If you were expecting a ground-up overhaul of the range, then the Timeline X series might prove just a little underwhelming. There wasn’t a great deal wrong with the original models, however, so the emphasis has been placed solidly on evolution, with the laptops benefiting from a host of aesthetic changes. The silver brushed aluminium lids of the previous range have been replaced by a stylish black brushed finish, and interiors which tread a fine line between subtle understatement and alluringly slick design.

It’s not until you cast an eye over the previous Timeline range that you realise quite how much impact the minor tweaks have had. While the older models were attractive compared to many of the CULV laptops on the market, the grey, inoffensive physique was hardly eye-catching. Now the brushed black aluminium makes a bold statement on the outside, and the once-featureless interior is shod with a brushed silver aluminium finish and a glossy black keyboard surround.

Even the trackpad’s had some attention: its smooth, slightly concave figure is complemented with a single rocker button beneath. That scrabble-tile keyboard doesn’t look to have changed much, but that’s no bad thing. The spacious layout proved perfectly comfortable in use – although the wide channels between each key still look like a haven for crumbs, dust and accidental coffee spills – but we hope the half-height enter key will make way for a full-height one when UK models finally hit our shores.

Build quality seems to have taken a step forwards, too, with the slim 25.4mm thick chassis of the 13.3in model feeling noticeably sturdier than its predecessor, and the rest of the range giving off an air of toughness that belies their relatively diminutive stature. The same screen sizes were in evidence – Acer had the 13.3in, 14in and 15.6in models on show – and all of them seemed to have benefited greatly from the brief return to the drawing board.

Scratch beneath the surface and a host of technological advances also rear into view. Intel’s Core i3 and i5 processors take pride of place, while the larger two models in the range employ ATI’s HD 5000 series graphics chipsets. Acer was particularly keen to stress the stamina of the new range, claiming a minimum of eight hours of battery life, and as much as 12 hours with its PowerSmart software working to keep power consumption as low as possible.  The new range also features other power-saving measures such as low-power cooling fans and LED-backlit displays which, in tandem with Intel’s DPST (Display Power Saving Technology), help to eke out the maximum amount of battery life.

Those hoping for USB 3, DisplayPort and other exciting new additions will be a mite disappointed, with just the usual array of USB 2, HDMI and VGA ports partnered with memory card readers for good measure.

Quoted prices give us hope that Acer’s Aspire Timeline X series will be just as affordable as its predecessors, with Acer suggesting that the 14in model (the 4820) will be available for £599 inc VAT sporting an Intel Core i3 330m processor, 3GB of memory, a 250GB hard disk, an ATI HD 5650 graphics chipset and Windows 7 Home Premium.

Once upon a time, manufacturers would launch one product at a time, allowing you to soak up the details pass comment and have time for reflection. Some, however, insist on the scatter gun approach.

And Acer, having just announced a new netbook, six new laptops, two nettops, and several all-in-one PCs, including a Windows 7-equipped touchscreen model (which a spokesman said would be on the shelves on October 23) fall firmly into the latter category. First on show was the new Timeline series of laptops (pictured above), a range targeted firmly at consumers and focused on long battery life. We weren’t bowled over by the looks – all silver-grey with very little concession to style – but we did like the feel of the machines. The aluminium lid felt pleasingly cold to the touch and the low-profile keyboard with its scrabble-style keys was nice to type on.

And with prices promised to start at £549 for the 13.3in model, added to eight-hour plus claimed battery life, things look more interesting still. There are three chassis in the range: that 13.3in model (3810T/3810TG) plus 14.1in (4810T/4810TG) and 15.4in (5810T/5810G) models. All employ Intel Centrino 2 Utra Low Voltage processors, boast LED backlit screens and, interestingly, boast “multi-gesture” trackpads, which allow Mac-alike pinch-to-zoom actions. Though we didn’t like these much.

Next up were the new netbooks: a 10.1in model and a larger 11.6in model the Aspire One 751. The former looks like pretty standard netbook fare, but the latter is more interesting.

As with the Timeline series, it boasts scrabble-style low profile keys, that stretch all the way to the edge of the chassis and, from the brief encounter we had with it, was very nice to type on.

Also interesting, but not necessarily in a good way, was the fact that the 11.6in netbook runs on Intel’s 1.33GHz Z520 Atom. In our experience performance with this processor is even slower than a standard 1.6GHz N270. It’s unlikely to be any different here.

That’s before we get to the Revo – a nettop based on Nvidia’s Atom-based Ion platform. Acer was showing off Call of Duty 4 being played on one of these and it looked pretty smooth. There are those new all-in-one desktops, too, with touchscreens and Windows 7 on board. The pictures looked nice in the presentation, but alas there weren’t any to play with at the event.

What were on show, but sadly neglected in the excitement over the netbooks and Timeline laptops, were a couple of the new Aspire range of laptops, which looked very nice indeed. These are set to replace the home entertainment-focussed  Gemstone Blue. More subtly styled this time around, these laptops boast glowing keyboards, striking looks and familiar-looking crazy media controls to the right of the keyboard.

All of which we’ll be getting in for a thorough going over, of course, just as soon as we can. So be sure to check back soon for our full reviews.