Product Reviews

Acer has managed to pack an impressive array of technologies into one of the smallest and lightest chassis we've seen. Weighing only 1.7kg and small enough to tuck under your arm, the TravelMate truly deserves the ultra-portable label.

Its metallic lid looks sophisticated and protects the screen against the occasional bump, but the hinges that bind it to the base feel a little loose. This isn't a problem if it's confined to a desk, but becomes more so when used on the go. The backlight is strong and clean and, from head on, the 12.1" 1,024x768 panel is bright with good contrast levels and colours. Viewing angles are narrow, though, so if you move to the side, brightness and contrast decrease notably.

It may be small, but with an Intel Pentium M 725 processor running at 1.6GHz and 512MB of RAM, the TravelMate doesn't lack power. It achieved respectable scores in PCMark04 and the Shopper application benchmarks. Unfortunately, it relies on

ADVERTISEMENT

an Intel Extreme 2 graphics adaptor, which makes it unsuitable for 3D gaming. A 60GB hard disk is fitted, which is pretty generous for such a small system and is more than enough for general office work and web surfing.

The small body of the notebook has no built-in drives, but Acer supplies a FireWire-connected DVD writer. This is useful for backing up your data and watching DVD movies, but it's not something you would want to carry around all the time.

Two USB2 ports are available, although one is placed on the front edge of the notebook. This makes it awkward to use as it gets in the way when typing. Modem and network connections are also included for internet access, and there's a VGA out at the rear. You can also connect to a wireless network thanks to the Intel 802.11g adaptor.

Without decent battery life a computer designed to be used on the move quickly becomes a dead weight. Thankfully, the TravelMate kept going for more than four hours on a single charge, which means you can achieve a lot in your time away from the mains supply.

The Acer TravelMate 382 TMi is a high-quality product that looks professional and feels solid, with competent performance and a good battery life. However, the MV Mobeus 1.6 (What's New, Shopper January 2005) is a little larger than the TravelMate but is faster, with a better screen and a fully integrated optical drive and costs £240 less. Even so, if you're willing to pay the premium for the reassurance of a well-known brand, the TravelMate 382 TMi won't disappoint you.