S$2998
Product Summary
6.1
out of 10View score
The bad: Short battery life; optical drive is not built-in; uncomfortable mouse buttons.
The bottom line: The compact Acer Ferrari 1000 features the great looks and fast speed of the Italian sports car, but it doesn't have enough gas for the long haul.
Read full review of the Acer Ferrari 1000 »
Average User Rating
from 2 users
CNET Asia Review
Since we reviewed the Ferrari 4000 last year, Acer has released a fleet of Ferrari-themed laptops in all sizes. The ultraportable of the bunch, the Ferrari 1000, has a compact chassis worthy of the sports car maker's logo, and its speedy performance on our benchmarks would likewise make the Italian engineers proud. Unfortunately, its battery life came up short of what we'd expect from a machine that's designed for maximum mobility. If you're looking for a widescreen ultraportable with stamina, check out the Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010 or Dell Latitude D420. But if battery life can take a backseat to performance, the Acer Ferrari 1000 is a stylish speed racer.
 |  The trademark logo makes this portable stand out from the competition. (Click for larger image) |
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Were this laptop an actual Ferrari, it would be the relatively compact 206GT. The Acer Ferrari 1000 measures 302mm wide, 221mm deep, and slightly less than 35mm thick. Weighing 1.6kg (2.2kg with its AC adapter), the laptop is a bit heavier than the similarly sized Latitude D420 and much heavier than the ultraslim LifeBook Q2010. Nevertheless, the Ferrari 1000 is lightweight enough to carry around with you every day.
Like all ultraportables, the Acer Ferrari 1000's tiny case requires a compact keyboard. But we were surprised to find that typing for extended periods was easy, perhaps in part because the keys have a satisfying spring. The touchpad is likewise compact, but its width makes it usable, and we appreciate the vertical scroll zone along its right side. The groovy metallic mouse buttons curve downward at the bottom, resulting in an uncomfortable trough between the touch pad and the edge of the laptop. Four glowing application quick-launch buttons frame the top corners of the keyboard; users can easily program the specific applications launched.
Features
The Ferrari 1000 includes a 12.1-inch widescreen display with a native resolution of 1,280 x 800. While that sharpness occasionally results in text that's too small to read, we found it workable for everyday word processing and Web surfing. Mobile workers looking for a productivity tool probably won't like the screen's glossy coating, which resulted in some reflections in our office environment; unfortunately there's no option for a display with a matte finish. But home users who want a highly portable media machine will likely enjoy watching movies on the Ferrari 1000. Above the display sits a 1.3-megapixel Webcam that rotates 225 degrees, letting you snap shots in front of, above, or behind the laptop.
In addition to the Webcam, the Acer Ferrari 1000 packs an impressive set of multimedia and connectivity features. Around the case are VGA-out, FireWire, and three USB 2.0 ports, plus mic-in, line-in, and headphone jacks with S/PDIF support. A 5-in-1 flash card reader and a Type II PC Card slot handle your memory card and expansion needs, though we wish there was support for the latest ExpressCards. Networking connections include modem, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Like many ultraportables, the Ferrari 1000's optical drive is not built into the case, but the purchase price includes a matching external double-layer DVD burner. Acer also throws in a matching Ferrari travel mouse and a nifty Bluetooth VoIP phone that tucks into the laptop's PC Card slot when not in use. If you need more connections or just want a home base for your Ferrari, the laptop is compatible with Acer's docking station.
Rate It Now
User Reviews
Just like the car... fast and HOT
Jul 10, 2007Rating: 7 out of 10 (Very good)
Pros: looks good
Cons: it can get really HOT, external optical drive
Opinion:
I'm a bit 50-50 with this machine, sad to say I bought it without researching, If I knew how hot it can get I wouldn't have bought it. I got carried away by its looks, and cheap price (the shop sold it at cost since it was the first sale of its kind). If someone offered to buy it I would sell it without a doubt and get anything else. The heat really just puts me off. But when chicks (and dudes) start checking it out and complements its stylish design, im smiling from ear to ear ever so proud to be unique. hehe
looks nice
Jan 14, 2007Rating: 7 out of 10 (Very good)
Pros: nice looking, unique styling, bright screen
Cons: poor battery life, slightly on the heavier side, poor build quality of some of its parts
Opinion:
I got this one a week ago and already it's on its way to the service center. the touchpad button coating came off after regular use of only 5 days!!! stupid build quality!
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