Brochure: Netbook Flyer (Nov 2009)

Click to download the latest Netbook flyer (November 2009) issue.

New price drop for

• Acer Aspire One AOD250 – RM1,299
• Acer Aspire One AO751 – RM1,499

New Price: Acer PDA Price Update!

Today Acer reviewed their pricing of their PDA. Below are the new pricing!

Acer DX900 – RM1,899

Acer DX650 – RM1,299

Acer X960 – RM1,499

Acer F900 – RM2,099

Acer M900 – RM2,399

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Review: Acer Tempo X960 PDA

Available Date: Early May 2009

Launch Price: RM1,799

Fresh Gear rating: 6/10

Specification:

• Samsung S3C 6400 mobile processor 533 MHz
• 128MB RAM, 256MB ROM
• GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900 / GSM 850
• 106.4 x 59.0 x 13.7 mm
• 131 g (with battery)
• 3.2MP Camera with Auto-focus & Flash
  
• Hi-Res screen (640 X 480)
  

Unboxing the Acer Tempo X960

Acer X960 Box

Acer Tempo X960 - Content

Inside the box comes with the following accessories.

• Travel adapter
• USB Sync Cable
• Handsfree headset
• Manual + Installation CD
• Screen Protector

What’s missing from the content is a pouch/case.

First Impression

Acer X960 3G Camera

The Acer X960 scores high on the specification department and the build is pretty solid. For RM1,799 this is basically the most value buy PDA currently in the market. The size is ideal and feels pretty comfortable in a normal slack pocket.

Acer Tempo X960 - D Pad

There is quite a lot of button on this PDA. Besides the usual Call, Hang-up, Power and Volume button, there are also a “Satellite”, “Home”, “Camera” and a “Voice Recording” button.

Acer Tempo X960 - Top side

Is it necessary to have such huge “GPS” word on the top of the PDA?

Acer Tempo X960 - Left side

Left side you will find a lanyard slot, “+” and “-” Volume button, Reset hole and a “Voice Recording” button.

Acer Tempo X960 - Right Side

Right side you will find the “Power”, hot-swappable MicroSD memory slot and “Camera” button.

Acer Tempo X960 - Camera Button

The camera button on the PDA sits slightly bulged. I can only assume it makes it easier to press on the camera button while taking pictures. But personally, I find it pretty irritating because I keep accidentally pressing it while holding the PDA.

Acer Tempo X960 - Back

The back cover of the X960 is made/covered with a kind of rubbery material. This makes it not a finger print magnet, which is good!

Acer Tempo X960 - Rear Camera

Behind the PDA is a 3.2MP Auto-focus camera with flash, self-portrait reflector and two speakers.

Acer Tempo X960 - Battery & Stylus

Acer Tempo X960 - Memory Slot

Using the Acer Tempo X960

On the outside, the Acer Tempo X960 looks like any regular PDA but once you turn that thing on, there is where the “regular” ends. Acer comes installed with their very own User Interface much like how HTC’s Touch Flor 3D. Acer calls it the “Acer Shell“.

Each of the “Item” on the virtual desktop represent a function and it can be re-arranged. For a while, it kept me busy “poking” around the virtual desktop trying to find if there are any “hidden” function. There aren’t any anyway..

At the Virtual Desktop, flick up and you will get a list of programs/quick access like the one below.

Tapping on the “Window” on the Virtual Desktop gets you this.

Tapping on the CD cover/player gets you this gorgeous looking media interface.

Another new feature I found on the Acer is the “BLOG” function on the Picture & Videos Program.

Not too sure if it is by Acer or there is a new version of Windows Mobile. Anyone knows, perhaps you could share. To use the blog function, you need to have either a Google Account or WordPress Account.

Other than the obvious difference above, the interface looks and feel just like any regular Windows Mobile devices. You can view more screen shot of Acer X960 below.

More Screen Shots of Acer X960 (Click on Enlarge)

Conclusion

Pro:

• Nice and useful Acer Shell (Virtual Desktop)
• Value buy, host of features for a reasonable price
• Nice bright screen
• Nice Blog feature in the “”Picture and Video” program.

Cons:

• Not as fast/responsive as I hoped for
• Acer Shell not as polished as HTC Touch Flo.

Available at Fresh Gear Online Store. All major credit cards and Paypal accepted.

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Updated: Fresh Gear PDA Flyers – 2009 May Version

 

Fresh Gear PDA Flyers - May 2009

 Our PDA Flyer for May 2009 is out. Click on it to enlarge / download.

Review: Acer Tempo DX900 Dual SIM Design PDA

Available Date: End April 2009

Launch Price: RM1,899

Fresh Gear rating: 8/10

Specifications:

• Dual SIM standby mode
• 533MHz Samsung S3C 6400
• 106X60.5X17mm (147g with battery)
• ROM: 256MB RAM:128MB (MicroSD Slot)
• 2.8″ 640×480 pixel VGA, TFT-LCD
• HSDPA Quad-band 
• WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS
• Accelerometer / G-Sensor
• 3.2MP Auto-focus Camera
• Li-ion Polymer Battery, 1530mAh

 

Acer Tempo DX900 - Box

Un-boxing the Acer DX900

Acer Tempo DX900 - Content

The Acer Tempo DX900 comes with the following items bundled.

• Travel Charger with Adapter
• Screen Protector
• Clothe Pouch
• Dual earpiece handsfree kit
• CDs and Manual
• Warranty Card/Paper

First Impression

Acer Tempo DX900 size is just nice for a decent looking PDA but it is a bit thick on the side. It is not going to win on the aesthetic department because I think Acer rather go for functionality. The front panel is a minimalist but once you turn over the side, there are host of other buttons to be found.

Acer Tempo DX900 - 5 Way navigation pad with Call + Hangup Button

Acer Tempo DX900 comes with a front Camera for 3G Video Conferencing. 

Acer Tempo DX900 - Left

On the left side sits the Volume button, Voice Recording Button and also the jack for handsfree.

Acer Tempo DX900 - Right Side

Unlike most PDA today, the MicroSD slot is located on the side, together with the Camera button, Power Button and also the Reset Button. 

Acer Tempo DX900 - Top

Nothing on the top, just an embossed word “GPS”.

Acer Tempo DX900 - Bottom

Only the Mini USB charger slot and mic is located at the bottom.

Acer Tempo DX900 - Back

Behind the PDA is the 3.0MP Auto Focus Camera with Flash! Just next to it is the speakers.

Acer Tempo DX900 - Camera

A close-up shot of the 3.0MP camera.

Acer Tempo DX900 - Dual SIM Slot

This is what makes the Acer Tempo DX900 stands out from the pack. It supports 2 Active sim cards simultaneously. Meaning, both SIM cards can be turned on at the same time! Recent years has seen the number of people with 2 phones increasing and I think Acer wanted to catch the trend with the FIRST dual SIM PDA phone. 

Benefits of using a Dual-SIM phone

• Less thing to carry, less thing to forget/left behind
• Central update of phone book. No need to look back and forth for numbers/miss calls…
• No need to buy 2 PDA phones to enjoy the PDA functions on both phones
• No duplicate of contacts
• One back up / Synchronization will do

I think the major drawback of using a Dual SIM phone is the battery. You are effectively receiving/making more calls with just one device and this my drain the battery. Hopefully the huge 1530mAh battery is good enough for most people, else a car charger, extra battery is definitely needed.

There is another limitation too. I noticed most, if not ALL of the Dual SIM 3G phones comes with one slot supports 3G and another slot  supports 2G only. Why? Why can’t both SIM card slot supports 3G? It happened on the U Mobile Sou Dual SIM 3G phone too. Some other Dual SIM phone brands in the market do not even support 3G. 

Is it an architecture limitation? Please share with me if you know why.

The Acer Tempo DX900 too has this limitation. A 3G sim card will still work on a 2G slot, just that you will not be able to enjoy 3G network coverage/video calls with Slot 2. So, you should be inserting a 3G SIM card with unlimited data plan into slot 1, whereas slot 2 is reserved primarily for calls and SMS. Unless you plan to make Video calls on BOTH SIM cards, this phone will work wonders.

Using the Acer Tempo DX900

From the main screen, you can see the status of the 2 SIM cards. You must however remember which is line 1 or 2 because the system will indicate each call/sms with the “1″ and “2″ prefix.

(Click to enlarge)

When you send SMS, you can choose which SIM card you want to send from. And when you view your SMS, you can see which SIM card did you receive the SMS from.

When you are making calls, you can also choose to call using “Talk 1″ or “Talk 2″.

The call history will also clearly indicate which SIM card is it coming from/going to.

At any point if you want to turn off one of the SIM card, just click on the “Communication Manager” tab. 

Other Screen Shots of Acer Tempo DX900

Most of the application you see below are done by Acer themselves. Including the Dual-SIM call functions.

(click on image to enlarge)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comparison between HTC Touch 3G, HTC Touch Cruise & Acer Tempo DX900

	Acer Tempo DX900	HTC Touch Cruise (T4242)	HTC Touch 3G (T3232)
Memory	ROM: 256MB RAM:128MB	ROM: 512 MB RAM: 256MB	ROM: 256MB RAM: 192MB
Processor	533MHz Samsung S3C 6400	Qualcomm® MSM7225TM, 528 MHz	Qualcomm® MSM7225TM, 528 MHz
Screen	2.8” 640X480 VGA Screen	2.8” 320X240 QVGA screen	2.8” 320X240 QVGA screen
Battery	Battery Capacity: 1530mAh	Battery Capacity: 1100 mAh	Battery Capacity: 1100 mAh
Size & Weight	106mm X 60.5mm X 17mm (147g with battery)	102 mm X 53.6 mm X 14.5 mm (96g with battery)	102mm X 53.5mm X 14.5 mm (103g with battery)
Camera	3.0 (Auto Focus with Flash)	3.2 MP (Fix Focus)	3.2 MP (Fix Focus)
Dual SIM Slot	Yes	No	No
Additional Accessories	Screen Protector	Car Charger + Car Holder + additional stylus + 1GB memory card	- nil -
Additional Software	SPB Mobile Shell 2.0	Papago X3 and Footprint	- nil -
Connectivity	Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS	Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS	Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS
Price	RM1,899	RM2,199	RM1,899

No doubt HTC Touch Cruise is lighter and HTC Touch 3G is sleeker device compared to Acer Tempo DX900. But Acer Tempo DX900 comes with Dual SIM, VGA screen, 3.0MP Auto-focus camera with flash and a super large capacity battery. 

Which will you choose?

Over the years, I have fallen in love with Hi-Res screen (VGA) and Auto Focus camera. You can give me 5MP camera but if it cannot focus, it is not good enough. If I have taken a 5MP camera with auto-focus and viewing it on a QVGA screen, it is also not good enough. This combination is just right!

Conclusion

Pro:

• VGA, 3G Camera + Dual SIM for RM1,899; Value for money!
• Recording Button on the left
• BIG capacity battery at 1530mAh!

Con:

• Back cover comes off easily. Not too sure if it is limited to this particular unit.
• Not the latest version of SPB Mobile Shell
• A bit on the thick side. 
• Memory a bit on the small side compared to other HTC devices of the same range

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