Acer Travelmate 8204WLMI Or Apple MacBook Pro

[ExtremeGamer09]

These are my two options Acer or Apple, Which one is faster and better?

Acer Specs
Brand Acer
Series TravelMate 8200
Model TM8204WLMi- XP Pro
Part# LX.TAX06.034
General
Operating System Windows XP Professional
CPU Type Intel Core Duo T2500(2.0GHz)
Screen 15.4" SWXGA+
Memory Size 2GB DDR2
Hard Disk 120GB
Optical Drive DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card ATI Radeon X1600
Video Memory 256MB DDR
Communication Modem, Gigabit LAN and WLAN
Card slot Type II PC Card
Battery Life 3.5 hours
Dimensions 14.3" x 10.7" x 1.0"
Weight 6.6 lbs
Tech Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology
CPU
CPU Type Intel Core Duo
CPU Speed T2500(2.0GHz)
CPU FSB 667MHz
CPU L2 Cache 2MB
Operating Systems
Operating System Windows XP Professional
Chipset
Chipset Intel 945PM
Display
Screen Size 15.4"
Wide Screen Support Yes
LCD Features Acer CrystalBrite Technology
Display Type Wide SXGA+
Resolution 1680 × 1050
Graphics
GPU/VPU ATI Mobility RADEON X1600
Video Memory Dedicated 256MB
Graphic Type Dedicated Card
Hard Drive
HD Capacity 120GB
HD RPM 5400rpm
HD Interface SATA
Memory
Memory Slots 2x DIMM
Memory Speed DDR2 533
Memory Size 2GB
Max Memory Supported 2GB
Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type DVD Super Multi
Optical Drive Interface Integrated
Optical Drive Spec Read ? 24X CD-RW, 24X CD-ROM, 24X CD-R, 8X DVD+R, 8X DVD-R, 8X DVD-ROM, 4X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-RW, 3X DVD-RAM, 2.4X DVD+R (double-layer)
Write ? 24X CD-R, 8X DVD+R, 8X DVD-R, 4X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-RW, 4X CD-RW, 2.4X DVD+R (double-layer), 2X DVD-RAM
Communications
Modem V.92 56K
LAN 10/100/1000Mbps
WLAN 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN
IRDA Yes
Bluetooth Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (enhanced data rate) wireless PAN
Ports
Card Slot Type II PC Card
ExpressCard/34 slot
USB 4
IEEE 1394 1
Video Port 1 x VGA, 1 x DVI, 1 x S-Video TV-out
Audio Ports 1 x Microphone jack; 1 x Headphone jack
Audio
Speaker Internal Speakers
Input Device
Touchpad Touchpad with four-way integrated scroll button
Keyboard 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 Microsoft Windows keys
Web browser, e-mail, Empowering Key, one user-programmable easy-launch buttons; front-access WLAN, Bluetooth buttons
Supplemental Drive
Card Reader 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO or xD-Picture Card
Webcam Acer Video Conference: VVoIP (voice and video over IP) via Acer OrbiCam integrated 1.3 megapixel CMOS camera with 225° rotation and Bluetooth VoIP phone
Power
AC Adapter 90-watt AC adapter
Battery 9-cell lithium ion
Battery Life 3.5 hours
Physical spec
Dimensions 14.3" x 10.7" x 1.0"
Weight 6.6 lbs
Features
Software Included Installed:
Acer eManager
Acer GridVista
Acer Launch Manager
Adobe Acrobat Reader
CyberLink PowerDVD
Norton AntiVirus*
NTI CD-Maker*
PlatinumSecret

*OEM, not full-featured, version.
Warranty
Manufacturer Warranty One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler?s Warranty


Total Price $1999.99


Apple Specs
15-inch MacBook Pro - Intel Core Duo
120GB Serial ATA drive @ 5400 rpm
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
2GB 667 DDR2 - 2x1GB SO-DIMMs
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)

Total Price $2,899

I am thinking the Acer just because its almost a thousand dollars cheaper but what you guys think?

 

[halfadder]

The MacBookPro has slightly faster RAM (667 MHz vs the Acer's 533 MHz) but real world performance would be about the same. 25% faster RAM doesn't make the system run 25% faster overall.

The Acer has a higher resolution display (1680x1050 vs the MacBookPro's 1440x900). The Acer also has a modem, handy if you travel to areas without WiFi or in-room ethernet.

Unless you really want Mac OS X, I would go with the Acer. It's an award-winning model and is one of the new notebooks that I personally think looks almost as good as the PowerBook/MacBook. And yo ureally can't argue about that sweet price. Yeah, the MacBook includes iLife 06 and QuickBooksPro, has a backlit keyboard, magnetic power connector, and a remote control... but it's also $900 more expensive.

I love my MacBookPro, but for the price, I would consider that Acer.

 

[Hyperlite]

my 8200 will be here by friday, i'll let you know what i think.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: halfadder
The MacBookPro has slightly faster RAM (667 MHz vs the Acer's 533 MHz) but real world performance would be about the same. 25% faster RAM doesn't make the system run 25% faster overall.

The Acer has a higher resolution display (1680x1050 vs the MacBookPro's 1440x900). The Acer also has a modem, handy if you travel to areas without WiFi or in-room ethernet.

Unless you really want Mac OS X, I would go with the Acer. It's an award-winning model and is one of the new notebooks that I personally think looks almost as good as the PowerBook/MacBook. And yo ureally can't argue about that sweet price. Yeah, the MacBook includes iLife 06 and QuickBooksPro, has a backlit keyboard, magnetic power connector, and a remote control... but it's also $900 more expensive.

I love my MacBookPro, but for the price, I would consider that Acer.

:thumbsup: Great answer
Review

 

[ubercaffeinated]

heh i'm actually considering the same options right now, the same exact 2 models, and i too am leaning towards the acer. both are great choices though!

what is the customer support for acer like though? i know from experience apple has pretty good service.

and what vendor would you buy the acer from? any suggestions?

 

[andrewbabcock]

I really like the macbook pro but i think its rather hard to go with it for business...You will notice the faster ram depending on what applications you use but i think i would go with the acer but thats just me.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock
I really like the macbook pro but i think its rather hard to go with it for business...You will notice the faster ram depending on what applications you use but i think i would go with the acer but thats just me.

I don't know about the faster RAM thing. The DDR2 667 has a higher CAS latency than the DDR2 533, so the speed increase will be negated by the higher latency.

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock
I really like the macbook pro but i think its rather hard to go with it for business...You will notice the faster ram depending on what applications you use but i think i would go with the acer but thats just me.

I don't know about the faster RAM thing. The DDR2 667 has a higher CAS latency than the DDR2 533, so the speed increase will be negated by the higher latency.

that may or may not be true depending on exactly what ram they are using (but it is a good guess),either way, i highly doubt you will notice any real world difference. i'm so excited...can i just sleep until friday and wake up just in time for UPS?

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock
I really like the macbook pro but i think its rather hard to go with it for business...You will notice the faster ram depending on what applications you use but i think i would go with the acer but thats just me.

I don't know about the faster RAM thing. The DDR2 667 has a higher CAS latency than the DDR2 533, so the speed increase will be negated by the higher latency.

that may or may not be true depending on exactly what ram they are using (but it is a good guess),either way, i highly doubt you will notice any real world difference. i'm so excited...can i just sleep until friday and wake up just in time for UPS?

To throw a broken down box at your house? :laugh:

But seriously, I've never had a problem with UPS. Enjoy your new notebook (I'll be getting one myself soon, so I have that feeling of anticipation too).

 

[Hyperlite]

haha, yeah UPS hasn't dissapointed me in quite some time.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: andrewbabcock
I really like the macbook pro but i think its rather hard to go with it for business...You will notice the faster ram depending on what applications you use but i think i would go with the acer but thats just me.

I don't know about the faster RAM thing. The DDR2 667 has a higher CAS latency than the DDR2 533, so the speed increase will be negated by the higher latency.

Intel platforms respond more to bandwidth than latency; the quad-pumped FSB is so high latency, combined with the off-chip mem controller, that it relies more on sheer speed. 1:1 FSB/DRAM ratio also helps performance

 

[ExtremeGamer09]

I am waiting for the price to drop a little bit so i can buy it off newegg

 

[ubercaffeinated]

the only thing that bothers me about the acer is that it has no clearbrite screen or whatever... no option for it either. :/

 

[computeerrgghh]

Originally posted by: halfadder
The MacBookPro has slightly faster RAM (667 MHz vs the Acer's 533 MHz) but real world performance would be about the same. 25% faster RAM doesn't make the system run 25% faster overall.

The Acer has a higher resolution display (1680x1050 vs the MacBookPro's 1440x900). The Acer also has a modem, handy if you travel to areas without WiFi or in-room ethernet.

Unless you really want Mac OS X, I would go with the Acer. It's an award-winning model and is one of the new notebooks that I personally think looks almost as good as the PowerBook/MacBook. And yo ureally can't argue about that sweet price. Yeah, the MacBook includes iLife 06 and QuickBooksPro, has a backlit keyboard, magnetic power connector, and a remote control... but it's also $900 more expensive.

I love my MacBookPro, but for the price, I would consider that Acer.

You ***cough*** get osx to work on the Acer you really needed it to.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

The Acer. Definatly a better buy.

 

[Commodus]

Originally posted by: makoto00
the only thing that bothers me about the acer is that it has no clearbrite screen or whatever... no option for it either. :/

Good! Those only exist to make the laptop look good in the store. When you get it home you may find yourself annoyed because you can't get rid of the reflection of a lamp in the background.

Edit: 200th post.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

grats on the 200th post!

mmm that may be, but i actually like the clearbrite/xbrite whatever. imo it improves image quality over just a normal matte screen, minute as it may be. it's just aesthetically pleasing. i drooled over them a coupple of years ago when i saw them in japan, and they're really nice.