In part 2, tnkgrl shows us how to replace the SSD with a 1.8″ PATA hard drive. While SSDs have no moving parts and are studier, the SSD in the Acer Aspire One isn’t the best around, so a PATA hard drive performs better and provides more storage. Fortunately the Acer Aspire One SSD carries the same ZIF connector of that found on 1.8″ PATA drives. It also has just enough space for a thin (5mm) 1.8″ PATA hard drive beneath the motherboard.
For this modification, tnkgrl uses a 60GB Samsung drive with plug and play. All that’s needed for this to work is for the ribbon to be disconnected from the SSD and connected to the hard drive. Of course you still need to secure it though, double-sided adhesive foam squares are the recommended option.
You can watch the video below, or see the pictures here.
Tnkgrl will continue her modifications on the Acer Aspire One, so keep checking back. Part 3 will be adding 3G to the Aspire One.
For those not familiar with Tnkgrl, let me tell you, she loves to take computers apart and upgrade them. Which is exactly what she’s done to the Acer Aspire One.
Within a few days of having the Acer Aspire One, it was ripped apart and she had added an internal Bluetooth module. You’re also in luck if you’d like to perform this modification as she has a video of the process and has uploaded it. You’ve also got the choice of looking at the pictures she’s uploaded to Flickr detailing it more.
Her blog explains in more detail which bluetooth modules work best, which are obsolete, and comments on the procedure.
Here you go. So while some Asian countries are enjoying the availability of the Acer Aspire One, which is touted as a possible Eee PC killer, Amazon has just put up a pre-order form for the said netbook. Amazon’s price tag for the Aspire One is at $416.99 which is almost the same as the going rate in Singapore and the Philippines. For that price you’ll get an 8.9-inch mini notebook, with 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 512 MB RAM, 8GB SSD and Linpus Linux Lite.
If you’re looking to buy a netbook, you might want to consider the Aspire One, especially if you got turned off by the recent slew of Eee PC variants that Asus has been introducing into the market lately.
I chanced upon the Aspire One on display in one of the local stores here in Manila and honestly it didn’t strike me as interesting as when I first saw the Eee PC 701. It was just like your ordinare Acer Aspire laptops in smaller size. Don’t get me wrong here, I like Acer machines both technically and aesthetically. But the Aspire One doesn’t seem to have that aura that will pull you through and buy it.
But still, it’s a good steal for the price you have to pay for it.
It looks like the release of another Eee PC competitor and a major one at that slipped into the wires of our ultraportable-netbook-loving-friends. The Acer Aspire one which, for its cheap price and yet comparable specs with the competition, could very well give both the Eee PC and MSI Wind a good competition is reportedly being sold already by some US online resellers.
AspireOne.net spotted one from eWiz.com selling for $383.14. This Aspire One carries the model number AA110-1295, featuring an Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.6GHz, 512KB L2 Cache, FSB 533MHz), 512MB DDR2-533 Memory, 8.9″ WSVGA (1024×600) TFT LCD, w/ Acer Crystalbrite Technology, 8GB NAND Flash Module, 3-cell 2200mAh Battery and Linux OS.
Engadget also cited a listing for both the Acer Aspire A150-1006 ($422.99) and A110-1295 ($399.99). Although the site says that you need to call first to know it stocks are available.
Entries (RSS)