wireless LAN support, Wireless NIC Acer InviLink 802.11b/g, data link protocol Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Acer SignalUp and IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED wireless connectivity.

Battery
The D250 is powered by a 3-cell Lithium ion battery (2200 mAh capacity) that provides users up to 3 hour(s) of battery life.

Operating System / Software
The D250 runs Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system and comes bundled with the following software and applications: eSobi, Google Setup, Acer GameZone, Google Desktop, Google Toolbar, Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Carbonite Online Backup, Windows Live Essentials, Acer Recovery Management, Acer Video Conference Manager, Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0, and McAfee Internet Security Suite (Trial).

Manufacturer Warranty
It is covered by a one year Service & Support warranty as well as a one year Service & Support Details Limited warranty on Parts and labor.

Reviews

“For the price, it’s hard to find fault with Acer’s even cheaper version of the 10.1-inch Aspire One, as long as you’re not expecting top-of-the-line features.” – (CNET, 2009)

“Although the Acer Aspire One D250-1165 offers a great value for less than $300, I can’t help but feel a little less than impressed…Considering how crowded the netbook market has become over the last year I really expected Acer to deliver more with their 10-inch netbook. Yes, it costs less than $300, but that price looks less impressive when other netbooks have better keyboards, better touchpads, and MUCH better battery life for less than $400.”- (Notebook Review.com, 2009)

“The Acer Aspire One D250 is a great little netbook, it’s small, thin, and lightweight making it very portable. Acer has done a nice job with the new Aspire One series of netbooks, most anyone will be happy with it. It’s great for doing light work, blogging, or just using it for entertainment.” – (TestFreaks.com, 2009)