Acer Notebook

If you have your heart set on an Acer notebook, you may want to check out either the 1740 SMI or its earlier cousin, the 1705 SCI. Both of these computers offer specifications similar to what you might find in a standard desktop. Whereas most laptops come with 256 MB of RAM and 20 or 40 GB hard drive storage, these Acer notebook models blow them away in these regards.

You can get 120 GB of hard drive coverage, a 1.0 GBps Ethernet card from Intel, two FireWire ports, two PS/2 ports, and eight USB 2.0 ports. With hard to beat optical drives, a Sound Blaster sound card that delivers state-of-the-art quality, and a well-engineered motherboard, the 1714 SMI is the computer of choice for many hard-core gamers. Business travelers enjoy making presentations with these features as well. However, the 7.1 kg weight of the 1714 SMI may be off-putting to some.

Indeed, it may benefit you to get the 1714 SMI as a standard "desktop" and get a lighter notebook for travel duty. In any event, you shouldn't have any trouble running a host of programs at once. This computer is packed with RAM, and it runs on an Intel Pentium IV 3.6 GHz processor. Typically, Acer integrates a LAN adapter into these units.

The major disadvantage with the 1740 SMI and the 1705 SCI is the weight. While 7.1 kg may not seem that heavy in the abstract, after you tote around this big machine through airport after airport on your business trips, you may find yourself regretting your investment. However, if you need a sturdy workhorse, either of these Acer notebook computers should be sufficient.