Acer vs. Lenovo (Battle of the Minis)

[Quyen]

I thought I saw a thread on the Acer mini notebook/netbook recently, but I have never been able to use the search function on The Nation with much success, so I am unable to find the discussion.

I am totally in love with the Acer 10" 160 GB mini (with XP!) but am contemplating a rendezvous with the Lenovo (Acer's nemesis) mini as well. I believe neither has a CD/DVD drive, sooooo ... my question is this: How does one install CAT software on it WITHOUT having to invest in an external CD/DVD drive???

I am on Eclipse. I was wondering, is it possible to install the CAT software on a USB mass drive and then plug that USB drive into the Acer/Lenovo minis and install from the flash drive?

Input/brags/rants/raves from anyone who owns either of these cool tech toys is much appreciated. My goal is to lighten my everyday load by using the mini at depos and then just transferring the file via USB drive onto a bigger screen for editing at home.

Thanks!

[Laura H. Nichols]

Sure -- just use a computer with a CD/DVD drive to copy the CD to USB, then plug the USB into the Acer, click on the setup/exe file and it ought to load fine.
Laura

[Kyung]

Download from the website.

[Quyen]

Kyung, I thought about that, but Eclipse updates or newer versions must be installed from the CD, at least that's what I had to do (and was told I had to do) by tech support with previous updates. Has that changed? I haven't updated in a while, and I believe I might have let my support lapse this year, so I won't be able to download from the Web site unless I renew my tech support. I was hoping to just be able to copy my current version onto the USB drive and install onto the mini from there.

Laura: Do you actually have one of the two minis? I just would like to know for certain that I would be able to install by USB drive before I take the plunge and get one. I was thinking the same thing you said, but I can't "try it out" unless I actually get the Acer. :)

Also, pros and cons from anyone who has one would be much appreciated.

Thanks again!

[Kyung]

I've downloaded my last few updates. I think there was one where the update was so massive that you had to install via CD. But if you're on anything after 4.2.08, you can download from the web. I'm currently on 4.3.0.8.

[Kellie Zollars]

Hi.

I just used the usb drive to download livenote, stream, caseviewII and other things onto my acer with no problem. It is a hassle not having the external CD drive so I think I am going to get one. my husband thinks the cd/dvd writer we have at home will work. Pretty busy right now so will let you know in a week or two if I find one that costs less and works well. The bigger capacity thumb drives have gotten so cheap now, you can use that for most backups/downloads. (and they come in really handy at depos for loading roughs onto attys' computers if necessary.

[Mary Ann Payonk]

We're turning over all my equipment this year ... new writer (Diamante - review coming as soon as it gets here!), new main computer (Toshiba), and we also bought 4 Lenovos for realtime. Haven't got them yet, but they're shipping today. I don't know about using them as my MAIN computer (I have big hands, don't think I could get used to a mini), but I'll sure give my opinion once they get here. The Diamante and these 4 babies are going to lighten my load considerably. I'm hoping for a brilliant display on these, which is one reason we chose the Lenovo.

M.A.

[Quyen]

Grrrr, I wanted to buy American, which would cut out both the Lenovo and the Acer, leaving HP mini and Dell, both of which cost more than their Chinese and Taiwanese competitors. *sigh* :(

So now the tawdry topic of money. May I ask where you all got your minis and how much you paid for it. I would like to know so I can try to find the best deal possible! :)

Thanks!

[April McMillan, CRR, RPR, CSR]

Quyen, there is a thread on Netbooks in the Technolust group in the Discussion forum, even in the recent posts listed on the face page of the group.

I recently bought 2 Acer 11.6" netbooks online from Best Buy at $349.99 each. They have 2 gigs of memory and 250 gig hard drives. I am going to install my software from a 32 gig USB flash drive since there is no CD drive. I believe Jeanese J. bought one and said it was very easy setting up.

Good luck :)

[Kellie Zollars]

I bought my acer at their store, but frys.com had the 10" for around $300. I bought mine back in May so prices will be different now. Probably cheaper. My friend's husband is happy wth his Toshiba mini, but I have had bad luck with Toshiba laptops in the past. I read a techie article that recommended the acer over the Dell before I bought mine. don't know about Lenovo though.

[Quyen]

Thanks for your input, everyone!

Thanks, Allison, that's great info.

Now I have another question. How to hook my writer up to the minis?

I have the Flash writer and am still hooking it up via 9-pin serial port. Also, I STILL have the ancient software dongle/key for Eclipse. I'm aware that I can trade that in for a USB software key, though.

[Quyen]

Thanks, Kelli. That's great info. Would you please tell me the process of trading in the key. If I remember correctly, Eclipse will give you a temporary code to keep the software active for however many hours/days. In the meantime, you send them your dongle first; then they send you the trade. Right?

Also, what writer do you have? I am not aware of a USB cable from the writer to the computer for the Flash. Right now what hooks into my writer is the telephone-plug thingy, and then the 9-pin goes into the computer. :)

Oh, and do you know if I have to have a current tech support contract to do the trade-in? I suppose I could just call them, but ...

Oh, and I think the mini your friend got is the ASUS EEE PC 1005HA. It got pretty good reviews on PC World. :)

http://www.pcworld.com/article/154358/top_10_netbooks.html

[Veronica Kubat]

Turn off all power saving features. That is what was screwing me up. Seems to have fixed the most recent disasterous problem.
Your battery life is shorter, but if you work plugged in all the time, it shouldn't matter.