Acer 1810TZ 3G Edition - Pictorial

Hi2all,

I've been around NBR for a while now, but I have to admit I'm new here @acer World

I arrived here as the culmination of my humble search for a hi-rez Netbook came to a successful conclusion, having chosen the 1810TZ! What was I looking for in terms of a hi-rez Netbook?

• Panel size: 11.6" - 12.1" (anything smaller and you will probabaly have a headache trying to read & type on a 1366x768)
• Battery [charge] Life: 5hrs with a "hidden" battery (i.e., 4-cell), 7hrs+ with a stick-out (6-cell). Surfing mode (WLAN on), medium brightness, BT off.
• Good Keyboard with "long" right-shift key. Preferablly Island (chicklet) style.
• reasonably-sized and reactive touchpad (Synaptics are always a favorite)
• Three (3) USB ports, VGA, RJ45, SD/SDHC/MS Pro card reader
• 1.3MP or greater Webcam (0.3 is a bit low now a days), onboard mic(s)
• Bonus: Decent built-in speakers
• Bonus: HDMI port
• Bonus: ExpressCard/34
• Bonus: built-in HSPDA (UMTS) - WWAN / Broadband, etc...

I also mentioned in my thread a desire to run 720p video smoothly. Asking for more in a Netbook is probably pushing one's luck... !

Well, those of you who are already familiar with the "ZH7" models (1410 / 1810) will know right off the bat that I didn't get everything I wanted with the 1810TZ, but it came damned close, close enough that I have no regrets with my decision

I managed to get my hands on a white "3G" version of the 1810TZ offered in (ah, some parts of) Europe which has the package/skew numbers 413G32n / LX.PK102.002. It certainly wasn't cheap, tbh, but in the end, I think the extra bills was worth getting 3G, BT as well as a bit more memory & storage.

I titled this post with "pictorial" because although it may seem like I'm out to write a review of sorts, I feel that reviews should be left to the pros that deal with a multitude of Net/Notebooks on a regular basis. If you haven't checked them out yet, I can recommend the following 1810 reviews:

Our very own Phil's Review of the SU3500 1810T
Notebook Check's German and English reviews of an 1810TZ (with SU4100)
Trusted Reviews also reviewed the SU4100 version.
Laptop Magazine's review of the newer 1810TZ (with SU7300)
And very similar to the 1810T is the 1410T with SU2300 reviewed by Liliputing


Moving along, what I did do is to take a bunch of pics of my 1810TZ and "comment" each shot with relevent info & observations. I did a similar "pictorial" way back when for my Dell M 1330 XPS which was (& still is) highly appreciated by the local [Dell] community so I hope that the same will hold true for the Acer community


Traveller's Acer 1810TZ Pictorial


Here's a few samples to get you started, but do note that the original images are much larger (1280xnnn) so that you can "zoom" in to get better details.





Last but not least, I will make a few comments regarding this "3G" version since it's not very well documented on the Net.

The 3G version comes with a HUAWEI EM770W PCIe mini-card, the necessary antenna (which runs up to the panel area for better reception) and a SIM card interface, tucked behind the battery (as seen above). Due to the fact that Acer has kept all additional costs for the non-3G 14/1810T(Z)s to a minimum, there is no end-user* provision for adding a WWAN PCIe mini-card yourself, as said models are lacking not only the SIM-card interface, but the antenna and even the necessary PCIe mini-card socket I found this all very annoying considering that Dell ships their "non-3G" XPS line with all-of-the-above so that all you need to do is toss in the WWAN module... :-/

*Tbh, there's one fellow who managed this amazing feat by actually soldering on the appropriate socket, adding the antenna & SIM interface. But this mod is not for the faint at heart... ;p

The last difference (afaik) is the physical switch located just underneath the indicator lights. Although everyone has a WLAN (WiFi) switch and (most likely) a secondary switch for Bluetooth, the 3G model's switch can be toggled in two directions; left-side toggles WWAN and right-side toggles WLAN. Furthemore, you almost need a "decoder" to figure out the different states of the WiFi indicator, lol:

• solid orange when WLAN on and connected to an AP (regardless of WWAN status)
• slow flashing orange when WLAN on and NOT connected to an AP
• quick flashing orange when in use (data transfer)
• flashing blue when WWAN on, WLAN off
• solid blue when WWAN in use, WLAN off
• off when both WWAN and WLAN off.

FWIW, the HUAWEI module has the addded benefit that it is "natively" supported by Windows 7 which means you can connect without the need for added SW. As I am one of the few here that didn't immediately wipe out the HDD (and thus the bloatware), I did note and have used Acer's own connectivity SW which does provide an amusing status graph, if nothing else. Alas, this module does not provide any "added benefits", such as the module I recently bought for my M 1330, which also offers GPS functionality


Last but certainly not least, WT...H is "Seashell white"...? I like to think of myself as hobby photographer and so terms like white balance and so on are no strangers to me. However, I will admit that I had a hell of a time trying to "render" the actual color of this model. The best I can offer you, aside from a useful description like "...uh, off-white?" is to compare it to white. Assuming we know what white really is...

 

Whoa, you put a lot of thought into this post. Well done...

 

awesome picks!

 

Thx

I'm still fustrated with the color rendition, but at least you can get a closer idea what it looks like...

 

FYI,

someone from the states asked me (via a Flickr comment) where I bought my unit. I bought my model from a German-based Computer store called Alternate.

However, I just checked their website and it looks like they've dropped this package and have substituted it with the 1820PTZ-414G32n at the same price... .

This "tablet" version is also a very attractive model but not to be taken as a 1-1 trade off because this one does not incl. WWAN support, not to mention you will get a heavier and thicker Notebook.

I guess the real seller is / will be the SU7300 package. Alternate (will) sell that package too but I assume that one will also be available in the U.S. I'm not sure if it will be available in sheashell white, though...

 

Great posting!
Very informative, especially about the 3G capability.

BTW... the 1420P Tablet soon to be released in Taiwan
does NOT have a functional 3G receptor.

This, in spite of the largest telecom company here, Chunghwa,
advertising reduced pricing for the Tablet (with a 3 year contract).
See the brochure.
Chunghwa provides a free USB 3G module. Which does have the advantage
of being swappable into more than one computer.

 

Thx
Yeah, I don't get it... the market apparently doesn't care for broadband on the go... :-/ Personally, that's why I went for an ultra-portable, so I could go online from just about anywhere w/o any hassle. It's nice that Starbucks have APs, but I still want/need more access options

 

i'd love to get my dirty hands on ur 3g acer ^_^

 

Any idea where to pick one of these up? I can't seem to find a store

 

I guess that depends where you're located (i.e., States, EU, etc.). I heard from several U.S. members that white's not currently being offered over there...

To make things even worse, my own dealer said that the exact model reviewed above is no longer being offered by Acer... and as I wrote elsewhere, that means there was a window of only two weeks between "in stock" and "no longer available"...

Keep in mind that I'm referring to the WWAN models (UMTS / HSDPA / 3G); you can still get a white SU4100 1810TZ here. Or "preorder" a black 1810T (SU7300)...

Sorry, I wish I had better news for you (all)...

 

I don't know about the validity of all of these but check here for some that are apparently in stock.

http://www.redcoon.de/index.php/cmd...B198806/cid/8005/Acer_AS1810TZ_413G32n_weiss/


http://www.idealo.de/preisvergleich...-aspire-1810tz-413g32n-lx-pk102-002-acer.html

There seems to be a black version as well that comes with an Option wwan card (which does also work with GPS) which i do prefer, the wwan card not the colour. Then though you won't get one in white.

traveller, i'm glad you're pleased. You looked around for quite some time but you got what you wanted in the end.

 

Looks like I won't be getting it. I'm looking for a 12-13" with 3g and with something higher than an atom processor, however the options are sparse. It helps that I'm not in a rush to purchase, just sometime in the next few months. Hoping Asus will show up with a revised UL20a w/ 3g and HDMI, that would be perfect.

Sounds like you got a great unit. The pictures you have are great, Acer's pics make it look flimsy. It looks much nicer in your pics.

 

Thx Rach Yep, my search started back at the end of June, when I almost went for ASUS' 1008HA. But I couldn't deal with the fixed battery and lack of rez, so waited... and waited... during which time the Atoms started looking a little old, lol. Long story short, I'm pleased I did wait it out

Thx & glad you like the pics! I tell you what, I'm pretty impressed with the build quality, given this units price-point! I'd say the quality is up there with my much more expensive M1330. So maybe wait it out, Acer may put out a new package (like SU7300 + 3G ), ASUS may do the same or you may want to consider Dell's 13" models like my M1330 - which also has provision for 3G.

 

Hi2all,

I added a few pics, fwiw, including a view of the SIM module from the "other side"...

 

Traveller,

First post, but I thought your review was so comprehensive and clear that I bought the base model of the 1810tz available in the UK without question. Sadly no 3g available version in the UK, but it means that there's 1 easily accessible mini pci-e slot availabe and even with no bluetooth, I gather that broadcom are launching a combined wifi/bluetooth 3.0 half mini-card as noted here: http://www.broadcom.com/products/Bluetooth/Bluetooth-RF-Silicon-and-Software-Solutions/BCM943224HMB, so looking forward to the launch to replace the Intel Wifi, without an extra aerial.

I've ordered the Broadcom Crystal 3d mini pci-e to resolve the majority of playback issues, and this will fill the free slot, but in the meantime and with the addition of google toolbar translation and for those looking for the 3g version for international delivery (for the use of 3g within europe at least), then check out the following: http://www.amazon.de/gp/offer-listi...w?ie=UTF8&qid=1262737005&sr=1-4&condition=new

I'd also recommend checking acer europe and then chossing german e suppliers, as there are a number that have these in stock and offer international shipping. What amounts to a £100 premium for the 320Gb Hdd, bluetooth and 3g module doesn't add up for me, but I can appreciate that this is a desirable package hence why Acer may have potentially stopped manufacturing this model in order to preserve the premium features of more expensive models.

Hope my input was helpful!

 

Have you had the RAM cover off on your laptop? You'll prob find that Acer usefully didn't bother soldering a slot on the mini pci-e.

 

I'm glad my post was of some use to you
I do hope however that you were not misguided and as hollinshead noted above, there is no extra PCIe connector, I'm afraid Yes, there is "room" for an additional mini PCIe card, but you will have to buy & solder the connector yourself.

In my own defense, I was very clear about this in my original post:

Perhaps you have what it takes to perform the mod(s) done by other 1810TZ owners but either way, I hope you enjoy your 1810TZ, 'cause it's really a sweet Notebook with or without "internal" WWAN support Worst case, a USB 3G stick will do the trick

Plz do let us all know what you end up doing

 

Rach,
sorry to say I only now noticed your comment regarding GPS... why are you so sure that the above model has a GPS circuit too? I'm really curious now as I recently noted that my Device Manager lists a GPS comm port associated with my HUAWEI EM770W Such a port is listed for my XPS M1330's WWAN card which has GPS

Unfortunately I have no way of "controlling" the GPS radio (i.e. I can't turn it on in order to make use of it via an app like GoogleEarth...):

 

Btw, it took me a while to find the original thread, but here it is! Unfortunately the OP is MIA and so there's a lot of unanswered questions and AFAIK, no one else has managed it... :-/

I did want to post the link here because unfortunately, I think Acer stopped "packaging" the 1810T(Z) with 3G... Looks like I now have a pretty rare model... let's hope it lasts

 

Update! Looks like there have been at least two more successful 3G mods

 

Nope, no iPad for me, this 1.5Kg 1810TZ still fits the bill for me & my needs
And it's even white, just like an iWhatever

 

Using the Acer/Huawei software, you can abuse your WWAN card as a phone if you like.

Michael