Any serious computer user will be able to tell that the specifications of this laptop aren't the best, and indeed were not the best when it was released. It is underpowered and has a small hard drive, making it fairly useless for anybody but the most fuddy-duddy of office users - its main market.
Having used the Acer series, especially this one, for a wide range of applications, I can safely say that unless all you ever want to do is word process, it is worth getting a better machine. I found that this computer is at its best when used as a networked machine, typing out word documents and then saving remotely at the end of the session - bear in mind that you will need to set aside a good few minutes to do so.
Its wireless capabilities are fairly mediocre, and while its wired connection is quite good, this doesn't really make up for its other flaws, especially with the increasing need for reliable wireless connectivity.
Handling photos, movie clips and audio files are all a bit much. Ripping from DVD or CD will kill it, and in some cases where they have crashed and frozen for a whole afternoon, the only option to regain control of the machine is to unplug it and take out the battery, wait until it (and you) have cooled down and simply restart whatever it was you were trying to do.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Acer Travelmate works well with Linux, either as a full install or on a partition. This will not, sadly, help any wireless matters, as getting wireless to work on any Linux system can prove to be a tearful experience for those unwilling to learn to code.
In essence, this is a good, cheap word processor and wired internet browser. Don't expect anything more advanced from it. I bought an HP laptop around the same time this was being released - it still works, and can handle all sorts of applications with relative ease. I would happily recommend an HP of the same age as an alternative to this or any other Acer machine.
More details
Memory / capacity
Satisfactory
Ease of use
Easy
Range of Extra Features
Poor
Instruction manual
Good
Manufacturer Support
Good
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