The thin-and-light TravelMate 290 series features Pentium M processors and integrated 802.11b wireless networking, making the series a good fit for business travellers.Acer has announced the TravelMate 290 series, which includes systems priced less than AU$2,500. The low-end model should appeal to the back-to-school crowd or anyone on a tight budget.
Upside: Did we mention that the TravelMate 290 series starts at AU$2,499? Of course, at this price, you get only the bare minimum necessary to survive in our increasingly techcentric world. However, at least you get to jump on the Centrino bandwagon. All models come with a Pentium M processor and integrated 802.11b wireless networking. On the higher-end models, the display increases from 14.1 inches to 15 inches; RAM jumps from 256MB to 512MB; and DVD/CD-RW and DVD-R/-RW drives replace the CD-ROM drive.
Downside: The TravelMate 290 series comes in a rather sedate, ho-hum, dark-grey case. All models feature an integrated graphics chip with shared memory. And although the TravelMate 290 series can handle processors up to 1.7GHz and 2GB of system RAM, you must contact an Acer reseller to configure the system.
Outlook: If you need an inexpensive notebook for school or work, the TravelMate 290 series could fit the bill. But even the most cash-strapped students will probably want to spend a little more for a system with a larger hard drive, a bigger screen, and a CD burner. Check back in a few weeks for a full review.
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