Shane McGlaun03 June 2009, 5:00 PM
Customers overseas are getting much beefier system specs with Acer. We ask why.
Acer launched its new
Timeline notebooks in Australia last month and has also just released the the machines in America. But, as Australians have become accustomed to, the price difference is massive.
The
Aspire Timeline 3810T with its 13.3-inch screen, 250GB hard drive and fairly weak Core 2 Solo CPU sells for $AU1,299 ($US1,044). In the US, the 3810T gets a much gruntier Core 2 Duo SU9400 CPU, 500GB hard drive and HDMI out, but only costs $64 more at $US899.99, which converts to ($1,118).
The US also gets the 4810T model with an Intel Core 2 solo SU3500 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 320Gb HDD, multi-touch track pad, and 14-inch LCD for $US699.99, which translates to $AU867.95. The same model costs nearly TWICE as much in Australia, from $AU1699.
The cheapest Timeline in the US is the 5810TZ selling for $US598 ($AU725). The budget Timeline includes an Intel Pentium SU2700 CPU, 3GB of RAM, 320GB HDD, and more. That model doesn't appear to be available in Australia, but the 5810T model costs $AU1999.
Battery life is the big draw for the Timeline machines. Acer claims that the family gets an average of 8 hours per charge and all use 6-cell batteries stock.
However, Aussies definitely appear to be being reamed on pricing and specs. Acer is not alone in this; all the computer makers seem to down-spec Aussie models, but usually it's down-spec
or higher pricing -- not both at once. What gives, Acer?