Notepad computers for Cruising........

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We are considering buying the below Acer ...for those that are experienced with using these on the ships ..let me know what I would need to do with this one to make it work with the ships internet service....will I need any type adapter to use to recharge the battery etc...

 

Also, would I need to adjust anything to make it work with my at&t wireless at home and use in other w-fi free zones etc.

 

Thanks for your help in advance

 

1ph

 

 

 

 

 

Think convenient and compact with the Acer Aspire One 10.1" LCD, 160GB HDD, 1GB RAM Laptop Computer. The thin, lightweight design makes it ultra portable, while the integrated wireless network keeps you connected without the hassle of wires. This bundle also boasts a variety of resourceful software that helps make your life easier, more organized and more fun. Savor all these features and take computing to go with this noteworthy little notebook.

 

Acer Aspire One 10.1" LCD, 160GB HDD, 1GB RAM Laptop Key Specifications:

 

Processor: Intel Atom Processor N270

Memory: 1024MB DDR2 533MHz SDRAM Single Channel Memory

Hard Drive: 160GB 5400RPM SATA

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home

LCD Monitor: 10.1" WSVGA Acer CrystalBrite Display (1024 x 600)

Media Card Reader: 6-in-1 digital media manager - Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick Pro (MS-PRO), MultiMedia Card (MMC), Reduced-Size MultiMedia Card (RS-MMC) and XD-Picture Card (XD)

Other Differentiator: 0.3 integrated crystal eye webcam and flash drive with 18 pre-loaded software programs

Additional Product Specifications:

 

System Bus: 533MHz; 1.60GHz

Cache Memory: 512KBx2 L2

Graphics: Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950

Video Memory: Up to 224MB

Mouse: Integrated touchpad

Speakers: High Definition Audio support with 2 built-in stereo speakers

Ports: (3) USB 2.0, (1) VGA connector, (1) RJ45-Ethernet, (1) AC adapter connector, (1) Kensington Lock Slot, (1) Microphone-in jack, (1) Headphone/Speaker/Line-out jack

Wireless Network Adapter: Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED

Color: Ruby red

Measures approx. 10.2"L x 7.3"W x 1.3"H

Weighs 2.95 lbs.

Model #: AOD 150-1920

ETL/ZG5 listed

 

Comes with a manufacturer's 2-year limited warranty

Accessories Include:

 

Flash drive with loaded PC Essentials software

USB mouse

6-cell Lithium-ion battery

Power cord

Power adapter

User guide

Pre-Installed Software:

 

Acer eRecovery Management

Acer Launch Manager

Adobe Reader

McAfee Internet Security Suite

Microsoft Office Trial 2007

PC Essentials Software on Flash Drive:

 

Aquazone 2 Oceans of the World, Cook N with Betty Crocker, Family Tree Heritage, Home and Business Lawyer 2008, Hoyle Casino Games 2008, Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles, Hoyle Miami Beach Solitaire, Jeopardy Deluxe, Morpheus Photo Animation Suite, Quicken Willmaker Plus 2009, Serif Draw Plus X2, Serif Page Plus X2, Serif Panorama Plus 3, Serif Photo Plus X2, Serif Web Plus X2, Stuffit Deluxe 12, Suduko Unlimited 1000 and Sunbird Calendar

 

 

It sounds like you were watching the Home Shopping Network last night :D It sounds identical to what they were offering last night on TV for a ridculously high price. Just my opinion the package they are giving you is junk. But like I said that is just my opinion. Personally do not beconcerned with the package. Just a hint if you want some of this stuff and you were thinking of HSN check out Target,com and or even Amazon you will find it cheaper.

 

After months of reading reviews, actually going out and typing and playing with different brands at computer stores we chose the MSI Wind 10.1 inch screen. I purchased it thru Target.com and got the same bundles package with all the same add ons. Which actually most of it is junk :rolleyes: We opened one of the Target cards and got 10% off and paid drastically less.

 

I have had my MSI Wind for just over a week and have taken it out and connected to the interent with no problems. We already had a router set up at home and that was easy to connect to. It runs 10 times faster than my old HP laptop. I am looking forward to using it on the Statendam in a few days :)

[GmaPajama]

Sounds wonderful ...we are going to be sailing for about 30+ days ....and I have "high hopes" of preparing a blog offline with pictures and just do the old copy/paste it online ...with the cost of the internet minutes hope to save a bit of money doing it this way ...do you have experience doing this?

 

thanks for responding :)

 

1ph

I too used my new little Acer last month, on the Maasdam. Like Sails experience, mine was a breeze. I bought the larger package of minutes, used the copy and paste - composing everything offline - and ended up with an unused hour and a half. Gadzooks - I had no idea I could do so much with so few minutes of connection time!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We are considering buying the below Acer ...for those that are experienced with using these on the ships ..let me know what I would need to do with this one to make it work with the ships internet service....will I need any type adapter to use to recharge the battery etc...

 

Also, would I need to adjust anything to make it work with my at&t wireless at home and use in other w-fi free zones etc.

 

Thanks for your help in advance

I forgot to answer you two questions, No you do not need an adapter, the ship has regular plus to plug it in to charge.

On you home wireless do you have it pass word protected. You will need to know that and just sign on.

There are many place now that offer free wi-fi but not on the ship :D As Sail just explained when you turn on your computer and go to the internet on the ship, the ships' wi-fi pops up with information about purchasing minutes that is very easy to do.

[sail7seas]

I brought a small power strip with us and was able to charge my camera, cell phone and computer on it. Worked out great.

[Stakeout]

I brought a small power strip with us and was able to charge my camera, cell phone and computer on it. Worked out great.

 

that's what 'we' do.. my wife's idea at first..for her hair dryer..plus her hair iron/straightener or whatever it's called... picked up one 'cheap' in Wally World... I use it to charge my cameras--batteries.. I bring 4 cameras... as well as use it to charge my Dell 14" laptop..

 

glad you're happy with the Acer 8.9" Netbook.. was looking to get one.. most likely will get the larger 10.9" Acer Netbook this week from Costco ..they give you 90 days in case you don't want it.. no questions asked.. just bring it back... then if you must have it--get an Iomega DVD/CD RW USB portable drive to plug in.. it's on sale this week

 

for those that don't know most if not all Netbooks run the older XP Windows operating system... around the first of next year ..most likely later...supposedly MS has planned to introduce their Windows 7 OS--it's in Beta now.. on all Netbooks--Vista can't run on Netbooks... talk around is that MS will then stop giving support to XP.. they tried stopping it once before but being their Vista OS was so...' shall we say'-- bad and not well received ---they continued on with the XP support..

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/162565/how_windows_7_will_finally_kill_xp.html

[mamaofami]

I too used my new little Acer last month, on the Maasdam. Like Sails experience, mine was a breeze. I bought the larger package of minutes, used the copy and paste - composing everything offline - and ended up with an unused hour and a half. Gadzooks - I had no idea I could do so much with so few minutes of connection time!

 

What program did you use to copy and paste and compose off line?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

What program did you use to copy and paste and compose off line?

Carol your Acer probably has at least 2 places you can do this from if you do not have Microsoft Office installed. The first place that I usually use to write off line is to go to you start at the bottom left, click on "All Programs" then there are two under "Accessories" that you can use the first one I would chose would be "WordPad" that is what I have always used even on my old lap top. The other you can use is "NotePad" I am sure your Netbook has these two features.

[mamaofami]

Thanks, Lisa. I'm trying it out right now on word pad.It worked.I didn't even know I had those programs.

[mamaofami]

Lisa, trying it from the word,2003, that the techi installed because he had it and it was free. Let’s see if that works too.Oh, wow, it worked. I am definately techologically challanged, so thank you. I learn something new here everyday.:D

[richwmn]

Lisa, trying it from the word,2003, that the techi installed because he had it and it was free. Let’s see if that works too.Oh, wow, it worked. I am definately techologically challanged, so thank you. I learn something new here everyday.:D

Just a note of caution -- if you did not receive a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for that copy of Word 2003 your techie did you a favor by installing a bootleg (pirate) copy of it on your machine for you. Word is NOT free. There are several free alternatives that work almost the same.

 

Rich

[mamaofami]

Thanks, Rich. I will have to check that out.

[Boytjie]

Wordpad and Notepad are both included in Windows.

[OldCodger73]

Just a note of caution -- if you did not receive a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for that copy of Word 2003 your techie did you a favor by installing a bootleg (pirate) copy of it on your machine for you. Word is NOT free. There are several free alternatives that work almost the same.

 

Rich

 

Perhaps the trial version was installed?

 

I agree, it's a bad idea to use pirated software no matter how appealing the cost factor might be.

[richwmn]

Wordpad and Notepad are both included in Windows.

 

mamaofami said Word 2003, not wordpad. They are two different products. You are correct that wordpad is included. Quite often a trial of Office is included which must be activated by payment after a short period and that would include Word, but again the product which would be called Word 2003 is not free.

 

Rich

[richwmn]

Perhaps the trial version was installed?

 

I agree, it's a bad idea to use pirated software no matter how appealing the cost factor might be.

If the trial was installed, it would include a COA and would most likely be Word 2007 as it is the current version.

 

Rich

[OldCodger73]

I was at Best Buy yesterday and looked at several of the netbooks. They were cute but unfortunately they were all Windows based. As a Mac person, it's definitely a no go.

 

Basically I seldom travel with a lap top and when I do it's an old Mac Pro from 2002, which works fine for web browsing and email. It weighs in somewhere around 5 pounds and I carry it in the computer compartment of my camera bag. The bag, with camera gear and lap top is heavy, so I can see the advantage of a netbook.

 

Usually I just use my iPod Touch for email and light web browsing. Has anyone had experience using this on a HAL cruise?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Usually I just use my iPod Touch for email and light web browsing. Has anyone had experience using this on a HAL cruise?

 

I have the iPod Touch and have used it on the cruise but not for the "Pay"internet minutes. It actually was very slow. I used it going to the free NY Times area to read some of the head lines. I have used it to send emails but really do not like typing on it and get annoyed easily with all the mistakes that I make with not accessing the right thing with "touch" Part of my problem could be my long finger nails and I have been told it does take a lot of practice :o Personally i would much rather use a lap top or net book for accessing the internet and sending emails. Although I admit I am taking along my iPod Touch and my net book for our cruise this next week but the iPod is for music and games on the plane :D

[Rosieo]

I just ordered my 10.1 Acer from Costco. They are now including a mouse and case. I don't know if the case is any good but it was included for nothing extra. I hope it is delivered soon. Instead of purchasing MicroSoft Office I will be downloading Open Office. It is free and is compatible with Microsoft Office. I use it on my other desktop.

[mamaofami]

Some help, please. Do I just uninstall the word program and then download what the acer has? If I have word 2007 on my regular computer and it is licensed to me, can it be used on more than one machine? I've never had a second computer before and really don't know the ins and outs of all of this.

[Boytjie]

mamaofami said Word 2003, not wordpad.

 

I was responding to LAFFNVEGAS who mentioned the two freebies under 'Accessories', which come as part of Windows. ;)

[richwmn]

Some help, please. Do I just uninstall the word program and then download what the acer has? If I have word 2007 on my regular computer and it is licensed to me, can it be used on more than one machine? I've never had a second computer before and really don't know the ins and outs of all of this.

The terms of the Microsoft license allow 1 copy of a program to be used on 1 computer. The acer, as do all copies of windows, already has a copy of wordpad and notepad. These would be adequate for your "cut n paste" use aboard ship. Open Office is a free alternative (I also use it but on LInux), and can be easily downloaded for the acer if you uninstall the Word 2003 which was installed for you.

 

Rich

[mamaofami]

Thanks, Rich. I appreciate your help. I never want to do something that isn't legal and will have to take it up with the man who installed it for me. I actually told him I was going to use Open Office because we discussed it on this site before I even got the computer.

[richwmn]

I was responding to LAFFNVEGAS who mentioned the two freebies under 'Accessories', which come as part of Windows. ;)

Sorry, it seemed to me that you were saying word and wordpad were the same product.

 

Rich

[Boytjie]

Sorry, it seemed to me that you were saying word and wordpad were the same product.

 

Rich

 

I have never been so insulted! :eek: I operate a tech support operation - also known as friends-who-call-when-they-can't-figure-their-computers-out. :D

[sail7seas]

I just ordered my 10.1 Acer from Costco. They are now including a mouse and case. I don't know if the case is any good but it was included for nothing extra. I hope it is delivered soon. Instead of purchasing MicroSoft Office I will be downloading Open Office. It is free and is compatible with Microsoft Office. I use it on my other desktop.

 

 

Congratulations on ordering your Acer. Hope you like it as much as I like my Acer. Mine also came with a small mouse, which actually is pretty neat :) but I use the touch pad most of the time.