Acer Travelmate 3002

This seems like a pretty good unit for a pretty reasonable price in the ultraportable range.

I really need something as light as possible. Will not be my main machine - only for use on the road. Email and web browsing, some word processing, light photo editing - usually have photoshop open along with Skype and/or email. Burner necessary, but willing to have an external. Battery life not essential as I will almost always have access to mains.

Anyone have more information on this machine? Ideas where to buy at all?

I appreciate all feedback - this machine looks pretty good on "paper" but I have no chance to try one before making the choice.

 

Hello Alcina,

i live and ordered the Travelmate 3002 in Germany for 1600 Euro with extented warranty.
I am supossed to get it tomorrow, then i might be able to answer some questions.
You should take a look at this threads:
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=101487
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=83714

Greetings from Germany, Sven

 

@Sven, it seems you've overpaid. There are already cheaper offers for TM3002 available in Germany,
starting 1395 Euro. Check http://www.geizhals.net/. Good luck with your order and please tell us about
your experience! I think we better continue the discussion in the earlier opened threads as it is more convenient
for the visitors of the forum to have a discussion found in one place.

@alcina, if you're going to buy it in the US, why you just don't google with patience? I have seen offers starting from 1299$!

 

@ Ivar, i wanted to buy my 3002 from a german reseller, i had checked prices at Geizhals and found 1395 Euro too, but it is an Austrian Reseller, so 1600 Euro with 3 years warranty was the best i could get.

@ All - First of all i might have to say, that i own a Thinkpad A31 for 2,5 years, with whom i feel comfortable besides the weight of 3,5 kilo.
Therefore i wanted a smaller and lighter laptop and went for the Travelmate 3002.
My pros: lightweight; if running with lowest speedstepsettings fan stays still; nice display with good horizontal viewing angles, but not so good vertical viewing angles (can't beat my "old" Thinkpad Flexview Display at all). Allmost 5000 points in 3DMark2001, not to bad for integrated graphic.
My cons: Looks and feels like plastic; if running at full load and full speed the fan is very annoying (i don´t mind, if a fan is running, but this one sucks); very, very warm on the right side of the touchpad and underneath, not unbearable, but although not comfortable.
My conclusion: I´ll send it back tomorrow and keep on searching for an alternative.

 

Sven,
your negative report about TM3002 somehow contradicts what ivanilia has written in his review (another thread).

If you are disappointed with TM3002 and don't need sonoma platform, then you might think of BENQ Joybook 6000. They were selling it in Austria before but recently I have seen it available somewhere in Germany for 1200Euro. This notebook is much better in terms of the noise, plastic feel, and build quality issues you've mentioned, and it is still 1.6kg (vs 1.4kg of TM3002) without the external optical drive. They also started to sell 13" Sony's for a reasonable price here in Germany, which could be an alternative (though I personally don't like them for bad service, overpriced components and unattractive design).


I am sorry, I haven't provided links to the previous threads of this forum
devoted to the same subject:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=23071
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=21139

 

Hi Ivar,
thanks for your advice. I had read ivanilias review before ordering my TM3002. I would not say that the TM3002 is such a bad notebook at all, but different people, different needs. Maybe i´m to spoiled by my thinkpad and its quality. Right now i´m trying to decide, if i stick with IBM/Lenovo and get myself the X41.

Sven