My Decision - Acer TravelMate TM4501WLMi

Well after putting much thought into purchasing my first laptop.. i've finally come to a decision on purchasing the Acer TravelMate TM4501WLMi. I've read all the reviews on the forum and was just wondering if anybody out there had any problems with this notebook before i pick it up.. Im going to be picking this notebook up for around $1600 CDN.. So if anybody out there could give me some feedback on how this performs, it would be greatly apprciated.. im going to be using this computer basically for all-purpose occasions.. so.. moderate gaming.. entertainment.. word processing.. photoshoping.. and web surfing..

Here are the specs of the model i will be picking up..

Acer TravelMate 4500 Series Standard Features
Installed Operating System
#12288; Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Processor Intel® Pentium® M Processor 715; 1.50GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 400MHz FSB

Chipset Intel 855GME

Memory 512MB (256MB installed in each of two memory slots) DDR333 SDRAM
User upgradeable up to 1GB (one 512MB memory card in each slot) or 2GB (one 1GB memory card in each slot) subject to availability of 1GB cards

Storage 40GB ATA/100 hard disk drive

Optical Storage Modular DVD-Dual drive (DVD+/-RW) accommodated in AcerMedia Bay on right side of system
Read: 4X DVD+R, 4X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-R, 4X DVD-RW, 8X DVD-ROM, 24X CD-ROM
Write: 4X DVD+R, 2.4X DVD+RW, 2X DVD-R, 2X DVD-RW, 16X CD-R, 10X CD-RW

Floppy Drive Optional external USB 1.44MB diskette drive

Video 15.4" WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT LCD, up to 16.7 million colors
ATI® MOBILITYTM RADEONTM 9700, on-chip 64MB DDR memory, Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 support
VGA and S-video TV-out ports
Support for simultaneous display on notebook LCD and external monitor

Audio Two integrated stereo speakers, stereo headphones/speakers/line out, stereo microphone/line in, Microsoft® DirectSound® compatibility

Interface Ports Three USB 2.0, DC in, RJ-11 modem, RJ-45 LAN, VGA, stereo headphones/speakers/line out, stereo microphone/line in, S-video TV out, FireWire® (IEEE 1394), FIR (fast infrared), connector for optional Port Replicator III

Card Slot PC Card slot for one Type II card, 32-bit PC CardBus architecture, Zoomed Video support
3-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCardTM (MMC), Secure Digital (SD) card or Memory Stick®

Connectivity Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection supporting 802.11b/g wireless LAN, WI-FI CERTIFIEDTM, Acer® SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency
10/100 LAN, Wake-on-LAN ready
V.92 56Kbps data/fax modem, PTT (postal, telegraph, telephone) certified in select countries, Wake-on-Ring ready

Included Software Installed: Acer® e-Manager, Acer® Launch Manager, Acer® Disk-to-Disk Recovery (uses 2GB of hard drive space), Adobe® Acrobat® Reader, CyberLink® PowerDVD™, 4 Norton AntiVirus®,4 NTI CD-Maker™4
On CD shipped with system: Acer® System Recovery

User Interface 88-key Acer FineTouch keyboard with five-degree curve; inverted T cursor layout; embedded numeric keypad; hotkey controls; 2.5mm minimum key travel; international language support; 12 function, four cursor, two Windows® keys; Web browser, e-mail, one user-programmable easy-launch buttons; front-access wireless LED button
Touchpad with two mouse buttons and four-way integrated scroll button

Dimensions and Weight 14.2" (360.0mm) W x 10.7" (273.0mm) D x 1.1" - 1.3" (27.0mm ? 32.0mm) H / 6.5 lb. (2.9kg) with optical drive installed
Size and weight may vary depending on configuration

Power 65-watt AC adapter
8-cell lithium ion battery: up to 5.0 hours life depending on configuration and usage; 1.5 hours recharge time with power off, 3.5 hours with power on

Major Compliances ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) 1.0b, CCX (Cisco® Compatible Extensions), DMI (Desktop Management Interface) 2.0, Mobile PC2001, Wi-Fi CERTIFIEDTM

Security Features User and administrator BIOS passwords, Kensington® lock slot

Quality Tests Temperature and humidity, acoustics, electrostatic discharge immunity, hinge life, keyboard-switch life, free drop, weight and pressure, shock and vibration, MTBF (mean time between failure)

 

This unit performs well from the posts I have read on this site. This was one of the more popular models when released and still can hold it own against other brands. From your listed uses, it'll be more than enough. It should also be able to handle some of the newer games because of the ATI 9700 GPU onboard.

-Vb-

 

1-s0uljah-- are you ordering the 4501WLMI from an online vendor? I am Canadian as well, and www.notebook-city.ca is that only site I can find that carries it. I am a bit skeptical because I have never heard of this vendor before and don't know anyone who's ordered anything from them...

 

nope.. im going to be picking it up in person at notebookoutlet.ca, i tried calling in yesterday to see if they had any in stock.. but no answer.. im gonna try again today..

 

As far as Notebookoutlet is concerned... They do accept credit cards. I bought my notebook from them, but they add a 3% surcharge.
Yes, a lot of the prices are too good to be true because many of the really good deals are for refurbished or demo units. This is something they don't put on their website. You have to go there to find out which ones are actually new.

Keep in mind that the 4501 (ie. the one with Radeon 9700) is discontinued as far as I know and the newer models (4502 and up) have only integrated graphics. Unless they've stashed this one away, this is probably a refurbished/returned/demo unit - albeit with a full one year warranty. Also keep in mind that this notebook retailed for closer to $1900CDN, so you can figure it out from there. Also, Notebookoutlet does not allow refunds or exchanges!

If I had to buy my notebook over again, I'd buy from Pacific Notebooks (www.pacificnotebooks.com). It's in the same mall as Notebookoutlet but I find their prices as well as their service is much better. Tell them Bill sent you. (I have no connection to this store.)

 

Cool--can you tell me how it goes? The prices @ notebookoutlet.ca seem too good to be true, and I dislike the fact that they don't accept credit cards (i.e., it would be more difficult to get my money back if they totally screwed me over . I just trust credit card payments more...

 

well.. i just called notebookout.ca.. they do have 1 more 4501 but its open box..

 

souljah, here are two more Canadian vendors that appear to have the 4501WLMI in stock:

http://www.notebook-city.com/productdetails.php?prid=226
http://www.eglobalonline.com/ProductDetail.asp?id=7910

However, it's going for almost $2000 on both sites...

On the same topic: has anyone dealth with www.notebookdepot.ca ? I have sent them a few emails and they were quick to respond. They have also assured me that all their models are new, unless they specifically state otherwise on their web site.

 

thanks alot! but i prefer to buy the product in person.. as i dont shop online.. looks like im gonna hafta hit the notepad on choosing another system to fit my needs.. arghh

 

You mean www.notebookdepot.com? If so, then my take would be: great service, not so great prices. They basically charge full MSRP on their notebooks, so unless they're willing to haggle with you...

 

souljah, forgive my poor understanding of Ontario geography, but is this place near you? http://www.computerlinksystems.com/ They seem to have a wide selection of notebooks.

Here's a list of all the Acer reseller locations in Ontario as well--maybe you could try calling a few to see if anyone has a 4501WLMI. http://aac.acer.com/APP/AKC/INTERNET/Dealers.nsf/ON?OpenView

stimp1000, yeah, I agree with you about notebookdepot's pricing. It seems quite high...

 

thanks alot! im gonna give them a call and see what they have in stock..

 

Hi guys
If u r looking for acer 4501wlmi in canada go to this site
www.compusmart.com they have it for a good price.
good luck

 

j/n